THE GOSPEL. St Matth. viii. 23.
And when he was entered into a ship, his disciples followed him.
And behold, there arose a great tempest in the sea, insomuch that
the ship was covered with the waves: but he was asleep. And his
disciples came to him, and awoke him, saying, Lord, save us, we
perish. And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little
faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there
was a great calm. But the men marvelled, saying, What manner of man
is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him! And when he was
come to the other side into the country of the Gergesenes, there
met him two possessed with devils, coming out of the tombs,
exceeding fierce, so that no man might pass by that way. And
behold, they cried out, saying, What have we to do with thee,
Jesus, thou Son of God? art thou come hither to torment us before
the time? And there was a good way off from them an herd of many
swine, feeding. So the devils besought him, saying, If thou cast
us out, suffer us to go away into the herd of swine. And he said
unto them, Go. And when they were come out, they went into the
herd of swine: and behold, the whole herd of swine ran violently
down a steep place into the sea, and perished in the waters. And
they that kept them fled, and went their ways into the city, and
told every thing, and what was befallen to the possessed of the
devils. And behold, the whole city came out to meet Jesus: and
when they saw him, they besought him that he would depart out of
their coasts.