It happened that, on a certain day, as Jesus was preaching in the synagogue of Capernaum, the congregation was disturbed by one having "the spirit of an unclean devil." This is the first place in Scripture where mention is made of men possessed with devils, of which there is such frequent example in the Evangelical story. There has been great variety of opinions respecting these demoniacal possessions, frequently mentioned in the New Testament. Some have thought that persons "possessed with devils" were merely madmen, and justify their opinion by an expression in St. John : "He hath a devil, and is mad;" but there is decisive proof that it means something more, because St. Matthew mentions "the possessed with devils in conjunction "with those that were lunatic, and had the palsy;" and it is most clearly shown that persons mentioned in the narrative were really possessed with devils, because it is said, "Christ suffered not the devils to speak, because they knew Him to be Christ;" and the case of madmen could not affect the swine, into whom the devils entered to their destruction. It is observable that we do not find any that were healed of this dreadful visitation till the coming of Christ'. Scripture tells us thus much of the world of spirits; that there are Angels interested in the salvation Dr. Lightfoot.

Bishop Pearce.

3

of man, and others in his ruin. Some rejoice in the repentance of a sinner, and "desire to look into the things concerning man's redemption." Others, on the other hand, are grieved at the coming of our Lord; they express a consciousness of His power, and a conviction that the design for which He came into the world was to "come to destroy us "." us"." It is obvious and easy to find a reason why in the days of Christ all evil spirits had more influence and power over the bodies of men than either before or since. Evil spirits were permitted to be more at large, that the glory of the Son of God might be made manifest in expelling them, in rebuking them, in putting them to open shame, and compelling them to proclaim the dignity of the Christ, and to be a sort of unwilling witnesses of the Gospel. Thus men behold, at the same time, the vile nature and the terrible force of those apostate spirits, and the superior power and great goodness of the Divine Saviour, who delivered miserable men from such dreadful enemies'.

SECT. XXVIII.-Christ healeth Peter's Mother-in-law.Matt. viii. 16, 17; Mark iv. 29-31; Luke iv. 38, 39. ALTHOUGH Peter and Andrew are said to be "of Bethsaida," yet we here find that they had a house at Capernaum, and that Peter's wife's mother was also resident there, and was at this time

6

Archbishop Sumner.

7 Dr. Jortin.

"sick of a fever;" our Lord is told of this, and is pleased by a miracle to go in to her and heal her. It is singular enough that the Romanists should make it an essential matter of their discipline that priests should be "forbidden to marry," after Peter's example, assuming him to be the founder and peculiar Apostle of their Church, whilst of him alone the Scriptures record that he was a married man. We read in the First Epistle to the Corinthians, that Cephas continued to live with his wife after he was an Apostle.

SECT. XXIX.-Christ healeth many Diseased Persons.Matt. viii. 16, 17; Mark i. 32–34; Luke iv. 40, 41. THE Jews began and ended their Sabbath from sun-setting to sun-setting, and they held it unsuitable to the day, as we know in several places of the New Testament, that Christ should be at the work of healing while the Sabbath lasted. So the Evangelist records "at even when the sun was set," "all the city was gathered together at the door, and He healed many that were sick of divers diseases, and cast out many devils, and suffered not the devils to speak, because they knew Him." Christ healed all diseases with His touch, for St. Luke says, "He laid His hands on every one of them, and healed them;" but He cast out devils by His word, for St. Matthew says, "He cast out the spirits with His word, and suffered them not to speak, for they * Dr. Macknight,

knew that He was Christ." It has been a question, Why Christ would not permit them to speak? to which it may be replied, That it was not fit that He should be manifested by devils. He commanded them to hold their peace, and not to declare who He was. The power which Jesus evidenced over the unclean spirits amazed the people beyond every thing, for "they said one to another, What a word is this! for with authority and power He commandeth them"." SECT. XXX.-Christ retires apart to pray.-Mark i. 35-38; Luke iv. 42-44.

In every part of our Lord's ministry we shall find Him attended, through His different movements, by immense multitudes. The doctrines which He preached, and the miracles which He performed, generally brought together a large concourse of people: though but few in comparison attached themselves cordially to Him. Some were led by curiosity, or a desire to hear and see something uncommon; others, oppressed with bodily diseases, applied to Him for relief under their various complaints. The admiration of a multitude, however, was not what Jesus sought, for He had no vain nor ambitious views; we read, accordingly, that after the occurrence related above, Jesus, "rising up a great while before day, went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed;" for the

9 Dr. S. Clarke.

'Dr. Robinson.

L

company at Capernaum so increased upon Him, because of the miracles that He had wrought, that in a town He could not obtain retirement for an instant. When daylight came, both His disciples and the people were abroad inquiring after Him; and when they found Him, they would have prevailed on Him to stay with them, but He refused to be detained for any single congregation,-His mission was more catholic, "Let us go into the next towns, that I may preach there also: for therefore came I forth. And He preached in their synagogues throughout all Galilee "."

Let us learn of Jesus to watch our opportunities, and ever insist upon them by retreating occasionally from our most pressing occupations and our kindest friends, that we may keep alive our secret intercourse with God. Such is the pattern set before us3. But what was the prayer of Jesus? It was not prayer for pardon, for "He did no sin, neither was guile found in His mouth;" it was not prayer for the renewal of the Spirit, for He needed no renewal ;-but we may believe it was prayer that His labour should not be in vain; that the hearts to which He had preached might receive the word He had spoken. It was prayer, that the great work which He had undertaken for the redemption of mankind might be successfully carried out, so as to redound to His Father's 2 Dr. Lightfoot. 3 Dr. Robinson.