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<center><h1>Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary
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on the Whole Bible</h1>
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[<A HREF="MHC00000.HTM">Table of Contents</A>]<BR>
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Matthew Henry<BR><I>Commentary on the Whole Bible</I> (1721)
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<!-- (Begin Body) -->
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<CENTER>
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+3><B>M A R K.</B></FONT>
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<BR>
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+2>CHAP. V.</FONT>
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<HR SIZE=1 WIDTH=50>
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</CENTER>
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<FONT SIZE=-1>
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<P>
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In this chapter, we have,
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I. Christ's casting the legion of devils out of the man possessed, and
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suffering them to enter into the swine,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mk+5:1-20">ver. 1-20</A>.
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II. Christ's healing the woman with the bloody issue, in the way as he
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was going to raise Jairus's daughter to life,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mk+5:21-43">ver. 21-43</A>.
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These three miracles we had the story of before
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mt+8:28,9:18">Matt. viii. 28, &c. and Matt. ix. 18</A>,
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&c.) but more fully related here.</P>
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</FONT>
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<A NAME="Mr5_1"> </A>
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<A NAME="Sec1"> </A>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
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<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>The Expulsion of Legion.</I></FONT></TD>
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<TR><TD><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
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</TABLE>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>1 And they came over unto the other side of the sea, into the
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country of the Gadarenes.
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2 And when he was come out of the ship, immediately there met
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him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit,
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3 Who had <I>his</I> dwelling among the tombs; and no man could bind
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him, no, not with chains:
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4 Because that he had been often bound with fetters and chains,
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and the chains had been plucked asunder by him, and the fetters
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broken in pieces: neither could any <I>man</I> tame him.
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5 And always, night and day, he was in the mountains, and in
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the tombs, crying, and cutting himself with stones.
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6 But when he saw Jesus afar off, he ran and worshipped him,
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7 And cried with a loud voice, and said, What have I to do with
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thee, Jesus, <I>thou</I> Son of the most high God? I adjure thee by
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God, that thou torment me not.
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8 For he said unto him, Come out of the man, <I>thou</I> unclean
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spirit.
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9 And he asked him, What <I>is</I> thy name? And he answered,
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saying, My name <I>is</I> Legion: for we are many.
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10 And he besought him much that he would not send them away
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out of the country.
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11 Now there was there nigh unto the mountains a great herd of
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swine feeding.
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12 And all the devils besought him, saying, Send us into the
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swine, that we may enter into them.
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13 And forthwith Jesus gave them leave. And the unclean spirits
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went out, and entered into the swine: and the herd ran violently
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down a steep place into the sea, (they were about two thousand;)
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and were choked in the sea.
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14 And they that fed the swine fled, and told <I>it</I> in the city,
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and in the country. And they went out to see what it was that was
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done.
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15 And they come to Jesus, and see him that was possessed with
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the devil, and had the legion, sitting, and clothed, and in his
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right mind: and they were afraid.
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16 And they that saw <I>it</I> told them how it befell to him that
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was possessed with the devil, and <I>also</I> concerning the swine.
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17 And they began to pray him to depart out of their coasts.
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18 And when he was come into the ship, he that had been
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possessed with the devil prayed him that he might be with him.
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19 Howbeit Jesus suffered him not, but saith unto him, Go home
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to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done
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for thee, and hath had compassion on thee.
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20 And he departed, and began to publish in Decapolis how great
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things Jesus had done for him: and all <I>men</I> did marvel.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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We have here an instance of Christ's dispossessing the strong man
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armed, and disposing of him as he pleased, to make it appear that he
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was <I>stronger than he.</I> This he did when he was come <I>to the
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other side,</I> whither he went through a storm; his business there was
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to rescue this poor creature out of the hands of Satan, and when he had
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done that, he returned. Thus he came from heaven to earth, and
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returned, in a storm, to redeem a remnant of mankind out of the hands
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of the devil, though but a <I>little remnant,</I> and did not think his
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pains <I>ill bestowed.</I></P>
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<P>
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In Matthew, they were said to be <I>two</I> possessed with devils; here
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it is said to be a <I>man</I> possessed with an unclean spirit. If
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there were <I>two,</I> there was one, and Mark doth not say that there
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was <I>but one;</I> so that this difference cannot give us any just
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offence; it is probable that one of them was much more remarkable than
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the other, and said what was said. Now observe here,</P>
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<P>
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I. The miserable condition that this poor creature was in; he was under
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the power of an <I>unclean spirit,</I> the devil got possession of him,
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and the effect of it was not, as in many, a silent melancholy, but a
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raging frenzy; he was raving mad; his condition seems to have been
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worse than any of the possessed, that were Christ's patients.</P>
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<P>
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1. He had <I>his dwelling among the tombs,</I> among the graves of dead
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people. Their tombs were out of the cities, in <I>desolate places</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Job+3:14">Job iii. 14</A>);
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which gave the devil great advantage: for <I>woe to him that is
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alone.</I> Perhaps the devil drove him to <I>the tombs,</I> to make
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people fancy that the souls of the dead were turned into dæmons,
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and did what mischief was done, so to excuse themselves from it. The
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touch of a grave was polluting,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+19:16">Num. xix. 16</A>.
