A Complete History and Mystery of the Old and New Testament, Part 1 · Chapter 18
CHAP. XVIII.
THE next mighty Miracle (after this reproving Farewel to thoſe three pretending Followers aforementioned) was Chriſt's calming the Tempeſtuous Sea, which the Prince of the Air, Eph. 2.2. had blown up to drown Chriſt and his little Church, Mat. 8.23. Mark 4.36. Luke 8.22. Aſſuredly the Devil was in this mighty Storm, as he was in that which brained Job's Children, Job 1.19. Though the Lord was not in that [Ruach Gedolah] or Strong Wind, 1 Kin. 19.11.
The Firſt Remark hereon then is, As 'tis ſaid [the Diſciples took him, even as he was in the Ship,] Mark 4.36. So it may be ſaid the Devil took him there alſo, for no ſooner had our Lord opened his Mouth to Preach that excellent Parabolical Sermon in the Ship, Mark 4.1, 2, &c. but launching out a little from ſhore to Sea in the ſame Ship) preſently Hell opens its Mouth and pours out a Mighty Tempeſt (which es call'd foreign. Mat. 8.23. and foreign, Luke 8.23. which ſignifies a Sea quake, the Sea-Man's Miſery, another Euroclydon, Acts 27.14. that ſtrikes upon all the thirty two Points of the Compaſs, it being not one Wind properly, but the conflict of many contrary Winds, overturning all in its way) to drown Chriſt Rev. 12.5. and his Church▪ tho' the Diſciples were Fiſhermen, and ſo uſed to Storms, yet this unuſual one affrighted them, yea tortur'd and tormented them, as [foreign] ſignifies, Mark 6▪ 48.
The Second Remark is, This Ship wherein Chriſt was Imbarqued with his Diſciples is an Emblem of the Church, which is in name the Ship Royal, or Soveraign moſt ſuperlatively ſo, having the King of Kings imbarqued with his Queen in it, there is much Congruity betwixt them, beſide name, though ſome diſparity. The Parallel parts be theſe, (1.) Chriſt is the Captain of this Myſtical Ship▪ Heb. 2.10. (2.) Chriſt's Croſs is the Maſt. (3.) The Sails are Divine Affections. (4.) The Ballaſt is Humility. (5.) The Tackling is Patience and Perſeverance. (6.) The Mariners are the Angels. (7.) The Cargo or Fraught and Lading is the Souls of Juſt men. (8.) The Card for guiding her Courſe is the Word of God. (9.) The Wind (that drives her end-ways) is the Breathings of the Spirit. (10.) The Haven (ſhe is haſtning unto) is Heaven and Happineſs. (11.) Her Rudder is Love. (12.) Her Anchor is Hope. (13.) Her Top-Flag is Faith. (14.) Her Stern is the Power of God. (15.) Her Materials ſhe is made up of, as Myſtical Oak-Planks, are the Saints Rivetted together and cloſe clinked one with another by the Union of Grace, and Bond of Peace. And (16.) The Word or Motto Written on it is [onemimur non ſuppremimur] We are perplexed, but not deſtroyed, 2 Cor. 4.8▪ 9, &c
The Third Remark is, Though there be ſo much Congruity not only in that Royal name, and in all theſe parallel Parts and Materials, but alſo in ſtate and motion, (the Church being as a Ship, a rolling tumbling thing) yet there is a Diſparity in other Circumſtances, that cannot run through in Parallel lines. As,
Firſt, Time Rots the ſtouteſt and ſtrongeſt built Ship, but it cannot the Church, which endureth for ever. Indeed the Sea (that the Church Sails in) is the World, which is call'd a Sea of Glaſs mingled with fire, Rev. 15.2. for ſhe ſubſiſts not by worldly ſtrength, the World being too brickle a thing, as brickle as Glaſs, and cannot ſuſtain her, yet fills her with many Combuſtions and Fires of Tribulation, John 16.33. wherein alſo ſhe meets with many a Stormy Tempeſt. 'Tis moſtly with the Church here as with the Ship, Mat. 14 23. which had the Winds quite contrary. and like thoſe paſſing the Straits of Magellan, where, which way ſoever a man bends his courſe. he ſhall be ſure to have the Wind ſit croſs againſt him, yet here is the Difference for the Church's comfort, that Chriſt (her Pilot) can fail with contrary Winds, and cauſeth all Winds (both the North and the Southwind) to blow good to her, Cant 4.16. and though ſhe roll and tumble about in her natural, civil, and ſpiritual capacities and relations (as in particular Men, Common-wealths and Adminiſtrations) ſometimes ſhe is in Egypt, ſometimes in the Wilderneſs, ſo in Canaan and in Babylon, &c. yet is ſhe ſure to paſs her Militant State in Earth, and to Land ſafe and Triumphant in Heaven; beſides, Toſſing the Church with Tempeſts makes her better and not worſe, Jer. 48.12. Pſal. 55.19.
