#i assume since that sounds infinitely more insane if you are being presented the show without context which

[blossoms-phan]

never going to experience the vegas video in person

[selfwriting-sugarquills]

Something more infinite (George Weasley x reader) ch. 5

Chapter 5. Can we make an alliance, please? 

Chapters: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |

word count: 1.4K

warnings: light swearing. 

You were dying. Not literally but it sure felt like it. Your seventh year was supposed to be full of parties, trips to Hogsmeade, a little studying and a lot of anxiety about the N.E.W.T’s but so far, thanks to a miss Dolores Jane Umbridge, you’d only been able to enjoy the last two on that list, and you were so done. Not only was your last year at Hogwarts difficult from an academic point of view, but with the parties and practical jokes gone it was also boring, which was almost worse. You’d tried to escape Umbridge’s reign by shutting yourself  in the library, determined to ace your exams even if you were going to die of boredom trying. It was much better than getting in trouble and having your hand scratched to pieces by that bloody quill anyways. Fred and George had seemed to take an opposite stance. They’d taken every setback as a challenge to see just how much chaos they could create, no matter the punishment. Now that they’d been booted from the quidditch team, their only outlet for their frustrations were pranks and their product testing. Weirdly, George had not been bugging you. He’d noticed you were hiding out in the library and, you assumed, that he’d taken it as a sign of defeat from you. Generally, George had been acting strange since the yule ball. After you’d calmed down, you’d thought over the words exchanged between the two of you. You’d thought about how, in your fury and sadness, you’d not even stopped to take in what George had said. And more importantly; how he’d said it. 

You look really beautiful tonight. 

The way he’d said it. You thought about it constantly because you just couldn’t peg the emotion behind it. It wasn’t the same, slightly snarky and sarcastic tone. The intonation had been so un-playful, so downright and...honest. But it couldn't be. To think that George Weasley could have sincerity enough to compliment you would be insane. He wouldn't’. But he had. He did compliment you, and you had been too far gone to even take notice of it. After he’d said it, there had seemed to be a shift of air between you, at least from his side. He’d become much more quiet around you, and his interferences with your business had become scarce, with almost none of his old self shining through. And you didn’t know how to deal with it, which was another reason to stay in the library and common room, it was easier to stay by yourself, where you didn’t have to confront the weird behaviour from George, which had (in the few times you two had talked alone that year) resulted in you becoming even more frustrated with him now that he’d stopped playing into the feud that you fully intended on keeping going, or deal with Umbridge’s bullshit, for that matter. So here you were, deeply invested in a charms essay, reading up on the potential dangers of mispronunciation of incantations and the reversion of unsuccessful spells. That was until a person pulled out a chair in front of you and sat down, a pair of elbows setting themselves down on the table top. 

“Hello,” He drew out the word, “What’re you up to?” 

“Busy,” you replied, which was true, the essay was due two days from now, and you had yet to begin on the essay for potions which was due the day after that, 

“Busy doing what?” He asked, his tone unchanged, 

“Reading,” you said, hoping the way you said it translated to go away, 

“Reading what?” he continued, 

You sighed heavily, “Alright, out with it,” you say, and without looking up from your book, you can hear him sitting back in his chair, “What do you want, Weasley?” you add, hating how good you’d gotten at sensing his smugness, 

“I’m here,” he says, as if he’s presenting you with the most exclusive opportunity of your life, “to propose an alliance,” his voice is lowered, his tall frame leaned in over the table, his whole demeanor as if he’d relied information of the highest confidentiality, you weren’t going to play along nicely just because he’d decided he was bored enough to give you his time, 

“Abso-fucking-lutely not,” you articulate, 

“Please, Y/n, I know you can’t stand her either!”  George beckons, his hands gesticulating in front of him, 

“You know what I can’t stand, George?” You snap the book closed and silently revel in the way he tenses up, only showing his start by a bit of excessive blinking, “-that we’ve been going at each other’s throats for five bloody years and somehow, despite all my attempts, you’re still here refusing to fuck off,” you voice raises into a whispered shouting promptly earning a stern shushing from Madam Pince, 

“Oh, don’t worry about that,” he says, “If the toad keeps going the way she is you can expect me to be out of your hair sooner than expected,” he looks out the window, his eyes just getting misty with thought, before he turns back to you with a shit-eating grin, “as much as the thought of not being able to annoy you bugs me,” he winks at you and you, in turn, make a nauseated grimace as something turns in your stomach. 