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The <I>unclean spirit</I> drives people into that company that is
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<I>defiling,</I> and so keeps possession of them. Christ, by rescuing
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souls out of Satan's power, <I>saves the living from among the
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dead.</I></P>
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<P>
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2. He was very strong and ungovernable; <I>No man could bind him,</I>
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as it is requisite both for their own good, and for the safety of
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others, that those who are distracted should be. Not only cords would
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not hold him, but <I>chains</I> and <I>fetters of iron</I> would not,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mk+5:3,4"><I>v.</I> 3, 4</A>.
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Very deplorable is the case of such as <I>need to be</I> thus
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<I>bound,</I> and of all miserable people in this world they are most
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to be pitied; but his case was worst of all, in whom the devil was so
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strong, that he could not be <I>bound.</I> This sets forth the sad
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condition of those souls in which the devil has dominion; those
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<I>children of disobedience,</I> in whom that unclean spirit works.
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Some notoriously wilful sinners are like this madman; all are herein
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<I>like the horse and the mule,</I> that they need to be <I>held in
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with bit and bridle;</I> but some are like the <I>wild ass,</I> that
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will not be so held. The commands and curses of the law are as
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<I>chains</I> and <I>fetters,</I> to restrain sinners from their wicked
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courses; but they <I>break those bands in sunder,</I> and it is an
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evidence of the power of the devil in them.</P>
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<P>
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3. He was a terror and torment to himself and to all about him,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mk+5:5"><I>v.</I> 5</A>.
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The devil is a <I>cruel</I> master to those that are <I>led captive</I>
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by him, a perfect tyrant; this wretched creature was <I>night and day
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in the mountains and in the tombs, crying, and cutting himself with
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stones,</I> either bemoaning his own deplorable case, or in a rage and
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indignation against heaven. Men in frenzies often wound and destroy
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themselves; what is a man, when reason is <I>de</I>throned and Satan
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<I>en</I>throned? The worshippers of Baal in their fury <I>cut
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themselves,</I> like this madman in his. The voice of God is, <I>Do
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thyself no harm;</I> the voice of Satan is, <I>Do thyself all the harm
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thou canst;</I> yet God's word is despised, and Satan's regarded.
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Perhaps his <I>cutting himself with stones</I> was only cutting his
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feet with the sharp stones he ran barefoot upon.</P>
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<P>
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II. His application to Christ
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mk+5:6"><I>v.</I> 6</A>);
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<I>When he saw Jesus afar off,</I> coming ashore, he <I>ran, and
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worshipped him.</I> He usually <I>ran upon</I> others with <I>rage,</I>
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but he <I>ran to</I> Christ with <I>reverence.</I> That was done by an
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invisible hand of Christ, which could not be done with chains and
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fetters; his fury was all on a sudden curbed. Even the devil, in this
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poor creature, was forced to tremble before Christ, and bow to him: or,
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rather, the poor man came, and <I>worshipped Christ,</I> in a sense of
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the need he had of his help, the power of Satan in and over him being,
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for this instant, suspended.</P>
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<P>
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III. The word of command Christ gave to the unclean spirit, to quit his
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possession
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mk+5:8"><I>v.</I> 8</A>);
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<I>Come out of him, thou unclean spirit.</I> He made the man desirous
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to be relieved, when he enabled him to <I>run, and worship him,</I> and
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then put forth his power for his relief. If Christ <I>work in us</I>
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heartily to pray for a deliverance from Satan, he will work for us that
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deliverance. Here is an instance of the power and authority with which
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Christ <I>commanded the unclean spirits, and they obeyed him,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mk+1:27"><I>ch.</I> i. 27</A>.
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He said, <I>Come out of the man.</I> The design of Christ's gospel is
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to <I>expel</I> unclean spirits out of the souls of people; "<I>Come
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out of the man, thou unclean spirit,</I> that the Holy Spirit may
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enter, may take possession of the heart, and have dominion in it."</P>
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<P>
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IV. The dread which the devil had of Christ. The <I>man ran,</I> and
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<I>worshipped Christ;</I> but it was the devil in the man, that
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<I>cried with a loud voice</I> (making use of the poor man's tongue),
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<I>What have I to do with thee?</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mk+5:7"><I>v.</I> 7</A>.
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Just as that other unclean spirit,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mk+1:24"><I>ch.</I> i. 24</A>.
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1. He calls God the <I>most high God,</I> above all other gods. By the
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name <I>Elion--the Most High,</I> God was <I>known</I> among the
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Phœnicians, and the other nations that bordered upon Israel; and by
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that name the devil calls him.
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2. He owns Jesus to be the <I>Son of God.</I> Note, It is no strange
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thing to hear the best words drop from the worst mouths. There is such
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a way of saying this as none can attain to but <I>by the Holy Ghost</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Co+12:3">1 Cor. xii. 3</A>);
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yet it may be said, after a sort, by the <I>unclean spirit.</I> There
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is no judging of men by their loose sayings; but by their fruits ye
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shall know them. Piety from the teeth outward is an easy thing. The
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most fair-spoken hypocrite cannot say better than to call Jesus the Son
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of God, and yet that the devil did.
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3. He disowns any design against Christ; "<I>What have I to do with
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thee?</I> I have no need of thee, I pretend to none; I desire to have
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nothing to do with thee; I <I>cannot stand</I> before thee, and
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<I>would not</I> fall."
