To exorcise, or cast Devils out of the Possess'd, without considering the Nature of such a Possession, or the Nature and Power of the Devil, we'll allow to be not only a kind and beneficent Act, but a great Miracle. But then, be the Miracle as great as can be imagined, it is no more than what false Teachers,[43]_Workers of Iniquity_, and even some Artists amongst the _Jews_, have done before; consequently, such a work of _Exorcism_ in our Saviour, could be no Proof of his divine Authority. And if there was no more to be said against this Miracle, this is enough to set it aside, and to spoil the Argument of _Jesus_'s divine Power from it. But there are many Circumstances in the Story literally consider'd, that would induce us to call the Truth of the whole into question. How came those Madmen to have their Dwelling amongst the Tombs of a Burying-Ground? Where was the Humanity of the People, that did not take Care of them, in Pity to them, as well as for the Safety of others? Or if no Chains, as the Text says, which is hardly credible, could hold them, it was possible surely, as well as lawful, to dispatch them, rather than their Neighbours and Passengers should be in Danger from them. Believe then this Part of the Story who can? But what's worse, its not credible there was any Herd of _Swine_ in that Country. If any Historians but the _Evangelists_ had said so, none would have believed it. The _Jews_ are forbidden to eat Swine's Flesh; what then should they do with Swine (which are good for nothing till they are dead) who eat neither _Pig_, _Pork_, nor _Bacon_? Some may say that they were kept there for the Use of Strangers: but this could not be; because that after the Time of _Antiochus_, who polluted the Temple with the Sacrifice of an Hog, the _Jews_[44] forbad, under the Pain of an _Anathema_, the keeping of any _Swine_ in their Country. Perhaps it may be said, that the _Gadarens_, so call'd from the Place of their Abode, were not _Jews_, but neighbouring _Gentiles_, with whom it was lawful to eat, and keep _Swine_. We will suppose so, tho' it is improbable; but then its unlikely (without better Reason than at present we are apprised of) that our Saviour would permit the Devils to enter into a Herd of them to their Destruction. Where was the Goodness and Justice of his so doing? Let our _Divines_ account for it if they can. It is commonly said of our Saviour, and I believe it, that his Life was entirely innocent, that his Miracles were all useful and beneficial to Mankind, and that he did no Wrong to any one. But how can this be rightly said of him, if this Story be literally true? The Proprietors of the Swine were great Losers and Sufferers; and we don't read that _Jesus_ made them amends, or that they deserv'd such Usage from him. The Proprietors of the Swine, it seems upon this Damage done them by _Jesus_, desire him to depart out of their Coasts, to prevent farther Mischief; which was gentler Resentment, then we can imagine any others