“Well, if you change your mind about that alliance, you’ll know where to find us, who knows, perhaps if we worked together, we’d be able to take her down,” he says, before knocking on the table once, rising from his seat and leaving. You try to return to your book with a stern “I seriously doubt it,” muttered to yourself while you find the page you left but even as your eyes begin to scan the words your brain can only focus on what George meant by getting out of your hair sooner than you expected. Was he planning on leaving? you’d never even thought of Hogwarts without that shit-eating grin following you around, ruining your every plan and good day. You just wished you could explain why the thought filled you with a strange empty feeling in the pit of your stomach. Over the next few days you think more about a life at Hogwarts without George, and what that would mean for you. You decide, as much as you hate to admit it, that you would rather give in and make an alliance with George than go the rest of the year without him at all. It’s not that you like him, no you couldn’t like George Weasley like that but you still don’t want to see him go just yet. 

“I accept your offer,” You find him coming in through the main entrance after a Herbology class, his hair is matted down and sticking to his face, wet from the heavy rain that showers the grounds outside, he looks confused, 

“Your alliance, Weasley,” you say, rolling your eyes, “I’m saying I want in,” you look at your feet, “even though it kills me a little to admit it,” you mumble. 

Silence. Except for the sound of wet shoes on cobblestone as students come filing in from lessons outside, a group of fourth years laugh at their collective disheveled state but George doesn’t speak. You look up and to your surprise he looks disappointed. 

“What?” You ask, genuinely interested, this was a good thing? you were giving him what he loved the most; the upperhand, so why was he looking like you’d just snapped his wand in half? 

“Well I was hoping you would,” he trails off, biting his lip, your eyes dance over his face, which is difficult to read, he looks like he’s about to say different things at once before settling on, “It’s just that we’re leaving this friday, during the exams,” he says, and now you’re also disappointed. You fight not to show it as you nod and let out a small “oh, right,” 

“But I appreciate your willingness to cooperate,” he says, a smile playing on his lips, but it’s not as cheerful as it usually is, the corners of his mouth tugged downwards by a sadness that you can both feel but can’t explain. 

“Once the shop’s finished, you better come see me,” he says, beginning to walk away, he turns around, facing you as he walks up the first steps on the stairs in the entrance hall, “who knows? maybe we can find another thing to collaborate on?” and he smirks. That’s the last time you see that very smirk at Hogwarts and you feel more hollow than ever as you graduate.

taglist: @schlongbottom​ @cardboardbenmazzello​ @unseensilver​ @mochamiilk Let me know if you want to be added :))  

[harry-sussex]

A note about the lawsuits:

Now that we know Harry is suing a small handful of magazine publications for a breach of privacy related to the personal lives of himself and his wife, there are a few things that I think need to be spelled out right now.

I’m seeing a lot of comments about Harry and Meghan and their privileges as a royal couple.  There is no denying that they lead a very privileged lifestyle that people like us could only dream of.  That, however, is absolutely no reason for the treatment that the Sussexes (particularly Meghan) have been facing in the press since their engagement.  None whatsoever.

Now, I’m seeing a lot of people saying something akin to the following with respect to the lawsuits: “Harry and Meghan are funded by the taxpayer.  They’re public servants.  They don’t have a right to privacy.  The media has an obligation to their readers to report whatever they deem relevant.  If Harry and Meghan don’t like it, they can cease any and all royal work, recuse themselves from receiving funding from the Duchy of Cornwall and the Sovereign Grant, and move back to America/move to Africa/move away from England and everyone will leave them alone.”

There are about five million things wrong with that statement.  Funded by taxpayer does not immediately equate to being required to share intimate details of their public lives with the public, for one - but that’s an argument for another day.  Everyone is entitled to privacy - public figure or not.  My primary issue, however, is the final italicized clause, one that I’ve read in similar veins on many forums since the first lawsuit and statement dropped the other day.