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4. He deprecates his wrath; I <I>adjure thee,</I> that is, "I
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earnestly beseech thee, by all that is sacred, I beg of thee for God's
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sake, by whose permission I have got possession of this man, that,
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though thou drive me out hence, yet that thou <I>torment me not,</I>
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that thou do not restrain me from doing mischief somewhere else; though
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I know I am <I>sentenced,</I> yet let me not be <I>sent</I> to the
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chains of darkness, or hindered from going to and fro, to
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<I>devour.</I>"</P>
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<P>
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V. The account Christ took from this unclean spirit of his name. This
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we had not in Matthew. Christ asked him, <I>What is thy name?</I> Not
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but that Christ could call all the <I>fallen</I> stars, as well as the
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<I>morning</I> stars, by their names; but he demands this, that the
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standers by might be affected with the vast numbers and power of those
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malignant infernal spirits, as they had reason to be, when the answer
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was, <I>My name is Legion, for we are many;</I> a <I>legion</I> of
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soldiers among the Romans consisted, some say, of six thousand men,
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others of twelve thousand and five hundred; but the number of a legion
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with them, like that of a regiment with us, was not always the same.
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Now this intimates that the devils, the infernal powers, are,
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1. <I>Military</I> powers; a legion is a number of soldiers in arms.
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The devils war against God and his glory, Christ and his gospel, men
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and their holiness and happiness. They are such as we are to
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<I>resist</I> and <I>wrestle against,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eph+6:12">Eph. vi. 12</A>.
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2. That they are <I>numerous;</I> he <I>owns,</I> or rather he
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<I>boasts--We are many;</I> as if he hoped to be <I>too many</I> for
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Christ himself to deal with. What multitudes of apostate spirits were
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there, and all enemies to God and man; when here were a legion posted
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to keep garrison in one poor wretched creature against Christ! Many
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there are that rise up against us.
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3. That they are <I>unanimous;</I> they are <I>many</I> devils, and yet
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but <I>one legion</I> engaged in the same wicked cause; and therefore
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that cavil of the Pharisees, which supposed Satan to cast out Satan,
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and to be divided against himself, was altogether groundless. It was
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not <I>one</I> of this legion that betrayed the rest, for they all
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said, as one man, <I>What have I to do with thee?</I>
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4. That they are very <I>powerful;</I> Who can stand before a
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<I>legion?</I> We are not a match for our spiritual enemies, in our own
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strength; but <I>in the Lord, and in the power of his might,</I> we
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shall be able to <I>stand against them,</I> though there are legions of
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them.
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5. That there is <I>order</I> among them, as there is in a
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<I>legion;</I> there are <I>principalities, and powers, and rulers of
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the darkness of this world,</I> which supposes that there are those of
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a lower rank; the <I>devil</I> and his angels; the <I>dragon</I> and
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his; the prince of the devils and his subjects: which makes those
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enemies the more formidable.</P>
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<P>
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VI. The request of this legion, that Christ would suffer them to go
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into a herd of swine that was <I>feeding nigh unto the mountains</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mk+5:11"><I>v.</I> 11</A>),
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those mountains which the demoniacs haunted,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mk+5:5"><I>v.</I> 5</A>.
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Their request was,
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1. That he <I>would not send them away out of the country</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mk+5:10"><I>v.</I> 10</A>);
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not only that he would not <I>commit</I> them, or <I>confine</I> them,
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to their infernal prison, and so <I>torment them before the time;</I>
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but that he would not <I>banish</I> them <I>that country,</I> as justly
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he might, because in this poor man they had been such a terror to it,
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and done so much mischief. They seem to have had a particular affection
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for <I>that country;</I> or, rather, a particular spite to it; and to
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have liberty to walk <I>to and fro through</I> the rest of <I>the
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earth,</I> will not serve
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Job+1:7">Job i. 7</A>),
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unless the <I>range of those mountains</I> be allowed them for their
|
|
pasture,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Job+39:8">Job xxxix. 8</A>.
|
|
|
|
But why would they abide in <I>that country?</I> Grotius saith, Because
|
|
in <I>that country</I> there were many <I>apostate Jews,</I> who had
|
|
thrown themselves out of the covenant of God, and had thereby given
|
|
Satan power over them. And some suggest, that, having by experience got
|
|
the knowledge of the dispositions and manners of the people of that
|
|
country, they could the more effectually do them mischief by their
|
|
temptations.
|
|
|
|
2. That he would suffer them to <I>enter into the swine,</I> by
|
|
destroying which they hoped to do more mischief to the souls of all the
|
|
people in the country, than they could by entering into the body of any
|
|
particular person, which therefore they did not ask leave to do, for
|
|
they knew Christ would not grant it.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
VII. The permission Christ gave them to enter into the swine, and the
|
|
immediate destruction of the swine thereby; <I>He gave them leave</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mk+5:13"><I>v.</I> 13</A>),
|
|
|
|
he did not forbid or restrain them, he let them do as they had a mind.
