σεληνιαζομένους, _lunatici_, Matt. iv, 24. Thus those sick
persons were called, who were thought to suffer most severely at the
changes of the moon; for example, epileptical persons, or those who have
the falling sickness, insane persons, or those tormented with fits of
morbid melancholy. Mad people are still called lunatics, from an
ancient, but now almost exploded, opinion, that they are much influenced
by that planet. A sounder philosophy has taught us, that, if there be
any thing in it, it must be accounted for, not in the manner the
ancients imagined, nor otherwise than by what the moon has in common
with other heavenly bodies, occasioning various alterations in the
gravity of our atmosphere, and thereby affecting human bodies. However,
there is considerable reason to doubt the fact; and it is certain that
the moon has no perceivable influence on our most accurate barometers.
It has been the fashion to decry and ridicule the doctrine of demoniacal
possessions, and to represent the patients merely as lunatics or madmen.
And some think that this is countenanced by the calumny of the
unbelieving Jews concerning Christ, He hath a demon, and is mad,” John
x, 20; both possession and madness often producing the same symptoms of
convulsions, paralysis, &c, Matt. xvii, 15–18. But that they were
distinct diseases, may be collected from the following considerations:
1. The evangelists, enumerating the various descriptions of patients,
distinguish δαιμονιζόμενοι, _demoniacs_, σεληνιαζόμενοι, _lunatics_, and
ϖαραλυτικοί, _paralytics_, from persons afflicted with other kinds of
diseases, Matt. iv, 24; Mark i, 34; Luke vi, 17, 18. 2. That a real
dispossession took place, seems to follow from the number of these
impure inmates. Mary of Magdala, or the Magdalene, was afflicted with
seven demons, Mark xvi, 9. A legion” besought Christ’s permission to
enter into a numerous herd of two thousand swine; which they did, and
drove the whole herd down a precipice into the sea, where they were all
drowned. This remarkable case is noticed by the three evangelists most
circumstantially, Matt. viii, 28; Mark v, 1; Luke viii, 26. 3. The
testimony of the demoniacs to Christ was not that of madmen or idiots.
It evinced an intimate knowledge both of his person and character, which
was hidden from the wise and prudent” of the nation, the chief priests,
scribes, and Pharisees. Their language was, What hast thou to do with
us, Jesus of Nazareth? Art thou come to torment us before the time?” I
know thee who thou art, the Holy One of God:” thou art the Christ, the
Son of God, the Son of the most high God,” Matt. viii, 29; Mark i, 24;
iii, 11; Luke iv, 34–41. And they repeatedly besought him not to torment
them, not to order them to depart into the abyss, Luke viii, 28–31. See
DEMONIACS.
persons were called, who were thought to suffer most severely at the
changes of the moon; for example, epileptical persons, or those who have
the falling sickness, insane persons, or those tormented with fits of
morbid melancholy. Mad people are still called lunatics, from an
ancient, but now almost exploded, opinion, that they are much influenced
by that planet. A sounder philosophy has taught us, that, if there be
any thing in it, it must be accounted for, not in the manner the
ancients imagined, nor otherwise than by what the moon has in common
with other heavenly bodies, occasioning various alterations in the
gravity of our atmosphere, and thereby affecting human bodies. However,
there is considerable reason to doubt the fact; and it is certain that
the moon has no perceivable influence on our most accurate barometers.
It has been the fashion to decry and ridicule the doctrine of demoniacal
possessions, and to represent the patients merely as lunatics or madmen.
And some think that this is countenanced by the calumny of the
unbelieving Jews concerning Christ, He hath a demon, and is mad,” John
x, 20; both possession and madness often producing the same symptoms of
convulsions, paralysis, &c, Matt. xvii, 15–18. But that they were
distinct diseases, may be collected from the following considerations:
1. The evangelists, enumerating the various descriptions of patients,
distinguish δαιμονιζόμενοι, _demoniacs_, σεληνιαζόμενοι, _lunatics_, and
ϖαραλυτικοί, _paralytics_, from persons afflicted with other kinds of
diseases, Matt. iv, 24; Mark i, 34; Luke vi, 17, 18. 2. That a real
dispossession took place, seems to follow from the number of these
impure inmates. Mary of Magdala, or the Magdalene, was afflicted with
seven demons, Mark xvi, 9. A legion” besought Christ’s permission to
enter into a numerous herd of two thousand swine; which they did, and
drove the whole herd down a precipice into the sea, where they were all
drowned. This remarkable case is noticed by the three evangelists most
circumstantially, Matt. viii, 28; Mark v, 1; Luke viii, 26. 3. The
testimony of the demoniacs to Christ was not that of madmen or idiots.
It evinced an intimate knowledge both of his person and character, which
was hidden from the wise and prudent” of the nation, the chief priests,
scribes, and Pharisees. Their language was, What hast thou to do with
us, Jesus of Nazareth? Art thou come to torment us before the time?” I
know thee who thou art, the Holy One of God:” thou art the Christ, the
Son of God, the Son of the most high God,” Matt. viii, 29; Mark i, 24;
iii, 11; Luke iv, 34–41. And they repeatedly besought him not to torment
them, not to order them to depart into the abyss, Luke viii, 28–31. See
DEMONIACS.