2. The same passage is recited by St. Luke, and almost in the same words. But it may be asked, What is this to us? Seeing no man now casts out devils. Has not the power of doing this been withdrawn from the church, for twelve or fourteen hundred years? How then are we concerned in the case here proposed, or in our Lord's decision of it?
3. Perhaps more nearly than is commonly imagined, the case proposed being no uncommon case. That we may reap our full advantage from it I design to shew, first, In what sense men may and do now cast out devils: secondly, What we may understand by, He followeth not us. I shall, thirdly, explain our Lord's direction, Forbid him not, and conclude with an inference from the whole.
I. 1. I am, in the first place to shew, in what
sense men may, and do now cast out devils.
In order to have the clearest view of this, we should remember, that (according to the scriptural account) as God dwells and works in the children of light, so the devil dwells and works in the children of darkness. As the holy Spirit possesses the souls of good men, so the evil spirit possesses the souls of the wicked. Hence it is that the apostle terms him, The God of this world: from the uncontrolled power he has over worldly men. Hence our blessed Lord stiles him the prince of this world: so absolute is