Right now, Harry and Meghan live in Frogmore Cottage, a royal property, which has some of the best security money can buy.  They are constantly surrounded by taxpayer-funded security - during both official and private business.  They obviously fund their private lives - clothing, vacations, etc. - privately, but the funds from the Duchy and the Sovereign Grant allow them a sort of peace of mind, safety, and comfort in their lives that they may otherwise be lacking.  

Private security is expensive, people.  Obscenely so.  Especially for three (or more) people, and especially for the next sixty or so years.

Now, let’s say Harry and Meghan have had enough.  They’re tired of the bowing and the curtseying, the “Your Royal Highnesses” and the strict rules, the dog-and-pony show that is being a member of the British Royal Family.  Let’s say, for argument’s sake, they want out.  They’re renouncing their right to taxpayer or otherwise royal funding, moving out of Frogmore, ceasing the use of the HRH, and bailing on royal life to get away from the institution and its confines.

Do people really think that would be it?  “Oh, they’re not getting money from the taxpayer anymore, so we’re not interested.”  Do people really think that it wouldn’t be an absolute witch hunt?  Assuming they basically were to say “that’s it, we’re out, we don’t owe you anything anymore so we’re not telling you where we’re going,” which, to be fair, sounds like something they’d say in that situation.  The press would use every resource they had to track down Harry and Meghan and their family.  Stalk their children - just like they did with George.  Terrorize them in their private lives - just like they did with Diana.  Except without the protection afforded to both George and Diana.

Now imagine the hysteria... but remove the taxpayer-funded security.  Remove the protection officers at all hours of the day and remove the royal residence with built-in features to protect them.  The press is hungry for them.  They stop at nothing to get what they want now... imagine if there wasn’t an institution or a system in between.  Imagine if there was nothing getting in the way of the press getting what they want.  No royal favor, no funded security, no secure home, nothing.  It’s just the press, Harry, and Meghan.  Fair game.  Imagine what it would be like for them?

Why should Harry and Meghan be forced to change their lives?  They have a position in life that frankly most people would die for.  Why should they be forced to give it up?  Why shouldn’t they do whatever they can to force the external forces to back off?  Demanding that Harry and Meghan change their lives punishes them for crimes they did not commit.  Forcing the press to back off punishes them for crimes they did commit.  The only way to do this, of course, is to file a lawsuit.

People forget, I think, exactly what William and Harry have gone through.  Spin it whatever way you want, but the press, like it or not, directly contributed to the death of their mother.  Their mother who could afford private protection, who did hire private security... security that, ultimately, failed to protect her.  Because of the press.  The same press stalking their children outside of schools, the same press printing malicious and cruel lies about their wives... is the same press that killed their mother.  Do you see?  Do you know why they are the way they are with the press?  That’s why.  The press killed their mother (however accidentally it may have been) and now, god forbid, they’re coming for their wives and children, too.  God forbid.  No wonder they are the way they are!  William and Harry are only looking to protect that which they now hold dear, after the press violently ripped the same from them a lifetime too early.

If the press was smart, they’d work to improve the relationship that they destroyed.  The onus should not be on either of the Wales boys to rectify that relationship - they’re not the ones who destroyed it.  Before Diana’s death, we got videos of the cousins, mini-interviews, photocalls at the palace with the babies... now, 22 years later, we get the occasional photograph.  A handful of public appearances in total over the course of all four kids’ lives.  That has to be a direct result of the contributions of the press to Diana’s death.  Like it or not, William and Harry’s secrecy and general reluctance to share any private moments publicly is a direct consequence of the role the press played in their mother’s untimely, violent death.

If the press wants access, then they need to prove they’re once again worthy of access.  They need to prove that the Wales boys can trust them, more than 22 years after the death of their mother.  The press needs to prove that they have changed.  The Sun, the Daily Mail... they’ve done nothing to earn Harry and Meghan’s trust.  Piers Morgan profits exorbitantly every time he posts a negative word about Meghan.  The Daily Mail and the Sun make absolutely insane amounts of money, printing the stories that they print.  The press, in reality, hasn’t changed at all since Diana’s death.  Not at all.

