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mbs；　two　madmen　rushed　upon　them　as　if　to　tear　them　in　pieces。　Hanging　about　these　men　were　parts　of　chains　which　they　had　broken　in　escaping　from　confinement。　Their　flesh　was　torn　and　bleeding　where　they　had　cut　themselves　with　sharp　stones。　Their　eyes　glared　out　from　their　long　and　matted　hair；　the　very　likeness　of　humanity　seemed　to　have　been　blotted　out　by　the　demons　that　possessed　them；　and　they　looked　more　like　wild　beasts　than　like　men。

The　disciples　and　their　companions　fled　in　terror；　but　presently　they　noticed　that　Jesus　was　not　with　them；　and　they　turned　to　look　for　Him。　He　was　standing　where　they　had　left　Him。　He　who　had　stilled　the　tempest；　who　had　before　met　Satan　and　conquered　him；　did　not　flee　before　these　demons。　When　the　men；　gnashing　their　teeth；　and　foaming　at　the　mouth；　approached　Him；　Jesus　raised　that　hand　which　had　beckoned　the　waves　to　rest；　and　the　men　could　come　no　nearer。　They　stood　raging　but　helpless　before　Him。

With　authority　He　bade　the　unclean　spirits　come　out　of　them。　His　words　penetrated　the　darkened　minds　of　the　unfortunate　men。　They

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realized　dimly　that　One　was　near　who　could　save　them　from　the　tormenting　demons。　They　fell　at　the　Saviour's　feet　to　worship　Him；　but　when　their　lips　were　opened　to　entreat　His　mercy；　the　demons　spoke　through　them；　crying　vehemently；　〃What　have　I　to　do　with　Thee；　Jesus；　Thou　Son　of　God　most　high？　I　beseech　Thee；　torment　me　not。〃

Jesus　asked；　〃What　is　thy　name？〃　And　the　answer　was；　〃My　name　is　Legion：　for　we　are　many。〃　Using　the　afflicted　men　as　mediums　of　communication；　they　besought　Jesus　not　to　send　them　out　of　the　country。　Upon　a　mountainside　not　far　distant　a　great　herd　of　swine　was　feeding。　Into　these　the　demons　asked　to　be　allowed　to　enter；　and　Jesus　suffered　them。　Immediately　a　panic　seized　the　herd。　They　rushed　madly　down　the　cliff；　and；　unable　to　check　themselves　upon　the　shore；　plunged　into　the　lake；　and　perished。

Meanwhile　a　marvelous　change　had　come　over　the　demoniacs。　Light　had　shone　into　their　minds。　Their　eyes　beamed　with　intelligence。　The　countenances；　so　long　deformed　into　the　image　of　Satan；　became　suddenly　mild；　the　bloodstained　hands　were　quiet；　and　with　glad　voices　the　men　praised　God　for　their　deliverance。

From　the　cliff　the　keepers　of　the　swine　had　seen　all　that　had　occurred；　and　they　hurried　away　to　publish　the　news　to　their　employers　and　to　all　the　people。　In　fear　and　amazement　the　whole　population　flocked　to　meet　Jesus。　The　two　demoniacs　had　been　the　terror　of　the　country。　No　one　had　been　safe　to　pass　the　place　where　they　were；　for　they　would　rush　upon　every　traveler　with　the　fury　of　demons。　Now　these　men　were　clothed　and　in　their　right　mind；　sitting　at　the　feet　of　Jesus；　listening　to　His　words；　and　glorifying　the　name　of　Him　who　had　made　them　whole。　But　the　people　who　beheld　this　wonderful　scene　did　not　rejoice。　The　loss　of　the　swine　seemed　to　them　of　greater　moment　than　the　deliverance　of　these　captives　of　Satan。

It　was　in　mercy　to　the　owners　of　the　swine　that　this　loss　had　been　permitted　to　come　upon　them。　They　were　absorbed　in　earthly　things；　and　cared　not　for　the　great　interests　of　spiritual　life。　Jesus　desired　to　break　the　spell　of　selfish　indifference；　that　they　might　accept　His　grace。

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But　regret　and　indignation　for　their　temporal　loss　blinded　their　eyes　to　the　Saviour's　mercy。

The　manifestation　of　supernatural　power　aroused　the　superstitions　of　the　people；　and　excited　their　fears。　Further　calamities　might　follow　from　having　this　Stranger　among　them。　They　apprehended　financial　ruin；　and　determined　to　be　freed　from　His　presence。　Those　who　had　crossed　the　lake　with　Jesus　told　of　all　that　had　happened　on　the　preceding　night；　of　their　peril　in　the　tempest；　and　how　the　wind　and　the　sea　had　been　stilled。　But　their　words　were　without　effect。　In　terror　the　people　thronged　about　Jesus；　beseeching　Him　to　depart　from　them；　and　He　complied；　taking　ship　at　once　for　the　opposite　shore。

The　people　of　Gergesa　had　before　them　the　living　evidence　of　Christ's　power　and　mercy。　They　saw　the　men　who　had　been　restored　to　reason；　but　they　were　so　fearful　of　endangering　their　earthly　interests　that　He　who　had　vanquished　the　prince　of　darkness　before　their　eyes　was　treated　as　an　intruder；　and　the　Gift　of　heaven　was　turned　from　their　doors。　We　have　not　the　opportunity　of　turning　from　the　person　of　Christ　as　had　the　Gergesenes；　but　still　there　are　many　who　refuse　to　obey　His　word；　because　obedience　would　involve　the　sacrifice　of　some　worldly　interest。　Lest　His　presence　shall　cause　them　pecuniary　loss；　many　reject　His　grace；　and　drive　His　Spirit　from　them。