The Second Diſparity betwixt the Church and a Ship, is not only (as before) in reſpect of Duration (the Church laſting longer than the ſtrongeſt Ship in the World) but alſo in reſpect of a different Motion; for the proper way and motion of a Ship is a deſcending downward into the Deep, Pſal. 107.23, 26. but the peculiar motion of the Church is an Aſcending upward toward Heaven, Prov. 15.24. The way of Life it above to the wiſe, &c. Phil. 3.20. &c.
The Third Diſparity, Some Sea-faring Man may by ſome miſchance miſcarry in the Ship and be drowned, but ſuch as are truly of and in the Church cannot totally and finally fall; If you be really imbarqued in the ſame bottom with Chriſt, you ſhall certainly be ſaved, Chriſt loſes none of thoſe whom his Father gave him, John 17.12. & 18.9. If God gave to Paul the Lives of all that ſailed with Him, So that not one man loſt his Life in that Shripwrack, Acts 27.22, 24. How much more hath the Father done this to the Son, only there muſt be a tarring in the Ship, v. 31. E…tra Eccleſiam nulla ſalus, All out of Noah's Ark, were drowned, ſo Iſa, 60.12, &c.
The Fourth Diſparity, Yea the Ship it ſelf (as well as ſome Shipman may be Shipwrack'd, as Paul's Ship was, Acts 27.41. but the Church can never Founder at Sea &c. Jerome ſaith […anquam polus ſeptentrionalis, ſemper verſatur, nunquam mergitur.] She is like the North Pole Stars (call'd the Little Bear) always Wheels round about the Axis, but never deſcends down out of the Horizon, and much leſs is drowned in the Sea. And Ambroſe alſo ſaith [Diabolus contra Eccleſiam Tempeſtate… movet, ſed ipſe naufragium facit.] The Devil indeed raiſes up many Storms againſt the Church (whereby ſhe may, as a Bottle be dowſed and drenched, but ſhall never be drowned) Satan himſelf is ſure to ſuffer the ſhipwrack. 'Tis obſerved, the Church never fought with that Prince of the Air, but ſhe either won the Field by being victorious, or gained ſome ground by her being perſecuted, Sanguis Martyrum eſt ſemen eccleſiae, the blood of Martyrs is the feed of the Church.
This indeed may be a granted Congruity. N. B. Note well, That as a Ship, the older ſhe is, the more leaky ſhe becomes. The longer ſhe ſails upon the Sea, the more danger of her ſinking, &c. So the Church now is become in thoſe laſt and worſt of times a more crazy veſſel than the Primitive Church was, and bath a more perilous paſſage in reſpect of that laſt bite of the Dying Beaſt which is moſtly the moſt deadly bite; yet here is the diſparity. As Chriſt perſonal was too hot a Mouthful for Hell to hold, Acts 2.24. Rom. 1.4. ſo is the Church (call'd Chriſt Myſtical, 1 Cor. 12.12.) though coffin'd, bury'd, yea under a great ſtone, yet hath a glorious Reſurrection.
The Fourth Remark is, Chriſt's preſence doth not always exempt from troubles, Tempeſts or Temptations. Chriſt was abſent, Mat. 14.23, &c. not yet come, John 6.17, 19. but here he was preſent yet aſleep, till he be awakened Winds; will be contrary, as Mat. 14.24. and myſtical ſailing will be then dangerous, Acts 27.4, 9. Chriſt may ſeem to neglect his Church, though himſelf take the ſame fare with her, he Awakes by Prayer, Rev. 11.19.
The Fifth Remark is, Though the Church be toſſed with Tempeſts, Iſa. 54.11. in this World, which is an Ebbing and a Flowing Sea, and alway foaming out Mire and Dirt, Iſa. 57.20. Yet God is the Pilot of the Ship, as of Noab's Ark, when he (an Husbandman) had no skill of the Stars, or of ſteering his Ark ſafe from the Giants Caſtles, the ſame hand of God that ſhut the Door of the Ark, Gen. 7.16. guided its courſe alſo and brought him ſafe to Land. 'Tis a great mercy to have Chriſt (who keeps the enſuring Office) at hand, though he ſeem to be aſleep. And when the Eb… is down and done, the Floud or Tide Returns, &c. be not therefore Sea ſick ſo as to Spue up all your Religion, &c. yet be ſerious, 'twas ſaid to a Trifler, foreign. We be periſhing and thou playing the Fool, &c. Cry as they did, Jonah 1.14.
