Matthew Poole and continuators on Luke 11:26

26 Then goeth he, and taketh to him seven other spirits more wicked then himself, and they enter in, and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse then the first.

See the Notes on Matth. 12.43, 44, 45. From these verses we may observe▪ 1. That the Devil may in some sort, and degree, [illegible: 1 letter]e cast out of Persons and Places, while yet in other respects, they may be his house, and he may dwell in, and amongst them. Their bodies, their Country may be in great measure delivered from his Power, and he may yet keep possession of their Souls. This ordinarily▪ happeneth in places where the Gospel is faithfully Preached, tho there remain abundance of Men whose lives evidence, that the Devil hath a too great possession of their Souls, yet those places, and Persons inhabiting in them, are more freed from Witchcraft, and the power which the Devil exercises by Gods Permission[illegible: 1 letter] upon Men, and Womens bodies, and Cattel, &c. then other more Paganish and ignorant places. He may also in a sense be said to be cast out of Persons, that are reclaimed from vicious, and debauched Lives, yet are not brought home to God, only are more enlightened, and more under the Power of restraining Grace, yet their Souls may be his house. 2. The Devil cast out in any degree, is unquiet till (if po[illegible: 1 letter]sible) he hath recovered as full a Power over, and posse[illegible: 1 letter]sion of Men and Women, as he ever had. 3. If he ever recovereth it, their latter end, is worse then their beginning. Heb. 6.4 & 10.26. 2 Pet. 2.20.

Marginal references: Joh. 5.14.