The National tribune., 1894-10-11

g. Be sure the doctrine is correct.
Z. Feel-be-what you say, and your
words will be powerful.
II EXPULSION OF A DEMON.
Data.
Mark, 1929; Lu., A: So 81.
Time and Place.
January, A. d. 81, at Capernaum, in q
synagog.
The Demoniac.
We use the words of the Bible accounts.
We style the man demoniac, meaning he
was under wicked, inveterate, powerful
influence. The sufferer was o man. We do
not know of his age, domestic relations,
financial condition. We suspect he was
Jew, from the fact he was in the synagog.
1t must be he was at times in condition
warranting his presence in q crowd. What
ever his affection, we would think it inter
mittent and liable to attack him very sud
denly. He risked himself each time ne
went into an audience. Ordinarily he prob
ably had some premonitions and thus es-
capped as a rule, being attacked in public
place
DemOaiGniSm.
q. We notice the complaint endured by
the suffering man is considered as person.
Ii is shown more than one such evil spirit
could possess a man at the same time. They
are represented as able to speak. We notice
the pronouns are single and plural" We"
ST. Mark, / "a, and st. Luke, A "a" l."
(See same references The evil spirits used
the vocal powers of the man. So in a sense
he (ths sufferer) spoke.
b. Christ addressed the demons.
C. Jesus silenced the demons.
d. He rebuked them-chid, scolded, repri-
manded them. See Jude, g.
e. Christ commanded them.
f. They oheyed Christ.
q. They knew Christ-his youthful home;
his COMMON title, Jesus of Nazareth and
his name implying Deity.
h. They were afraid of being destroyed.
The reference is probably not to annihila-
ton, but to cessation of power ON the
minds of human beings.
i. They obeyed Christs specific order to
leave the man.
j. We have spoken above as though there
were in the one man a number of evil spirits.
1t may be- however, that we are to under
stand the man as speaking Of a class, not
necessarily teaching that more than one was
in himself.
H. Demons hate to leave human beings
Satan gives US up reluctantly. Demons have
to be driven out.
l. 1t must be Christ rebuked the demon.
If the man were himself the demon, then
Christ ordered the man to come out from
himself
m. The evil spirit obeyed Christ's com
mand as to silence The evil spirit did not
speak again. The reference is to srticulate
speech. When he went ont it was with
cry, not an ineligible shout, but with
howl.
n Why not permit the demons to identify
Jesus as the Son of God, or the Messiah
Csrist did not want even men as yet to tell
who he was. ST. Marx, 3: II.
0. We call attention to the physical effects
of the demon within the man. /. He tore
the man, (St. Mark, g. caused the man
10 tear himself. g He threw the man down.
st. Luke, 4: 80.
d. The spirit was unclean. We generally
understand by this TINT the evil spirit was
la.civious and exerted an impure Influence
On the sufferer.
Z. Suggestions.
/. Attend church On Sundays. Keep the
day holy.
2. Tell abroad what Christ does Make
him famous.
3 1t is we'll for the sick and infirm and
afflicted if able, to go to church.
n 5. Evil influences at times find their way
into church. Our business is to expel
them
6. 1t is demoniacal to want Christ to let us
alone.
fNoTE.-There is q mystery about the question OF
Now Testament den1oniansm. We cannot enter
into a full investigation of the subject in these
notes. What is said above is sufficient for Sunday
school instruction.
III. The CURE OF THE MoTHER-IN-LAw
OF ST. PETER.
/. Data
There are three accounts of this miracle
ST. Matt, 8: ID, Is; st. Mark, l 1881 and
ST. Luke, 4 80, 80. 1t is Christs fifth spe-
cific miracle.
2. Time
The date of this miracle may be put JAN
uary, A. ID. 81. 1t was on the same day as
that on which Jesus expelled the demons
from the man of Capernaum. Hence it was
OH Saturday.
3. Place.
The cure was in the city of Capernaum.
st. Peter had home in that city, and Jesus
was often guest therein.
a. Patient.
We learn the sick person was the mother
of ST. Peters wife. She must have been
quite in years. It seems she lived with her
daughter and son-in-law. And we would
think the brothers SITS. Peter and Andrew
lived in the same residence. Legend has it
that the name of st. Peters wife was Per-
petua; also, that the parents had daughter
named PetrOnella, and that Perpetua died
martyr of Christianity at Rome. The patient
WAS most likely sick when Sts Peter and
Andrew left home fer the synagog. 1t Is
evident she was taken suddenly very much
worse. We do not know her name.
s. Cure.
We do not know the nature of the fever.
1t was great fever" st. Luke, A: 3S.
We see the high esteem in which Jesus
was held. His miraculous power was be-
coming known. The afflicted were catching
CLEANS of the bright joys caused by him who
was Light.
Some persons in health felt interest in the
sick woman, and having confidence in Christ's
power sought his help. We think they ex-
pected more than sympathy-that they
hoped miraculous interposition.
SITS. Peter, Andrew, James and John were
present and witnesses. st. Mark, 1: 30.
Processes of cure:
a. Christ took her by the hand. Why? 1.
To inspire confidence in her. 2. To show
lookers-on that he did it. 3. To teach the
need of faith and action-mind and hand