The Sixth Remark is, Chriſt can calm the Surlieſt Surges of the Sea with his Command, his Right Foot is upon the Sea, &c. Rev. 10.2. and one ſtamp with that ſtrong foot can do more than Pompey's, who ſaid, he could with his only ſtamp raiſe ten thouſand Men. Chriſt hath a Vial to pour out on the Sea, Revel. 16.3. and ſets his foot upon the Beaſt that riſes out of the Sea, Revel. 13.1. He is a Man of War, Exod. 15.3. Iſa. 13.4. & 52.12. Jer. 50 25. and will make the place of his feet glorious, Iſa. 60.13. the Militant Ship at Sea ſhall become a Triumphant Palace at Land, Iſa. 54.11, 12, 13. yet will he firſt chide our Unbelief, and then the Winds and Waves, Mat. 8.26, 27. He will turn our Water into Wine, John 2.9. to draw water is the beſt way to prevent drowning with water, 1 Sam. 7.6, &c. Prayers and Tears prevail in calamity for comfort. Cry [Lord ſave us] and a calm comes, &c. John 6.21. Iſa. 51.9. and 54.11, 17.
After the Miracle of Chriſt's calming the ſtormy Sea, followeth next that of His caſting out a Legion of Devils, wherein we have many Remarks. As,
Firſt, Relating to the Name of the Place where it was wrought. The Country Chriſt came to after the Storm is call'd that of the Gergaſens, Mat. 8.28. but by the other two Evangeliſts, Mar. 5.1. and Luke 8.26. 'tis call'd the Country of the Gadarens. Theſe were not two places, but one under two names, The former being the Antient, and the latter the Modern name of that Country. So the Gargaſens and the Gadarens are all one People.
The Second Remark is, Whereas Matthew ſpeaks of two poſſeſſed, but Mark and Luke ſpeaks but of One. The Reaſon may be. (1.) That theſe two latter. Writing after Matthew (who had ſpecified the number of the perſons concerned herein) are not ſo curious about the number, as careful to Record the matter of the Miracle: This is exemplified by other Inſtances, as Mat. 20 30. mentions two blind Men begging …t Jericho, yet Mark 10.46. but one, and Mat. 27.44. mentions both the Thieves mocking Chriſt, whereas Luke 23.39. Imputeth it to one of them only, &c. (2.) 'Tis probable, theſe two were not both alike furious, but this one was better known as more notoriouſly fierce and more perilous to Paſſengers, yea likely more cruelly tormented by a whole Legion of Devils than the other. The Order and Circumſtances ſhew it to be one ſtory in all the Evangeliſts.
The Third Remark is, How miſerable was this Mortal (the more notorious of the two) having cramm'd up in him a whole Legion of Devils, ſeeing a Legion among the Romans (ſaith father Iſidore) conſiſted of ſix thouſand Armed Souldiers, yet Dr. Hammond doth more than double that number, computing a Legion to contain twelve. thouſand five hundred; ſurely ſo vaſt a number of Devils, couping themſelves up in one man, muſt make him the moſt miſerable of mankind: All Pharaoh's cruelties exercis'd upon the Iſraelites were nothing to this, behold here are Task-Maſters indeed, and almoſt a numberleſs number of them, not only ſet over one poor man, but alſo all ſtowed up within him to Torture and Torment him, and here was Mortar-work indeed, yea far worſe than that in Egyptian bondage, Exod. 1.11, 14. for here was Hell-work worſe than Brick-work; nor can it be parallel'd among the moſt Exquiſite Torments that the moſt Savage Perſecutors ever Inflicted upon God's Perſecuted People. 'Tis ſaid, Luke 8.27. This Man had Devils (yea a prodigious company of them) and it may be ſaid likewiſe, that theſe many Devils had this Man, and that for a long time too; which ſhews, both how Deplorable is the caſe of the Devils bondſlaves here (whoſe Hearts are a Synagogue of Satan, which ſhould be the Temple of God) and alſo the Unexpreſſible Torments of the Damned in Hell. They had Devils on Earth, now Devils have them in Hell.
