defiantly　exhibited　his　power　over　the　bodies　as　well　as　the　souls　of　men。
  The　fact　that　men　have　been　possessed　with　demons；　is　clearly　stated　in　the
  New　Testament。　The　persons　thus　afflicted　were　not　merely　suffering　with
  disease　from　natural　causes。　Christ　had　perfect　understanding　of　that　with
  which　He　was　dealing；　and　He　recognized　the　direct　presence　and　agency　of
  evil　spirits。
  A　striking　example　of　their　number；　power；　and　malignity；　and　also　of　the
  power　and　mercy　of　Christ；　is　given　in　the　Scripture　account　of　the　healing
  of　the　demoniacs　at　Gadara。　Those　wretched　maniacs；　spurning　all　restraint；
  writhing；　foaming；　raging；　were　filling　the　air　with　their　cries；　doing
  violence　to　themselves；　and　endangering　all　who　should　approach　them。　Their
  bleeding　and　disfigured　bodies　and　distracted　minds　presented　a　spectacle
  well　pleasing　to　the　prince　of　darkness。　One　of　the　demons　controlling　the
  sufferers　declared：　〃My　name　is　Legion：　for　we　are　many。〃　Mark　5：9。　In　the
  Roman　army　a　legion　consisted　of　from　three　to　five　thousand　men。　Satan's
  hosts　also　are　marshaled　in　companies；　and　the　single　company　to　which　these
  demons　belonged　numbered　no　less　than　a　legion。
  At　the　command　of　Jesus　the　evil　spirits　departed　from　their　victims；
  leaving　them　calmly　sitting　at　the　Saviour's　feet；　subdued；　intelligent；　and
  gentle。　But　the　demons　were
  515
  permitted　to　sweep　a　herd　of　swine　into　the　sea；　and　to　the　dwellers　of
  Gadara　the　loss　of　these　outweighed　the　blessings　which　Christ　had　bestowed；
  and　the　divine　Healer　was　entreated　to　depart。　This　was　the　result　which
  Satan　designed　to　secure。　By　casting　the　blame　of　their　loss　upon　Jesus；　he
  aroused　the　selfish　fears　of　the　people　and　prevented　them　from　listening　to
  His　words。　Satan　is　constantly　accusing　Christians　as　the　cause　of　loss；
  misfortune；　and　suffering；　instead　of　allowing　the　reproach　to　fall　where　it
  belongs　upon　himself　and　his　agents。
  But　the　purposes　of　Christ　were　not　thwarted。　He　allowed　the　evil　spirits　to
  destroy　the　herd　of　swine　as　a　rebuke　to　those　Jews　who　were　raising　these
  unclean　beasts　for　the　sake　of　gain。　Had　not　Christ　restrained　the　demons；
  they　would　have　plunged　into　the　sea；　not　only　the　swine；　but　also　their
  keepers　and　owners。　The　preservation　of　both　the　keepers　and　the　owners　was
  due　alone　to　His　power；　mercifully　exercised　for　their　deliverance。
  Furthermore；　this　event　was　permitted　to　take　place　that　the　disciples　might
  witness　the　cruel　power　of　Satan　upon　both　man　and　beast。　The　Saviour
  desired　His　followers　to　have　a　knowledge　of　the　foe　whom　they　were　to　meet；
  that　they　might　not　be　deceived　and　overcome　by　his　devices。　It　was　also　His
  will　that　the　people　of　that　region　should　behold　His　power　to　break　the
  bondage　of　Satan　and　release　his　captives。　And　though　Jesus　Himself
  departed；　the　men　so　marvelously　delivered；　remained　to　declare　the　mercy　of
  their　Benefactor。
  Other　instances　of　a　similar　nature　are　recorded　in　the　Scriptures。　The
  daughter　of　the　Syrophoenician　woman　was　grievously　vexed　with　a　devil；　whom
  Jesus　cast　out　by　His　word。　（Mark　7：26…30）。　〃One　possessed　with　a　devil；
  blind；　and　dumb〃　（Matthew　12：22；　a　youth　who　had　a　dumb　spirit；　that
  ofttimes　〃cast　him　into　the　fire；　and　into　the　waters；　to　destroy　him〃　（Mark
  9：17…27）；　the　maniac　who；　tormented　by　〃a　spirit　of　an　unclean　devil〃　（Luke
  4：33…36）；　disturbed　the　Sabbath　quiet　of　the　synagogue　at　Capernaumall
  were
  516
  healed　by　the　compassionate　Saviour。　In　nearly　every　instance；　Christ
  addressed　the　demon　as　an　intelligent　entity；　commanding　him　to　come　out　of
  his　victim　and　to　torment　him　no　more。　The　worshipers　at　Capernaum；
  beholding　His　mighty　power；　〃were　all　amazed；　and　spake　among　themselves；
  saying；　What　a　word　is　this！　for　with　authority　and　power　He　commandeth　the
  unclean　spirits；　and　they　come　out。〃　Luke　4：36。
  Those　possessed　with　devils　are　usually　represented　as　being　in　a　condition
  of　great　suffering；　yet　there　were　exceptions　to　this　rule。　For　the　sake　of
  obtaining　supernatural　power；　some　welcomed　the　satanic　influence。　These　of
  course　had　no　conflict　with　the　demons。　Of　this　class　were　those　who
  possessed　the　spirit　of　divination；Simon　Magus；　Elymas　the　sorcerer；　and
  the　damsel　who　followed　Paul　and　Silas　at　Philippi。
  None　are　in　greater　danger　from　the　influence　of　evil　spirits　than　those
  who；　notwithstanding　the　direct　and　ample　testimony　of　the　Scriptures；　deny
