forth to snatch us all out of the gulf of sin and misery into which we are fallen. Let not Christ have to ask us, "wherefore do we doubt ?" To all other sins, let us not add that of unbelief; for then nothing can save us.

32. And when they were come into the ship, the wind ceased.

Lord, come into us, and speak peace to our souls. We are in continual danger upon the waves of this troublesome world; but, if thou art with us, we shall pass safely through them, be refreshed by thy comforts, and brought to our desired haven.

33. Then they that were in the ship came and worshipped him, saying, Of a truth thou art the Son of God.

To bring us to this confession, is the end of all his miracles; that acknowledging him to be the Son of God, we may honour him as God, fly to his mercy, and rejoice in his salvation. But how can this be, if we know not what his salvation is, what we are, and why we want it?

34. And when they were gone over, they came into the land of Gennesaret.

35. And when the men of that place had knowledge of him, they sent out into all that country round about, and brought unto him all that were diseased.

Have not we knowledge of Jesus as cleansing us from the guilt of sin, purifying our hearts by faith, and clothing us by his perfect righteousness? This is the knowledge we should have of him, this is his salvation.

"They sent out into all that country round about.”— They were desirous that all, far and near, should have the benefit of his presence with them. Every one who knows how great a good he is to mankind, and how necessary to them as their spiritual Physician, has the same desire, and endeavours to bring as many to him as he is able; even all that are diseased in their souls. Such he invites to come to him now, and none but such ever do. Some may think that they come to him, and own him as their Saviour, and say so; but

because they have been taught to think

they can no more come to him with their souls without knowing themselves to be sick, than they would apply to a physician for a bodily cure, when they know themselves to be in perfect health.

36. And besought him that they might only touch the hem of his garment and as many as touched were made perfectly whole.

Their faith was great, and the success answerable to it, as it always will; for no request of a true faith is ever denied. It is a healing, happy time with us, when we thus come to Jesus, longing for his help, and say with an earnest faith, "if I may but touch the hem of his garment, I shall be made perfectly whole."

SECTION XXXVI.

Chap. xv. ver. 1-9.

CHRIST REPROVES THE PHARISEES.

1. Then came to Jesus scribes and Pharisees, which were of Jerusalem, saying,

There was a kind of solemn embassy of learned doctors, to inquire into his conduct. And what was amiss? His disciples did not wash before they ate. You will find he takes occasion from hence to lay open the hypocrisy of the scribes and Pharisees, and charge them with the neglect of what was more substantial. We must observe the vanity and wretched deceit of resting in the use of outward means, or being scrupulous about them, when the great end of bringing the heart nearer to God by them, is overlooked.

2. Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? for they wash not their hands when they eat bread.

The Jewish traditions were of their own invention, mere will-worship, superadded to the written word; and, as appears from this passage, preferred to it. It is, therefore, probable that Christ had instructed his disciples to disregard them.

"For they wash not their hands when they eat bread.” Outward things are comparatively easy, and cost but little; and nothing blinds us more with regard to our state than the most exact observation of them, where inward purity is neglected. Let us not be deceived. This is the way of men at all times. Let us take heed that it be not ours. We value ourselves upon our baptism. Some of us may go to church on Sundays, and sometimes receive the sacrament. Well, the hand is washed; but is this all that Christ has to do in us? And will he require nothing else of us at the day of judgment? We are convinced at once that we must not abide by this plea. What then are we doing in religion? Have we an eye continually upon our hearts, and is the cry of them for Christ's cleansing?

3. But he answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition?

Whoever they are that transgress, much more live in the breach of any one of the commandments, and upon whatever pretence they do it, the question is to them from Christ's own mouth, and it behoves them to consider what answer they will give to it, " Why do you transgress?"

4. For God commanded, saying, Honour thy father and mother; and, He that curseth father or mother, let him die the death.

Our Lord has before in chapter V., opened three of the commandments; and here he opens the fifth, with a design to lay the rule to the heart, and charge it with the guilt of cursing father or mother, when they are not succoured. In effect, how could we curse them more? It is for the want of knowing the commandments in their true meaning and full extent, that many are ignorant of their state, and, priding themselves in the decency of an outward character, are

so hard to be convinced of their sin and want of a Saviour. Whereas others, who learn of Christ to measure themselves by his standard,and trace sin up to the heart, can see their manifold defects, sue for mercy unfeignedly, apply their endeavours in the right place, and pray devoutly for the Spirit's help. "Let him die the death." This is God's law, and God's justice, at all times. Though human laws neither do, nor can, take cognizance of this and other breaches of duty to parents, yet, in the judgment of God, those who do not support them in their distress, deserve death as much as a murderer.

5. But ye say, Whosoever shall say to his father or his mother, It is a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by ine;

God rejects with scorn whatever we give to another's wrong.

6. And honour not his father or his mother, he shall be free. Thus have ye made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition.

7. Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying,

8. This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.

And, therefore, the man; for nothing draws nigh truly to God but the heart. When we pray, let us think what we are doing. Let us think what end we propose to ourselves in the whole of our religion, and what good it can procure, if it does not bring the heart to God, for that rest which it needs, and can find no where but in him.

9. But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.

And adhering strictly to them, so as to vacate a known command of God. This was horrid presumption; and, therefore, no wonder that all the worship of such men is declared to be vain. To worship God in vain, is unhappy indeed; and to lose that labour, is of all errors the most to be dreaded.

SECTION XXXVII.

Chap. xv. ver. 10-20.

WHAT DEFILES A MAN.

10. And he called the multitude, and said unto them, Hear, and understand:

It is observable that he spoke to "the multitude." He endeavoured to undeceive them; they could hear; but the scribes and the Pharisees were above his teaching, and left to their own blindness. God deliver us from so great a curse, and give us grace to hear and understand the instruction! For he sets a mark of importance upon it: "he called" to the multitude, and said to them as he now does to us, "hear and understand."

11. Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man :”

A little dirt or soil from the hands, in eating.

11. But that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a

man.

Coming from a depraved and polluted heart, as you will presently hear.

12. Then came his disciples, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the Pharisees were offended, after they heard this saying?

To hear their traditions slighted, and themselves charged with the breach of God's commands. What? they transgressors? Let us take heed. The disposition of a Pharisee lies close at the heart; and, if we will not see our sin, we shall certainly be offended with the man who tells us of it.

13. But he answered and said, Every plant, which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up.