The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1889-01-31

account of st. Matthew, verse 29.} The refer
ence is probably to the Judgment Day. (St.
Matt % Al; 2 Pet, ga; Jude, g.
2. Where.
The miracle took place in "the country of
the Gadarenes." (St Mark, 5:1.) St. Matthew
says, Is: 28,) "into the country of the Gerge-
senes," st. Luke says, IS: 26,) atlthe country
of the Gadarenes, which is over against Cali
Iee" In that region there were the two cities
Gergesa and Gadara. Gergesa was on the shore
of the Sea of Galilee, while Gadara was inte-
rior, the distance between the two cities being
about IL miles. The region was known as the
country either of the Gadarenes or the Gerge-
senes. In early days, when Gergesa was the
principal city, the region was named from it.
In another period Gadara became the leading
city, and gave name to the territory there
about. The fact is the two cities were not far
apart. Christ came into the neighborhood of
BOTH and could be said to be in the region of
either. The miracle could not have taken
place at Gadara. The agents of the Palestine
Exploration Fund say, Between Khersa and
Wady (channeD Fix appears to have been the
scene of the destruction of the herd of swine;
indeed, no other point on that side of the lake
is so suitable. At this particular point, and
only at this spur runs out to the Shore"
Origin says it could not have happened at Ga
dara, and remarks there were no cliffs nor
sea at Gadara." ". 49,
name shows was composed of 10 cities. ". 20.)
Said cities were Scythopolis Gadara, Hippo,
Pela, Geresa, Capitolias Canatha, Abila, Dion
and Philadelphia. Scythopolis was the only
one of said cities west of the Jordan. Most of
the Decapolis was occupied by Greeks. Hills
rose eastward of the Sea of Galilee (Vs. 5, III
8. DenlOniaaism.
Demonianism is the possession by demons of
the bodies or minds of human beings. 1t is
not a disease, but disorder of its own kind.
There are demons We have some men who
deny that demons exist They are not satisfied
with being atheists, and thus driving God out,
but they will not allow that even evil spirits
act. 1nfdeity is nothing if not negative 1t
is clear, from the manner in which Christ dealt
with persons possessed of demons, that he con-
sidered their trouble to be different from phys
zeal disorder. lie plainly gives personality to
the evil spirits. He addresses them. They
answer questions. They come out and go in.
They knew Christ There are evil spirits, and
we may suppose they have power to modest and
even mslead men. We know God permits evil
persons to entice the youthful into sin. One
! thing is certain-Christ is strongest, and we
can have his aid. If we see our danger, ae-
knowledge our peril, we shall be active in
securing the assistance of the Conqueror of the
evil kingdom mt, %: Al; Rev, 12: 7-9; St.
John, 8: Az Many think that the violent and
| lascivious forms of insanity may be due to the
occupancy of the person by evil spirits. And
some think that brutes at times are thus af-
flicted. In the case of the miracle there were
legion of demons. (F. 81 We may suppose
the number was 5000, or three to each swine.
| (V. 49, We see in the lesson the power pos
sessed by evil spirits. They held the victim in
their grasp, using his tongue and eyes and
other organs. They are not disposed to live in
q spiritual state, but want to occupy bodies-if
not of men, then of brutes. They are minute.
Six thousand may be in one person. Demons
find joy in human misery and iniquity. The
physical effects in the case of the demoniac of
our lesson are fearful The victim was unclean.
All habits of decency were lost He preferred a
vacated tomb to a palace. He raved and ragged
and could not be restrained even by letters and
chains. The insane often seem to have extra
ordinary strength and yigor. The poor man
cried out in his distress. He even cut gashes
into his own body with rough-edged stones
His life was a torment. Demons seem to be
organized bodies Squads go forth under lead
ers, They go to make warfare in human So
ciety. They are divided into legions regiments,
companies, and detachments.
L. The sioine
We find there were 1000 of the swine. ". 49,
We notice Christ did not destroy the animals.
Satan requested permission TO enter them and
| Christ did not express dissent. He allowed the
evil, as to-day he does incendiarism, murder,
! etc. For the time-being it was really harmful
to Christ's local success. and so policy might
have led him to forbid the destruction. If the
Jews owned the swine, they had no right SO to
do. (See Lev, IL: Z, g. 1t was a just punish
ment of the disobedieut Jews. If the Genties
owned the herd of swine, they placed tempta-
! ton before the Jews and outraged the feelings
of Gods chosen people. They deserved the
loss. We are interested in the following, from
] DR.. Chenery, IN Z9OH'S Herald:
" Whether the Jews kept these swine, or the Gem
tile Gedarenes for the Jewish market the law was
! violated, and the health of the community endRn-
gered. This justies the act of destruction permitted
/ by Christ. modern physician suggests that the
newly-discoyeTed disease, 1TichihiaSis, which has
proved fatal in both hemispLeres is a scientific
Endorsement of the wisdom of these Levtical enact
ments. There Is parasitic wornltrichjnd spiratiS
| found IN the muscles of hogs Prof. Owen, of
England, was the first TO describe il in the muscles
! OF man. Hall pound OF meat, rs infected
! as Il has been found, and which may be eaten at
one meal may Ia few days give rise to 80 goo 600
| OF the trlehinse 10 prey the mucous membrane,
! and burrow through the muscles Dr.
Mueller, OF Hamburg, thinks that many epidemics
OF the so-caled typhus fever of former times may
hnye been but cases OF the triehinal disease
The Gergesenes loved swine more than they
| did Christ. The miracle should have convinced
| them of the Deity of Jesus, and thus have led
| to their conversion. There are stingy men
now who would not want evil spirits driven
| from their customers, since the traffic of such
/ evil men depends ON the sinful prociyities of
society.
Three of the miracles performed by our sa-
vior were destructiye-the bightng of the
| fig tree, the overturning of the tables, ETC., of
the money changers in the temple, and the
drowning OF the swine. But notice some miti-
/ eating circumstances warranting the destruc-
ton OF the swine: l. The roads about Gargesa
were cleared of raging demoniacs and filthy
swine, so that persons could pass along without
! harm. 2. The demoniacs were relieved OF
! the two it was far better the demons be drowned
with the swine than that human being be
| tormented by them. 8. Christ did not kill the
| swine The demons followed their own prefer
ence, and OF their own accord entered the
swine 4. The keepers of the herds were guilty
of violating the law of God as to unclean ami
mails, and deserved punishment. 5. After all,
the swine belonged to God Ps., so 1912.
There isa proper permissive destruction. And
even now every year much valuable property
| isdestroyed by lightning, earthquakes, cyclones,
and no one thinks God to blame.
5. The Man Restored
Whatever was the disorder of the man, il
was q wonderful act to relieve him of all evil
influence. What a change! He no longer
RACES, tears his clothing, is vulgar, destructive
savage. He is calm, clothed in his right mind
self-possessed. Here is a picture of cure from
sin. Men while evil are as in tombs-dead in
| trespasses and sins.
6. Suggestions.
1. Engage in no iIlegitimate business. A