Page:Ninety-nine homilies of S. Thomas Aquinas upon the epistles and gospels for forty-nine Sundays of the Christian year (IA ninetyninehomili00thom).pdf/76



In these words, concerning the casting out of this devil, is signified the casting out of the devil from the heart, and they teach three things. Firstly, the frequency of the casting out: “ And He was casting out,” whence it is implied that He did frequently cast them out. Secondly, the wickedness of him who was cast out: “ and he was dumb.” Thirdly, the profitableness of this casting out: “ When the devil was gone out the dumb spake.”

I. On the first head it is to be noted, that the Lord frequently cast out a devil—(1) In casting him out from Heaven: Ezek. xxviii. 16, “I will cast thee as profane out of the mountain of God.” Apoc. xii. 9, “ The great dragon was cast out.” (2) He cast him out of Paradise when cursing him: Gen. iii. 14, “Because thou hast done this thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the earth.” (3) He cast him from a mount when He repelled him : S. Matt. iv. 10, “ Get thee hence, Satan.” (4) Casting him out from the souls in driving him from them : Acts x. 38, “ Who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil.” (5) He cast him out from the bodies of the sick when He healed them: S. Luke iv. 41, “ Devils also came out of many.” (6) He cast him out from the world, delivering it from his power: S. John xii. 31, “ Now shall the prince of this world be cast out.” (7) He cast him into hell, consigning him to eternal fires: Isa. xiv. 15, “Thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit.”

II. On the second head it is to be noted, that a threefold evil came upon the sick man from the devil, signifying the threefold evil which comes from sin. The first was, because the devil possessed him ; the second, because he made him blind ; the third, because he deprived him of the power of speech. That man had these three miseries, because he was a demoniac, was blind, and was dumb; they signify three evils which flow from sin—(1) He was possessed by the