We find Possessions acknowledg'd in Scripture to be really and personally the _Devil_, or according to the Text, Legions of _Devils_ in the Plural. The _Devil_ or _Devils_ rather, which possessed the Man among the Tombs, is positively affirm'd to be the _Devil_ in the Scripture; all the Evangelists agree in calling him so, and his very Works shew it; namely, the Mischief he did, as well to the poor Creature among the Tombs, who was made so fierce, that he was the Terror of all the Country, as to the Herd of Swine and to the Country in the Loss of them. I might preach you a Lecture here of the _Devil_'s Terror upon the Approach of our Saviour, the Dread of his Government, and how he acknowledg'd that there was a Time for his Torment, which was not yet come: _Art thou come to torment us before our Time?_ It is evident the Devil apprehended that Christ would chain them up before the Day of Judgment; and therefore some think the Devil here, being, as it were, caught out of his due Bounds, possessing the poor Man in such a furious manner, was afraid, and petition'd Christ not to chain him up for it, and as the Text says, _They besought him to suffer them to go away_, &c. that is to say, when they say, art thou come to torment us before the Time? the Meaning is, they begg'd he would not cast them into Torment before the Time, which was already fix'd; but that if he would cast them out of the Man, he would let them go away, _&c._ The Evangelist St. _Luke_ says, the _Devil besought him that he would not command them to go out into the Deep_: Our learned Annotators think that part is not rightly render'd; adding, that they do not believe the _Devil_ fears drowning; but with Submission, I believe the meaning is, that they would not be confin'd to the vast Ocean, where no Inhabitants being to be seen, they would be effectually imprison'd and tied down from doing Mischief, which would be a Hell to them; as to their going into the Swine, that might afford us some Allegory; but I am not disposed to jest with the Scripture, no nor with the _Devil_ neither, farther than needs must. It is evident the _Devil_ makes Use of very mean Instruments sometimes, such as the Damsel possess'd with a Spirit of Divination, and several others.