Don’t you see?  The press is taking advantage of the Wales boys and their families to make money.  Literally for the sake of the almighty pound.  They did the same to Diana, and look how that turned out.  If anyone else did that, there would be an uproar.  But all of a sudden, it’s okay because it’s the press?  Absolutely not.

If Harry thinks it’s worth the battle to go to battle for himself, his wife, his child, his brother, his sister-in-law, his niece and nephews, and for the memory of his late mother, then who are we to criticize it?  If Harry wants to go to war in order to preclude the press from taking vile advantage of him and his family for the sake of revenue, then who are we to decry him?  This is his life we’re talking about here - his life, and the lives of his family, who has already suffered enough because of irresponsible journalism.  If this is what he and his team think needs to be done to prevent another Diana-esque tragedy, then who are we, you know?

Another Diana-esque tragedy would undoubtedly hurt every single one of us here blogging about the Wales boys and their families.  God forbid, it would hurt the Wales boys and their families, though, infinitely many times more.

If Harry (and his undoubtedly well-endowed legal team) thinks he can prevent such a thing from happening, then we should all be for it.  Period.  If these lawsuits could potentially save the life of even one person to whom the press craves access (royal or not), then we should stand with them.  

The public does not have the right to know each and every little thing about their representatives.  The press seems to think they are entitled to private information, and will stop at nothing to get the information they crave.  This is not the case, and a lawsuit is a great way to squash that entitlement.  A lawsuit is the only way to force the press into submission, into following a set of rules that protects the targets involved.  

If similar litigation was presented prior to Diana’s death, who knows what would have happened to her.  Who knows if such a lawsuit could have protected her?  We’ll never know, but it’s worth considering in light of recent events.

If this is the chance Harry is willing to take, then I - as an anonymous person who has never and will never face the type of hysteria he has - have to stand with him.  Stand with Harry, and Meghan, and Archie, and William, and Kate, and George, and Charlotte, and Louis.  That’s the way it should be.  That’s the way it has to be.

[shirt113]

Why I think the album “Goblin” by Tyler the Creator is his most innovative and creative work.

Tyler is known for his story telling and lyricism. Every album he has released introduces a plot and some of them introduces an entire set of characters (see Bastard, Goblin, and Wolf). They all display his emotion and in his earlier works, he was not hesitant to share his deepest secrets and thoughts. The album “Goblin” displays all of this perfectly. This album takes place in a therapy session (or multiple sessions). His therapist is someone named Dr. TC, which translates to Dr. (T)yler the (C)reator. Every song is a different emotion or thought that is all told through Tyler’s point of view. The album shows off multiple characters as well such as Dr. TC, Tron Cat, Ace, ETC. I’ll go through every song on the album and show exactly what emotion is presented in each song to make it easier to understand where I am coming from.

1| Goblin: Stress and Depression due to his fame from his “Bastard” album

2| Yonkers: His descent into madness/ introduction to his more gruesome thoughts that he has.

3| Radicals: Fuck Shit attitude where he doesn’t care about anything and just wants to do whatever he feels like.

4| She: Lust... Tyler goes into detail about all the things he would do to this girl that he wishes he could be with. From doing nice things with her to straight up rape. This was made apparent in the 2nd half of the song where the song only plays in one ear with headphones on, but it alternates between ears. During this time he is talking about the things he would do with her, in one ear it’s all the nice things he wishes he could do and in the other he talks about killing and raping her, basically implying that he would do anything to be with her. Although the tone of the entire song is beautiful and not as raw and raunchy as his other songs.

5| Transylvania: This song displays an overall disrespect for women and how he could do all kinds of terrible things to them. He compares himself to Dracula constantly to show that he is a monster that is lusting for blood.

From now you can tell that in every song he is descending further and further into madness and insanity.

