Cleave then to him, "with full purpose of heart," in all time of wealth, and in all time of tribulation: and give him no reason to complain, Where is your faith?

26. And they arrived at the country of the Gadarenes, which is over against Galilee.

27. And when he went forth to land, there met him out of the city a certain man, which had devils long time, and ware no clothes, neither abode in any house, but in the tombs.

28. When he saw Jesus, he cried out, and fell down before him, and with a loud voice said, What have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God most high? I beseech thee, torment me not.

29. (For he had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. For oftentimes it had caught him; and he was kept bound with chains and in fetters; and he brake the bands, and was driven of the devil into the wilderness.)

30. And Jesus asked him, saying, What is thy name? And he said, Legion: because many devils were entered into him.

31. And they besought him that he would not command them to go out into the deep.

32. And there was there an herd of many swine feeding on the mountain: and they besought him that he would suffer them to enter into them. And he suffered them.

33. Then went the devils out of the man, and entered into the swine: and the herd ran violently down a steep place into the lake, and were choked.

Much is told us here concerning the world of evil spirits, which, though working in this instance in an extraordinary manner, are always on the watch to injure and destroy. And what is told us may well excite our fears: they are many: their

name is Legion. They are inveterate against men; and had kept the wretched person here described in a miserable condition; a terror to himself and others. He was bound with chains, and in fetters: and he brake the bands, and was driven of the devil into the wilderness: he ware no clothes, neither abode in any house, but in the tombs.

How

On the other hand, we learn that these malignant spirits are completely under the control of Jesus. He commands them, as he had before commanded the winds and the waters, and they obeyed him they can do nothing against his power. They besought him that he would not command them to go out into the deep: and again, they besought him that he would suffer them to enter into the herd of swine. Till he permitted, they could not prevail against the meanest animal: how much less shall they prevail against man, who is God's peculiar care, who was made in his own image? much less still shall they prevail against those whom FAITH has made his children? They could not, we see, destroy this man, or they would have done it, as they destroyed the swine: there was no want of evil will, but a restraint was held over their power. In truth, the very injury which they had been able to inflict, became, in the providence of God, the highest blessing, for it rendered him the object of Christ's compassion; and the pitiable being which was just now described, is brought to a situation which all might have cause to envy.

34. When they that fed them saw what was done, they fled, and went and told it in the city and in the country. 35. Then they went out to see what was done; and came

to Jesus, and found the man, out of whom the devils were departed, sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed, and in his right mind; and they were afraid.

36. They also which saw it told them by what means he that was possessed of the devils was healed.

37. Then the whole multitude of the country of the Gadarenes round about besought him to depart from them: for they were taken with great fear: and he went up into the ship, and returned back again.

38. Now the man out of whom the devils were departed besought him that he might be with him; but Jesus sent him away, saying,

39. Return to thine own house, and shew how great things God hath done unto thee. And he went his way, and published throughout the whole city how great things Jesus had done unto him.

But

The man who had received this amazing benefit would gladly have joined himself to our Lord's company. Those who are sensible of the blessings which Christ has purchased for them, will never willingly leave him, or be separate from his people. Jesus sent him away, saying, Return to thine own house, and show how great things God hath done unto thee that his friends and neighbours might be eye-witnesses of the change, and be won over to believe in the same Saviour. So the Israelites were designed and commanded, in the midst of an idolatrous world, to bear testimony to the name of God, who had delivered them from the power of Egypt. So Paul was converted, that he might be a chosen vessel unto God, and "preach the faith which once

? Exodus xii. 25, &c.

2

he destroyed," and those who heard it might glorify God in him. 3

No doubt, to depart from a country of unbelievers, and to be with Christ, would have seemed far better to this man than to remain in his own home among the Gadarenes. But he must consider, not his own comfort, but the souls of others, and the glory of God. That glory must be testified by the people here, often among many spiritual privations, and many bitter trials. Hereafter they shall dwell with him, "where the wicked cease from troubling, and the weary are at rest."

LECTURE XXIX.

JESUS REWARDS THE FAITH OF A DISEASED WOMAN; AND RESTORES A CHILD TO LIFE.

LUKE Viii. 40—56.

(Matt. ix. 18-26. Mark v. 22-43.)

40. And it came to pass, that when Jesus was returned, the people gladly received him: for they were all waiting for him.

41. And, behold, there came a man named Jairus, and he was a ruler of the synagogue: and he fell down at Jesus' feet, and besought him that he would come into his house;

42. For he had one only daughter, about twelve years of

3 Compare Acts ix. 15, and Gal. i. 23.

age, and she lay a dying. But as he went the people thronged him.

43. And a woman having an issue of blood twelve years, which had spent all her living upon physicians, neither could be healed of any,

44. Came behind him, and touched the border of his garment: and immediately her issue of blood stanched.

45. And Jesus said, Who touched me? When all denied, Peter and they that were with him said, Master, the multitude throng thee and press thee, and sayest thou, Who touched me?

46. And Jesus said, Somebody hath touched me; for I perceive that virtue is gone out of me.

47. And when the woman saw that she was not hid, she came trembling, and falling down before him, she declared unto him before all the people for what cause she had touched him, and how she was healed immediately.

48. And he said unto her, Daughter, be of good comfort: thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace.

The mercy exercised towards this woman, suggests comfort to any who may stand in need of similar mercy. She had heard of the power which Christ displayed; she had seen, perhaps, those who had been healed by it. She felt the burthen of her own case, and why should she not experience a like relief? So she came behind him, and touched the hem of his garment: and immediately her issue of blood stanched.

No doubt there is many a soul, unknown to the world, unknown, perhaps, even even to its nearest friends, which feels its own spiritual wants: feels itself unable to meet the searching eye of God: feels itself "carnal, sold under sin;" while "the