(15) And they come to Jesus, and see him that was possessed with the devil, and had the legion, sitting, and clothed, and in his right mind: and they were afraid. (16) And they that saw it told them how it befell to him that was possessed with the devil, and also concerning the swine. (17) And they began to pray him to depart, out of their coasts.
I stay not so much to remark the terrible consternation, which this demonstration of CHRIST's power must have induced on all beholders. Such; but in an infinitely greater degree, will be the display of the LORD's sovereignty, at the last day. But I would rather call the attention of the Reader to the poor man, now no longer under demoniac influence, but sitting at the feet of JESUS, clothed, and in his, right mind. A beautiful representation of all the redeemed of the, LORD! For Reader! what is every truly converted child of GOD upon earth; yea, we may go further, and say what is every redeemed soul now in heaven, but once such as this man was, when under the dominion of sin and Satan? And now washed, sanctified, justified in the name of the LORD JESUS, and by the Spirit of our GOD. 1 Corinthians 6:11. They of our brethren, now in heaven, gone before to glory and they who are redeemed from among men still upon earth, in grace, are alike sitting at the feet of JESUS, clothed with the robe of his righteousness, and wearing the garment of his salvation. Oh! the unspeakable felicity of such a recovered state!
But let not the Reader overlook the awful conduct of the Gadarenes; in desiring JESUS to depart out of their coast. Is it possible, that any individual, when he saw the wonderful mercy shown to this poor creature, could have wished the Great Author of such mercy to leave them? And yet Matthew in his relation of, this miracle saith, that the whole city joined in the request, that JESUS would go out of their coasts. Matthew 8:34. As long as this poor creature was under the possession of this evil spirit, he was a terror to the whole country; But yet it seems, they preferred the devil's raging among them, to that of the LORD JESUS manifesting his grace and mercy. But Reader! while you and I pity the poor deluded Gadarenes, let us look around among our own countrymen, and we shall discover equally distressing sights for pity. What daily manifestations are made of our fellow-creatures, living under the same awful influence, on whom the voice of JESUS's Gospel hath no control? Multitudes like these Gadarenes do in effect, if not in words, say, to JESUS, Depart from us: for we desire not the knowledge of thy ways Yea, Reader! to come a little nearer home. Have not you and I, in, times past, said the same? Yea, is it not so now? Are we both sitting daily at the feet of JESUS, cloathed and in our right mind? Is it the language of your heart and mine, to JESUS? Do not LORD go away, neither suffer us to depart from thee, for thou hast the words of eternal life! These are solemn enquiries. Reader! do not dismiss them un answered!