[108] Neither is it of any consequence whether the locality of the supposed miracle was Gadara, or Gerasa, or Gergesa. But I may say that I was well acquainted with Origen's opinion respecting Gergesa. It is fully discussed and rejected in Riehm's _Handwörterbuch_. In Kitto's _Biblical Cyclopædia_ (ii. p. 51) Professor Porter remarks that Origen merely "_conjectures_" that Gergesa was indicated: and he adds, "Now, in a question of this kind conjectures cannot be admitted. We must implicitly follow the most ancient and creditable testimony, which clearly pronounces in favour of Gadarênhôn. This reading is adopted by Tischendorf, Alford, and Tregelles." [109] I may call attention, in passing, to the fact that this authority, at any rate, has no sort of doubt of the fact that Jewish Law did not rule in Gadara (indeed, under the head of "Gadara," in the same work, it is expressly stated that the population of the place consisted "predominantly of heathens"), and that he scouts the notion that the Gadarene swineherds were Jews. [110] The evidence adduced, so far as post-exile times are concerned, appears to me insufficient to prove this assertion. [111] Even Leviticus xi. 26, cited without reference to the context, will not serve the purpose; because the swine _is_ "cloven-footed" (Lev. xi. 7). [112] 1st Gospel: "And the devils _besought him_, saying, If Thou cast us out send us away _into_ the herd of swine." 2d Gospel: "They _besought him_, saying, Send us _into_ the swine." 3d Gospel: "They _intreated him_ that he would give them leave to enter _into_ them." [113] See Marquardt, _Römische Staatsverwaltung_, Bd. III. p. 408. [114] _Nineteenth Century_, March 1889 (p. 362). [115] "The Value of Witness to the Miraculous." _Nineteenth Century_, March 1889. [116] I cannot ask the Editor of this Review to reprint pages of an old article,--but the following passages sufficiently illustrate the extent and the character of the discrepancy between the facts of the case and Mr. Gladstone's account of them:-- "Now, in the Gadarene affair, I do not think I am unreasonably sceptical if I say that the existence of demons who can be transferred from a man to a pig does thus contravene probability. Let me be perfectly candid. I admit I have no _à priori_ objection to offer.... I declare, as plainly as I can, that I am unable to show cause why these transferable devils should not exist." ... ("Agnosticism," _Nineteenth Century_, 1889, p. 177).