|
|
Thus he would let the Gadarenes see what powerful spiteful enemies
|
|
devils are, that they might thereby be induced to make him their
|
|
Friend, who alone was able to control and conquer them, and had made it
|
|
appear that he was so. Immediately the <I>unclean spirits entered into
|
|
the swine,</I> which by the law were unclean creatures, and naturally
|
|
love to <I>wallow in the mire,</I> the fittest place for them. Those
|
|
that, like the swine, delight in <I>the mire</I> of sensual lusts, are
|
|
fit habitations for Satan, and are, like Babylon, the <I>hold of every
|
|
foul spirit,</I> and a <I>cage of every unclean and hateful bird</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Re+18:2">Rev. xviii. 2</A>),
|
|
|
|
as pure souls are habitations of the Holy Spirit. The consequence of
|
|
the devils entering into the swine, was, that they all <I>ran mad</I>
|
|
presently, and ran headlong into the adjoining sea, where they were all
|
|
drowned, to the number of <I>two thousand.</I> The man they possessed
|
|
did only <I>cut himself,</I> for God had said, <I>He is in your hands,
|
|
only save his life.</I> But thereby it appeared, that, if he had not
|
|
been so restrained, the poor man would have <I>drowned himself.</I> See
|
|
how much we are indebted to the providence of God, and the ministration
|
|
of good angels, for our preservation from malignant spirits.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
VIII. The report of all this dispersed through the country immediately.
|
|
They that <I>fed the swine,</I> hastened to the owners, to give an
|
|
account of their charge,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mk+5:14"><I>v.</I> 14</A>.
|
|
|
|
This drew the people together, to see what was done: and,
|
|
|
|
1. When they saw how wonderfully the poor man was cured, they hence
|
|
conceived a <I>veneration for Christ,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mk+5:15"><I>v.</I> 15</A>.
|
|
|
|
They saw him that was <I>possessed with the devil,</I> and knew him
|
|
well enough, by the same token that they had many a time been
|
|
frightened at the sight of him; and were now as much surprised to see
|
|
him <I>sitting clothed and in his right mind;</I> when Satan was cast
|
|
out, he came to himself, and was his own man presently. Note, Those who
|
|
are grave and sober, and live by rule and with consideration, thereby
|
|
make it appear that by the power of Christ the devil's power is broken
|
|
in their souls. The sight of this <I>made them afraid;</I> it
|
|
astonished them, and forced them to own the power of Christ, and that
|
|
he is <I>worthy to be feared.</I> But,
|
|
|
|
2. When they found that their swine were lost, they thence conceived a
|
|
<I>dislike of Christ,</I> and wished to have rather his room than his
|
|
company; they prayed him to <I>depart out of their coasts,</I> for they
|
|
think not any good he can do them sufficient to make them amends for
|
|
the loss of so many swine, fat swine, it may be, and ready for the
|
|
market. Now the devils had what they would have; for by no handle do
|
|
these evil spirits more effectually manage sinful souls than by that of
|
|
the love of the world. They were afraid of some further punishment, if
|
|
Christ should tarry among them, whereas, if they would but part with
|
|
their sins, he had life and happiness for them; but, being loth to quit
|
|
either their sins or their swine, they chose rather to abandon their
|
|
Saviour. Thus <I>they</I> do, who, rather than let go a base lust,
|
|
will throw away their interest in Christ, and their expectations from
|
|
him. They should rather have argued, "If he has such a power as this
|
|
over devils and all creatures, it is good having him our Friend; if the
|
|
devils have leave to tarry <I>in our country</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mk+5:10"><I>v.</I> 10</A>),
|
|
|
|
let us entreat <I>him</I> to tarry in it too, who alone can control
|
|
them." But, instead of this, they wished him further off. Such strange
|
|
misconstructions do carnal hearts make of the just judgments of God;
|
|
instead of being by them driven to him as they ought, they set him at
|
|
so much the greater distance; though he hath said, <I>Provoke me not,
|
|
and I will do you no hurt,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jer+25:6">Jer. xxv. 6</A>.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
IX. An account of the conduct of the poor man after his deliverance.
|
|
|
|
1. He <I>desired that he might go along with Christ</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mk+5:18"><I>v.</I> 18</A>),
|
|
|
|
perhaps for fear lest the evil spirit should again seize him; or,
|
|
rather, that he might receive instruction from him, being unwilling to
|
|
stay among those heathenish people that desired him to depart. Those
|
|
that are freed from the evil spirit, cannot but covet acquaintance and
|
|
fellowship with Christ.
|
|
|
|
2. Christ <I>would not suffer him</I> to go with him, lest it should
|
|
savour of ostentation, and to let him know that he could both protect
|
|
and instruct him at a distance. And besides, he had other work for him
|
|
to do; he must go home to his friends, and tell them what <I>great
|
|
things the Lord had done for him,</I> the Lord Jesus had done; that
|
|
Christ might be honoured, and his neighbours and friends might be
|
|
edified, and invited to believe in Christ. He must take particular
|
|
notice rather of Christ's <I>pity</I> than of his <I>power,</I> for
|
|
that is it which especially he glories in; he must tell them what
|
|
<I>compassion</I> the Lord had had on him in his misery.
|
|
|
|
3. The man, in a transport of joy, proclaimed, all the country over,
|
|
what <I>great things Jesus had done for him,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mk+5:20"><I>v.</I> 20</A>.
|
|
|
|
This is a debt we owe both to Christ and to our brethren, that he may
|
|
be glorified and they edified. And see what was the effect of it;
|
|
<I>All men did marvel,</I> but few went any further. Many that cannot
|
|
but wonder at the works of Christ, yet do not, as they ought, <I>wonder
|
|
after him.</I></P>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Mr5_21"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Mr5_22"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Mr5_23"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Mr5_24"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Mr5_25"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Mr5_26"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Mr5_27"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Mr5_28"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Mr5_29"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Mr5_30"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Mr5_31"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Mr5_32"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Mr5_33"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Mr5_34"> </A>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Sec2"> </A>
|
|
<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
|
|
<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>The Healing of the Bloody Issue.</I></FONT></TD>
|
|
<TR><TD><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
|
|
</TABLE>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>21 And when Jesus was passed over again by ship unto the other
|
|
side, much people gathered unto him: and he was nigh unto the
|
|
sea.
