A Paraphrase on the New Testament, Mark · Chapter 5
CHAP. V.
1. ANd they came over to the other ſide of the ſea into the Countrey of the Gadarenes. 2. And when he was come out of the ſhip, immediately there met him out of the tombs, a man with an unclean ſpirit, 3. Who had his dwelling among the tombs, and no man could bind him, no not with chains. 4. Becauſe that he had been often bound with fetters and chains, and the chains had been plucked aſunder by him, and the fetters broken in pieces, neither could any man tame him. 5. And always night and day he was in the mountains, and in the tombs, crying, and cutting himſelf with ſtones.
Matth. 8.28. tells us, that they were two: which Mark denieth not, tho he mention but one.
6. But when he ſaw Jeſus afar off, he ran and worſhipped him:
6. Devils worſhip is but a conſtrained confeſſion of Chriſts power over them.
7. And cried with a loud voice, and ſaid, What have I to do with thee, Jeſus, thou Son of the moſt high God? I adjure thee by God that thou torment me not.
7. N. It is no wonder if malicious hypocrites abuſe the name of God by Excommunications and reproaching of his trueſt ſervants, when the Devil durſt uſe Gods name to adjure Chriſt himſelf.
8. For he ſaid to him, Come out of the man thou unclean ſpirit.
8. N. It appeareth that Devils are not always juſt in the ſame condition, but when they are reſtrained from going about to do miſchief, it is to them an impriſonment and tornment; as it is to a Wolf to be tyed up from killing ſheep.
9. And he asked him, What is thy name? and he anſwered him ſaying, My name is Legion, for we are many.
9. N. Spirits loſe not their individuation by falling into one common ſoul. 2. Seeing the greateſt multiplicity is among the leaſt of beings (there are more Boughs and Sprigs than Trunks of Trees, more Flyes than men, &c.) It ſeems that the very nature of Devils is debaſed with their quality, and they are not now of ſo light a ſpiritual nature as they were before their fall; if there were ſo great a number to afflict one man.
10. And he beſought him much, that he would not ſend them away out of the countrey. 11. Now there were nigh to the mountains a great herd of ſwine feeding. 12. And all the devils beſought him, ſaying, Send us into the ſwine, that we may enter into them. 13. And forthwith Jeſus gave them leave. And the unclean ſpirits went out and entred into the ſwine, and the herd ran violently down a ſteep place into the ſea, (they were about two thouſand) and they were choaked in the ſea.
10, &c. Let us play a ſmall game rather than none: It will ſomewhat abate our pain, to do ſome miſchief tho a leſs, and not to be impriſoned in the deep. N. The reaſon why Devils hurt us no more, is becauſe God will not give them leave.
14. And they that fed the ſwine fled, and told it in the city and in the countrey. And they went out to ſee what it was that was done. 15. And they come to Jeſus, and ſee him that was poſſeſſed with the devil, and had the Legion, ſitting and cloathed, and in his right mind, and they were afraid. 16. and they that ſaw it told them how it befel to him that was poſſeſſed with the devil, and alſo concerning the ſwine. 17. And they began to pray him to depart out of their coaſts.
14. &c. N. When they were healed by Chriſt, they followed him. But when they loſt their Swine by him, they would be rid of him.
18. And when he was come into the ſhip, he that had been poſſeſſed with the devil, prayed him, that he might be with him.
19. Howbeit, Jeſus ſuffered him not, but ſaith to him, Go home to thy friends, and tell them, how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compaſſion on thee. 20. And he departed, and began to publiſh in Decapolis, how great things Jeſus had done for him: and all men did marvel.
18. &c. N. All muſt honour God in their places; but not all in one place and ſtation.
21. And when Jeſus was paſſed over again by ſhip unto the other ſide, much people gathered unto him, and he was nigh unto the ſea. 22. And behold, there cometh one of the rulers of the ſynagogue Jairus by name, and when he ſaw him, he fell at his ſee. 23. And beſought him greatly, ſaying, My little daughter lyeth at the point of death, I pray thee come and lay thy hands on her that ſhe may be healed, and ſhe ſhall live. 24. And Jeſus went with him, and much people followed him, and througed him.
21. N. Each Synagogue had more than one Ruler. 2. It was then a great mercy to be Afflicted: For ſuch came to Chriſt for help: while others maligned him.
25. And a certain woman which had an iſſue of Blood twelve years, 26. And had ſuffered many things of many Phyſicians, and had ſpent all that ſhe had, and was nothing bettered, but rather grew worſe. 27. When ſhe had heard of Jeſus, came in the preſs behind, and touched his garment: 28. For ſhe ſaid, If I may but touch …is clothes, I ſhall be whole. 29. And ſtraightway the fountain of her blood was dryed up: and ſhe felt in her body that ſhe was healed of that plague.
25. &c. N. Her ſtrong Faith prepared her for a ſpeedy cure.
30. And Jeſus immediately knowing in himſelf, that vertue was gone out of him, turned him about in the preſs, and ſaid, Who touched my cloathes? 31. And his diſciples ſaid to him, Thou ſeeſt the multitude thronging thee, and ſayeſt thou, Who touched me? 32. And he looked round about to ſee her that had done this thing. 33. But the woman fearing and trembling, knowing what was done in her, came and fell down before him, and told him all the truth. 34. And he ſaid to her, Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole, go in peace, and be whole of thy plague.
31. &c. N. Many touched his cloathes that were never the better; ſo many uſe his name, when they that uſe it in Faith are healed. 2. She feared Chriſt was angry with her, when he healed her.
35. While he yet ſpake, there came from the ruler of the ſynagogues houſe, certain which ſaid, Thy daughter is dead; why troubleſt thou the maſter any further. 36. As ſoon as Jeſus heard the word that was ſpoken, he ſaith to the ruler of the Synagogue, Be not afraid, onelyonly believe.
35.&c. Take heed leſt diſtruſt deprive thee of thy deſire.
37. And he ſuffered no man to follow him, ſave Peter, and James, and John the brother of James. 38. And he cometh to the houſe of the ruler of the ſynagogue, and ſeeth the tumult, and them that wept and wailed greatly. 39. And when he was come in, he ſaith unto them, Why make ye this ado, and weep? the damſel is not dead, but ſleepeth. 40. And they laughed him to ſcorn: but when he had put them all out, he taketh the father and the mother of the damſel, and them that were with him, and entreth in where the damſel was lying. 41. And he took the damſel by the hand, and ſaid to her Talitha Cumi, which is, being interpreted, Damſel (I ſay unto thee) ariſe: 42. And ſtraitway the damſel aroſe, and walked, for ſhe was of the age of twelve years: and they were aſtoniſhed with a great aſtoniſhment. 43. And he charged them ſtraitly, that no man ſhould know it: and commanded that ſomething ſhould be given her to eat.
37. &c. N. It was needful that he, on whom all muſt truſt for Life Everlaſting, ſhould ſhew, that he hath the power of Life, and Death: Yet would not have it divulged, to avoid untimely Perſecution.