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This piece of history gives us a very sad relation of a person that was possessed with a legion of devils: we read of few, if any, in the Old Testament, that were thus possessed, but of many in the New Testament. Our Saviour came into the world to destroy the works of the devil; therefore he suffered Satan to enter some human bodies, to show his divine power in casting him out.
Note here, 1. That the evil angels by their fall lost their purity, but not their power; for with God's permission they have power, not only to enter into men's bodies, and to possess them, but also to distemper their minds, and drive them to frenzy and madness, causing them to offer violence to their own lives and to do hurt and mischief to their own bodies. Thus did this possessed person here, wounding and cutting himself with stones.
Note, 2. That the reason why the evil angels do not oftener exert their power in doing mischief to the bodies and lives of men, is from the restraining power of God. The devils cannot do all the mischief they would, and they shall not do all they can.
Note, 3. The place where these evil spirits delighted to make their abode; among the tombs or graves, places desolate, forlorn, and solitary, which are apt to breed horror of mind, and give advantage to temptations.
Learn thence, That it is dangerous, and very unsafe, for persons, especially in whom melancholy prevails, to give themselves to solitariness, to frequent desolate and forlorn places, and to affect the being much alone; it giving advantage to Satan to set upon them with powerful temptations. It is better to frequent human society and communion of the saints, by means whereof we may be more and more strengthened and fortified against Satan's temptations.
Note, 4. That the devils own Christ to be the Son of God, and that he came into the world to be a Saviour, but not a Saviour to them; therefore they cry out, What have we to do with thee, or thou with us? O what an uncomfortable confession and acknowledgment is this, to own Christ to be a Saviour, and at the same time to know that he is none of our Saviour!
Note, 5. That though the devils do own Christ to be the Son of God, and do pay homage and worship, and yield service and subjection to him, as his slaves and vassals, yet it is not a free and voluntary service, but extorted rather, and forced from them by the power of Christ: He worshipped, and cried out, saying, What have I to do with thee?
Note, 6. What a multitude of evil spirits do enter into one man. O the extreme malice and cruelty of the devil against mankind, in that so many evil spirits did at once afflict and torment a single person; even a legion, many thousands of them.
Observe also, The unity and agreement which is amongst these evil spirits in doing mischief: though there was a legion of them in this one person, yet they have all but one name.
Learn, That the very devils have a sort of unity amongst themselves, and in their malice and mischievous designs against mankind they are as one. How happy were it, if good men were as much united in designs and endeavours for the glory of God, as devils conspire and combine against it!
Note, 7. The outcry which the devil makes at the appearance and approach of Christ, Art thou come to torment us before the time?
From thence learn, (1) That there are tortures appointed to the spiritual natures of evil angels.
(2) That the devils are not so full of torment as they shall be. Although they are as full of discontent as they can be, there will be a time when their torments shall be increased, when they shall have their fill of torment. This they know, and accordingly thus they pray, Torment us not before our time; that is, increase not our torments before the appointed time of their increase.
Note, 8. The devil's request, Not to send them out of the country, ver. 10: for being now among heathens, they thought they were among their own, and not in Christ's jurisdiction, as being not amongst his people.
Next, for permission and leave to go into the herd of swine.
Where observe, First, The devil's malice; he will hurt the poor beasts rather than not hurt at all.
Secondly, His powerful restraint; he cannot hurt a pig without permission: Suffer us to enter. Satan's malice indeed is infinite, but his power is bounded; it is postestas sub postestate, a power under a power. If he could not hurt the swine, much less can he afflict the body or soul of man without leave or licence.
Note, 9. How Satan's request is yielded to by our Saviour: he permits the devils to enter into the swine; not to satisfy their desire in doing mischief; but, first, to show his power over the devils, that they could do nothing without his permission: next, to show how great the power and malice of the devil would be, if not restrained: and lastly, That the miracle of casting out such a multitude of devils might appear to be the greater.
Learn hence, That sometimes Almighty God, for wise ends and just causes, doth suffer the devil to enjoy his desire in doing hurt and mischief unto the creatures: Jesus said unto them, Go.
Note, 10. What a contrary effect this miracle which Christ wrought had upon these people; instead of believing his divine power, upon the sight of his miraculous healing the possessed, the loss of their swine enrages them, and makes them desire Christ to depart from them. Carnal hearts prefer their swine before their Saviour, and had rather lose Christ's presence than their worldly profit. So desirous were these Gadarenes to get rid of our Saviour's company, that they pray and beseech him to depart out of their coasts.
Learn hence, Sad is the condition of such from whom Christ departs; more sad the condition of such who say unto Christ, Depart; but most sad the case of them who pray and beseech Christ to depart from them; which accordingly he did, and we read no more of his return to them.
Note lastly, How desirous the possessed man was to continue with Christ: after he was ocme to himself, he prayed that he might be with him. This he might desire, partly to testify his thankfulness to Christ, partly out of fear of being repossessed again by Satan, or perhaps to have the opportunity of hearing Christ's doctrine,and seeing his miracles. For such as have once tasted that the Lord is gracious, and experienced the pleasure and profit of Chirst's company, are very desirous of the continuance of it, and exceeding loth to part with it.
However, our Saviour at this time did not think fit to suffer him, knowing that more glory would redound to God, by publishing the miracle to his friends. Christ expects, after eminent deliverances wrought for us, that we should be the publishers of his praise, and declare to all, far and near, the great things which God hath done for us. Add to this, that our Saviour might not permit this man to be with him to avoid the suspicion of vain-glory; by which he might have given some umbrage, had he carried about with him those upon whom his greatest miracles were wrought.
And lastly, To show that Christ in his absence, as well as when present, is able to protect those that believe and trust in him from the malice of evil spirits.