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This miracle being so extraordinary, it was expedient for the conversion of others, that it should be made public: our LORD enquired "who touched him ?'* not for his own information, but that the woman might herself testify her cure.

And in order to establish that faith which had rendered her an object of Divine compassion, and reward her humility, our LORD' publicly pronounced the gra cious words of comfort, honoured her in the sight of the world as a true disciple, and dismissed her with the tenderness of a father. Go in peace was a usual form of expressing friendship and good-will towards inferiors, and particularly proper on this occasion, as the poor woman's mind was so greatly discomposed and agitated.

'The performance of this astonishing miracle was very seasonable to strengthen the faith of Jairus, before he received the message informing him of his daughter's death, which must have produced great emotions in the breast of so tender a parent; but he does not appear to have given way to them; for he still continued to decompany our LORD, who, unwilling to disturb the afflicted family, would not suffer any to follow him into the house, but his three most intimate friends..

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The Jews had borrowed a custom from the heathens of haring musicians, who made it their business, immediately on the deaths of any one, to soothe the grief of the surviving friends by melancholy notes, which they accompanied with singing. This practice was contrary to the Jewish law, and extremely absurd; onr LORD disapproved it, and commanded them to give place to him; intimating, that he would render her death like a short sleep. Jairus firmly relied on thẹ power of CHRIST, and conducted him to the bed where his darling lay, deprived of sense and motion. What

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an affecting sight! Here was an occasion that exercised the tender feelings of humanity (which our Lord possessed in the greatest degree), and required the exertion of almighty power. As a Man, JESUS beheld the sorrow of the parents with the most compassionate concern; as GOD, he immediately relieved it, by restoring their child to life; and that they might be convinced she was free from the distemper which had proved fatal, he commanded them to give her food.

None but He who created the heavens, and stretched them out, who giveth breath to the people on the earth, and spirit to them that dwell thereon*, could thus have raised the dead to life.

It is likely that the blind men who followed our LORD had heard the particulars of this wonderful transaction, and were from this circumstance convinced that he was actually the MESSIAH, the Son of David, whom God, by his prophet Isaiah, had promised "to give us a covenant to the people +." The blind men believed that CHRIST was able to cure them, which was in fact acknowledging his Divinity; and he rewarded their faith by healing them with a touch. Let us then, who read the history of this astonishing event, believe that the cure was effected by the same ALMIGHTY BEING who first divided the light from the darkness, who was constantly present in the MESSIAH walking in the way with mankind.

The miracle of curing the dumb demoniac is a further confirmation of the presence of the Deity in CHRIST; for whether we suppose the man to have been afflicted with lunacy, or really possessed with a devil, no human power could have restored his health, speech, and un

* See Sect. xxix.

+ Ibid.

3

Ibid.

derstanding,

derstanding immediately, as our SAVIOUR's did. Without the Godhead, CHRIST could no more have wrought miracles, than any other man could perform rational actions without a soul. We may remark, that our LORD always knew at once what he should do, and had no need to seek to GoD on every occasion: for the WORD being constantly with him, informed his mind, directed his judgment, prevented prejudice, implanted truth, and taught him the perfection of all human virtues, which he practised with delight.

We must not only adore GoD manifested in the flesh, but also endeavour to follow our SAVIOUR's example as Man. In the section we have been reading, his benevolence and compassion for the sorrows and afflictions incident to humanity are beautifully displayed. From his willingness to attend Jairus, and give him consolation, we may learn, that to comfort the afflicted is highly pleasing to our heavenly FATHER. By his tender behaviour to the poor woman, we are instructed to treat the humble and diffident with encouraging kindness; and his readiness to cure the blind and dumb, teaches us to use our utmost endeavours to relieve the miserable.

Our LORD's command, that his miracle might not be made public, seems to have been given to prevent inconvenience to Jairus's family, and to shew that he was averse to making an ostentatious display of his Divine power.

SECTION XXXIV.

JESUS WALKS IN THE CORN-FIELD-HEALS THE MAN WHO HAD A WITHERED HAND.

From Matthew, Chap. xii.-Lake, vi.-Mark, iii. AND it came to pass that Jesus went through the

corn.

corn-fields, and his disciples were an hungered, and began to pluck the ears of corn, and to eat.

But when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto him, Behold, thy disciples do that which is not lawful to do upon the sabbath-day.

But he said unto them, Have ye not read what David did when he was an hungered, and they that were with him,

How he entered into the house of GoD, and did eat the shew-bread, which was not lawful for him to eat, neither for them which were with him, but only for the priest?

Or have ye not read in the law, how that on the sab. bath-days the priests in the temple profane the sabbath, and are blameless? ·

But I say unto you, that in this place is one greater than the temple. The SON OF MAN is LORD even of the sabbath-day *.

But if ye had known what this meaneth, I will have mercy and not sacrifice, ye would not have condemned the guiltless.

And it came to pass also on another sabbath, that he entered into the synagogue, and taught; and there was a man whose right hand was withered.

And the Scribes and Pharisees watched him, whether he would heal on the sabbath.day, that they might find an accusation against him.

But he knew their thoughts, and said to the man which had the withered hand, Rise up, and stand forth in the midst. And he arose and stood forth.

And they asked him, saying, Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath-day?

* See Chap. xii.

And

And he saith unto them, Is it lawful to do good on the sabbath-day, or to do evil? to save life, or to kill? but they held their peace.

And when he had looked round about on them with anger, being grieved for the hardness of their hearts, he saith to the man, Stretch forth thine hand. And he stretched it out: and his hand was restored whole as the other.

And the Pharisees went forth and straightway took counsel with the Herodians against him, how they might destroy him.

But JESUS withdrew himself with his disciples to the sea: and a great multitude from Galilee followed him, and from Judea,

And from Jerusalem, and from Idumea, and from beyond Jordan; and they about Tyre and Sidon, a great multitude, when they had heard what great things he did, came unto him.

And he spake to his disciples, that a small ship should wait on him, because of the multitude, lest they should throng him..

For, he had healed many, insomuch that they pressed upon him for to touch him, as many as had plagues.

And unclean spirits, when they saw him, fell down before him, and cried, saying, Thou art the Son of God.

And he straightly charged them, that they should not make him known.

That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying,

Behold my servant whom I have chosen, my beloved in whom my soul is well pleased: I will put my spirit upon him, and he shall shew judgment to the Gentiles. He shall not strive, nor cry; neither shall any man hear his voice in the street.

A bruised

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