ness, shall receive light at the conclusion of its earthly course; and when about to fall asleep, is enabled to go in peace, and to feel in itself that it has been healed of its plague.

LECTURE XXXII.

THE DAUGHTER OF JAIRUS RESTORED TO LIFE.

MARK V. 35-43.

35. While he yet spake, there came from the ruler of the synagogue's house certain which said, Thy daughter is dead, why troublest thou the Master any further?

36. As soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken, he saith unto the ruler of the synagogue, Be not afraid, only believe.

Yet

The power of Jesus to restore life could not be af. fected by the belief or unbelief of Jairus. Jesus says to him, Be not afraid, only believe.

As

in another case he replies to a suppliant," If thou canst believe; all things are possible to him that believeth." 1

The blessing, therefore, is bestowed as a reward of faith. Whereas want of faith would be an affront to

1 Ch. ix. 23.

him of whom the blessing is sought and asked. And to ask that miraculous blessing, without believing that there was power to bestow it, would be the same thing to him who knows what is in the heart, as it would be to prefer a request to an earthly benefactor, and to say at the same time that we know he had not the heart to grant it.

It is needful, however, carefully to note the object of that faith which is demanded. It is faith in the power of Jesus. Faith in his power, even to raise the dead. As he said to Mary, when grieving for her brother Lazarus: "I am the resurrection and the life; he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live; and he that liveth and believeth in me, shall never die. Believest thou this?"? Hast thou the faith of Abraham, who did not consider the improbability that a son should be born to him in his old age, but "believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness?" 3 Hast thou the faith of Abraham, who when he was called to sacrifice his child of promise," did not hesitate, believing that" God was able to raise him up even from the dead?" +

3

Such faith honours him towards whom it is exercised and directed; and such faith Jesus claims from the ruler of the synagogue. "Fear not; believe only, and she shall be made whole." Perhaps this was more strictly required of him, because he was ruler of the synagogue. He must clear his mind from all the fallacies which were spread in the synagogues concerning Jesus. He must not ascribe his 3 Rom. iv. 3.

John xi. 25.

4 Heb. xi. 17—19.

miracles to Beelzebub. He must not decry him because he came out of Nazareth: but he must believe the testimony which God was giving of his Son, that all things were delivered into his hand: " that he hath life in himself, and "quickeneth whom he will." This was the faith in Jesus which he ought to have, because it was the faith which the words he spoke and the works he did were suited to inspire and would inspire, in all whose ears were not stopped by prejudice, or whose eyes were not closed by wilfulness.

This faith in the power of Christ is required of all who come to him for spiritual benefits: who seek from him the pardon of their sins, and the relief of their infirmities. It is not a belief that we are ourselves the subject of these benefits. It is not said,

Believe that thou art saved, and thou shalt be saved. The demand is, Believe that I have power to do this. Believe that I have power on earth to forgive sin. Believe that the Father has provided a way in which the world may be reconciled to himself: and that the atonement once made upon the cross, is that way and so appropriate to thyself the ransom which the Son has consented to pay, and the Father has engaged to receive. A man may doubt whether he is the object of God's mercy; he may doubt whether his sins are cleansed through the blood of Christ: this may be not unbelief, but humility; and should be treated as part of that "contrite spirit which God does not despise." But there must be no doubt of the efficacy of that blood to "cleanse from all sin :" no doubt of the faithfulness 7 John v. 21-26.

6 Matt. xi. 27.

of God's word, "proclaiming peace through Jesus Christ" and saying to every one," According to thy faith be it unto thee."

Jairus was now to witness a miracle which should both reward his faith, and confirm it.

37. And he suffered no man to follow him, save Peter, and James, and John the brother of James

38. And he cometh to the house of the ruler of the synagogue, and seeth the tumult, and them that wept and wailed greatly.

39. And when he was come in, he saith unto them, Why make ye this ado, and weep? the damsel is not dead, but sleepeth.

40. And they laughed him to scorn. But when he had put them all out, he taketh the father and mother of the damsel, and them that were with him, and entereth in where the damsel was lying.

41. And he took the damsel by the hand, and said unto her, Talitha cumi; which is, being interpreted, Damsel, I say unto thee, arise.

42. And straightway the damsel arose and walked; for she was of the age of twelve years. And they were astonished with a great astonishment.

43. And he charged them straitly that no man should know it; and commanded that something should be given her to eat.

Though on this, and two other remarkable occasions, Jesus revived the lifeless body, it was not in that manner that his power was to be habitually shown but in healing the infirmities of the living. This, perhaps, might be the reason why he charged them straitly that no man should know it. Enough

• As at his Transfiguration, ix. 2; and his agony in the garden, iv. 33.

was done to prove his power over death: but he would not excite an expectation generally, that this power would be exercised. Enough was done to prove the omnipotence of that voice, which hereafter "all that are in the graves shall hear, and shall come forth." 9

Shall come forth;-to what?

1

The example here is of a joyful resurrection. This young person was awakened to receive the embraces of her parents, rejoicing that this their daughter who was dead, was now alive again. She saw before her Jesus, and his apostles: her restorer, and his most faithful servants. And so "them also that sleep in Jesus will God bring with him," to be welcomed by the angels who surround the throne of the Father; and they shall find themselves in the presence of" Him that sitteth upon the throne, and of the Lamb," for ever: and experience the truth of that gracious assurance, "Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord." 3

9 John v. 28.

2 Rev. vii. 11.

2