|
|
22 And, behold, there cometh one of the rulers of the
|
|
synagogue, Jairus by name; and when he saw him, he fell at his
|
|
feet,
|
|
23 And besought him greatly, saying, My little daughter lieth
|
|
at the point of death: <I>I pray thee,</I> come and lay thy hands on
|
|
her, that she may be healed; and she shall live.
|
|
24 And <I>Jesus</I> went with him; and much people followed him, and
|
|
thronged him.
|
|
25 And a certain woman, which had an issue of blood twelve
|
|
years,
|
|
26 And had suffered many things of many physicians, and had
|
|
spent all that she had, and was nothing bettered, but rather grew
|
|
worse,
|
|
27 When she had heard of Jesus, came in the press behind, and
|
|
touched his garment.
|
|
28 For she said, If I may touch but his clothes, I shall be
|
|
whole.
|
|
29 And straightway the fountain of her blood was dried up; and
|
|
she felt in <I>her</I> body that she was healed of that plague.
|
|
30 And Jesus, immediately knowing in himself that virtue had
|
|
gone out of him, turned him about in the press, and said, Who
|
|
touched my clothes?
|
|
31 And his disciples said unto him, Thou seest the multitude
|
|
thronging thee, and sayest thou, Who touched me?
|
|
32 And he looked round about to see her that had done this
|
|
thing.
|
|
33 But the woman fearing and trembling, knowing what was done
|
|
in her, came and fell down before him, and told him all the
|
|
truth.
|
|
34 And he said unto her, Daughter, thy faith hath made thee
|
|
whole; go in peace, and be whole of thy plague.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
The Gadarenes having desired Christ to leave their country, he did not
|
|
stay to trouble them long, but presently went by water, as he came,
|
|
back <I>to the other side</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mk+5:21"><I>v.</I> 21</A>),
|
|
|
|
and there <I>much people gathered to him.</I> Note, If there be some
|
|
that reject Christ, yet there are others that receive him, and bid him
|
|
welcome. A despised gospel will <I>cross the water,</I> and go where it
|
|
will have better entertainment. Now among the many that applied
|
|
themselves to him,</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
I. Here is one, that comes <I>openly</I> to <I>beg</I> a cure for a
|
|
sick child; and it is no less a person than one of the <I>rulers of the
|
|
synagogue,</I> one that presided in the synagogue-worship or, as some
|
|
think, one of the judges of the consistory court, which was in every
|
|
city, consisting of <I>twenty-three.</I> He was not named in Matthew,
|
|
he is here, <I>Jairus,</I> or <I>Jair,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jdg+10:3">Judg. x. 3</A>.
|
|
|
|
He addressed himself to Christ, though a ruler, with great humility and
|
|
reverence; <I>When he saw him, he fell at his feet,</I> giving honour
|
|
to him as one really greater than he appeared to be; and with great
|
|
importunity, he <I>besought him greatly,</I> as one in earnest, as one
|
|
that not only valued the mercy he came for, but that knew he could
|
|
obtain it no where else. The case is this, He has a <I>little
|
|
daughter,</I> about twelve years old, the darling of the family, and
|
|
she <I>lies a dying;</I> but he believes that if Christ will but come,
|
|
and <I>lay his hands upon her,</I> she will return even from the gates
|
|
of the grave. He said, at first, when he came, <I>She lies a dying</I>
|
|
(so Mark); but afterward, upon fresh information sent him, he saith,
|
|
<I>She is even now dead</I> (so Matthew); but he still prosecutes his
|
|
suit; see
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+8:42-49">Luke viii. 42-49</A>.
|
|
|
|
Christ readily agreed, and went with him,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mk+5:24"><I>v.</I> 24</A>.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
II. Here is another, that comes <I>clandestinely</I> to <I>steal</I> a
|
|
cure (if I may so say) for herself; and she got the relief she came
|
|
for. This cure was wrought by <I>the way,</I> as he was going to raise
|
|
the ruler's daughter, and was followed by a crowd. See how Christ
|
|
improved his time, and lost none of the precious moments of it. Many of
|
|
his discourses, and some of his miracles, are dates <I>by the
|
|
way-side;</I> we should be doing good, not only when we <I>sit in the
|
|
house,</I> but when we <I>walk by the way,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=De+6:7">Deut. vi. 7</A>.
|
|
|
|
Now observe,</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
1. The piteous case of this poor woman. She had a constant <I>issue of
|
|
blood</I> upon her, for <I>twelve years,</I> which had thrown her, no
|
|
doubt, into great weakness, had embittered the comfort of her life, and
|
|
threatened to be her death in a little time. She had had the best
|
|
advice of physicians, that she could get, and had made use of the many
|
|
medicines and methods they prescribed: as long as she had any thing to
|
|
give them, they had kept her in hopes that they could cure her; but now
|
|
that she had spent all she had among them, they gave her up as
|
|
incurable. See here,
|
|
|
|
(1.) That skin for skin, and all that a man has, will be give for life
|
|
and health; she spent all she had upon physicians.
|
|
|
|
(2.) It is ill with those patients whose physicians are their worst
|
|
disease; who <I>suffer</I> by their physicians, instead of being
|
|
relieved by them.
|
|
|
|
(3.) Those that are not <I>bettered</I> by medicines, commonly <I>grow
|
|
worse,</I> and the disease gets the more ground.
