116 The Fundamentals This passage is most important, as from it and other Scriptures it is plain that demon-possession is distinct from disease, though the two are often, and naturally, present together; for disease is the product of sin. It has been con tended that demon-possession and lunacy are the same, but this Scripture shatters that contention, as it differentiates between them: “There met Him two possessed with devils . . . and, behold, they cried out, saying, . . . Art Thou come hither to torment us before the time ? . . . So the devils besought Him, saying, If Thou cast us out, suffer us to go away into the herd of swine. And He said unto them, Go. And when they were come out, they went into the herd of swine; and, behold, the whole herd of swine ran violently down into a steep place into the sea, and perished in the waters” (Matt. 8:28-32). “And there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit; and he cried out, saying, Let us alone; what have we to do with Thee, Thou Jesus of Nazareth? Art Thou come to destroy us? I know Thee who Thou art, the Holy One of God” (Mark 1:23, 24). These passages prove that demons know and recognize the authority of the Lord Jesus as the Son of God; that they are aware of their future, and dread it. “Jesus . . . rebuked the foul spirit, saying unto him, Thou dumb and deaf spirit, I charge thee, come out of him, and enter no more into him. And the spirit cried, and rent him sore, and came out of him” (Mark 9:25, 26; Rev. 18:2). From these Scriptures and the preceding one (Mark 1: 23, 24) we learn the unclean character of these seducing spirits. Further, that they are strong, sullen and vicious, and can hurt their victims physically to a dangerous degree. The case is cited of a minister who tool?: up automatic writing. At first the communications were pure, and expressed
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