The contemplations upon the history of the New Testament. The second tome now complete : together with divers treatises reduced to the greater volume / by Jos. Exon.

[ D] The stubborn Devil ejected.

HOW different,* 1.1 how contrary are our conditions here upon earth? Whiles our Saviour is transfigured on the Mount, his Disciples are perplexed in the valley. Three of his choice Followers were with him above, ravished with the miraculous proofs of his Godhead: nine other were troubled with the business of a stubborn Devil below.

[ E] Much people was met to attend Christ, and there they will stay till he come down from Tabor. Their zeal and devotion brought them thither; their pa∣tient perseverance held them there. We are not worthy the name of his cli∣ents, if we cannot painfully seek him, and submissely wait his leisure.

He that was now awhile retired into the Mount, to confer with his Father, and to receive the attendance of Moses and Elias, returns into the valley to the multitude. He was singled out awhile for prayer and contemplation; now he was joyned with the multitude for their miraculous cure and Heavenly instru∣ction. We that are his spiritual agents must be either preparing in the mount, or exercising in the valley; one while in the mount of Meditation, in the val∣ley [ F] of Action another; alone to study, in the assembly to preach: here is much variety, but all is work.

Moses when he came down from the hill, heard Musick in the valley; Christ when he came down from the hill, heard discord. The Scribes (it seems) were setting hard upon the Disciples: they saw Christ absent, nine of his train left in the valley, those they flie upon. As the Devil, so his Imps, watch close for all

advantages. No subtile enemy but will be sure to attempt that part where is [ A] likelihood of least defence, most weakness. When the Spouse misses him whom her Soul loveth, every watchman hath a buffet for her. O Saviour, if thou be never so little stept aside, we are sure to be assaulted with powerful Temptations.

They that durst say nothing to the Master, so soon as his back is turned fall foul upon his weakest Disciples. Even at the first hatching the Serpent was thus crafty, to begin at the weaker vessell: experience and time hath not aba∣ted his wit. If he still work upon silly Women laden with divers lusts, upon rude and ungrounded Ignorants, it is no other then his old wont.

Our Saviour upon the skirts of the hill knew well what was done in the plain; and therefore hasts down to the rescue of his Disciples. The clouds and [ B] vapors do not sooner scatter upon the Sun's breaking forth, then these cavils vanish at the presence of Christ: in stead of opposition they are straigth upon their knees; here are now no quarrells, but humble salutations; and if Christ's question did not force theirs, the Scribes had found no tongue.

Doubtlesse there were many eager Patients in this throng; none made so much noise as the father of the Demoniack. Belike upon his occasion it was that the Scribes held contestation with the Disciples. If they wrangled, he fues, and that from his knees. Whom wil not need make both humble and eloquent? The case was wofull, and accordingly expressed. A son is a dear name; but this was his only son. Were his grief ordinary yet, the sorrow were the lesse; [ C] but he is a fearfull spectacle of judgment, for he is Lunatick. Were this Lunacy yet merely from a natural distemper, it were more tolerable; but this is aggra∣vated by the possession of a cruell spirit, that handles him in a most grievous manner. Yet were he but in the rank of other Demoniacks, the discomfort were more easie; but lo, this spirit is worse then all other his fellows; others are usually dispossessed by the Disciples, this is beyond their power. I be sought thy Disciples to cast him out, but they could not: therefore, Lord, have thou mercy on my Son. The despair of all other helps sends us importunately to the God of power. Here was his refuge; the strong man had gotten possession, it was only the stronger then he that can eject him. O God, spiritual wickednesses have [ D] naturally seized upon our Souls: all humane helps are too weak; only thy Mer∣cy shall improve thy Power to our deliverance.

What bowels could chuse but yearn at the distresse of this poor young man? Phrensy had taken his brain: that Disease was but health in comparison of the tyrannical possession of that evil spirit, wherewith it was seconded. Out of Hell there could not be a greater misery: his Senses are either berest, or else left to torment him; he is torn and racked, so as he foams and gnashes, he pines and languishes; he is cast sometimes into the fire, sometimes into the water. How that malitious Tyrant rejoices in the mischief done to the creature of God? Had earth had any thing more pernicious then fire and water, thither had he [ E] been thrown; though rather for torture, then dispatch. It was too much fa∣vour to die at once. O God, with how deadly enemies hast thou matched us? Abate thou their power, since their malice will not be abated.

How many think of this case with pity and horror, and in the mean time are insensible of their own fearfuller condition?

