MATTHEW 12:43-44, C. H. Cayce “When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none. Then he saith, I will return into my house from whence I came out; and when he is come, he findeth it empty, swept, and garnished.” We do not feel any impression to write at much length upon these words. If we are not mistaken this Scripture has already been explained in our columns perhaps more than once; but we will offer in a very brief way what we think is taught in the parable or illustration used by the Saviour in the language. We would call attention to the fact that the unclean spirit went out of the man. He was not bound nor cast out. This man could be nothing better than a nominal professor. He professed to be good, possibly; but the unclean spirit had only gone out for a season. The strong man armed was not bound. The strong man keeps his house and his goods are in peace until a stronger comes upon him. The unclean spirit keeps his house, the sinner, until a stronger comes upon him. The stronger is Jesus. He is stronger than all powers of darkness, and He comes to the poor sinner and binds the strong man, and spoils his armor wherein he trusted. The last state of this man is never worse than the first. The strong man, the unclean spirit, is bound. But when the unclean spirit goes out of his house he is not bound. It is his own house he goes out of. When he returns he finds it empty. If it is empty, it is not occupied by the Spirit of Jesus. The Lord has not taken up His abode there by the operation of His Holy Spirit. The Lord is not there. The Interlinear translation says he finds it unoccupied. So he can be no better than merely a nominal professor. The unclean spirit “taketh with him seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there,” so says verse 45. So instead of being better after his outward profession he is worse than before, “and the last state of that man is worse than the first.” We have known some nominal professors in our lives who were worse after than they were before— that is, their practice was worse and they were more wicked. The last state was worse than the first. But when the Lord binds the strong man, the last state is never worse than the first. The Lord’s work is perfect and will stand. Men may persuade and scare the sinner so that he may for a while profess to be so very good; but scared religion will not last and is worthless. God knows the hearts of all men, and no outward profession when the heart has not really been changed can deceive the Lord. These few thoughts are offered in love to all our readers. The Primitive Baptist, October 2. 1906