Matthew Poole and continuators on Matthew 8:28

28 And when he was come to the other side, unto the countrey of the Gergesenes, there met him two possessed of devils, coming out of the tombs exceeding fierce, so that no man might pass that way.

This Hi[illegible: 2 letters]ory is related by Mark, Ch. 5.1.2, 3, 4, &c. and by Luke Ch. 8.26, 27. more largely than by Math. The other two Evangelists report it to be done in the Country of the Gadarenes, Matthew in the Country of the Gergesenes, they were the same People, sometimes denominated from one great City in their Territories, sometimes from another, who so readeth the Story in all 3 Evangelists will easily conclude it the same▪ tho related with different Circumstances. Matthew saith, there was two of these Daem[illegible: 1 letter]niacks. Mark and Luke mention but one, Luke saith, the Man had Devils a long time, that he ware no Cloths, neither abode in any house but in the Tombs. Mark saith, There met him out of the Tombs a man with an unclean Spirit, who had his dwelling amongst the Tombs, and no man could bind him, no not with Chains. Because he had been often bound with Fetters, and Chains, and the Chains had been pluckt asunder by him, and the Fetters broken in pieces, neither could any man tame him, and always Night and Day, he was in the Mountains, and in the Tombs crying, and cutting himself with Stones Matthew saith he came out of the Tombs, was exceeding fierce, so as none could pass that way. Divines agree, that the Power of the Evil Angels was not abated by their fall, they were only depraved in the[illegible: 1 letter]r Will. That the power of an Angel is much more, thanis here mentioned, is out of question. That the Evil Angels do not exert this Power upon us is from the re[illegible: 1 letter]training Power of God, we live in the A[illegible: 1 letter]r in which the Devil hath a Principality, Eph. 2.2. why God at that time suffered the Devil more to Exercise this power over the Bodies of Men▪ we probably shewed before upon Math. 4.24. the World was grown very ignorant, and wicked, and Sottishly Superstitious: besides he was now come, who was to destroy the Works of the Devil, and was to shew his Divine Power in casting him out. The Jews buried their dead out of their Cities, the richer of them had Tombs hewed out of Rocks, &c. and those very large as may be learned from Isaiah 65.4. Io. 20.6. The Devil chose these places partly to affright Persons through the horror of the places, and torment the possessed with Noyso[illegible: 1 letter]eness of them, partly to cheat Men, with an opinion they were the Souls of the Persons Deceased that were thereburied.