The unclean spirit returning

The Unclean Spirit returning.

(The Gospel History, Section 93)

But the unclean spirit, when he is gone out of the man, passeth through waterless places, seeking rest, and findeth it not. Then he saith, I will return to my house whence I came out; and when he is come, he findeth it empty, swept and garnished. Then goeth he and taketh with himself seven other spirits, more evil than himself, and they enter in and dwell there: and the last state of that man becometh worse than the first. Even so shall it be also unto this evil generation.

The unclean spirit returning

(The Saviour of the World, Vol VI Book III Poem XXXV)

The man whose spirit had been healed sat still;
“’Tis good to be at rest,” he thought, “secure.”
The Lord was there and spake, but could not fill
That void heart with His presence, nor assure
The man ’twas not enough to sit in place
Made clean by Christ, unplenished of His grace.

The spirit dispossessed went through dry ways
Seeking for rest, nor finding what he sought,
But driven here and there; “No more delays,”
Saith he, “I will return whence I came out;
Perchance the Christ is absent, or let’s be,
Or the man deliver’d is yet fain for me.”

By fear of Christ subdued, not yet he dare
Go single to the place so long his home;
But seven strong spirits woos he, all aware
The King’s come to His own; they fain would roam
No further. “Let’s try against His, our might;
Though we be beaten, we at least shall fight.”

The man, complacent, smiled, and thought to keep
From all unease his soul, that she might sit
In quiet every day; to him, asleep,
Came the eight arméd powers; his mother-wit,
He held, would keep him in his order’d life;—
They made his soul the stage of hellish strife.

St. Luke xi. 24–26.
St. Matthew xii. 43–45.

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