|
|
|
|
(4.) It is usual with people not to apply themselves to Christ, till
|
|
they have tried in vain all other helpers, and find them, as certainly
|
|
they will, <I>physicians of no value.</I> And he will be found a
|
|
<I>sure refuge,</I> even to those who make him their <I>last
|
|
refuge.</I></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
2. The strong faith that she had in the power of Christ to heal her;
|
|
she said within herself, though it doth not appear that she was
|
|
encouraged by any preceding instance to say it, <I>If I may but touch
|
|
his clothes, I shall be whole,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mk+5:28"><I>v.</I> 28</A>.
|
|
|
|
She believed that he cured, not as a prophet, by virtue <I>derived</I>
|
|
from God, but as the Son of God, by a virtue <I>inherent</I> in
|
|
himself. Her case was such as she could not in modesty tell him
|
|
publicly, as others did their grievances, and therefore a private cure
|
|
was what she wished for, and her faith was suited to her case.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
3. The wonderful effect produced by it; <I>She came in the</I> crowd
|
|
<I>behind</I> him, and with much ado got to <I>touch his garment,</I>
|
|
and immediately she felt the cure wrought,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mk+5:29"><I>v.</I> 29</A>.
|
|
|
|
The flux of blood was <I>dried up,</I> and she felt herself perfectly
|
|
well all over her, as well as ever she was in her life, in an instant;
|
|
by this it appears that the cure was altogether miraculous; for those
|
|
that in such cases are cured by natural means, recover their strength
|
|
slowly and gradually, and not <I>per saltum--all at once;</I> but <I>as
|
|
for God, his work is perfect.</I> Note, Those whom Christ heals of the
|
|
disease of sin, that bloody issue, cannot but experience in themselves
|
|
a universal change for the better.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
4. Christ's enquiry after his concealed patient, and the encouragement
|
|
he gave her, upon the discovery of her; Christ <I>knew in himself that
|
|
virtue had gone out of him,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mk+5:30"><I>v.</I> 30</A>.
|
|
|
|
He knew it not by any deficiency of spirits, through the exhausting of
|
|
this virtue, but rather by an agility of spirits, in the exerting of
|
|
it, and the innate and inseparable pleasure he had in doing good. And
|
|
being desirous to see his patient, he asked, not in displeasure, as one
|
|
affronted, but in tenderness, as one concerned, <I>Who touched my
|
|
clothes?</I> The disciples, not without a show of rudeness and
|
|
indecency, almost ridiculed his question
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mk+5:31"><I>v.</I> 31</A>);
|
|
|
|
<I>The multitudes throng thee, and sayest thou, Who touched me?</I> As
|
|
if it had been an improper question. Christ passed by the affront, and
|
|
<I>looks around</I> to <I>see her that had done this thing;</I> not
|
|
that he might <I>blame</I> her for her presumption, but that he might
|
|
<I>commend</I> and <I>encourage</I> her faith, and by his own act and
|
|
deed might <I>warrant</I> and <I>confirm</I> the cure, and
|
|
<I>ratify</I> to her that which she had <I>surreptitiously</I>
|
|
obtained. He needed not that any should inform him, for he had
|
|
presently his eye upon her. Note, As secret acts of sin, so secret acts
|
|
of faith, are known to the Lord Jesus, and are under his eye. If
|
|
believers derive virtue from Christ ever so closely, he knows it, and
|
|
is pleased with it. The poor woman, hereupon, presented herself to the
|
|
Lord Jesus
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mk+5:33"><I>v.</I> 33</A>),
|
|
|
|
<I>fearing and trembling,</I> not knowing how he would take it. Note,
|
|
Christ's patients are often trembling, when they have reason to be
|
|
triumphing. She might have come boldly, <I>knowing what was done in
|
|
her;</I> yet, <I>knowing that,</I> she <I>fears</I> and
|
|
<I>trembles.</I> It was a <I>surprise,</I> and was not yet, as it
|
|
should have been, a <I>pleasing</I> surprise. However, she <I>fell down
|
|
before him.</I> Note, There is nothing better for those that fear and
|
|
tremble, than to throw themselves at the feet of the Lord Jesus; to
|
|
humble themselves before him, and refer themselves to him. And she
|
|
<I>told him all the truth.</I> Note, We must not be ashamed to own the
|
|
secret transactions between Christ and our souls; but, when called to
|
|
it, mention, to his praise, and the encouragement of others, what he
|
|
has done for our souls, and the experience we have had of <I>healing
|
|
virtue</I> derived from him. And the consideration of this, that
|
|
nothing can be hid from Christ, should engage us to confess all to him.