6| Nightmare: More raw and “nightmare”ish while on the topic of how his childhood was ruined by his parents and tries to justify that this is the cause of his mental instability. (We also see more engagement from Dr. TC in this song)

7| Tron Cat: This is where the character Tron Cat is introduced. Tron Cat is a voice in Tyler’s head. The previous songs hinted at dark thoughts but they weren’t that strong. In this song it is Tron Cat talking about all the horrible, torturous, and gory things that he wants to do. Including amputation, rape, torture, and kidnap.

8| Her: Lust... This song is a break from all the rawness of the other songs. Although the longer the song goes on the more obsessed he seems with this girl that he is talking to. Then it’s revealed that they aren’t dating, in fact the girl has a boyfriend. She breaks up with them and Tyler is about to make his move, but right when he does he sees her kissing her old boyfriend. Then depression and anger sets in as he knows she isn’t into him.

9| Sandwitches: Very apparent anger is seen in this song as he speaks heavily of violence.

10| Fish: More playful, but still reintroduces previous topics of rape

11| Analog: A lot chiller mood describing the perfect date with a girl and just overall having a good time.

12| Bitch Suck Dick: This introduces Tyler’s friends: Jasper, Dolphin, and Taco. This song is more about flexing, although it seems very satirical. It makes fun of modern rap that only raps about money and fame in contrast to Tyler’s emotional journey. But in the end Tyler kills his friends ( ¯\_(ツ)_/¯)

13| Window: This song introduces the rest of Tyler’s friends and it takes place in a therapy session. His friends are there to calm him down and make him feel better. The entirety of the song has a very depressing sound, despite all the nice things Tyler’s friends talk about, it still has a very melancholy tone. Tyler sees them as fake and impulsively kills them, then quickly regrets it and spirals into self loathe.

14| AU79: This is an instrumental interlude, presumably what is going on in Tyler’s mind after killing his friends. The moments up until this point have been really tense and depressing... Killing his friends was the result of all of his emotions building up, and he needed a release.

15| Golden: Dr. TC admits that Tyler has some problems. In this song Tyler speaks about everything that has happened and how he wishes he could just end it all (through suicide). Dr. TC and Tyler are going back and forth the entire time, Dr. TC is being the voice of reason and Tyler is still in his state of madness. At the end Tyler is being escorted out for being too unstable. Then Dr. TC reveals that Dr. TC, Tron Cat, Ace, Wolf Haley, and Tyler the Creator are all the same, they are all a part of his conscious.

There are an infinite amount of ways you could perceive the message of this album, but I have a few ideas. 

The album very clearly shows his mental instability and dark thoughts that go on inside of his head. However, I think this makes Tyler sane. There is a certain hunger that we, as humans have... And that hunger is for violence, gore, and just overall things that would be considered terrible. It is completely normal for people to have these kind of thoughts, and if that hunger is not quenched it can sometimes lead people to be a little unstable. 

Since none of this actually happens to Tyler in real life, we can assume that the entire album is told through his thoughts. And characters like Dr. TC are there to tell himself “why am I thinking these things, these aren’t okay”, but he still continues anyways.

I do not know the entire meaning of this album, and there is no way I can narrow it down to one answer, because it is more than that... I believe this album is innovative because it isn’t afraid to experiment with sensitive topics and it’s one of the few albums out there that go into detail on deep depression. It’s ability to tell a story with characters and a plot twist as if it were a movie, all while being a good album sound wise amazes me.

[bldgrelationshipwgod]

RE: RE: Matthew 17:14-21 | The Demoniac: Boy is Healed

When they came to the crowd, a man came up to Jesus & knelt before Him. “Lord, have mercy on my son,” he said. “He has seizures & is suffering terribly. He often falls into the fire or into the water. I brought him to Your disciples, but they could not heal him.” “O unbelieving & perverse generation!” Jesus replied. “How long must I remain with you? How long must I put up with you? Bring the boy here to Me.” Then Jesus rebuked the demon, & it came out of the boy, & he was healed from that moment.

Afterward the disciples came to Jesus privately & asked, “Why couldn’t we drive it out?”

“Because you have so little faith,” He answered. “For truly I tell you, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ & it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.”

