MARCH 30.
HE had now entered the country of the Gadarenes, and cured two demoniacs. The people should have deemed themselves honored by his presence, and have thanked him for relieving their wretched neighbors from the most dreadful malady. But he had, in correction of an unlawful traffic, destroyed their swine. They, therefore, preferring their sins to their souls, feared and hated him, and desired him to withdraw. He took them immediately at their word, and went, and returned no more. Oh, when he comes to us, and convinces us of sin, and reproves us for our evil passions and vile courses ; when he comes and makes us uneasy, by the admonitions of conscience, of friendship, of Scripture, of providence, and instead of yielding to his merciful design, we regard him as an irksome intruder, and intreat him and he hears our meaning without speech to leave us, he will comply with our desire, and say, They are joined to idols, let them alone; and woe unto them when I depart from them! This is an awful truth.
But it is an equally pleasing one, that if we desire his presence, he will indulge our wish. And therefore, when the two disciples, going to Enmaus, reached the village whither they went, and he made as if he would have gone farther, they constrained him, saying, Abide with us, for it is towards evening, and the day is far spent. And it is said, he went in to tarry with them. So when the woman of Samaria had persuaded many of her neighbors to come to the well to see him, they besought him that he would tarry with them; and he abode there two days.
Saviour Jesus, thou art all in all! Come and dwell in our country; come and dwell in our churches ; come and dwell in our houses; come and dwell in our hearts for ever. " Cast me not away from thy presence ; and take not thy Holy Spirit from me."
"I cannot bear thine absence, Lord;
My life expires if thou depart
Be thou, my heart, still near my God,
And thou, my God, be near my heart."
RETURN
TO REV. WILLIAM JAY'S HOMEPAGE
RETURN
TO REV. THOMAS BOSTON'S HOMEPAGE
