An inquiry into the existence of a personal devil / [By John Epps.

Date:
1848
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: An inquiry into the existence of a personal devil / [By John Epps. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    a great herd of swine, feeding. And all the devils, Sai^oves, besought him, say- ing, Send us into the swine, that we may enter into them. And forthwith Jesus gave them leave. And the unclean spirits went out, and entered into the swine; and the herd ran violently down a steep place into the sea, (there were about two thousand;) and were choked in the sea. And they that fed the swine, fled, and told it in the city, and in the country. And they went out to see what it was that was done. 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. And they that saw it told them how it befel to him that was pos- sessed with the devil, dcu/noi/i^b/jLevov, aud also concerning the swine. And they began to pray him to depart out of their coasts. And when he was come into the ship, he that had been possessed with the devil, 6 Scu/j.oi'iadei.s, prayed him that he might be with him. How- beit Jesus suffered him not, but saith unto him, Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee. And he departed, and began to publish in Decapolis how great things Jesus had done for him: and all men did marvel.” Matthew, it will be perceived, places the event as occurring in the country of the Gergesenes: Mark and Luke, as taking place in the country of the Gadarenes; a distinction, worthy of record, because Gergesa and Gadara were distinct cities. Matthew makes two to meet the Saviour: “ there met him two possessed Mark and Luke make one man to meet the Saviour. The other parts of the history are very similar, still the above differences seem to convey that the two events may be distinct. This will not, however, much affect the argument. The whole agree in the possessed being in the tombs, and coming out therefrom to meet Jesus. Matthew describes the two as being so fierce that “ no man might pass that way.” Mark states, that he was so strong that no man could bind him, no, not with chains : “ 18°.Because that he had been often bound with fetters and chains, and the chains had been plucked asunder by him, and the fetters broken in pieces ; neither could any man tame him.” Luke describes him as being in the tombs or in the moun- tains, C£ crying and cutting himself with stones.” Luke describes the man as “ wearing no clothes,” and Mark further describes him as a man with “an unclean spirit.” What are these evidences of ? What if a person was beheld doing such the man, and entered into the swine; and the herd ran violently down a steep place into the lake, and were choked. When they that fed them saw what was done, they fled, and went and told it in the city, and in the country. Then they went out to see what was done; and came to Jesus, and found the man out of whom the devils, dcu/xonia, were depart- ed, sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed, and in his right mind; aud they were afraid. They also which saw it, told them by what means he that was pos- sessed of the devils, 6 Scu/j-ovicrdeis, was healed. Then the whole multitude of the country of the Gadarenes round about, besought him to depart from them, for they were taken with great fear. And he went up into the ship, and returned back again. Now the man out of whom the devils, (possessions) were departed, be- sought him that he might be with him. But Jesus sent him away, saying, Return to thine own house, aud show how great things God hath done unto thee. And he went his way, and published throughout the whole city, how great things Jesus had done unto him.” T80 Mark v. 4. I 2