|
|
See what an encouraging word he gave her
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mk+5:34"><I>v.</I> 34</A>);
|
|
|
|
<I>Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole.</I> Note, Christ puts
|
|
honour upon faith, because faith gives honour to Christ. But see how
|
|
<I>what is done by faith</I> on earth is ratified in heaven; Christ
|
|
saith, <I>Be whole of thy disease.</I> Note, If our faith sets the seal
|
|
of its <I>amen</I> to the power and promise of God, saying, "So it is,
|
|
and so let it be to me;" God's grace will set the seal of its
|
|
<I>amen</I> to the prayers and hopes of faith, saying, "So be it, and
|
|
so it shall be, to thee." And therefore, "<I>Go in peace;</I> be well
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satisfied that thy cure is honestly come by, is effectually wrought,
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|
and take the comfort of it." Note, They that by faith are healed of
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|
their spiritual diseases, have reason to <I>go in peace.</I></P>
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<A NAME="Mr5_35"> </A>
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<A NAME="Mr5_36"> </A>
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<A NAME="Mr5_37"> </A>
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<A NAME="Mr5_38"> </A>
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<A NAME="Mr5_39"> </A>
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<A NAME="Mr5_40"> </A>
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<A NAME="Mr5_41"> </A>
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<A NAME="Mr5_42"> </A>
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<A NAME="Mr5_43"> </A>
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<A NAME="Sec3"> </A>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
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<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>The Daughter of Jairus Restored to Life.</I></FONT></TD>
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<TR><TD><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
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</TABLE>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>35 While he yet spake, there came from the ruler of the
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synagogue's <I>house certain</I> which said, Thy daughter is dead: why
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troublest thou the Master any further?
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36 As soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken, he saith
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|
unto the ruler of the synagogue, Be not afraid, only believe.
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37 And he suffered no man to follow him, save Peter, and James,
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and John the brother of James.
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38 And he cometh to the house of the ruler of the synagogue,
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|
and seeth the tumult, and them that wept and wailed greatly.
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|
39 And when he was come in, he saith unto them, Why make ye
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|
this ado, and weep? the damsel is not dead, but sleepeth.
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40 And they laughed him to scorn. But when he had put them all
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|
out, he taketh the father and the mother of the damsel, and them
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|
that were with him, and entereth in where the damsel was lying.
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|
41 And he took the damsel by the hand, and said unto her,
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|
Talitha cumi; which is, being interpreted, Damsel, I say unto
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|
thee, arise.
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|
42 And straightway the damsel arose, and walked; for she was
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|
<I>of the age</I> of twelve years. And they were astonished with a
|
|
great astonishment.
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|
43 And he charged them straitly that no man should know it; and
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|
commanded that something should be given her to eat.
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|
</FONT></P>
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|
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<P>
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|
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|
Diseases and deaths came into the world by the sin and disobedience of
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|
the first Adam; but by the grace of the second Adam both are conquered.
|
|
Christ, having healed an incurable disease, here goes on to triumph
|
|
over death, as in the beginning of the chapter he had triumphed over an
|
|
outrageous devil.</P>
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|
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|
<P>
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|
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|
I. The melancholy news is brought to Jairus, that his <I>daughter is
|
|
dead,</I> and therefore, if Christ be as other physicians, he comes too
|
|
late. While there is life, there is hope, and room for the use of
|
|
means; but when life is gone, it is past recall; <I>Why troublest thou
|
|
the Master any further?</I>
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|
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|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mk+5:35"><I>v.</I> 35</A>.
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|
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|
Ordinarily, the proper thought in this case, is, "The matter is
|
|
determined, the will of God is done, and I submit, I acquiesce; <I>The
|
|
Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away. While the child was alive, I
|
|
fasted and wept; for I said, Who can tell but God will yet be gracious
|
|
to me,</I> and <I>the child shall live?</I> But <I>now that it is dead,
|
|
wherefore should I weep?</I> I <I>shall go to it, but it shall not
|
|
return to me.</I>" With such words we should <I>quiet ourselves</I> at
|
|
such a time, that our souls may be <I>as a child that is weaned from
|
|
his mother:</I> but there the case was extraordinary; the death of the
|
|
child doth not, as usually, put an end to the narrative.</P>
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|
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|
<P>
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|
|
|
II. Christ encourageth the afflicted father yet to hope that his
|
|
application to Christ on the behalf of his child should not be in vain.
|
|
Christ had staid to work a cure by the way, but he shall be no sufferer
|
|
by that, nor loser by the gain of others; <I>Be not afraid, only
|
|
believe.</I> We may suppose Jairus at a pause, whether he should ask
|
|
Christ to go on or no; but have we not as much occasion for the grace
|
|
of God, and his consolations, and consequently of the prayers of our
|
|
ministers and Christian friends, when death is in the house, as when
|
|
sickness is? Christ therefore soon determines this matter; "<I>Be not
|
|
afraid</I> that my coming will be to no purpose, only believe that I
|
|
will make it turn to a good account." Note,
|
|
|
|
1. We must not despair concerning our relations that are dead, nor
|
|
<I>sorrow</I> for them <I>as those that have no hope.</I> See what is
|
|
said to Rachel, who <I>refused to be comforted concerning her
|
|
children,</I> upon the presumption that they <I>were not; Refrain thy
|
|
voice from weeping, and thine eyes from tears; for there is hope in
|
|
thine end, that thy children shall come again,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jer+31:16,17">Jer. xxxi. 16, 17</A>.
|
|
|
|
Therefore fear not, faint not.
