October 17

And behold the whole city came out to meet Jesus, and when they saw him, they besought him that he would depart out of their coasts. - Matthew 8:34.

HERE was a sight enough to melt hearts that were not of flint. The people, hearing of what had befallen the herd of swine, came out of the city in large numbers; and when they came they saw before them that wretched being whom no man could tame, though he were bound in chains and fetters, who had his dwelling among the tombs and mountains, ever cutting himself with stones-they saw this poor wretch dispossessed and tranquillised, clothed, and in his right mind, sitting at the feet of Jesus. Surely this was a sight to endear the Saviour to them; but as soon as they discovered what had befallen the swine, every tender thought was annihilated. Instead of bringing their sick and poor folk to be healed and blessed; instead of praising this Divine Benefactor, or inquiring of this Prophet, so mighty in deed and word, they prayed-yes, for once they prayed (for they were afraid to offer him violence)-that he would depart out of their coasts. He heard their prayer, took shipping, and withdrew, and they saw him no more.

How dreadful is this prayer! Alas, how many have offered the same, and even encouraged a hope that it would be answered, and that they would be rid of Christ in time! While Moses has been crying, “If thy presence go not with us, carry us not up hence;” and David praying,” Cast me not away from thy presence, and take not thy Holy Spirit from me;” these have been desiring that Christ would depart from them. And yet we need the Saviour’s presence as much as the earth needs the sun; without him all is darkness, dullness, dreariness, and death. “Woe to them,” says God, “When I depart from them.” Better for a man to lose his property, and embrace the dunghill, be deprived of his liberty and become a slave, or to lose his health and know not a moment’s ease, than to endure the curse, “Ephraim is joined to idols, let him alone.”

If God leave a man, then is he left indeed. A blind man on the edge of a precipice, a mariner sleeping on the mast-top, a child with a flambeau amongst gunpowder, is less in danger. Yet the Gadarenes desired him to depart. Alas, how many are there who, though ashamed to say so, have felt the same desire. Thoughts of the Saviour and his presence have been unwelcome and irksome; they have lamented the checks and restraints these have imposed on them, and wished they were able to go on undisturbedly; in short, to be free, to be rid of him.

This is the prayer of many a look, many a gesture. By their looks and their actions many have prayed thus, when not a word has been said; but actions speak louder than words. How many have thus told a minister, a friend, a parent, to leave off! In the movement of an eye, or a finger, or the turning of their back, they have said, “Depart from us; we desire not a knowledge of thy ways;” “which say unto the seers, See not, and to the prophets, Prophesy not unto us right things; speak unto us smooth things, prophesy deceits; get you out of the way, turn aside out of the path, cause the Holy One of Israel to cease before us.” This language is their meaning. God puts it into words; and what wonder, if God in judgment takes them at their word. And thus God interprets the meaning of these prayers; he translates these actions into intelligible language, and there is nothing more awful than for the Almighty thus to put men’s conduct into words, and to tell them what they say when no sentence passes their lips.