llen through sin, they are leagued together for the dishonor of God and
the destruction of men. United with Satan in his rebellion, and with him
cast out from heaven, they have, through all succeeding ages, co-operated
with him in his warfare against the divine authority. We are told in
Scripture of their confederacy and government, of their various orders, of
their intelligence and subtlety, and of their malicious designs against
the peace and happiness of men.

Old Testament history presents occasional mentions of their existence and
agency; but it was during the time when Christ was upon the earth that
evil spirits manifested their power in the most striking manner. Christ
had come to enter upon the plan devised for man's redemption, and Satan
determined to assert his right to control the world. He had succeeded in
establishing idolatry in every part of the earth except the land of
Palestine. To the only land that had not fully yielded to the tempter's
sway, Christ came to shed upon the people the light of heaven. Here two
rival powers claimed supremacy. Jesus was stretching out His arms of love,
inviting all who would to find pardon and peace in Him. The hosts of
darkness saw that they did not possess unlimited control, and they
understood that if Christ's mission should be successful, their rule was
soon to end. Satan raged like a chained lion, and defiantly exhibited his
power over the bodies as well as the souls of men.

The fact that men have been possessed with demons, is clearly stated in
the New Testament. The persons thus afflicted were not merely suffering
with disease from natural causes. Christ had perfect understanding of that
with which He was dealing, and He recognized the direct presence and
agency of evil spirits.

A striking example of their number, power, and malignity, and also of the
power and mercy of Christ, is given in the Scripture account of the
healing of the demoniacs at Gadara. Those wretched maniacs, spurning all
restraint, writhing, foaming, raging, were filling the air with their
cries, doing violence to themselves, and endangering all who should
approach them. Their bleeding and disfigured bodies and distracted minds
presented a spectacle well-pleasing to the prince of darkness. One of the
demons controlling the sufferers declared, "My name is Legion: for we are
many."(908) In the Roman army a legion consisted of from three to five
thousand men. Satan's hosts also are marshaled in co