|
|
|
|
2. Faith is the only remedy against disquieting grief and fear at such
|
|
a time: let that silence them, <I>Only believe.</I> Keep up a
|
|
confidence in Christ, and a dependence upon him, and he will do what is
|
|
for the best. Believe the resurrection, and then be not afraid.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
III. He went with a select company to the house where the dead child
|
|
was. He had, by the crowd that attended him, given advantage to the
|
|
poor woman he last healed, and, having done that, now he shook off the
|
|
crowd, and <I>suffered no man to follow him</I> (to <I>follow with
|
|
him,</I> so the word is), but his three bosom-disciples, Peter, and
|
|
James, and John; a competent number to be witnesses of the miracle, but
|
|
not such a number as that his taking them with him might look like
|
|
vainglory.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
IV. He raised the dead child to life; the circumstances of the
|
|
narrative here are much the same as we had them in Matthew; only here
|
|
we may observe,</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
1. That the child was extremely well beloved, for the relations and
|
|
neighbours <I>wept and wailed greatly.</I> It is very afflictive when
|
|
that which is come forth like a flower is so <I>soon cut down,</I> and
|
|
withereth before it is grown up; when that grieves us, of which we
|
|
said, <I>This same shall comfort us.</I></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
2. That it was evident beyond dispute, that the child was really and
|
|
truly dead. Their <I>laughing</I> Christ to <I>scorn,</I> for saying,
|
|
<I>She is not dead, but sleepeth,</I> though highly reprehensible,
|
|
serves for the proof of this.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
3. That Christ put those out as unworthy to be witnesses of the
|
|
miracle, who were noisy in their sorrow, and were so ignorant in the
|
|
things of God, as not to understand him when he spoke of death as a
|
|
<I>sleep,</I> or so scornful, as to ridicule him for it.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
4. That he took the parents of the child to be witnesses of the
|
|
miracle, because in it he had an eye to <I>their faith,</I> and
|
|
designed it for <I>their</I> comfort, who were the <I>true,</I> for
|
|
they were the <I>silent</I> mourners.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
5. That Christ raised the child to life by a word of power, which is
|
|
recorded here, and recorded in Syriac, the language in which Christ
|
|
spoke, for the greater certainty of the thing; <I>Talitha, cumi;
|
|
Damsel, I say unto thee, Arise.</I> Dr. Lightfoot saith, It was
|
|
customary with the Jews, when they gave physic to one that was
|
|
<I>sick,</I> to say, <I>Arise from thy disease;</I> meaning, <I>We
|
|
wish</I> thou mayest arise: but to one that was <I>dead,</I> Christ
|
|
said, <I>Arise from the dead;</I> meaning, <I>I command</I> that thou
|
|
arise; nay, there is more in it--the dead have not power to arise,
|
|
therefore power goes along with this word, to make it effectual. <I>Da
|
|
quod jubes, et jube quod vis--Give what thou commandest, and command
|
|
what thou wilt.</I> Christ works while he commands, and works by the
|
|
command, and therefore may command what he pleaseth, even the dead to
|
|
arise. Such is the gospel call to those that are by nature dead in
|
|
trespasses and sins, and can no more rise from that death by their own
|
|
power, than this child could; and yet that word, <I>Awake, and arise
|
|
from the dead,</I> is neither vain, nor in vain, when it follows
|
|
immediately, <I>Christ shall give thee light,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eph+5:14">Eph. v. 14</A>.
|
|
|
|
It is by the word of Christ that spiritual life is given, <I>I said
|
|
unto thee, Live,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+16:6">Ezek. xvi. 6</A>.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
6. That the damsel, as soon as life returned, <I>arose, and walked,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mk+5:42"><I>v.</I> 42</A>.
|
|
|
|
Spiritual life will appear by our <I>rising</I> from the bed of sloth
|
|
and carelessness, and our <I>walking</I> in a religious conversation,
|
|
our walking <I>up and down</I> in Christ's name and strength; even from
|
|
those that are <I>of the age of twelve years,</I> it may be expected
|
|
that they should walk as those whom Christ has <I>raised to life,</I>
|
|
otherwise than in the native <I>vanity of their minds.</I></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
7. That all who saw it, and heard of it, admired the miracle, and him
|
|
that wrought it; <I>They were astonished with a great astonishment.</I>
|
|
They could not but acknowledge that there was something in it
|
|
extraordinary and very great, and yet they knew not what to make of it,
|
|
or to infer from it. Their wonder should have worked forward to a
|
|
lively faith, but it rested in a <I>stupor</I> or
|
|
<I>astonishment.</I></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
8. That Christ endeavoured to conceal it; <I>He charged them straitly,
|
|
that no man should know it.</I> It was sufficiently known to a
|
|
competent number, but he would not have it as yet <I>proclaimed</I> any
|
|
further; because his own resurrection was to be the great instance of
|
|
his power over death, and therefore the divulging of other instances
|
|
must be reserved till that great proof was given: let one part of the
|
|
evidence be kept private, till the other part, on which the main stress
|
|
lies, be made ready.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
9. That Christ took care something should be <I>given her to eat.</I>
|
|
By this it appeared that she was raised not only to life, but to a good
|
|
state of health, that she had an appetite to her meat; even the
|
|
new-born babes in Christ's house desire the sincere milk,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Pe+2:1,2">1 Pet. ii. 1, 2</A>.
|
|
|
|
And it is observable, that, as Christ, when at first he had made man,
|
|
presently provided food for him, and food out of the earth of which he
|
|
was made
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+1:29">Gen. i. 29</A>),
|
|
|
|
so now when he had given a new life, he took care that something should
|
|
be given to eat; for is he has given <I>life,</I> he may be trusted to
|
|
give <I>livelihood,</I> because <I>the life is more than meat,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mt+6:25">Matt. vi. 25</A>.
|
|
|
|
Where Christ hath given <I>spiritual life,</I> he will provide food for
|
|
the support and nourishment of it unto life eternal, for he will
|
|
<I>never forsake,</I> or be wanting to, the <I>work of his own
|
|
hands.</I></P>
|
|
|
|
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