It is but oftentimes that the Devil would cast this young man into a tem∣porary fire; he would cast the sinner into an eternal fire, whose everlasting burnings have no intermissions. No fire comes amisse to him; the fire of Affli∣ction, the fire of Lust, the fire of Hell. O God, make us apprehensive of the danger of our sin, and secure from the fearfull issue of sin. [ F]

All these very same effects follow his spiritual possession. How doth he tear and rack them whom he vexes and distracts with inordinate cares and sor∣rows? How do they foam and gnash whom he hath drawn to an impatient re∣pining at God's afflictive hand? How do they pine away who hourly decay and languish in Grace?

[ A] Oh the lamentable condition of sinfull Souls, so much more dangerous, by how much lesse felt!

But all this while what part hath the Moon in this mans misery? How comes the name of that goodly Planet in question? Certainly these diseases of the brain follow much the course of this queen of moisture. That power which she hath in humors is drawn to the advantage of the malicious spirit; her predominancy is abused to his despight: whether it were for the better opportunity of his vexation, or whether for the drawing of envy and discredit upon so noble a creature. It is no news with that subtle enemie to fasten his effects upon those secondary causes which he usurps to his own purposes. [ B] Whatever be the means, he is the tormentor. Much wisdome needs to dis∣stinguish betwixt the evil spirit abusing the good creature, and the good crea∣ture abused by the evil spirit.

He that knew all things, asks questions; How long hath he been so? Not to inform himself; (That Devil could have done nothing without the know∣ledge, without the leave of the God of Spirits) but that by the confession of the Parent he might lay forth the wofull condition of the childe; that the thank and glory of the Cure might be so much greater, as the complaint was more grievous. He answered, From a childe.

O God, how I adore the depth of thy wise and just and powerfull dispensa∣tion? [ C] Thou that couldst say, I have loved Jacob, and Esau have I hated, ere the children had done good or evil, thoughtest also good, ere this Childe could be capable of good or evil, to yield him over to the power of that Evil one. What need I ask for any other reason then that which is the rule of all Justice, thy Will? Yet even these weak eyes can see the just grounds of thine actions. That childe, though an Israelite, was conceived and born in that sin which both could and did give Satan an interest in him. Besides, the actual sins of the Pa∣rents deserved this revenge upon that piece of themselves. Rather, O God, let me magnific this Mercy, that we and our s escape this Judgment, then que∣stion thy Justice, that some escape not. How just might it have been with thee, [ D] that we, who have given way to Satan in our sins, should have way and scope given to Satan over us in our punishments? It is thy praise that any of us are free; it is no quarrell that some suffer.

Do I wonder to see Satans bodily possession of this yong man from a childe, when I see his spiritual possession of every son of Adam from a longer date; not from a childe, but from the womb, yea in it? Why should not Satan pos∣sesse his own? we are all by nature the sons of wrath. It is time for us to re∣nounce him in Baptism, whose we are till we be regenerate. He hath right to us in our first birth; our new birth acquits us from him, and cuts off all his claim. How miserable are they that have nothing but Nature? Better had it been to [ E] have been unborn, then not to be born again.

And if this poor soul from an infant were thus miserably handled, having done none actual evil; how just cause have we to fear the like Judgments, who by many foul offences have deserved to draw this executioner upon us? O my Soul, thou hast not room enough for thankfulnesse to that good God, who hath not delivered thee up to that malignant Spirit.

The distressed Father sits not still, neglects not means; I brought him to thy Disciples. Doubtlesse the man came first to seek for Christ himself; finding him absent, he makes suit to the Disciples. To whom should we have recourse in all our spirituall complaints but to the agents and messengers of God? The [ F] noise of the like cures had surely brought this man with much confidence to crave their succour; and now how cold was he at the heart, when he found that his hopes were frustrate? They could not cast him out. No doubt the Disciples tried their best, they laid their wonted charge upon this dumb spirit; but all in vain. They that could come with joy and triumph to their Master, and say, The Devils are subject to us, finde now themselves matched with a

stubborn and refractory spirit. Their way was hitherto smooth and fair; they [ A] met with no rub till now. And now surely the father of the Demoniack was not more troubled at this event then themselves. How could they chuse but fear lest their Master had with himself withdrawn that spiritual power which they had formerly exercised? Needs must their heart fail them with their successe.

The man complained not of their impotence: it were fondly injurious to accuse them for that which they could not doe: had the want been in their will, they had well deserved a querulous language; it was no fault to want power. Only he complains of the stubbornnesse, and laments the invinciblenesse of that evil spirit. [ B]

I should wrong you, O ye blessed Followers of Christ, if I should say that, as Israel, when Moses was gone up into the Mount, lost their belief with their guide; so that ye, missing your Master (who was now ascended up to his Tabor) were to seek for your Faith. Rather the Wisdome of God saw reason to check your over-assured forwardnesse; and both to pull down your hearts by a just humiliation in the sense of your own weaknesse, and to raise up your hearts to new acts of dependance upon that soveraign power from which your limited virtue was derived.

