That a crowd might not be inconveniently collected, our Lord saw fit to prohibit this man from publishing his cure. He was to show himself to the priest, whose office it was by the law to pronounce a leper clean; to take off, as it were, the law of separation under which, as leprous, he remained. This was to be a testimony unto them, that a great prophet had come into the world; "yea, and more than a prophet," as they might perceive if their hearts were not hardened.

45. But he went out, and began to publish it much, and to blaze abroad the matter, insomuch that Jesus could no more openly enter into the city, but was without in desert places: and they came to him from every quarter.

The man was too full of joy and gratitude to conceal the benefit which he had received. He so blazed it abroad, that Jesus was forced to quit the city, and seek less frequented places.

A similar zeal and gratitude will be felt by every sincere disciple of Christ Jesus. It will manifest itself in various ways; certainly not in making boast of spiritual blessings; for "let him who thinketh he standeth, take heed lest he fall." But there will exist an earnest desire and endeavour that others should apply to the same fountain of spiritual health, of which they themselves have drunk and been refreshed. Christians "are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people;" for this very purpose, that being an example to all "in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity," they should walk "worthy of their

6

* See "the law of leprosy," Levit. xiv. 7—22. Pet. ii. 9.

81 Tim. iv. 12.

vocation, and show forth the praises of Him who hath called them out of darkness into his marvellous light:" "so that men may see their good works, and glorify their Father which is in heaven.”

LECTURE XII.

THE POWER OF JESUS TO FORGIVE SINS.

MARK ii. 1-12.

1. And again he entered into Capernaum after some days: and it was noised that he was in the house.

2. And straightway many were gathered together, insomuch that there was no room to receive them, no, not so much as about the door; and he preached the word unto them.

3. And they came unto him, bringing one sick of the palsy, which was borne of four.

4. And when they could not come nigh unto him for the press, they uncovered the roof where he was: and when they had broken it up, they let down the bed wherein the sick of the palsy lay.

5. When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee.

The lowness of the houses in Judea, and their flat roofs, (often alluded to in Scripture,) made it possible to admit the paralytic man in the way described. Still there was difficulty, trouble, and expense. So that it is said, Jesus saw their faith.

Before they took such pains, they must have been very confident that it was worth while; and that he, whose aid they sought so anxiously, could make them a return worthy of their perseverance. To believe this, and to act upon it in surrendering the heart to this same Saviour, is the faith required of a Christian. When a person, being come to years of understanding, perceives the nature and the force of that covenant to which he was pledged in baptism, and on the fulfilling of which his salvation depends, he soon finds what the friends of this paralytic man found, that difficulties oppose him, when he desires to commit himself to Jesus Christ. He may possibly be hindered by a crowd of friends, who are following another course and would persuade him to do the same. He may be hindered by a crowd of evil passions, pressing for indulgence and struggling hard to get possession of his heart. And this is the trial of his faith as it was the trial of faith in this man's friends, the four persons who bore the litter on which he was carried, that when there was no entrance by the door, and for the press they could not come nigh to Jesus, they uncovered the roof, and so forced a way into the presence of the Saviour. Jesus saw their faith, and rewarded it. And doubtless it is pleasing to him, when they who seek salvation through his name, are not deterred by hindrances, and do not scruple to make sacrifices. That takes place which is intimated in the saying of our Lord, "The kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force." He sees the faith of

Matt. xi. 12.

E

those who resolve to follow him, notwithstanding inconvenience, scorn, or worldly loss: and the reward is like that bestowed upon the sick of the palsy; Son, thy sins be forgiven thee.

We have no reason to suppose that this man's infirmity was the consequence of some particular sin, any more than the Jews had to think that those Galileans upon whom the tower of Siloam fell, were sinners above the rest of the Galileans.

It was

" 3 be

not that "this man had sinned or his parents," yond the sinfulness of other men: but that the glory of God might be manifested, in providing for the remission of sins. The Lord used this expression, Thy sins be forgiven thee,-declared in these terms his readiness to heal the sick man, that he might draw attention to the origin of all evil; might remind them that "by sin came death," and all the diseases which lead to death. And still further, that he might awaken the minds of those who heard him, and direct them towards himself, and the purpose of his coming into the world.

His words produced the effect which might have been expected.

6. But there were certain of the scribes sitting there, and reasoning in their hearts,

7. Why doth this man thus speak blasphemies? who can forgive sins but God only?

8. And immediately when Jesus perceived in his spirit that they so reasoned within themselves, he said unto them, Why reason ye these things in your hearts?

9. Whether is it easier to say to the sick of the palsy, Thy

2 Luke xiii. 4.

See John ix. 3.

Rom. v. 12.

sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and take up thy bed and walk?

10. But that ye may know, that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (he saith to the sick of the palsy,)

11. I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy bed, and go thy way into thine house.

12. And immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went forth before them all; insomuch that they were all amazed, and glorified God, saying, We never saw it on this fashion.

The scribes, therefore, and other bystanders, are not censured for inquiring, Who can forgive sins but God only? It would have been well, if men had never claimed this power to themselves, or if others had not credulously conceded it to them. But the design of Jesus was to awaken their attention to the fact, that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins. If he could say to the paralytic man, Arise and walk, there was proof that God was with him; and therefore God was equally with him when he said, Thy sins be forgiven thee. So ought they to have reasoned among themselves, and to have come to him, not only for the relief of their bodily infirmities, but for eternal life. It does not appear that they did so. They were all amazed, and glorified God, saying, We never saw it on this fashion. This was a natural impulse, the effect of the miracle which they had seen, and cost them little. To admire the power of God, and even to acknowledge his goodness, is a very different thing from repentance or obedience. The impression on their minds ought to have carried them farther, and led them to reflect, We too are sinners, and have need to be forgiven. Cannot this man, who has relieved our neighbour from disease of