"The same spirit that saw and recognized the Saviour, and cried out to Him, 'Let us alone! what have we to do with Thee!' possessed the wicked Jews who rejected Christ and scorned His teaching. But with them he assumed an air of piety and learning, seeking to deceive them as to their real motives in refusing the Saviour.

"Jesus then retired from the synagogue while the people were still spell-bound with wonder and admiration."-Miracles of Christ, pp. 39-43.

Rivaling the preceding account of the fierceness of those possessed with demons, is the story of the demoniacs of Gergesa, as recorded in Matt. 8:28-34. The circumstance occurred on the morning following the long night of storm and terror on the sea of Galilee, in which the Saviour performed the miracle of stilling the tempest. The following account is taken from the same authority as the foregoing:

"The night upon the water was over, and in the early morning Jesus and the disciples landed, together with those who had followed them across the sea. But no sooner had they stepped upon the beach than two men possessed with devils rushed fiercely toward them as though they desired to tear them in pieces. Still clinging to them were parts of chains which they had broken, in escaping from confinement. They were cutting and bruising themselves with sharp stones and other missiles that they could lay their hands upon.

"They had been dwelling among the graves, and no traveler had been safe to pass that way; for they would rush upon him with the fury of demons and kill him if they could. Their faces glared out from their long and matted hair, and they looked more like wild beasts than men.

"When the disciples and the others saw these fearful creatures rushing toward them, they fled in terror. But presently they discovered that Jesus was not with them, and they turned to see what

had been His fate. They beheld Him standing calmly where they had left Him.

"He who had stilled the tempest, He who had met Satan before and conquered him, did not flee before these demons. When the men, gnashing their teeth, and foaming

at the mouth, approached Him

within a few feet,

Jesus raised that

hand which had beckoned the

waves to rest, and the men

could come no

nearer. They

stood raging

but helpless

before Him.

"In accents

of authority

He bade the unclean spirits

come out of them. The words of Jesus penetrated the darkened minds of the men enough for them to dimly realize that One was near who could save them from the demons that tormented them. They fell at the

feet of Jesus, worshiping Him. But when they opened their mouths to entreat His mercy, the demons spoke through them and cried vehemently, 'What

have I to do with Thee, Jesus, Thou Son of the Most High God? I adjure Thee by God, that Thou torment me not!'

"Jesus asked, 'What is thy name?' And the answer was, 'My name is Legion: for we are many.' Using the afflicted men as mediums of communication between themselves and Jesus, they besought Him not to send them away out of the country, but to let them enter into a herd of swine that

was feeding near. Their request was granted; but no sooner did this occur than the swine rushed headlong down a steep precipice, and were drowned in the sea.

"Light dawned upon the minds of the restored lunatics. Their eyes beamed with an intelligence to which they had long been strangers. The countenances, so long

deformed into the

image of Satan, became suddenly mild, the blood

stained hands were quiet, and the men praised the

Lord for their deliverance from the bondage of demons."-Ibid., pp. 86–88.

Satan's object in requesting permission to enter into the herd of swine, was to defeat the mission of Christ to the Gergesenes. His object seemed to be accomplished, for when the report of the drowning of the swine reached the ears of the people, a panic seized them, as they feared that other calamities would follow.

"And, behold, the whole city came out to meet Jesus: and when they saw Him, they besought Him that He would depart out of their coasts. And He entered into a ship, and passed over, and came into His own city." Matt. 8:34; 9:1.

But Jesus left faithful witnesses in the two men who were healed. "Those who had been mediums of the prince of darkness, became channels of light, messengers of the Son of God." They carried their message of Jesus the Restorer to their own friends and neighbors. They proclaimed it also to the Gentiles in the whole region of Decapolis.

Satan's plans had miscarried. He had overreached himself. Instead of defeat to the gospel, his efforts had resulted in bringing the knowledge of Christ to the whole surrounding country, thus verifying the statement of Paul, "We can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth." 2 Cor. 13:8

IMMORTALITY