Matthew Poole and continuators on Mark 9:29

29 And he said unto them, This kind can come forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting.

This famous History is also recorded by two other Evangelists, Matthew and Luke, we have opened it in our Notes on Matth. 17.14, &c. and consider'd what Mark and Luke have to Compleat it. For our Instruction we may learn several things from the Consideration of it. 1. The great goodness of God in preserving us from the power of Evil Spirits, as also the daily working of his Providence for our preservation, what but this kept this Man from being destroyed by the Fires and the Waters into which he had been often thrown by the Evil Spirit. 2. That the shorter the Devils time is, the more he rageth, v. 20. This is true, both as to the Devil himself, and his Instruments, Rev. 12.12. The Devil is come down unto you, having great Wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time. Thus in the moment of Conversion, Christians often meet with the strongest Conflicts of Temptation. 3. The fault is not in Christ, but in our selves, if we receive not that Mercy from him, which he hath, and which we stand in need of, and beg from him.—If (saith Christ) thou canst believe.—4. God rewardeth weak Faith, where it is attended with a sincere desire of increase. This poor Man shewed a very imperfect Faith, in saying, If thou canst do any thing, but it being in some degree and sincere, the Lord rewardeth it, tho Weak, he desiring an increase of it, and that God would from his goodness supply what was defective in his Faith. 5. The great Cures both of our Bodies and Souls in some Cases, require more Extraordinary, and Importunate Addresses, and applications unto God, more especially where Evils are more inverate. For other things relating to this History, see the Notes on Matth. 17. v. 14, &c.