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Chapter Verfe renes) there met him two, poffeffed with

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devils, coming out of the tombs, exceeding 'fierce, fo that no man might pafs by that way.

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And behold they cried out, faying-What have

we to do with thee, Jefus, thou Son of God? 'Art thou come hither to torment us before the time? Whether this was faid by the men or by the devils, is not clear by Matthew's account. Mark's differs greatly; he fays-' And when he was come out of the fhip, immediately there < met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean 'fpirit.' Here we have but one man, and one devil. A moft outrageous one: he brake his chains and fetters often: cut himself with stones, and cried night and day in the tombs or mountains. But when he faw Jefus afar off, he ran and worshipped him, and cried with a loud voice ' and faid-What have I to do with thee Jefus, thou fon of the most high God.' (A knowing

devil, and does not pray amifs.) I adjure thee 'I

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by God, that thou torment me not. For he 'faid unto him, come out of the man, thou unclean fpirit. And he afked him, What is thy name? And he answered faying-My name is Legion for we are many. And he befought him much that he would not fend them away out of the country.' (This, I fuppofe, was the great, or master devil, with young ones in his belly who foon join in the request.) Now there was nigh unto the mountains, a

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great herd of fwine feeding. And all the devils Chapter Verse befought him, faying, Send us into the fwine, that we may enter into them. And forthwith Jefus gave them leave. And the unclean spirits went out (of the man) and entered into the fwine. And the herd ran violently down a steep < place into the fea; they were about two thousand, < and were choked in the fea.' Luke fays-And they (the devils) befought him that he would not command them to go out into the deep. A herd of fwine being on the mountains; the devils having obtained his permiffion to enter into them, did fo: and the herd ran violently down a steep 'place into the lake, and were choked.' By this account it is plain the devils were deceived; but whether it was effected by the fupernatural power of Jefus, or the natural perverfeness of the pigs, is not fo clear. Nor are we informed by Matthew, Mark, or Luke, if the devils were choked with the pigs, or escaped half drowned. John takes not the leaft notice of the devils or the pigs. Matthew fays not what became of the two outrageous men, after they were difpoffeffed. Mark and Luke clothe their man, make him a very orderly fellow, and introduce him, requesting Jefus that he might follow him; but he is, very properly, fent home to his friends. When this transaction was reported in the city by the swinekeepers, all the inhabitants came forth and were joined by thofe of the adjacent country:

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Chapter Verfe produced a general and united requeft to Jefus that he would depart out of their coafts.' This he complied with immediately; and, we may suppole, in filence, as nothing is added but that ' he entered into a fhip, and passed over, and came into his own city. Here they brought him a man fick of the palfy; to whom he said,

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Son, be of good cheer: thy fins be forgiven 'thee.' This being the first time Jefus had mentioned his power to forgive fins in this world; certain fcribes who were prefent, faid within 3 themselves- This man blafphemeth. And

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Jefus knowing their thoughts, (by comparing this and part of the story in page 36, we shall 'find that Jefus, though he knew the thoughts

of men, did not know even the names of devils) faid, Wherefore think ye evil in your hearts? For whether is it easier to fay, thy fins be forgiven thee; or to fay, Arife and walk? (there is fome obfcurity in this question) but 6 that ye may know that the Son of Man hath power on earth to forgive fins, then faith he to the fick of the palfy, Arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thine house: and he arofe and de8 parted to his houfe. But when the multitude faw it; they marvelled, and glorified God, who had given fuch power unto men.' It is plain, from this, they did not think he was a God; or the Son of God: but that he was, what he called himself, the Son of Man.

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Neither Mark, Luke, or John, record this Chapter Verfe tranfaction; but in lieu of it, the two first give us two miracles: healing a bloody iffue, and reftoring life to a child. Thefe, in the order of time and place, clafh with that of Matthew's already recorded. Turning accidentally again to Matthew I find these are recorded by him, but are preceded by other matter more material to himfelf, and to which I will return :- And as Jefus ix. paffed forth from thence he faw a man named Matthew fitting at the receipt of cuftom: and he faith unto him, Follow me. And he arofe and followed him. (From hence, it is evident that St. Matthew was not a witness to the doctrine preached or the miracles per⚫ formed by Jefus, previous to this time.) And it came to pafs as Jefus fat at meat in the house, 'behold many publicans and finners came and fat down with him and his difciples.' The Pharifees mentioned to him the impropriety of this, and Jefus replies- They that be whole 'need not a phyfician, but they that are fick. Go ye and learn what that meaneth-I will ' have mercy, and not facrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but finners to repentance. (It might have been added-not the rich or learned; but the poor and ignorant.) Then came to him the difciples of John, fay'ing-Why do we and the Pharisees fast oft, but thy difciples faft not?' He tells them, the chil

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Chapter Verfe dren of the bride-chamber, mourn not whilst the bride-groom is with them; but when he fhould

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be taken from them, then would they fast. Here two fimilies are adduced, very like fome of Matthew's propheciacal quotations; and very like fome of Sancho's proverbs; that is to fay-very little to the purpofe. Matthew proceeds- And while he spake these things unto them, behold there came a certain ruler, and worshipped him. (I am inclined to think the word worship, in this and many other places, ought to have been intreat) faying-My daughter is even now dead, but come and lay thy hand upon her, and she shall live. (Mark has it-My little daughter lieth at the point of death. Luke fays -one only daughter, about twelve years of age, and the lay a dying.) And Jefus arofe, and followed him, and fo did his difciples. And behold, a woman which was diseased with an iffue of blood twelve years (Mark adds-and had fuffered many things of many phyficians; and had spent all that he had, and was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse.') Luke, probably from experience, but however honestly fays She had fpent all her living upon phyficians, neither could be healed of any.') came behind him, and touched the hem of his garment. For the faid within herfelf- If I may but touch his garment, I fhall be whole. But

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Jefus turned him about, and when he saw her,

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