  the　existence　and　agency　of　the　devil　and　his　angels。　So　long　as　we　are
  ignorant　of　their　wiles；　they　have　almost　inconceivable　advantage；　many　give
  heed　to　their　suggestions　while　they　suppose　themselves　to　be　following　the
  dictates　of　their　own　wisdom。　This　is　why；　as　we　approach　the　close　of　time；
  when　Satan　is　to　work　with　greatest　power　to　deceive　and　destroy；　he　spreads
  everywhere　the　belief　that　he　does　not　exist。　It　is　his　policy　to　conceal
  himself　and　his　manner　of　working。
  There　is　nothing　that　the　great　deceiver　fears　so　much　as　that　we　shall
  become　acquainted　with　his　devices。　The　better　to　disguise　his　real
  character　and　purposes；　he　has　caused　himself　to　be　so　represented　as　to
  excite　no　stronger　emotion　than　ridicule　or　contempt。　He　is　well　pleased　to
  be　painted　as　a　ludicrous　or　loathsome　object；　misshapen；　half　animal　and
  half　human。　He　is　pleased　to　hear　his　name　used　in　sport　and　mockery　by
  those　who　think　themselves　intelligent　and　well　informed。
  517
  It　is　because　he　has　masked　himself　with　consummate　skill　that　the　question
  is　so　widely　asked：　〃Does　such　a　being　really　exist？〃　It　is　an　evidence　of
  his　success　that　theories　giving　the　lie　to　the　plainest　testimony　of　the
  Scriptures　are　so　generally　received　in　the　religious　world。　And　it　is
  because　Satan　can　most　readily　control　the　minds　of　those　who　are
  unconscious　of　his　influence；　that　the　word　of　God　gives　us　so　many　examples
  of　his　malignant　work；　unveiling　before　us　his　secret　forces；　and　thus
  placing　us　on　our　guard　against　his　assaults。
  The　power　and　malice　of　Satan　and　his　host　might　justly　alarm　us　were　it　not
  that　we　may　find　shelter　and　deliverance　in　the　superior　power　of　our
  Redeemer。　We　carefully　secure　our　houses　with　bolts　and　locks　to　protect　our
  property　and　our　lives　from　evil　men；　but　we　seldom　think　of　the　evil　angels
  who　are　constantly　seeking　access　to　us；　and　against　whose　attacks　we　have；
  in　our　own　strength；　no　method　of　defense。　If　permitted；　they　can　distract
  our　minds；　disorder　and　torment　our　bodies；　destroy　our　possessions　and　our
  lives。　Their　only　delight　is　in　misery　and　destruction。　Fearful　is　the
  condition　of　those　who　resist　the　divine　claims　and　yield　to　Satan's
  temptations；　until　God　gives　them　up　to　the　control　of　evil　spirits。　But
  those　who　follow　Christ　are　ever　safe　under　His　watchcare。　Angels　that　excel
  in　strength　are　sent　from　heaven　to　protect　them。　The　wicked　one　cannot
  break　through　the　guard　which　God　has　stationed　about　His　people。
  （518）
  Chapter　32
  Snares　of　Satan
  The　great　controversy　between　Christ　and　Satan；　that　has　been　carried
  forward　for　nearly　six　thousand　years；　is　soon　to　close；　and　the　wicked　one
  redoubles　his　efforts　to　defeat　the　work　of　Christ　in　man's　behalf　and　to
  fasten　souls　in　his　snares。　To　hold　the　people　in　darkness　and　impenitence
  till　the　Saviour's　mediation　is　ended；　and　there　is　no　longer　a　sacrifice
  for　sin；　is　the　object　which　he　seeks　to　accomplish。
  When　there　is　no　special　effort　made　to　resist　his　power；　when　indifference
  prevails　in　the　church　and　the　world；　Satan　is　not　concerned；　for　he　is　in
  no　danger　of　losing　those　whom　he　is　leading　captive　at　his　will。　But　when
  the　attention　is　called　to　eternal　things；　and　souls　are　inquiring；　〃What
  must　I　do　to　be　saved？〃　he　is　on　the　ground；　seeking　to　match　his　power
  against　the　power　of　Christ　and　to　counteract　the　influence　of　the　Holy
  Spirit。
  The　Scriptures　declare　that　upon　one　occasion；　when　the　angels　of　God　came
  to　present　themselves　before　the　Lord；　Satan　came　also　among　them　（Job　1：6）；
  not　to　bow　before　the　Eternal　King；　but　to　further　his　own　malicious　designs
  against　the　righteous。　With　the　same　object　he　is　in　attendance　when　men
  assemble　for　the　worship　of　God。　Though　hidden　from　sight；　he　is　working
  with　all　diligence　to　control　the　minds　of　the　worshipers。　Like　a　skillful
  general　he　lays　his　plans　beforehand。　As　he　sees　the　messenger　of　God
  searching　the　Scriptures；　he　takes　note　of　the　subject　to　be
  519
  presented　to　the　people。　Then　he　employs　all　his　cunning　and　shrewdness　so
  to　control　circumstances　that　the　message　may　not　reach　those　whom　he　is
  deceiving　on　that　very　point。　The　one　who　most　needs　the　warning　will　be
  urged　into　some　business　transaction　which　requires　his　presence；　or　will　by
  some　other　means　be　prevented　from　hearing　the　words　that　might　prove　to　him
  a　savor　of　life　unto　life。
  Again；　Satan　sees　the　Lord's　servants　burdened　be