The history of witchcraft and demonologySummers, Montague
History
The history of witchcraft and demonology
Summers, Montague
Demonology; Demonology -- History; Witchcraft; Witchcraft -- History
The victims of possession were sometimes deprived of speech and sight:
“Then was offered to him one possessed of a devil, blind and dumb: and
he healed him, so that he spoke and saw” (S. Matthew xii. 22). Sometimes
they had lost speech alone: “Behold, they brought him a dumb man,
possessed with a devil, and after the devil was cast out the dumb man
spoke” (S. Matthew ix. 32, 33); also “And he was casting out a devil, and
the same was dumb: and when he had cast out the devil the dumb spoke”
(S. Luke xi. 14). In many cases the mere fact of possession is mentioned
without further details: “they presented to him such as were possessed
by devils, and lunatics ... and he cured them” (S. Matthew iv. 24); “and
when evening was come, they brought to him many that were possessed with
devils, and he cast out the spirits with his word” (S. Matthew viii. 16);
“And, behold a woman of Canaan, who came out of those coasts, crying out,
said to him: Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou son of David: my daughter is
grievously troubled by a devil ... Then Jesus answering, said to her:
O woman, great is thy faith: be it done to thee as thou wilt: and her
daughter was cured from that hour” (S. Matthew xv. 22-28); “And when
it was evening after sunset they brought to him all that were ill and
that were possessed with devils”; “And he cast out many devils, and he
suffered them not to speak, because they knew him”; “And he was preaching
in their synagogues, and in all Galilee, and casting out devils” (S. Mark
i. 32, 34, 39); “And the unclean spirits, when they saw him, fell down
before him: and they cried, saying: Thou art the Son of God” (S. Mark
iii. 11, 12); “And devils went out from many, crying out and saying: Thou
art the Son of God” (S. Luke iv. 41); “And they that were troubled with
unclean spirits were cured” (S. Luke vi. 18); “And in that same hour, he
cured many of their diseases, and hurts, and evil spirits” (S. Luke vii.
21). The exorcism of the man “who had a devil now a very long time,” and
who dwelt among the tombs in the country of the Gerasens (Gadarenes) is
related by S. Luke (viii. 27-39). The possessed is tormented by so many
unclean spirits that they proclaim their name as Legion: he is endowed
with supernatural strength so that he breaks asunder bonds and fetters:
the devils recognize Christ as God, and Our Lord converses with them,
asking how they are called. Immediately the devils have been cast out the
man is clothed, peaceable, reasonable, and quiet, “in his right mind.”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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