But this kind does not go out, except by prayer & fasting.

                    _____________________________________________________

Charles Ellicott Commentary (1819 –1905)  | Matthew 17:14

[14] And when they were come to the multitude—Luke states that it was on the next day, the night having apparently been spent on the Mount of Transfiguration.

The magic power of the art of Raffaelle has brought into vivid juxtaposition the contrast between the scene of glory above & that of trouble & unrest below, but we must not allow the impression made by the picture to distort our thoughts of the history.

The two scenes did not synchronize.

The vision was at night, & the descent from the mountain would have carried those who made the journey some way at least into the day that followed.

There came to Him a certain man—Mark [Mark 9:14-16] narrates more fully that as our Lord & the three were coming to the disciples, they saw a crowd, & scribes disputing with them; that when the multitude saw this they were astonished, & running to Him, saluted Him; that He then asked, “Why dispute you with them?” & that this drew forth the answer & the prayer which in Matthew’s record stands without any prelude.

[15] See Note on Matthew 4:24. Other Gospels add some further touches.

The boy had a “dumb spirit.” When the spirit seized him it “tore him,” & he foamed at the mouth, & gnashed with his teeth.

Slowly, & as with difficulty, the paroxysm passed off, & the sufferer was wasting away under the violence of the attacks.

The phenomena described are, it need hardly be said, those of epilepsy complicated with insanity, a combination common in all countries, & likely to be aggravated where the “seizure,” which the very word epilepsy implies, was the work of a supernatural power.

Prolonged melancholy, indescribable look of sadness, a sudden falling, & loss of consciousness, with/out convulsions, passing into a tetanic stiffness, periodical recurrence coinciding often with the new or full moon [hence probably the description of the boy as “lunatick”], grinding teeth, foaming at the mouth, are all noted by medical writers as symptoms of the disease.

The names by which it was known in the earlier stages of medical science were all indicative of the awe with which mankind looked on it.

It was the “divine,” the “sacred” disease, as being a direct supernatural infliction. The Latin synonym, morbus comitialis, came from the fact that if a seizure of this kind occurred during the comitia, or assemblies of the Roman Republic, it was looked upon as of such evil omen that the meeting was at once broken up, & all business adjourned.

Whether there was in this case something more than disease, viz., a distinct possession by a supernatural force, is a question which belongs to the general subject of the “demoniacs” of the Gospel records.

[See Note on 8:28.] Here, at any rate, our Lord’s Words [Matthew 17:21] assume, even more emphatically than elsewhere, the reality of the possession. [See Mark 9:25.]

[16] They could not cure him—This, then, would seem to have been the subject-matter of debate.

The scribes were taunting the disciples, who probably trusted to their use of the wonted formula of their Master’s name, & were wrangling in their defense.

Neither scribes nor disciples had thought of gaining the spiritual power which might avail by the means which they both recognized as effective.

[17] O faithless & perverse generation—The words were obviously addressed both to the scribes & the disciples.

Both had shown their want of the faith which utters itself in prayer to the Father; both were alike “perverse,” in finding in the misery brought before them only an occasion of wrangling & debate.

This was not the way to obtain power to heal, & formulae of exorcism were but as an idle charm, without the faith of which they were meant to be the expression.

How long shall I suffer you?—The words are significant as suggesting the thought that our Lord’s whole life was one long tolerance of waywardness & perversity of people.

Bring him hither to me—Mark, whose record is here by far the fullest, relates that at this moment “the spirit tare him,” & that he “wallowed foaming,” in the paroxysm of a fresh convulsion; that our Lord then asked, “How long is it ago since this came unto him?” & was told that he had suffered from his childhood; that the father appealed, half-despairing, to our Lord’s pity, “If you canst do anything, have compassion on us, & help us;” & was told that it depended on his own faith, “If you can believe; all things are possible to him that believes;” & then burst out into the cry of a faith struggling with his despair, “Lord, I believe; help Thou my unbelief;” & that that faith, weak as it was, was accepted as sufficient.

[18] Jesus rebuked the devil—Better, demon, as elsewhere in these cases of possession. The child was cured—Better, the boy.

