Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1841-04-14
For the Vermont Telegraph.
Remarks on Rat. 12. 43-.45.


This is evidently not a parable, but an
allusion TO a common occurrence in the time
Of our Savior supernatural possession, to
illustrate the then present and future condi-
ton of the Jews: Even so shall it be also
unto this wicked generation" While He
was among them, performing so many mir
acles, and preaching the gospel Of the
KINGDOM" the devil went CUT from them
the field OF so much opposition, and COM
menced operations among the Gentiles !;
hoping doubtless, to meet with better sue
cess, beeause he knew the gospel must first
be preached al Jerusalem, and that the Lord
Jesus Christ was loo powerful competitor
for him personally to oppose.
But when our Lord had finished his mis-
sion, and ascended on high. having sled
captivity captive and given gifts unto men,"
and Peter and Paul, in obedience 10 their
commission, began to blow the trumpet Of
the gospel among the heather with such
astonishing success, that even the Jews
were constrained to acknowledge that God
had also to the Gentles granted repentance
unto life,' finding no rest or favorable recep-
ton, he concludes that it is best to return :;
which, when be had done, he found them
prepared TO receive him.
This is the most natural application that
has been suggested to my mind. If it is
incorrect, wish it may be corrected, and
hope | shall rejoice in the truth
The quotation has been used as referring
to the case of a concerted man, to prove the
Arminian doctrine of falling from grace
But that it proves any thing, rather than
this, think l shall be able to show, by
proving my first position above,-that the
reference is to a person possessed of the
devil, &c, and that if it proves anything in
favor of this doctrine, it proves too much
more than even its advocates will allow.
|. Let as speak Of the man.
"When the unclean spirit is gone out Of
man, he "-1rho walketh 2" think the
pronoun he does not refer 10 the man:
L. Because the plain grammatical con-
struction of the language will not admit Of
it. The unclean spirit, and not the man,
is introduced as the subject Of conversation.
The pronoun he, in the passage. is as plain
ly referable to the former as "the noun for
which it stands" as the pronoun then to the
SaTons, instead Of the Brifons in the fol-
lowing sentence: "When the Saxons sub
dued the Britons, they introduced into Eng
land their own language" This is intelii-
gible tc plain common sense: and why is
not the other equally so?
2. Admitting it was a man just convert
ed, it represents the effect of such change
as very different from what the Bible every
where else represents it, 1t supposes that
before his conversion lie was at peace, or in
the enjoyment of rest. This is not true
l>a. 81: 20, 81. Again, it supposes that
Immediately after ("when") he was con-
verted, he began to be restless and uneasy
"seeking rest, ard finding none," he deter
mines TO renounce his religion and return
TO an unconVerted state, knowing by expert
ence that 1t was better thus 10 do, than TO
remain christian. Neither is this true
Matt. II: $50. Jer. 6: I6.
3. The language "Then goeth he, and
taketh with himself seven other spirits. .
&C., is incompatible with such an idea. If
he had said seven spirits, instead of seven
other spirits, the argument would have been
more plausible. There is no propriety in
representing a man recently converted, as
an unclean spirit: besides, We might as
we'll sav-When the unclean spirit is gone
out of an unclean spirit, &C., which would
be nonsense. The "house" evidently rep
resents the man: for the uncIean spirit
went out of the man, and returned TO the
house from arhence he came OUT
4. We may notice the situation of the
house on his return. And here observe. il
was not only "swept and garnished,n but
il was "empty also. If this circumstance
prove anything in the case, it proves that
he bad become neutral, possessing neither
good nor evil: but Christ denies the posi-
bility OF this In the thirtielh verse of the
same chapter. No man can be said to be
empty IN mural sense. John 4: a.
ii. Let us notice fhe upcIedn spirit.
| think il was not the evil disposition-as
We say-that left the man in consequence
OF his conversion, for reasons like the fol-
lowing:
l. He was an active agent, possessing
the power Of locomotion; he teent out
irdlked. and returned: whereas an evil