But　far　different　was　the　feeling　of　the　restored　demoniacs。　They　desired　the　company　of　their　deliverer。　In　His　presence　they　felt　secure　from　the　demons　that　had　tormented　their　lives　and　wasted　their　manhood。　As　Jesus　was　about　to　enter　the　boat；　they　kept　close　to　His　side；　knelt　at　His　feet；　and　begged　Him　to　keep　them　near　Him；　where　they　might　ever　listen　to　His　words。　But　Jesus　bade　them　go　home　and　tell　what　great　things　the　Lord　had　done　for　them。

Here　was　a　work　for　them　to　do；to　go　to　a　heathen　home；　and　tell　of　the　blessing　they　had　received　from　Jesus。　It　was　hard　for　them　to　be　separated　from　the　Saviour。　Great　difficulties　were　sure　to　beset　them　in　association　with　their　heathen　countrymen。　And　their　long　isolation　from　society　seemed　to　have　disqualified　them　for　the　work　He　had　indicated。　But　as　soon　as　Jesus　pointed　out　their　duty　they　were　ready　to　obey。　Not　only　did　they　tell　their　own　households　and　neighbors　about　Jesus；　but　they　went　throughout　Decapolis；　everywhere　declaring　His　power　to　save；　and　describing　how　He　had　freed　them　from　the　demons。　In　doing　this　work　they　could　receive　a　greater

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blessing　than　if；　merely　for　benefit　to　themselves；　they　had　remained　in　His　presence。　It　is　in　working　to　spread　the　good　news　of　salvation　that　we　are　brought　near　to　the　Saviour。

The　two　restored　demoniacs　were　the　first　missionaries　whom　Christ　sent　to　preach　the　gospel　in　the　region　of　Decapolis。　For　a　few　moments　only　these　men　had　been　privileged　to　hear　the　teachings　of　Christ。　Not　one　sermon　from　His　lips　had　ever　fallen　upon　their　ears。　They　could　not　instruct　the　people　as　the　disciples　who　had　been　daily　with　Christ　were　able　to　do。　But　they　bore　in　their　own　persons　the　evidence　that　Jesus　was　the　Messiah。　They　could　tell　what　they　knew；　what　they　themselves　had　seen；　and　heard；　and　felt　of　the　power　of　Christ。　This　is　what　everyone　can　do　whose　heart　has　been　touched　by　the　grace　of　God。　John；　the　beloved　disciple；　wrote：　〃That　which　was　from　the　beginning；　which　we　have　heard；　which　we　have　seen　with　our　eyes；　which　we　have　looked　upon；　and　our　hands　have　handled；　of　the　Word　of　life；　。　。　。　that　which　we　have　seen　and　heard　declare　we　unto　you。〃　1　John　1：1…3。　As　witnesses　for　Christ；　we　are　to　tell　what　we　know；　what　we　ourselves　have　seen　and　heard　and　felt。　If　we　have　been　following　Jesus　step　by　step；　we　shall　have　something　right　to　the　point　to　tell　concerning　the　way　in　which　He　has　led　us。　We　can　tell　how　we　have　tested　His　promise；　and　found　the　promise　true。　We　can　bear　witness　to　what　we　have　known　of　the　grace　of　Christ。　This　is　the　witness　for　which　our　Lord　calls；　and　for　want　of　which　the　world　is　perishing。

Though　the　people　of　Gergesa　had　not　received　Jesus；　He　did　not　leave　them　to　the　darkness　they　had　chosen。　When　they　bade　Him　depart　from　them；　they　had　not　heard　His　words。　They　were　ignorant　of　that　which　they　were　rejecting。　Therefore　He　again　sent　the　light　to　them；　and　by　those　to　whom　they　would　not　refuse　to　listen。

In　causing　the　destruction　of　the　swine；　it　was　Satan's　purpose　to　turn　the　people　away　from　the　Saviour；　and　prevent　the　preaching　of　the　gospel　in　that　region。　But　this　very　occurrence　roused　the　whole　country　as　nothing　else　could　have　done；　and　directed　attention　to　Christ。　Though　the　Saviour　Himself　departed；　the　men　whom　He　had　healed　remained　as　witnesses　to　His　power。　Those　who　had　been　mediums　of　the　prince　of　darkness　became　channels　of　light；　messengers　of　the　Son　of　God。　Men　marveled　as　they　listened　to　the　wondrous　news。　A　door　was　opened　to　the　gospel　throughout　that　region。　When　Jesus　returned　to　Decapolis；　the　people　flocked　about　Him；　and　for　three

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days；　not　merely　the　inhabitants　of　one　town；　but　thousands　from　all　the　surrounding　region；　heard　the　message　of　salvation。　Even　the　power　of　demons　is　under　the　control　of　our　Saviour；　and　the　working　of　evil　is　overruled　for　good。

The　encounter　with　the　demoniacs　of　Gergesa　had　a　lesson　for　the　disciples。　It　showed　the　depths　of　degradation　to　which　Satan　is　seeking　to　drag　the　whole　human　race；　and　the　mission　of　Christ　to　set　men　free　from　his　power。　Those　wretched　beings；　dwelling　in　the　place　of　graves；　possessed　by　demons；　in　bondage　to　uncontrolled　passions　and　loathsome　lusts；　represent　what　humanity　would　become　if　given　up　to　satanic　jurisdiction。　Satan's　influence　is　constantly　exerted　upon　men　to　distract　the　senses；　control　the　mind　for　evil；　and　incite　to　vi