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"the whole city came out to meet Jesus: and when they saw him, they besought him that he would depart out of their coasts." "The whole multitude," says St. Luke, "of the country of the Gadarenes round about besought him to depart from them; for they were taken with great fear." Alas! they knew not the day of their visitation; otherwise they would not have sought the departure of Him, who could alone bless them. But such is too commonly the infatuated conduct of men. They regard their temporal possessions more than the good of their souls; and fearful lest the former should be impaired, they bid away from them those who, in the name of the Lord Jesus, would urge them diligently to attend to the latter!

A pleasing contrast is presented in the demeanour of the man to whom our Lord had extended his compassion: "And when he was come into the ship, he that had been possessed with the devil prayed him that he might be with him." He knew how to estimate the benefit he had received, and hoped to derive further advantage from the presence and instructions of our Lord. For some reason, however, which doubtless was a sufficient one, his request was not granted; but an injunction was laid upon him, by attending to which he would more directly glorify God: "Howbeit Jesus suffered him not, but saith unto him, Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee. And he departed, and began to publish in Decapolis how great things Jesus

had done for him: and all men did marvel.” Thus, we may reasonably presume, he would be more usefully employed in making known the mercies of God, and proclaiming the power of Jesus far and wide, through a district which derived its name from the fact of its comprising ten cities, than if he had accompanied him from place to place, however grateful it might have been to himself so to do.

III. We shall conclude by DEDUCING SOME RE

FLECTIONS IN THE WAY OF IMPROVEMENT FROM

THE SUBJECT.

1. In the first place we may well exclaim, What hath sin wrought! This it was by which Satan acquired that power which he has at various times so fatally exercised on the bodies and souls of men. Had there been no sin in yielding to his temptations in the garden of Eden, never would he have been permitted to tyrannize as he has done over the creatures of God in this world: never would he have inflicted such direful and extensive misery. Contemplating, my brethren, these tremendous consequences of sin, let us abhor and detest it as that which is abomination in the sight of God. Let us earnestly pray that we may be rescued by his grace from its love and dominion.

2. In the next place, how fearful must be the unrestrained power of Satan! To him infernal spirits yield their services: and if so many were employed in tempting and tormenting a single person, what armies, what myriads of those invisible enemies, must

How alarming is

exist through universal nature!'' the thought of their united agency :-and how tremendous must that agency be, when, in the abodes of everlasting wretchedness, it shall be uninterruptedly operating to increase the agonizing torments of the damned! Who would not tremble at the prospect of being for ever with the devil and his angels-those ministers of vengeance whose fury is reckless, and whose hate is eternal!

3. Again. How thankful should we be that the power of Satan is controlled, and that provision is made for our complete deliverance from his influence on our bodies and our souls! Let us earnestly seek a special interest in that provision, and betake ourselves to Jesus the Saviour of sinners; to Him who was manifested to destroy the works of the devil; to Him who shed his blood on the cross for the remission of sins, that in spite of all that the adversary may be permitted to do, whosoever believeth in Him might not perish, but have everlasting life.

4. We further remark, How many are under the influence of Satan as to the dispositions of their minds, however free their bodies may be from his torturing power! Such was the condition of the Gadarenes, who besought our Lord to depart from their coasts, because they feared extended calamities of a temporal" nature, when they might have obtained from Him blessings of inestimable value, and eternal duration. Oh, my brethren, may we be preserved from a simi

1 Hervey.

lar disposition of mind;-may we anxiously cultivate an acquaintance with Him in whom all fulness dwells, and from Him may we receive grace for grace!

5. Finally. How important is it that we should always be prepared to acquiesce in the will of our Lord! Engaged in his service, as was the dispossessed demoniac, we may extend the knowledge of his grace, and the blessings of his great salvation, by declaring the wonders of his power and love. And surely in this interesting work we may well be animated by the cheering hope, that at length, when our appointed time is accomplished, we shall be admitted to His immediate presence,—where is fulness of joy, and where are pleasures for evermore.

DISCOURSE XVI.

THE BLIND AND DUMB DEMONIAC:

WITH AN INQUIRY INTO THE SIN AGAINST THE HOLY GHOST.

MATTHEW XII. 25, 26. AND 31, 32.

And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand: and if Satan cast out Satan, he is divided against himself; how shall then his kingdom stand?

Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men. And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world

to come.

Nor one of the mighty works by which the life of Jesus was so eminently distinguished was unimportant. Each of them was calculated to manifest

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