Mark 9:21 implies, as indeed the Greek does here, that the sufferer had passed beyond the age of childhood.

Mark gives the words of the rebuke, “Thou dumb & deaf spirit, I command thee, come out from Him, & enter no more into him.” This was followed by a great cry & another convulsion; then He fell down, “as it were, dead,” & many cried out, “He is dead.” Then Jesus took Him by the hand, & raised Him up, & the work of healing was accomplished. Calmness, & peace, & self-possession were seen instead of the convulsive agony. The spiritual power of the Healer had overcome the force, whether morbid or demoniac, which was the cause of His sufferings. Our Lord’s Words, it need hardly be said, assume it to have been the latter; & those who deny the reality of the possession must, in their turn, assume either that He shared the belief of the people, or accepted it because they were not able to receive any other explanation of the mysterious sufferings which they had witnessed. Each hypothesis presents difficulties of its own, & we may well be content to confess our inability to solve them. [See Note on Matthew 8:28.] Speaking generally, the language of the NT seems to recognise, if not in all diseases, yet at least in all that disturb the moral equilibrium of mankind’s nature, an infraction of the divine order, & therefore rightly sees in them the work, directly or indirectly, of the great antagonist of that order. All our Lord’s works of mercy are summed up by Peter in the Words that “He went about doing good, & healing all that were oppressed of the devil” [Acts 10:38], & on this supposition the particular phenomena of each case were logically ascribed to demoniac forces. [19] Why could not we cast Him out?—The question came obviously from the disciples who had been left below when our Lord went apart with Peter, James, & John, to the Mount of the Transfiguration. They did not even now see the reason of their failure. They had dealt with this case as they had dealt with others. Why had they not met with a like issue? They did not as yet perceive that they came under our Lord’s language of rebuke, & did not look on themselves as belonging to the “faithless generation.” [20] Because of your unbelief—The various reading, “Because of your little faith,” found in many, but not the most authoritative MSS., is interesting as an example of a tendency to tone down the apparent severity of our Lord’s Words. They show conclusively that the disciples themselves came under the range of His rebuke to the “faithless & perverse generation.” If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed—The hyperbolical form of our Lord’s Words, repeated afterwards in Matthew 21:21, excluded from the thoughts of the disciples, as from our own, the possibility of a literal interpretation. The “grain of mustard seed” was, as in Matthew 13:31, the proverbial type of the infinitely little. To “remove mountains” was, as we see in 1 Corinthians 13:2 [this may, however, have been an echo of our Lord’s teaching], the proverbial type of overcoming difficulties that seemed insurmountable. The Words were, we may believe, dramatised by a gesture pointing to the mountain from which our Lord & the three disciples had descended, as afterwards by a like act in reference to the Mount of Olives [Matthew 21:21].Nothing shall be impossible unto you—The Words, absolute as they sound, are yet, ipso facto, conditional. Nothing that comes within the range of faith in the wisdom & love of God, & therefore of submission to His will, is beyond the range of prayer. [21] This kind goeth not out but by prayer & fasting—The Words imply degrees in the intensity of the forms of evil ascribed to demons amounting to a generic difference. Some might yield before the energy of a human will, & the power of the divine Name, & the prayers even of a weak faith. Some, like that which comes before us here, required a greater intensity of the spiritual life, to be gained by the “prayer & fasting” of which our Lord speaks. The circumstances of the case render it probable that our Lord himself had vouchsafed to fulfil both the conditions. The disciples, we know, did not as yet fast [Matthew 9:14-15], & the facts imply that they had been weak & remiss in prayer. The Words are noticeable as testifying to the real ground & motive for “fasting,” & to the gain for the higher life to be obtained, when it was accompanied by true prayer, by this act of conquest over the lower nature. So Peter’s vision [Acts 10:9-10], & the appointment of Paul & Barnabas by the direct guidance of the Spirit [Acts 13:2], are both connected with fasting. And Paul, besides the “hunger & thirst” that came upon Him as the incidents of His mission-work, speaks of himself as “in fastings often” [2 Corinthians 11:27].