Page:Spiritual Reflections for Every Day in the Year - Vol 1.pdf/339

 the prophet performed miracles; Elijah by his mantle divided the waters of Jordan. Elisha, with the same mantle, did the same thing. (2 Kings ii. 8, 14.) This will also explain why the woman who touched the Lord's garments was instantly made whole. (Luke viii. 46.) There is virtue in the Lord's garments, and this virtue will go out to heal those who touch them, that is, who desire to be conjoined with the Lord by His truth. The mantle of Elijah is still with us, and happy is the man who makes it his covering and defence!

HE first truth presented to view on reading this verse, is, that the empty house, swept and garnished, must refer to the spiritual house or mind of man, and not to any dwelling made with earthly materials. This is evident from the very words, for the unclean spirit is said to go out of the man (v. 43), who after walking through dry places, seeking rest and finding none, says, I will return into my house whence I came out; which upon his return he finds empty, swept, and garnished. Here the man out of whom the unclean spirit went, and the house to which he returned, are the mind or mental house, while its miserable condition is denoted by its being empty, swept, and garnished. What is the love of evil, with all its defiling pollutions, but an unclean spirit? It is this spirit of uncleanness, revelling in our affections