law is holy, just, and good." Trembling at the prospect of judgment, it vents itself in secret aspirations towards him "who loved us, and gave himself for us." It has no other hope: it has tried all other means in vain has sought for comfort from the various deceitful pleas, by which too many minds are fatally misled and lulled; and could be healed of none: has found them inadequate and ineffectual. It is a just thought: "There is no health in us." But it is also a just saying, that "Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners." He can avert that anger which we dread. And he will reject none that seek him. This very miracle may strengthen confidence. For it describes one who doubted whether she might venture to approach: she came behind him, and touched the border of his garment. But none can doubt, who have the Scripture in their hands. "Come unto me, all ye that travail and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." She came uninvited, and received a cure: they to whom the invitation is sent, will never be denied: and "the promise is to us, and to our children, and to them that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call."

We may take a further illustration. She came weak and helpless: she returned strong, being healed immediately: she felt in her body that she was whole of her plague. So it is with the Christian. So it was with St. Paul. In his weakness "he besought the Lord," and his weakness became strength for the answer was given, "My grace

is sufficient for thee; for my strength is made fect in weakness." 1

per

She came, too, in perplexity and grief. She came trembling, and fell down before him.

She

returned in health and comfort. For Jesus said unto her, Daughter, be of good comfort: thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace. And such is the merciful design of the gospel. "Being justified by faith, we have peace with God, through Jesus Christ." For "he is our peace," having borne our chastisement, having, "suffered for sin, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God." And this benefit we procure to ourselves by faith. Faith made this woman whole, because faith brought her within reach of the physician. And faith justifies the believer in Christ, because it applies the blood of Christ to the guilty soul. To speak strictly, it was not the woman's faith, but the power of Christ, which wrought the cure. And so, to speak strictly, it is the blood of Christ which cleanses from all sin, and justifies the Christian. But by faith we take that blood, and sprinkle it on the soul. Or, to use another metaphor, "As Christ is the garment, which, being put on, covers the shame of our corrupt nature, hides the imperfection of our works, preserves us blameless in the sight of God; so faith is the hand, which puts on Christ unto justification;"" and draws from him the gracious return, Be of good comfort: thy faith hath made thee whole.

1 2 Cor. xii. 8, 9.

2 Hooker's Discourse on Justification, s. 31.

49. While he yet spake, there cometh one from the ruler of the synagogue's house, saying to him, Thy daughter is dead; trouble not the Master.

50. But when Jesus heard it, he answered him, saying, Fear not believe only, and she shall be made whole.

51. And when he came into the house, he suffered no man to go in save Peter, and James, and John, and the father and the mother of the maiden.

:

52. And all wept, and bewailed her but he said, Weep not: she is not dead, but sleepeth.

53. And they laughed him to scorn, knowing that she was dead.

54. And he put them all out, and took her by the hand, and called, saying, Maid, arise.

55. And her spirit came again, and she arose straightway: and he commanded to give her meat.

56. And her parents were astonished: and he charged them that they should tell no man what was done.

3

Let this miracle remind us of the hour that is coming, when "all that are in the graves shall hear the voice of the Son of God, and shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life, and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation." The power that first created, can create again; can restore to every one his own body. Some indeed may take offence, and say, How shall these things be? When Paul preached at Athens the resurrection of the dead, we are told, that some mocked. So in the house of Jajrus, when Jesus said, She is not dead, but sleepeth; they laughed him to scorn, knowing that she

3 Perhaps, that a similar exercise of his power in restoring the dead to life might not be generally expected.

4 John v. 28.

was dead. The spirit of this child had fled; but at the command of him who quickeneth whom he will, it came again, and she arose straightway. The spirits of all those who are in the grave are also ready, and at the same command shall return, and animate "every one his own body," "that body which shall be," which shall "be raised incorruptible."

Watch, therefore, and pray always, that ye may be able to "escape the corruption that is in the world," "and to stand before the Son of man.' "Behold, he cometh quickly, and his reward is with him."

LECTURE XXX.

THE TWELVE APOSTLES ARE SENT TO PREACH THE KINGDOM OF GOD.-FIVE THOUSAND MIRACULOUSLY FED.

LUKE Xi. 1-17.

(Matt. x. 1, 15. Mark vi. 7, 11.)

1. Then he called his twelve disciples together, and gave them power and authority over all devils, and to cure dis

eases.

2. And he sent them to preach the kingdom of God, and to heal the sick.

3. And he said unto them, Take nothing for your journey, neither staves, nor scrip, neither bread, neither money; neither have two coats apiece.

4. And whatsoever house ye enter into, there abide, and thence depart.

5. And whosoever will not receive you, when ye go out of that city, shake off the very dust from your feet, for a testimony against them.

6. And they departed, and went through the towns, preaching the gospel, and healing every where.

Preaching the gospel: that is, declaring the glad tidings; "God has visited and redeemed his people;" "Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God." Unto us that child is born, unto us that Son is given, concerning whom it was promised to Abraham, two thousand years ago, that in him "all the nations of the earth should be blessed." For, "as in Adam all died, even so in Christ shall all be made alive." As by the first Adam "sin entered into the world, and death by sin," so, by the righteousness of Christ, the second Adam, “the free gift is come upon all men unto justification of life." 1

This is the gospel; these are the glad tidings. But how few treat them as such! Because they do not perceive their state, or acknowledge their condemnation. Even the disciples, probably, at this time, understood it not. They preached the kingdom of God, as John had done, saying, "Repent ye, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." They might do more, and affirm, "We have found him, of whom Moses in the law and the prophets did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph." 2 But they had yet to learn, themselves, the extent of

1 1 Cor. xv. 22. Rom. v. 12—18.

2

John i. 45.