The harmony of the divine attributes in the contrivance and accomplishment of man's redemption…

Add to these his casting out of Devils. Before the Fall, the unclean Spirit was incorporated with the Serpent, but now with Man himself. He seizes on the External Organs and Internal Faculties, and rules him at his pleasure. In the time of Christ great numbers were possest: for the Devil perceiving the ruin of his Kingdom approaching, he would extend the limits of it here, and by the perfect possessing of sinners, begin their torment, which is one act of his principality. The case of those persons was most compassionable. For in that close fight the soul was disarmed of its defensive weapons, being hindered in a great measure of the free use of its faculties. Whereas in other Temptations he works by outward object at a distance, here he makes a violent assault on both parts. 'Tis the true anticipation of Hell, for the possest person is not exempted from Suffering, the privilege of Death, nor enjoys the free power of doing, the effect of Life. Now the ejecting of this Enemy was above the force of any humane means; no material applications had power over immaterial Spirits. But our Saviour by a Word commanded them forth of ⟨p. 423⟩their Garrisons. And the Evangelists observe that the sight of it affected the People in an extraordinary manner above what his other Miracles did. 'Tis said, they were all amazed, ¹insomuch that they questioned among themselves saying, what thing is this, what new Doctrine is this? For with Authority commandeth he even the unclean Spirits, and they obey him. His Empire over evil Spirits was more admired than over Diseases, or Death it self. Those who were insensible of his former Miracles, received impression from this:² They were astonished at the mighty Power of God, confessing that it was never so seen in Israel. And another time they said, is not this the Son of David? i. e. the Messiah. The Pharisees his obstinate enemies were more troubled about this, than any other action; and to elude the present conviction that He came from God, ascribed it to a secret compact with Beelzebub, as if there were a collusion between the evil Spirits, a lesser Devil retired that the Prince might reign. But so great was the Evidence of the Spirit of God in that act of Jurisdiction over the Devils, that our Saviour charges them with unpardonable Guilt for their wilful denying it.