came not to teach Men Philosophy, complyed with their deceived Apprehension, and the Evangelists speak according to their Conceit in this Matter. But if this Answer must pass, then in the first place,
Farewel all Scripture, it may be made to say what we please; and if when the Scripture speaks in a plain History of unclean Spirits and Devils, we may understand Diseases by it, then what we read of good Angels may be Graces and Vertues, and what we read of Christ himself, may all be interpreted of the Christ within, and so all the Scripture, and all Religion shall signifie what any Man thinks fit.
Secondly, the Cure of Diseases is mentioned in many of the Texts, distinctly from the casting out of the Devils, thus Mat. 10. 1. He gave the Disciples power against unclean Spirits to cast them out, and to heal all manner of Sicknesses, and all manner of Diseases. This was a different Power from the former, and all manner of Sicknesses and Diseases, implies the uncommon and extraordinary, which our Sadducees would have the Devils to be, viz. Diseases, as well as the ordinary and usual ones are. So Luke 6. 18. He healed them of their Diseases, and those that were vexed with unclean Spirits were brought to him, and he healed them likewise. And most plainly, Mat 4. 24. And they brought unto him all sick People, that were taken with divers Diseases and Torments, and those that were possessed with Devils, and those that were Lunatick, and those that had the Palsie, and he healed them. The Mad-men, and those that had the Falling-sickness, the Distempers which the Witch-Advocates make Devils of, are here mentioned apart, and as distinct from those Devils our Saviour cast out.
Thirdly, Many things are attributed to those Devils that were cast out, which are not applicable to Diseases. The Devils in the Possessed among the Gergasens, Mat. 18. 16. besought Christ, saying, If thou cast us out, suffer us to go away into the Herd of Swine, and he gave them leave. Mark. 5. 8. Sure the Diseases did not beseech him; but perhaps the Men did. Had they a Mind to go into the Swine? And did they enter into them? A sort of possession as this was never heard of, a Beast possest with a Man. But St. Luke tells us, they were the Devils that went out of the Men, and entered into the Swine, Luke 8. 33. The Men did not go out of themselves, and therefore, if what went out was not the Disease, it was really the Devil or unclean Spirit.
So Luke. 4. 33. In the Synagogue there was a Man that had a Spirit of an unclean Devil, and cried out with a loud Voice,
