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spirits of the clergy in these discouraging times, by shewing them such countenance, and contributing in such a manner to their wants, as may raise them above need and scorn, and enable them thoroughly to do their duty; to God's honour, the people's great advantage, and the shame and disappointment of as many as have evil will to Sion.

But then we must by no means abuse such favours by greedy encroachments, and an unsatisfied fishing for new honours and preferments; but, as becomes his servants, whose kingdom is not of this world, aspire no further than to such a moderate share of both, as may enable us to carry on the great work we are employed in with a cheerful easiness, and yet leave us so loose to the world, as that we may be ready to quit all, rather than in the least be hindered from following our great Master to whatever duties or sufferings his providence shall call us.

They that will be rich, says St. Paul in his advice to Timothy, and which, I believe, hath a more especial direction to the clergy, fall into temptation and a snare ;-But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and pursue righteousness, faith, love, patience, meekness; and having food and raiment, be therewith contents. We seek not your's, but you', says the same apostle: it is men, not wealth and greatness, that we are to fish for; and if at any time we are advanced to stations of honour and advantage, St. Paul proceeds to charge us, as we are to charge our people, not to be highminded, nor to trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us all things richly to enjoy. That we do good, and be rich in good works, ready to distri

s1 Tim. vi. 8,

9, 11.

t 2 Cor. xii. 14.

bute, willing to communicate, laying up in store for ourselves a good foundation against the time to come, that we may lay hold on eternal life".

And as this vast draught of fishes, which was a greater prize than ever yet those poor fishermen were masters of, and would have raised a considerable sum to the improvement of their little stock, and the making of their fortunes in the world; as all this was readily forsaken by them, that they might follow Jesus, and become fishers of men: so no temporal advantages should cool our zeal for God's glory, nor our love to the souls of our brethren; but rather inflame both to a greater degree of ardency, in gratitude to our divine Benefactor, who hath thus comforted us on every side.

And the people likewise are equally concerned to be sincere in their profession of religion, and not to make godliness a way of gain and traffick for little underhand purposes; but purely in obedience to Jesus, and in order to their eternal salvation. Both ministers and people being ready in preparation of mind, and that in the midst of their successes and prosperity, to part with every thing rather than forsake their Saviour, and his truth: For to whom shall we go? Thou, Lord, only hast the words of eternal life.

u 1 Tim. vi. 17, 18, 19.

x John vi. 68.

THE THIRD MIRACLE.

A legion of evil spirits cast out of one possessed.

LUKE viii. 26, 27.

And they arrived at the country of the Gadarenes, which is over against Galilee. And when Jesus went forth to land, there met him out of the city a certain man, which had devils long time, &c.

IN the account St. Matthew gives of this miracle, it is said that there met Jesus two possessed with devils, whereas St. Mark and St. Luke speak of but one; which seeming difference may be fairly reconciled by supposing, what seems to be very probable, that one of them being more fierce and mischievous than the other, and bearing the most considerable part in this extraordinary occurrence, was more particularly mentioned.

If we inquire, what should be the reason of our Lord's visiting a place so barbarous and uncomfortable as historians tell us this Gadara was, inhabited by the worst sort of people, and very much infested with evil spirits? No doubt it was that he might do good amongst them, and bring them to a better sense of things, and free them from that destructive tyranny the Devil exercised over their bodies as well as their souls, whereby he began their hell upon earth, and cruelly forced them to be their own tor

mentors.

a Matt. viii.

And before we go any further, let this teach us in our several stations, and according to our opportunities and abilities, to endeavour the ruin of the Devil's kingdom, and the flourishing of that of Christ, not only at home, amongst the deluded and vicious and ignorant in our own country and neighbourhood; but likewise with a more public zeal and diffusive charity, to encourage and promote the spreading of the glorious light of the gospel in the remotest dark corners of the world, and the driving out of Satan from those miserable places where he hath had the longest and most entire possession.

Fair opportunities have of late been offered for those, whose circumstances will admit of it, personally to engage in so excellent a work in our plantations abroad; under the direction and encouragement of such as, through God's blessing, (which cannot be wanting to so charitable and Christian a design,) both have already, and still will make a great and happy progress in it. And every one of us may be assisting, though not in person, yet with our substance, by contributing towards the necessary charges of it, and supplying those clergymen who shall be employed in the evangelical service, with such helps as may enable them to perform it with success. And no doubt but it will be highly pleasing to God and our Saviour so to do, and shall not lose its reward for this is a pursuance of the great work of converting the sinful world to God through Christ, that the most barbarous and ignorant, whose souls are equally precious with ours, may be brought to the knowledge of our only Saviour, and rescued from the clutches of the great destroyer.

This is an undertaking truly apostolical; and the

more discouragements may attend it, upon account of the great distance of the place from a man's native country, his nearest relations, and old friends; the great difficulty and danger of the work, by reason of the barbarity and untractableness of the people; the strangeness of their language; the treachery and cruelty of their disposition; and many other uncomfortable circumstances that might be thought of, and no doubt are, by those that are entering upon it: the more ready should we be, who, in ease and security, and plenty, sit at home and enjoy what they are leaving with a heavy heart, to keep up their spirits and fortify their pious resolutions, and render all things as easy to them as is possible, by a liberal contribution of what may make them cheerfully imitate the charity of our great Master, when he made a compassionate visit to the wretched Gadarenes.

Upon whose shore when he first landed there met him out of the city a very melancholy, and to any one but him, affrighting object, a certain man which had devils long time, and ware no clothes, neither abode in any house, but in the tombs, or buryingplaces that were adjacent to it; (for of old time they never buried their dead within the walls of their cities, but in places set apart for that purpose, at some distance from them;) and though he had often been bound with fetters and chains to keep him from doing mischief to himself and others, yet when his diabolical phrensy came upon him, which was often, he would break the bands in pieces, and night and day make horrid noises, and cut himself with stones, and sometimes be hurried into the wilder

b Mark v. 5.

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