means of restoration. The frequency of disease, acting as the remembrancer of mortality; and the certainty of death, enjoining us to prepare for an untried, unseen, and everlasting world.

But disease is more than the remembrancer of death. She brings the sufferer back, to the healing presence of his Maker; to that happiness, even in this life, for which he was originally designed. But who can estimate the full value of this sacred office? They alone can do so, who cultivate religion as their first and great concern. And how few there are, who thus cultivate religion? There is, however, a solid, though inferior benefit, respecting which we may appeal, to every man of sound judgment, and of a sober mind. For, if all were to luxuriate, in the exuberance of health; if there were no disease, to quell the mad intemperance of some, and stimulate the morbid indolence of others; if the disorders of the moral system, were not occasionally corrected, by the disorders of the physical; what would this world be, or where would God find a place in it? A few superior spirits might, perhaps, escape the general contagion. But the mind recoils, at the bare imagination of those horrors, which, in such a state of things, would pervade the great fabric of society. On the contrary, let us look

around, each in the sphere of our several connections, and let us pronounce, how much awakened thought, how much conscientious feeling, how much patience under suffering, how much moderation in prosperity, we know and feel, to have been, directly, or indirectly, produced by the salutary visitations of disease. And, though, in too many instances, these good impressions have been transitory, it cannot be denied that the accumulated effects upon society, are both permanent, and beneficial, while, in several individuals, these favourable commencements are gradually ripening into fruits of happiness and peace.

The mercy of God, in thus consecrating the misery of man, was peculiarly displayed, when He was manifested in our flesh.

While sojournso relieved, the

ing among us, He so met, and corporal sufferings of those who sought his aid, as to attract them, almost irresistibly, to himself. By the instant removal of inveterate disease, He repeatedly proved himself Lord of material nature; while, by the gracious and winning condescension of his manner, He invariably showed himself Master of the human heart. In every act of this kind, his moral goodness mitigates, if we may so speak, the majesty of his physical power. In reading the record of his mighty

works, we almost forget that they were miraculous our attention is so rivetted on himself, that we lose sight of his performances; we feel, that our incarnate God is present; and, in his presence, we are unconscious that the course of nature is suspended.

A feeling of this kind, would seem to have influenced the writers of the four Gospels. They give us the minutest features of our Lord's character and manner; but they commonly relate his most stupendous deeds, with all imaginable brevity. They never intimate their own surprise; they barely notice that of the beholders; and, in those rare instances where they give a detail of circumstances, they always prefer the moral, to the miraculous. The text affords precisely such an example of significant compression. It occurs, you will recollect, in the first chapter of Saint Mark's Gospel; and records the second of those miracles, which come within the sphere of his narrative. The transaction must have been of special interest to the Evangelist; for the person miraculously healed, was the near relation of his guide, and spiritual parent. Yet, how few and simple are his words: "But Simon's wife's mother lay sick of a fever: and anon, they tell Him of her; and He came, and took her by the

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hand, and lifted her up; and immediately the fever left her, and she ministered unto them."

Yet, few and simple as these words appear, their substance could not speedily be exhausted. And, to much of their important matter, the present time will scarce allow a cursory allusion. We may just observe, that the miracle is not only recorded, but attested; that the master of the family is named, and that master, to a moral certainty, the Evangelist's informant; that the cure was instantaneous, and complete, for, "immediately the fever left her, and she ministered unto them;" that is, at one and the same moment, fever and debility were put to flight: an effect, beyond the utmost reach of medical skill. It was thus, on another occasion, that our blessed Lord instantaneously, and at once, becalmed the winds and the waves; a coincidence, unprecedented and unequalled, in the ordinary course of nature.

But the moral features, are the striking features, of this merciful deliverance. For example: our Redeemer had but to speak the word, and it was done. But the sacred historian tells us, that "He came." He would not separate the matter, from the manner, of kindness. He approached the fisherman's humble roof, and visited the bed of sickness, with benevolent condescen

sion. Again: there were a thousand ways, in which He might have triumphed over her disease; but He chose the way of tenderness, and gentle caution; "He took her by the hand, and lifted her up." Could this Could this highly favoured among women, could any one of the by-standers, ever

Ought we, my Assuredly, it is our

forget this touching scene? brethren, ever to forget it? own concern. For, in like manner, He is now ready to deal with the weakest among us; for, at this moment, no less than during his presence upon earth, it is his joy to "gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and gently lead those that are with young."

Another circumstance remains: the last in this narrative, to which I shall advert.

We can

not question, that, from the very first, our Lord was quite aware of the malady, in all its stages. Omniscience needs not wait for human information. Yet, in this instance, He saw fit to wait; for, we read, that, "anon they tell Him of her;" and then, and not till then, "He came;" a proceeding, altogether in character with his usual course. For, while He never refused his aid, to those for whom it was implored, or to whom his notice was directed, it is remarkable that He never went in quest of objects. It is not for us, to explore the variety of causes, which influence all