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immediately the fever left her. And she arose, and

ministered unto them.

And at even, when the sun did set, all they that had any sick with divers diseases brought them unto him, and they brought unto him many that were possessed of devils. And all the city was gathered together at the door. And he cast out many devils with his word, and they cried out, saying, Thou art Christ the Son of God. And he rebuking them suffered not the devils to speak: for they knew him, that he was Christ. And he healed many that were sick of divers diseases: and he laid his hands on every one of them and healed them: That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses.

MARK 1. 35-39.-Luke IV. 42-44.

AND in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a desert place, and there prayed. And Simon, and they that were with him, followed after him: And when they had found him, they said unto him, All men seek for thee. And the people sought him, and came unto him, and stayed him, that he should not depart from them. And he said unto them, Let us go into the next towns, that I may preach there also. I must preach the kingdom of God to other cities also, for therefore came I forth. And he preached in their synagogues throughout all Galilee, and cast out devils.

MATT. IV. 23-25.

And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness, and all manner of disease among the people. And his fame went throughout all Syria: And they brought unto him all sick people that were taken with divers diseases and torments, and those which were pos

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sessed with devils, and those which were lunatic, and those that had the palsy; and he healed them. And there followed him great multitudes of people from Galilee, and from Decapolis, and from Jerusalem, and from Judæa, and from beyond Jordan.

Christ, returning from the synagogue, finds the mother-inlaw of Peter detained from the solemn assemblies, a prisoner at home under an afflictive providence, which that circumstance of confinement probably rendered yet more afflictive to her. But the mercy which the evening brought with it was a rich equivalent for all the sorrows of the day. Jesus, their welcome guest, appears as the great Physician both of soul and body; a touch of his hand assuages the tumult in her veins, and at his voice the distemper leaves her. Surely, as the great Lord in the kingdom of Providence, he performs those cures which are now wrought by natural means, and is to be owned in them. Must not each of us thankfully acknowledge how often he hath rebuked fevers and other distempers by the skill of physicians, and the efficacy of medicines; so that they have departed from us perhaps when we esteemed them desperate, and had received the sentence of death in ourselves?

Let us learn to imitate the pious gratitude of this good woman, who, when recovered, immediately arose and ministered unto Christ. Thus let it be our care that those lives which are spared by his goodness, and that strength which is renewed by his power, may be faithfully and affectionately devoted to his service.

How delightfully were the sabbaths of Christ spent in the midst of all his fatigues! How pleasantly did the sun go down upon him, when he had been imitating that heavenly luminary in his steady and constant course; scattering a brighter light and more beneficial influences upon all about him.

And when the sabbath had been spent in these labours of piety and love, how happily were the fruits of it carried into the ensuing week? The first morning of it, that it might be most pleasantly and most profitably begun, Jesus rose before it was light, that he might enjoy God and himself in religious retirement. It surely becomes us sometimes willingly to deny ourselves the gratification of sleep, that we may have the better opportunity for devotion. And it should be the peculiar care of those who are employed in God's public service, to cultivate communion with him in private; lest while they keep the vineyard of others, their own be neglected and impoverished. Cant. i. 6.

Our Lord's retirement is interrupted by the people, who came to inquire after him and desired to have detained him longer among them: and who that has ever known the pleasure of conversing with him, would not desire that it might be longer continued and frequently renewed? But in this instance, their request must be denied; the great purpose of his ministry required his presence elsewhere, and he breaks through all that importunity which would have broken in upon his schemes of usefulness: a resolution which we must learn in some cases to imitate, if we would prosecute the business of life with vigour and success. Let us often reflect wherefore we are sent; and judge by that where God would have us to be; that by the intimations of his pleasure every motion may be regulated, and every abode determined.

Wherever Christ removes, he still goes about doing good, publishing the gospel and confirming it by the most amazing works of power and mercy. How well were these miracles suited to awaken men's attention, and to convince their consciences of his Divine mission! Well might his fame go over the whole country: may it extend itself now to the remotest regions, that all the ends of the earth may look unto him and be saved, (Is. xlv. 22,) while he displays a healing power over their spirits proportionable to that which he here exerted on their bodies!

SECTION XX.

MATT. V. 1-16.

AND seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain. And when he was sat, his disciples came unto him. And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying,

Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are they that mourn, for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. Blessed are the peace-makers: for they shall be called the children of God. Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake; for theirs is the kingdom of

heaven. Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely for my sake. Rejoice and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven : For so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.

Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost its savour, wherewith shall it be salted? It is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. Ye are the light of the world: A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel: but on a candlestick, and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

What abundant reason have we to bless God that this large and edifying discourse of our blessed Redeemer is thus particularly recorded by the sacred historian. Let every one that hath ears to hear attend to it; for surely never man spake as our Lord here doth. Let us fix our souls in a posture of humble attention, that we may receive the law from his mouth.

He opened it with blessings, repeated and most important blessings. But on whom are they pronounced? and whom are we taught to think the happiest of mankind? The meek and the humble, the penitent and the merciful, the peaceful and the pure, those that hunger and thirst after righteousness, those that labour, but faint not under persecution! Blessed Jesus! how different are thy maxims from those of the children of this world! They call the proud happy, and admire the gay, the rich, the powerful and the victorious. But let a vain world take its gaudy trifles, and dress up the foolish creatures that pursue them. May our souls share in that happiness which the Son of God came to recommend and to procure! May we obtain mercy of the Lord; may we be owned as his children; may we see his face; and may we inherit his kingdom! With these enjoyments, and these hopes, we will cheerfully welcome the lowest or the most painful circumstances.

Let us awaken and stir up our souls to the cultivation of those amiable virtues which are here recommended to our

pursuit; this humility and meekness, this penitent sense of sin, this ardent desire after righteousness, this compassion and purity, this peacefulness and fortitude of soul, and, in a word, this universal goodness, which becomes us, as we sustain the character of the salt of the earth and the light of the world.

Is not there reason to lament it, that we answer the character no more? Is there not reason to cry out, with a good man in former times, Blessed Jesus! either these are not thy words, or we are not Christians!' Oh, season our hearts more effectually with thy grace! Pour forth that Divine oil on our lamps! Then shall the flame brighten ; then shall the ancient honours of thy religion be revived; and multitudes be awakened and animated by the lustre of it to glorify our Father in heaven. Amen.

SECTION XXI.

MATTHEW v. 17-26.

THINK not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: But whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the Scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.

Ye have heard, that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill: and whosoever shall kill, shall be in danger of the judgment. But I say unto you, that whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause, shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire. Therefore, if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath aught against thee:

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