be, "his word is with power." O for the facred influence of the Spirit, to apply it with energy to our hearts! If we accompany our Lord, we fhall perceive him difplaying his high character by the various miracles, which he performed in that neighbourhood. He denied to the men of Nazareth, on account of their violent prejudices, thofe clear and ftrong evidences, which he afforded to the inhabitants of Capernaum. This, indeed, is agreeable to his ufual procedure. To humble and fincere enquirers, he is pleased to give advantages and opportunities for attaining divine knowledge, which he justly and wifely withholds from others. Let us be faithful according to the light we have; and he will establish us more and more in the belief and love of the truth. While Jefus was teaching in the fynagogue at Capernaum, a poor unhappy creature, under the influence of an evil spirit, miferably tormented, cried out aloud in the affembly, "Let us alone; what have we to do with thee, thou Jefus of Nazareth? Art thou come to deftroy us? I know thee who thou art, the Holy One of God." This was a ftriking confeffion, perhaps unwillingly made by the Devil through an impreffion of terror, or elfe intended to bring the character of Chrift into suspicion, as if he were really confederate with wicked demons, and fo to lay a foundation for that objection, " He cafteth out devils through the prince of the devils *." To fhew that he wanted not a teftimony of such a kind, he rejected it with abhorrence, commanding the evil spirit to be filent and to come out of the man. Immediately at his word, the wretched fufferer, after being violently convulfed, was perfectly restored. No wonder, that a general amazement took place, when Jefus appeared fo decidedly fuperior to the • Mat. ix. 34. powers powers of darkness, and that the fame of fo fingular a character was spread abroad through all the country. The cafe of thofe, who were poffeffed, has been the fubject of much enquiry and no little controversy. Many would explain away the influence of Satan, and even deny his very being, and therefore they reprefent this poffeffion as nothing more than a common difeafe. But the defcriptions, given in the New Teftament, feem utterly inconfiftent with fuch an interpretation; as the evil fpirits were spoken to, and returned anfwers, diftinct from the perfons themfelves, and feveral circumstances attending them can never be accounted for by any natural disorder whatever. Surely, there will be no inconfiftency in allowing, according to the literal fense of the scriptures, that the devils were permitted to exercife an extraordinary power over the human body in many inftances. Though we read or hear not of fuch cases in other periods of hiftory, they might be fuffered at that time, in order that the character of Chrift, as our great Deliverer, and his complete victory and triumph over the prince of darkness, might be more clearly exhibited. We perceive the malice of Satan, who is disposed to make use of every method, to harass and torment us; and we are thankful, that his rage is restrained. But, though he practife not fuch acts of violence, as formerly, upon the animal frame, does he therefore exert no influence, which is to be dreaded? Alas! he has yet fo ftrong an afcendency over the minds of men, that many " are taken captive by him at his will." With a destructive efficacy," he now worketh in the children of difobedience +." But we behold with love and admiration the divine Redeemer enter the lifts against him, and obtain a complete 2 Tim. ii. 16. VOL, III. G + Eph. ii. 2. conque conqueft. He can bind "the ftrong man," and let the oppreffed go free. For this purpose the Son of God was manifefted, that he might destroy the works of the devil *:” and, during the abode of Jesus upon earth, full fcope was given for determining the confict. We may, therefore, fafely commit ourselves to the care of our exalted Leader, who delivers his people" from the power of darknefs," and promises, "The prince of this world fhall be caft out +." But let us not be fatisfied with confeffing, "Thou art the Holy One of God." This did the unclean spirit; and this may we alío do, while confederate with Satan. Our fyftem of faith, poffibly, may be orthodox, and our hearts, at the fame time, be filled with impure defires, and enflaved to vile affections. the Gospel needs no fuch advocates; nor will Jefus accept our praises, or own us for his friends, whatever teftimony we may bear for him in such a state. But Common difeafes, likewife, were inftantly removed by a touch or a word from him. The mother of Peter's wife being dangerously fick, the cafe was represented to him; nor was the application vain. With tender compaffion he relieved the diftrefs of the family, commanding the fever to depart, which threatened her life; and the cure was fo perfect, that she was immediately able to wait upon the company. We regard him ftill as the great reftorer of health; and his agency fhould be acknowledged in the efficacy of what are called natural means. Phyficians and medicines fhould not be defpifed or neglected; but our dependence must be placed upon Him, and our fupplications directed to Him, in every time of trouble. cafe was too hard for him, nor was any humble For his help ever rejected. "When the fun 3, all they that had any fick with divers dif 13 ahn iii. 8. † John xii. 31. eases eafes brought them unto him: and he laid his hands on every one of them, and healed them." This was done on the close of the fame day, in which he had been preaching at Capernaum, when the Sabbath, according to their computation, was ended: for they profeffed fuch a high regard for that facred season, that they thought it unlawful to carry, or even to heal, their fick, till the evening. Then also, in various other inftances, he triumphed over the malice and power of Satan. For he caft out many devils, who all proclaimed him to be the Meffiah: but he rejected their teftimony, as before, that he might not seem to be acting in concert with them. After the Sabbath had been thus fpent, probably with much bodily fatigue, he rose very early the next morning, a great while before day*; for the purposes of retirement, contemplation, and prayer. Bleffed Jefus! how does thy example reprove our floth and fenfual indulgence! We allow the neceffity of fecret devotion; but how many excufes do we urge for the neglect of it! Our time is fuppofed to be fo much wanted for other avocations, that we can find little or no leisure for this. But our Lord has taught us to deny ourselves the gratification of fleep, and rife early, that we may fecure an opportunity of waiting upon God, and thus draw down from him renewed fupplies of grace from day to day. Those, who are engaged in public life, have especial need of this caution: for a conftant hurry of business, even in religious concerns, may diftract and enervate the mind, unless its ftrength be repaired by frequent re tirement. But, though privacy fhould be ever fo delightful to us, we must be content to have it interrupted. When the work of God calls us away, we must go with cheerfulness and vigour. "The people fought him, and came unto him, and ftayed him, that he fhould not depart from them." It might have been agreeable to himself, to fix his abode amongst persons fo much attached to him. But he refifted their folicitations; and, with eager defire to promote the end of his miniftry, he faid, "I must preach the kingdom of God to other cities alfo; for therefore am I fent." Accompanied, then, by certain difciples, he took a circuit throughout Galilee, publishing the glad tidings of falvation, and confirming his doctrine by miraculous operations. In the courfe of that journey aftonishing cures were performed, and fuch a general admiration excited, that immenfe multitudes from various and distant places reforted to him This was a pleafing fight: but we may fear, that, with refpect to many, they faw, and heard, and wondered, without any real benefit to themselves. It is fo now. Great numbers are drawn together by the faithful preaching of the Gofpel; amongst whom there are thofe, who feem deeply affected by the things which are fpoken; and yet, notwithstanding their profeffed approbation and zeal, we have no reafon to conclude, that they feel the faving efficacy of the truth. It has been obferved, that our Lord was attended by certain difciples, and an account is given us, at the commencement of this journey, of the manner in which four of them, viz. Peter and Andrew, James and John, were called to this attendance +. The two former, at leaft, had been attached to his fervice before, though not fuch conftant followers, as to forfake their common employments. But now, as he elled much, their prefence and affiftance upon all ons became more neceffary; and it was de, that, by accompanying him throughout his try, they themselves fhould be gradually prepared _iv, 23-25. † Marki, 16—20. Luke v. 1—11. for |