What was more familiar to the Disciples then ejecting of Devils? In this only it is denied them. Our good God sometimes findes it requisite to hold us [ C] short in those abilities whereof we make least doubt, that we may feel whence we had them. God will be no lesse glorified in what we cannot doe, then in what we can doe. If his Graces were alwaies at our command, and ever alike, they would seem natural, and soon run into contempt: now we are justly held in an awfull dependance upon that gracious hand, which so gives as not to cloy us, and so denies as not to discourage us.

Who could now but expect that our Saviour should have pitied and bemo∣ned the condition of this sad father and miserable son, and have let fall some words of comfort upon them? In stead whereof I hear him chiding and com∣plaining, O faithlesse and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? how [ D] long shall I suffer you? Complaining, not of that wofull father and more wofull son; it was not his fashion to adde affliction to the distressed, to break such bruised reeds; but of those Scribes, who upon the failing of the successe of this suit, had insulted upon the disability of the Followers of Christ, and depraved his power: although perhaps this impatient father, seduced by their sugge∣stion, might slip into some thoughts of distrust.

There could not be a greater crimination then faithlesse and perverse: faith∣lesse, in not believing; perverse, in being obstinately set in their unbelief. Doubtlesse these men were not free from other notorious crimes: all were drowned in their Infidelity. Morall uncleannesses or violences may seem [ E] more hainous to men; none are so odious to God as these Intellectual wicked∣nesses.

What an happy change is here in one breath of Christ? How long shall I suffer you? Bring him hither to me. The one is a word of anger, the other of favour. His just indignation doth not exceed or impeach his Goodnesse. What a sweet mixture there is in the perfect simplicity of the Divine Nature? In the midst of judgement he remembers mercy, yea he acts it. His Sun shines in the midst of this storm. Whether he frown or whether he smile, it is all to one purpose, that he may win the incredulous and disobedient. Whither should the rigour of all our censures tend but to edification, and not to destruction? We [ F] are Physicians, we are not executioners; we give purges to cure, and not poi∣sons to kill. It is for the just Judge to say one day to reprobate Souls, Depart from me; in the mean time it is for us to invite all that are spiritually possessed to the participation of mercy, Bring him hither to me.

O Saviour, distance was no hindrance to thy work: why should the Demo∣niack

[ A] be brought to thee? Was it that this deliverance might be the better evicted, and that the beholders might see it was not for nothing that the Disci∣ples were opposed with so refractory a spirit? or was it that the Scribes might be witnesses of that strong hostility that was betwixt thee and that foul spirit, and be ashamed of their blasphemous slander? or was it that the father of the Demoniack might be quickened in that Faith which now, through the sugge∣stion of the Scribes, begun to droup; when he should hear and see Christ so chearfully to undertake and perform that whereof they had bidden him de∣spair?

The possessed is brought; the Devil is rebuked and ejected. That stiff spirit [ B] which stood out boldly against the commands of the Disciples, cannot but stoop to the voice of the Master: that power which did at first cast him out of Heaven, easily dispossesses him of an house of clay. The Lord rebuke thee, Satan, and then thou canst not but flee.

The Disciples, who were not used to these affronts, cannot but be troubled at their mis-successe: Master, why could not we cast him out? Had they been conscious of any defect in themselves, they had never ask'd the question. Little did they think to hear of their Unbelief. Had they not had great Faith, they could not have cast out any Devils; had they not had some want of Faith, they had cast out this. It is possible for us to be defective in some Graces, and not to [ C] feel it.

Although not so much their weaknesse is guilty of this unprevailing, as the strength of that evil spirit; This kind goes not out but by prayer and fasting. Weaker spirits were wont to be ejected by a command; this Devil was more sturdy and boisterous. As there are degrees of statures in men, so there are de∣grees of strength and rebellion in spirituall wickednesses. Here bidding will not serve, they must pray; and praying will not serve without fasting. They must pray to God that they may prevail; they must fast to make their prayer more servent, more effectuall. We cannot now command, we can fast and pray. How good is our God to us, that whiles he hath not thought fit to continue to [ D] us those means which are lesse powerfull for the dispossessing of the powers of darknesse, yet hath he given us the greater? Whiles we can fast and pray, God will command for us; Satan cannot prevail against us.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Matth. 17. 14. compared with Mar. 9. 14.