Matthew Poole and continuators on Matthew 12:26

26 And if Satan cast out Sa[illegible: 1 letter]an, he is divided against himself, how shall then his kingdom stand?

This is our Lords first Argument, Mark relates it, Ch. 3.23, 24, 25, 26. with little Alteration in the Phra[illegible: 2 letters] so doth Luke, Ch. 11.17, 18. The Sum of the Argument is, The Devil is so wise, that he will look to the upholding of his own Kingdom in the World. This will req[illegible: 1 letter]ire an Agreement of the Devils among[illegible: 1 letter]t themselves, for if they be divided they cannot uphold their Kingdom▪ nor stand any more than an house City, or Kingdom in the World so divided c[illegible: 1 letter]n stand, therefore the Prince of Devils will not forcibly cast out the infer[illegible: 1 letter]our Devils. There is but one imaginable objection to this. Do we not see the contrary to this in Peoples going to Cunningmen, for help against those that are bewitched, to get help for them, and is there no Truth in those many Stories we have of Persons that have found help against the Devil, from some that have Traded with the Devil? I Answer, It is one thing for the Devils to play one with another, another thing for them to Cast out one another. One Devil may yield, and give place to another, for to gain a greater advantage for the whole Society, but one never quarrelleth with another. The first may be for the inlarging or Satans Kingdom. This must be to destroy it. When a poor Wretched Creature goeth to one, who dealeth with the Devil, for help for one who is vexed with some effect of the Devil, one Devil here doth but yield, and give place to another by Compact, Voluntarily, and for the Devils greater advantage; for it is more advantage to the Devil (who seeks nothing so much as a Divine Homage) to gain the Faith of one Soul, then to Exercise a Power to Afflict many Bodies. In such Cases as these, the Devil for the Abatement of a little bodily pain, gains a Power over the Soul of him or her, who cometh to implore his help, and exerciseth a Faith in him. This is an Establishing, promoving and inlarging his Kingdom. But Christ forced the Devils out of Persons, they did not yield Voluntarily for a greater advantage, but forcibly, for no advantage. He did not pray the Devils to come out, nor make use of any of the Devils Sacraments, upon the use of which by some Original Compact, he was obliged to come out, upon a Souls surrender of it self by Faith to him, but they came out unwillingly upon the Authoritative Words of Christ, without the use of any Magical Rites, and Ceremonies, testifying the least Homage done to him.