DISCOURSE XXIV.

THE TEMPEST STILLED.

MATTHEW VIII. 27.

But the men marvelled, saying, What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him!

THE Occasions on which our blessed Saviour manifested his glorious power while he sojourned upon earth, are no less remarkable for their variety, than for their multitude. New as well as additional proof was continually afforded to those who accompanied him from place to place, that as He was "wonderful in counsel," so was He "excellent in working."

Our attention is now to be directed to an occasion on which his timely aid, having been earnestly solicited, was mightily interposed in a most extraordinary manner, so as at once to still the raging of the sea, when its waves had been agitated by a violent storm, and at the same moment to hush the roaring winds, by the utterance of his commanding voice.

In dependence then upon the blessing of Almighty God, let us proceed to notice,

I. THE CIRCUMSTANCES UNDER WHICH OUR LORD'S ASSISTANCE WAS SOLICITED:

II. THE MIRACULOUS INTERPOSITION WHICH HE AFFORDED: and

III. THE SENSATIONS PRODUCED

OF THOSE WHO WERE WITH HIM.

IN THE MINDS

I. We notice, in the first place, THE CIRCUMSTANCES UNDER WHICH OUR LORD'S ASSISTANCE WAS SOLICITED.

Partaking of those infirmities of human nature which are unconnected with, and free from sin, He was accustomed to withdraw himself for the purpose of rest and the recruital of strength, after the fatigue of communicating instruction, or affording relief, to the vast multitudes by whom he was frequently surrounded. On such occasions he sometimes availed himself of the former occupation of several of his followers,-taking ship and crossing the lake of Gennesaret, in order to avoid, for a season, the pressure and importunity of the throng.

Such was the case when that remarkable interposition occurred which we are shortly to contemplate. "Now when Jesus saw great multitudes about him,' says the Evangelist," he gave commandment to depart unto the other side." After the insertion of a short account not at all connected with our present subject, the narratiye is thus continued:

And when he was entered into a ship, his disciples followed him. And, behold, there arose a great tempest in the sea, insomuch that the ship was

covered with the waves: but he was asleep. And his disciples came to him, and awoke him, saying, Lord, save us we perish.

It appears from St. Mark's account, that "there were also with him other little ships." These probably contained such of the people as, having listened with interest to the words of our Lord while he was recently addressing the multitude, were desirous to receive further instruction from so extraordinary a teacher, whom, we may reasonably suppose, they regarded as divinely sent. May we, my brethren, listen to him with like interest while he addresses us in the voice of wisdom, "Blessed is the man that heareth me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors. For whoso findeth me findeth life, and shall obtain favour of the Lord." Convinced, with Peter, that He hath" the words of eternal life," may we daily resort to his instructions contained in the Sacred Scriptures, and fervently pray for the teaching of his Holy Spirit to accompany those important lessons, that they may be conducive to the lasting welfare of our souls!

Shortly after these vessels had commenced their little voyage, a violent storm, attended with much beating of the waves, arose, so that the ship in which Jesus and his disciples were (and we must of course suppose the same to have been the case with the other vessels also) began to fill so fast with water, that, as St. Luke has expressed it, they were " "in jeopardy”. that is, in great and imminent danger. This hurricane, for such it seems to have been, was providentially

sent, partly perhaps to try the faith of the disciples, but principally, we doubt not, to display the Divine power, majesty, and authority of Jesus.

That this might be done more effectually, our Lord does not appear at the commencement of the storm: he does not at once and conspicuously stand forth to prohibit its progress, like one that would oppose an enemy before he has acquired the fulness of his strength. This indeed he might have done; but it would neither have proved the faith of the disciples, nor have SO clearly demonstrated the Divine sovereignty of their Master. At first therefore the exercise of that sovereignty was suspended, and Jesus appeared altogether, and only, as a man. While the wind blew and the waves rose, he was, as St. Mark particularly informs us, "in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow." There he was taking repose after the fatigue which he had undergone from his previous exertions. This, however, we must suppose to have been providentially appointed, with a view to the more remarkable display of his power which was soon to be afforded.

When the disciples and those who were with them in the ship, at length perceived themselves to be in imminent danger, they repaired to Jesus, and having awaked him from his sleep, earnestly entreated him to rescue them from their perilous situation. Their application to him indicated their belief, that he might possibly interfere in such a way as that impending destruction would be averted, though it seems evident from the sequel that they did not expect so

signal an interposition as they actually witnessed. May we, my brethren, continually resort to the same Lord of all power and might, with a full confidence in his ability and disposition to avert from us all evil, and to confer upon us every needful blessing! This will be to act the part of real wisdom, and to ensure the truest joy. For our greater encouragement so to do, let us proceed to notice,

II. THE MIRACULOUS INTERPOSITION WHICH ON THIS OCCASION HE AFForded.

"And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm."

From this account it appears, that, before our Lord directly interposed his power, he gently rebuked the agitation of mind, and the want of proper confidence in God, and perhaps in himself, which were apparent in the manner in which the disciples had approached and accosted him. They had indeed by their application to him manifested some degree of hope, that he might possibly be the instrument of effecting their deliverance from the imminent danger in which they then were. But the alarm and trepidation which they discovered, accompanied, as it should seem from the accounts of St. Mark and St. Luke, with a degree of chiding impatience, indicated that they had not that firm confidence in him which they ought to have possessed, after the many proofs which had already been afforded them of his mighty power. Such, however, is the weakness and infirmity of human