The Fourth Remark is, Here we have a Reſemblance of the Malady of fallen Mankind, fallen Man is full of Unclean Spirits, is filled full of all Unrighteouſneſs, Rom. 1.29. All Sins are the Devil's works, 1 John 3.8. hence Luther ſaid [Tot Daemonia, quot Crimina] ſo many Sins a Man hath, ſo many Devils he is poſſeſs'd with, for every Sin hath a Devil in it, and ſuch Devils the unrenewed Heart is topful of Gen. 6.5. Evil, only Evil, and continually Evil, and a Devil in every faculty; there is the Devil of Ignorance in his Mind, of Pride in his Head, of Luſt in his Heart, of Rebeilion in his Will, of diſorder in his Affections, yea the Devil of forgetfulneſs (of all good in his Memory, &c. Thus Homo in ſe Infernum Habet, every unregenerate Heart hath an Hell within it, the Devil hath ſet an Impreſſion of his own Limbs upon every part of his own Children, as John 8.44. Imports, ſo that there is a foreign, a ſuperfluity of naughtineſs in them, Jam 1.21. a foreign or Seed-plot of all Sin, as the Seed of every Creature was in the Chaos, which David, Pſal. 51.5. Paul Rom. 7.24. Job chap. 40.4. the Prophet Iſa. 6.5. and the Church, Iſa. 64.6. do all bewail; reſolving all Acts of Sin into the pravity of Nature as the ſource and fountain of all ſorts of Iniquity: and this man is ſaid to be [foreign,] in an Unclean Spirit, Mar. 5.2. as the Unclean Spirit was in him, quòd eum iſte Spiritus quaſi Incluſum teneret, ſo the Devil had ſhut him up every way from Life and Salvation as the Wicked World is ſaid [in Maligno poſitus] to lye in the Malignant one, 1 John 5.19. This Inhabitant [ut agens agit ſibi ſimile] doth ſatanize ſinners to be Rich in Sin, transforming them into His Image of becoming Breathing Devils, &c.
The Fifth Remark is, Man's Remedy in this miſerable caſe lies only in the Redeemer. Until Chriſt come (whoſe Right Man's Heart is, Ezek, 21.27.) It is a Den of Thieves a Cage of Unclean Birds, Jer. 5.27. an Evil Treaſure, Mat. 12.35. a Shop for Divels to work in, Eph. 2.2, &c. but at his coming He overturns, overturns, overturns, whips out thoſe Thieves, John 2.16. and Mat. 21.12. purges his Temple, Mal. 3.1, 2. of all thoſe creeping things Innumerable with Leviathan himſelf in it, Pſal. 104.26. caſting out the ſtrong Man, Luke 11.21. takes poſſeſſion for himſelf, and turns it into his own Palace. N.B. Note well. If Chriſt proved ſtronger than Satan in his ſtate of Humiliation, how much more now in his ſtate of Exaltation: That He was ſo, appeareth, that twelve thouſand Devils cannot match one ſingle Saviour, Chriſt ſo far over-ruled this Legion, as to make them bring this miſerable Man into the way of his Mediator. Though it be ſaid [The Devil drove him (foreign,) Luke 8.29.] as the Rider Spurs his Horſe Endways whether He will with Violence, and 'tis a wonder this poor wretch was not only driven among the Tombs, but alſo into them, yea into Hell it ſelf, for they muſt needs go (ſaith the Proverb) yea Run, whom not only the Devil, but ſo many Devils Drove; yet here by Chriſt's helping hand the Horſe runs away with the Rider to meet Chriſt, who Unhors'd and diſpoſſeſs'd him, &c.
The Sixth Remark is, Chriſt's Approach as it was this poor wretch's Felicity, ſo it was the Devil's Torment; They feel a Beam of Chriſt's Deity put forth, that tormented them, they (though a whole Legion well Armed) durſt not threaten our Saviour, but are all brought upon their Knees to Petition him, that they might be ſuffer'd to go into the herd of Swine, Mat. 8.31. He had all thoſe Devils in his Chain, The Devil cannot make a Louſe, Exod. 8.18. nor fire an houſe, Job 1.19. nor here drown a Pig without leave from the Lord. N.B. Note well, If Chriſt have any thing to grant unto Devils, he hath much more to give to his Saints: This was not granted in favour to the Devils, but to ſhew, what Harm the Devil might do to us, were we not continually guarded by Divine Providence, and that the very Swineheards might Preach abroad the fame of the Miracle, as alſo that Swiniſh Epicures are in danger of the Devils driving into the Deep Pit of Hell. Thoſe Devils got out of the drowned Swine, and into the Hearts of their Maſters, thoſe Worldly Gadarens preferr'd a Swineſty before a Saviour, ſo beſought him (as the Devils had done) to Depart from them, and may have enough of it at laſt day in [Depart ye Curſed;] ſo did not this Demoniack, but deſired a ſtay, leſt his Devils ſhould re-enter him in Chriſt's Abſence, &c.