The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1889-02-07
THE FIERCE peMoN,Ao.


international Sunday.school Lesson for
February 10. 1889.
Especially arranged from q. 9. Qusrteriy.l
LESSON TExT-Mark 5:1.00
GOLDEN TRxT-Go home TO thy friends,
and tell them how great things the Lord
hath done for thee, and hath had compassion
on thee. Mark $40.
+. CENTRAL TRUTn-God has delivered us
from the power Of darkness, and translated
US Into the Kingdom Of His dear Son.
TiME-Autumn, A. d. %. The next morn
ing after our last lesson
PLACE-The country of the Gadarenes,
which was o large district southeast Of the
Sea OF Galilee, Of which Gadara (seven or
eight miles southeast from the shore) was
the capital. 1t included the smaller district
OF the Gergesenes Tor Gerasenes), inhabit-
ants OF Gergesa, small town on the east
ern shore Of the lake, opposite Tiberias. It
Us now called Gersa. It was probably near
this latter place that Jesus met with the de-
moniac.
! PARALLEL AccouNrs-Matt. 8 1854; Luke
S:284O.
HELPS OVER HARD PLAcEs--1. The other
ftde: from Capernaum. Into the country Of
the Gaddrsnes: on the southeast coast (See
place) 2. 7ombs: caves formed by nature,
or cut In the rocks. There are many such
around Gadara. Uncican spirit: demon.
y. DtDetfng among the tonbs: there were
no asylums for the insane, and they
had to keep in desolate places. 4. With
letters and chains: letters were for the feet; /;
chains for any other part Of the body.
Plucked dsttrder: he was so strong and
fierce that nothing could hold him. Matthew
says that it was dangerous for any one to
pass that way, and Luke says he was naked.
8. CrTtn0: with loud, unearthly yells. Cuttiag
Mmscy: and manning himself with sharp
edged stones. 9. When he sd,p Jesus :.
he ran: to Jesus. This was probably from
longing Of the man to get rid Of the de-
mon and break from his fearful master. 2. I
ddjure: entreat solemnly, as under oath, or
the penalty Of a curse Q. Thy name: asked
to bring him to oselfconsciousness Le7ton:
5000 was Roman legion. 1t is used for
large number. 10. Out Of the country out Of
their permitted abode on earth. They did
not want to 60 back to their punishment.
II. Stcfne: The property of Gentiles or Jews.
II OF the Jews, 1t was forbidden; II Of the
Gentiles, 1t was temptation and insult to
Gods people. 15 Clothed, etc.; type Of
what Christ does for all sinners who come
to Him. Afraid: they were in the presence
OF power that filled them with awe and
alarm, and their consciences were awak-
ened. H. Todepart: for fear Of still greater
harm to them or their property. They did
not care for the relief Of poor men, but only
for their own property. 20. Decupolts: the
region (of ten cities east Of the Jordan) of
which Gadara formed q part
CoMMENTs-In many respects tho case of
the sinner resembles very closely that Of
the demoniac Of Gadara. In writing to the
church at Laodicea, the Spirit charges them
with being deceived with regard to them
selves. "Thou sayest, am rich and in
creased with goods, and have need Of moth
ing; and knowest not that thou arttDrctched,
and mtscydbls, and poor, and blind, and naked"
(Rev. 3:t7). What an exact description Of
the state Of that demoniac! And yet it
is used in speaking to those who were sur
rounded by every luxury and refinement
which the times could afford. OF course it
refers to their spiritual state: They were
like some leper, all filled with, detilemeut,
who, because Of his living in awell-furnished
house, prided himself on his conditions. for
getting, the while, that he was leper.
Drawing this out little, we see (a) that the
sinner is really in o sDretched and miserable
state. Sin has the upper hand with
him, and rules his life. As the years
~ wy uO 6AOWo OAoO ou0 hOb OOSUCAs x1VAf
habits, evil motives, selfish tendencies
strengthen, and he Is O captive TO- one
stronger than himself. This condition Of
affairs is made worse by tho fact that the
man Is self-deceived. Like the demoniac
who preferred tombs to homes as adwell-
ing-place, so the sinner prefers his state to
the better one which Is offered him. Again
we see that, like the demoniac, the sinner Is
(b) poor. Poor in every sense Of the word, /,
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-dust TO play with, but. he
has no provision for boundless eternity.
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
ner Is the very poorest He Is really
without God and without hope in this world.
Once more, the sinner Is (c) bind The,
demoniac was blind to his own interests.
He would not accept the wel-meant
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
10 one Of the saddest characteristics Of sin.
The sinner sees himself Is all right. He
can not understand wny his friends and
teachers are 30 anxious about him. II they
tell him the truth with regard to his real
state he thinks they are harsh and cen,
serious. There are very few unrepentani
persons who would not feel offended were
they told that in Gods sight they were lika
filthy rags picked out Of an ash-barrel. Yet
the prophet says (not that the wickedness
Of men, but) that our righteousnesess ara
like filthy rags lis. 64:6,. Such language,
though inspired by God, Is an ofense to the
carnal mind. It scorns the very thoughh
II can not see its OWN state and will moi
pray: "Search thou me-" Finally, notice
that the sinner is 10y naked. He may think
himself clothed in tho gorgeous garments
OF his own respectability and good deeds.
But these have no existence. They arefg
ments OF his own disordered brain. Unless
God provide the sinner robe, naked he, L.
and naked he will remain forever. A
+. Schauffler.
PRACTICAL SUGGESTIONS.
/. The demoniac o type Of the terrible
effects of sin ON tho soul.
Q. Sin takes many forms, and works ir
many ways. Its name is legion.
8. Christ's work Is to cast out evil spirits
4. To leave sin is to come into one's righ
mind
8. The demoniac restored is type o