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he faid-Daughter be of good comfort, thy Chapter Verfe faith hath made thee whole. And the woman " was made whole from that hour.' Mark fays, that the woman, immediately upon her touching the garment, found the fountain of her blood was dried up, and that he was healed of her plague. Adding-And Jefus immediately knowing in himself, that virtue had gone out of him. (If virtue had gone out at all, I should fuppofe it went out of his garment: but I do not fee what virtue had to do in the affair if the obtained her cure as a reward for her faith. A cafe fimilar, and at least equal to that of the centurion, though not fo highly extolled.) Luke informs us that when the woman touched the border of the garment, her iffue of blood was immediately. faunched, and Jefus faid, Who touched me? 'When all denied; Jefus faid, Somebody hath

touched me for I perceive that virtue is gone' ' out of me.' Upon this the woman confeffed the fact, affigned the caufe, and declared the effect. Jefus faid to her Daughter, be of good

comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole: go' ' in peace.' How happened it that Jefus, knowing virtue had gone out of him (or his garment) did not know to whom, or for what purpose it was gone? Before (according to Mark and Luke's account) he obtained this knowledge, it had done its office; the cure was effected.

When

Chapter Verfe

ix,

When this affair was difpatched, Jefus went 23 to the ruler's houfe, where he- faw the min24 ftrels and the people, making a noife. He faid

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C unto them, give place, the maid is not dead 25 but fleepeth. And they laughed him to fcorn. But when the people were put forth, he went in, and took her by the hand, and the maid arofe. And the fame thereof went abroad into all that land.' Mark gives us a more particular account of this matter-(indeed he generally embellishes or enlarges upon Matthew)—he tells us, that whilft Jefus was talking to the woman, the ruler received information that his daughter was dead. Jefus hearing this faid to him- Be ⚫ not afraid, only believe.' When he came to the house, he faid- Why make ye this ado and < weep? The damfel is not dead, but fleepeth. And they laughed him to fcorn: but when he had put them all out, he taketh the father and the mother of the damfel, and them that were with him (Péter, James and John) and en• tereth in where the damfel was lying; and he 'took her by the hand, and said, I fay unto thee "Arise. And straightway the damfel arose and 'walked, for fhe was of the age of twelve years.' In that warm climate, and especially with the Jews; this was the age of puberty and therefore Mark might think it neceffary to record that the father, mother, and three difciples, were prefent.

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present. By Luke's account in his eighth chapter, Chapter Verfe it appears that Jefus only was with her when she

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was restored to life: and that he charged the parents that they fhould tell no man what was 'done.' Pity it is that Matthew, who had juft been elected, was not admitted to view a miracle which would have confirmed him beyond a doubt. And how happened it that John, who it seems was prefent, fays not a word of the matter? Matthew concludes his account of it thus

And the fame hereof went abroad into all that ix. 'land.' Mark, on the contrary fays-' And he charged them ftraightly, that no man should 'know it and commanded that fomething 'fhould be given her to eat.' Luke's conclufion is- And her parents were aftonished: but he charged them that they should tell no man what < was done.' Why were these orders given? or why were they not obeyed? but more of this hereafter. We will now return to MatthewAnd when Jefus departed thence, two blind men followed him, crying, and faying, Thou 'Son of David, have mercy on us. And when

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'he was come into the house, the blind men.

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came to him and Jefus faith unto them, Be

• lieve ye that I am able to do this? They said

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unto him, yea Lord. Then touched he their

eyes faying, according to your faith, be it

unto you. And their eyes were opened; and

• Jefus

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Jefus ftraightly charged them, faying

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that no man know it. But they, when they

were departed, spread abroad his fame in all 'that country. (Another inftance of disobe'dience in this way.) As they went out, behold

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they brought to him a dumb man poffeffed with a devil and when the devil was caft out, the 'dumb fpake: (As this devil fubmitted in filence, we may furmife that he was a dumb ' devil) and the multitudes marveled, faying, it was never fo feen in Ifrael. But the Phari'fees faid-He cafteth out the devils through the prince of the devils. (Matthew does not record that Jefus made any reply to this charge, but goes on to other matter. However when this charge was afterwards renewed Jefus anfwered 35 it. Vide ch. xii.) And Jefus went about all 'the cities and villages, teaching in their fyna

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gogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every fickness, and every difeafe among the people. But when he faw the multitudes, he was moved with compaffion < on them becaufe they fainted, and were fcattered abroad, as fheep having no fhepherd. Then faith he unto his difciples-The harveft is truly plenteous, but the labourers are few. Pray ye therefore the lord of the harvest, that he will fend forth labourers into his harvest.' This is a proper introduction to what follows, i. e. fending out the twelve to teach, &c. But Mark

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having recorded a tranfaction previous to this, and omitted by Luke and John; we will exa. mine it, and then return to Matthew. Finishing the ftory of the ruler's daughter, he proceeds

And he went out from thence, and came in'to his own country, and his difciples follow him. And when the fabbath-day was come, he

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began to teach in the fynagogue: and many, hearing him, were aftonished, faying, From ' whence hath this man these things? and what wisdom is this which is given unto him, that ' even fuch mighty works are wrought by his hands? (they must have reasoned in this man

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ner, of his mighty works, from report only;

none of them, according to Mark, had been 'exhibited in Nazareth.) Is not this the carpen

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ter, the son of Mary, the brother of James, and Jofes, and of Juda, and Simon? And are not 'his fifters here with us? and they were offended

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at him.' That is, at his pretenfions to fuch power. Had they feen proofs, it would have altered the cafe: but this could not be. We are told plainly- And he could there do no mighty work, fave that he laid his hands upon a few 'fick folk, and healed them. And he marveled because of their unbelief: and he went round ⚫ about the villages, teaching. Not a single miracle recorded. I am inclined to think Jofeph was at this time dead: he is not named with the family, and they call Jefus, who was the

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