and desires, that destroys the love of God and all holiness of life. When this spirit goes out, it is in consequence of truth from the Lord entering in! Truth teaches that without holiness no man can be blessed or saved. Nothing is so annoying and tormenting to an unclean spirit as the truth; for where truth is, Jesus is present. Unclean spirits are alarmed at the presence of truth and purity. Evil spirits said to Jesus, "What have we to do with thee, Jesus, thou son of God? art thou come hither to torment us before the time?" (Matt. viii. 29.)
The man from whom the unclean spirit departed, is said to walk through dry places. As, naturally, there can be no nourishment for the body found in situations where there are no waters, so there can be no spiritual nourishment to that mind in which the truths of heaven, the rivers of waters of life, flow not to fertilize and bless the soul. Truth known, but not reduced to the practical purposes of life, is like water seen by the thirsty traveller afar off—beyond his reach. He sees or knows the truth, but uses it not; he lives in uncleanness, he walks in dry places without spiritual nourishment, rest, or peace: "there is no peace, saith the Lord, unto the wicked." (Isa. xlviii. 22.) It is a serious result, that the man who uses not the truth when known, for the purification of his inward life, will return to his former evil state, to the house from whence, by a knowledge of the truth, he came out, and he will find it empty, swept, and garnished. Nothing is more desolate than an empty house—a mind void or empty of all that is good and true! "Behold, your house is left unto you desolate." (Matt. xxiii. 38.) An empty house is a mind void of
