'he faid-Daughter be of good comfort, thy Chapter Verse 'faith hath made thee whole. And the woman ix. 22 ' was made whole from that hour.' Mark says, that the woman, immediately upon her touching the garment, found the fountain of her blood was dried up, and that she was healed of her plague. Adding-And Jesus immediately knowing in himself, that virtue had gone out of him. ! (If virtue had gone out at all, I should suppose 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 so highly extolled.) Luke informs us that when the woman touched the border of the garment, her issue of blood was immediately staunched, and Jesus said, Who touched me? 'When all denied; Jesus said, Somebody hath ' touched me: for I perceive that virtue is gone 6 out of me.' Upon this the woman confessed the fact, affigned the cause, and declared the effect. Jesus said to her - Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole: go ' in peace.' How happened it that Jesus, 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 Verse ix. When this affair was dispatched, Jesus went 23 to the ruler's house, where he ' saw the min24 strels and the people, making a noise. He faid ' unto them, give place, the maid is not dead 25' but fleepeth. And they laughed him to scorn. ' But when the people were put forth, he went in, and took her by the hand, and the maid 26' 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 Jesus was talking to the woman, the ruler received information that his daughter was dead. Jesus hearing this said to him- Be 'not afraid, only believe.' When he came to the house, he faid - Why make ye this ado and weep? The damsel is not dead, but fleepeth. And they laughed him to scorn: but when he ' had put them all out, he taketh the father and 'the mother of the damfel, and them that were ' with him (Peter, James and John) and en' tereth in where the damfel was lying; and he ' took her by the hand, and faid, I say unto thee 'Arise. And straightway the damsel arose and ' walked, for she 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 necessary to record that the father, mother, and three disciples, were present. present. By Luke's account in his eighth chapter, Chapter Verse it appears that Jesus only was with her when the was restored to life: and that he charged the parents 'that they should tell no man what was ' done.' Pity it is that Matthew, who had just 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 present, says 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 says-' And he 'charged them straightly, that no man should 'know it : and commanded that fomething ' should be given her to eat.' Luke's conclufion is-' And her parents were astonished: 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 Matthew'And when Jesus departed thence, two blind men followed him, crying, and faying, Thou 'Son of David, have mercy on us. And when ، ' he was come into the house, the blind men came to him: and Jesus faith unto them, Be 'lieve ye that I am able to do this? They faid ، unto him, yea Lord. Then touched he their eyes saying, according to your faith, be it 'unto you. And their eyes were opened; and 'Jefus 26 27 28 29 30 See Jesus straightly charged them, faying ' that no man know it. But they, when they were departed, spread abroad his fame in all ' that country. (Another instance of disobe'dience in this way.) As they went out, behold they brought to him a dumb man poffefsed with a devil: and when the devil was cast out, the ' dumb spake: (As this devil submitted in fi 6 lence, we may furmise that he was a dumb ' devil) and the multitudes marveled, saying, 34 'it was never so seen in Ifrael. But the Phari'fees faid He casteth out the devils through the prince of the devils. (Matthew does not record that Jesus made any reply to this charge, but goes on to other matter. However when this charge was afterwards renewed Jesus answered 'it. Vide ch. xii.) And Jesus went about all ' the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the king 35 6 dom, and healing every fickness, and every 36 ' disease among the people. But when he faw 'the multitudes, he was moved with compaffion 37 31 ، on them because they fainted, and were scat'tered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd. '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 having recorded a transaction previous to this, and omitted by Luke and John; we will exa. mine it, and then return to Matthew. Finishing the story of the ruler's daughter, he proceeds'And he went out from thence, and came in to his own country, and his disciples follow 'him. And when the fabbath-day was come, he began to teach in the synagogue: and many, hearing him, were astonished, faying, From ' whence hath this man these things? and what ' wisdom is this which is given unto him, that ، even such mighty works are wrought by his ' hands? (they must have reasoned in this man ، ner, of his mighty works, from report only; none of them, according to Mark, had been 'exhibited in Nazareth.) Is not this the carpen 6 ter, the fon 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 ، at him.' That is, at his pretenfions to such power. Had they seen proofs, it would have altered the cafe: but this could not be. We are told plainly-' And he could there do no mighty 6 work, save 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 Joseph was at this time dead: he is not named with the family, and they call Jesus, who was the eldeft |