The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1889-02-08
re FIERCE pEMoMIAc.


February 10. IssO.
Especially arranged IRON =. s. QUARTERLY
Lrssox Trxr- Mark SLIGO
GOLDEN TrxT-G0 home 20 thy friends,
ano tell them how great things the Lord
hath done for thee, and hath had compassion
on thee. Mark 5:19.
CENTRAL TRrTn-G has delivered W
from the power Of darkness. and translated
US into the Kingdom OF His dear Snn.
TiME-Autumn, A. ID. -. Tho next morn
ing after our last lesson.
PLAcE-The country OF the Gadarenes,
which was q large district southeast Of the
Sea OF Galilee. OF which Gadara tsevcn or
eight niles southeast from the shorel was
the capital II included the smaller district
Of the Gergesenes Cor Gerascncs), ihhabitr
ants OF Gergcsa- small town on the east
crn shore OF the lake, opposite liberals. IL
is now called Gersa. II was probably near
this latter place that Jesus met with the de-
moniac.
PARALLEL AccouxTs-Mast. 5 ;os-a; Luke
5000.
Heirs OVER HARD Places. The Other
ride: from Capcrnaum. Into the couf'v ~
ne Gadmsnss: on the southeast coast. tSee
place. . gombs: caves formed by nature,
or cut in the rocks. There are many such
around Gadara. Tncledn spirit demon.
g. Dlrtllilg among ne tombs: there were
no asylums for the insane. and they
had TO keep in desolate places 4. Wuh
letters and CHAINS. letters werc for the feet,
chains for any other part OF the body.
Plnchei ds,i,ldsr; he was so strong and
fierce that nothing could hold him. Matthew
says that IL was dangerous for any one to
pass that way, and Luke SAYS he was naked.
s. Crping' with loud uneartnly yclls Cutting
himseie and manning himself with sharp
~ IN .fgxlx
\ he ran: TO Jesus. This was probably from
I a longing Of the man to get rid Of the de-
mon and break from his fearful master Z.
! ddjure: entrcat solemnly, as under oath, or
I the penalty OF curse. y. 1hv ndnf: asked
/ 10 bring him to self consciousness lie ron:
600 was Roman legion. II is used for
large number. 10. Out ~ the coantrw out OF
their permitted abode on earth They did
not want TO 60 back to their punishment
IL. S,rinc Inc property OF Gentics or Jews
II OF the Jews. it was forbidden; II OF the
Gcnulcs, 1t was temptation and insult TO
Gods people. 10 Clothed, etc; type OF
what Christ does for all sinners who come
to Him. Afrdid: they were in tho presence
OF power that filed them with awe and
alarm, and their conscicnccs were awak-
ened IL. Todepdyf; for fearof still greater
harm 10 them or their property. They did
not care for the relief of poor men. but only
for their own property. % Dccdpo'is the
region fof ten cities east OF the Jordan) OF
which Gadara formed part
CoMMESTs-In many respects the case OF
the sinner resembles very closely that OF
} the demoniac Of Gadara In writing TO the
church at I.aodicca. the Spirit charges them
with being deceived with regard TO them
selves Thou saycst, ! am rich and in
creased with goods, and have need OF moth
lr,.nx No fNDu lrlffttflFI
and miserable. and poo, and blind. and naked
, tRey. SAD. What an exact description OF
, the state Of that dcmoniac. And yet It
. il used in speaking 10 those who were sur
rounded BY every luxury and refinement
, which the times could afford. OF course II
refers TO their spiritual state. They wcrc
like some lcpcr. all filed with deiilement,
, who, because Of his living in well furnished
, house. pridci himself on his conditions, for
getting, the while. that he was leper.
! Drawing tins out a little. we see tal that the
|. sinner is really in wrctchsd and miserable
/. state. Sin has the upper hand with
! him. ana rules his life. As tho vars
70 by. he grows worse and not better Evil
! habits. evil motives. selfish tendencies
e strengthen, and he Is captive TO one
q stronger than himself This condition Of
affairs is made worse by the fact that the
man is self-dcccivcd. Like the demoniac
who preferred tombs 20 homes dwell
lnr-place, so the sinner prefers his state 70
the better ono which is offered him. Again
we see that. like the demoniac, the sinner Is
: 10 poor. Poor in every sense Of the word,
2 he was. In true riches the sinner Is as
poor as the man OF our lesson was in things
temporal In this world he may have some
considerable gold-dnst 10 play with, but no
has no provision for a boundless eternity.
u He that layeth up treasure for himself. and
is not rich towards God is fool. or all
! poor persons in this world the unsaved sin
4 nor Is the very poorest He Is really
wiihoutGod and without hope in this world.
2 Once more. the sinner Is go bt NJ The
o dcmoniac was blind 10 his own interests.
: He would not accept the well-mcant
efforts Of his friends. To his eyes nothing
appeared in ITS true light. All was distort-
ed and out Of right relationship. Yet
: he thought he saw all things Alright This
r is one Of the saddest characteristics OF SIN.
y The sinner sees himself as NIL right. lie
can not understand wny his friends and
y teachers are so ANXIOUS about him. II they
tell him the truth with regard TO his real
o state he thinks they are harsh and CEN
q SERIOUS There are very few unrcpcntant
!, persons who would not feel offended were
. they told that in Gods sight they were like
filthy rags picked out OF an ash-barrcl. Yet
y the prophet says (not that the wickedncss
: OF men, butt that our righteousness arc
like filthy rags Us. Clio. Such language,
!, though inspired BY God, IS an offcnse 70 the
2 carnal mind. II scorns the very thought
y II can not see its own state. and will not
2 pray: .Scarch thou me- Finally, notice
i. that the sinner Is td) naked He may think
= himself clothed in the gorgeous garments
= Of his own responsibility and good deeds
I But these have no existence. They are ig
mcnis Of his own disordcrcd brain. Unless
q God provide the sinner robe, naked he is
q and naked he will remain forevcr.-Rcv. A
\. r. Schaufficr.
PRACTICAL SUGGESTIONS.
:" l. The dcmoniac type Of the terrible
> effects Of sin on the soul.
ID q Sin takes many forms. and works In
re many ways. Its name Is legion.
8. Christs work Is 70 cast out evil spirits
4. To leave sin is 10 come into ones RICH
ie mind.
as 3. Tho demoniac restored Is typo Q
ae what Christ does for sinners.
q g. Let every one that Is saved bear wit
n - -