and in what way we must become his brethren. O that we knew how to value so great a privilege! Happy is the hearing which brings us to this! But then we must turn the words the other way; if we do not hear the word of God, and do its commands we do not belong to Christ.

22. Now it came to pass on a certain day, that he went into a ship with his disciples: and he said unto them, Let us go over unto the other side of the lake. And they launched forth.

23. But as they sailed he fell asleep; and there came down a storm of wind on the lake; and they were filled with water, and were in jeopardy.

24. And they came to him, and awoke him, saying, Master, master, we perish. Then he arose, and rebuked the wind and the raging of the water and they ceased, and there was a calm.

Many poor sinners, when they think themselves to be lost, cry, "Master, master, we perish," and Chrsit suffers us to come into this condition, that we may know our weakness, and his power. As Christ rebuked the wind and raging elements, so, O Lord, rebuke our boisterous and unruly passions, for thou canst do this, and turn all within us into meekness.

25. And he said unto them, Where is your faith? And they being afraid wondered, saying one to another, What manner of man is this for he commandeth even the winds and water, and they obey him.

The disciples thought of nothing but their danger, and therefore Christ says to them, "Where is your faith ?" We never know what our faith is, till it comes to be tried. What does Christ here require of us all, but a firm trust in him, though everything seems to be against us? Do we inquire what manner of man is this? The answer is, he is the God-man! Our deliverer, whenever we fly to him with this prayer, Lord, save us.

SECTION XXVIII.

Chap. viii. ver. 26–39.

CHRIST CASTETH OUT A LEGION OF DEVILS.

26. And they arrived at the country of the Gadarenes, which is over against Galilee.

27. And when he went forth to land, there met him out of the city a certain man, which had devils a long time, and ware no clothes, neither abode in any house, but in the tombs.

28. When he saw Jesus, he cried out, and fell down before him, and with a loud voice said, What have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God most high? I beseech thee, torment me not.

29. (For he had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. For oftentimes it had caught him: and he was kept bound with chains and in fetters; and he brake the bands, and was driven of the devil into the wilderness.)

30. And Jesus asked him, saying, What is thy name? And he said, Legion because many devils were entered into him.

:

31. And they besought him that he would not command them to go out into the deep.

The deep here is the bottomless pit-the eternal prison of these spirits. It seems from hence that it was some relief to them, to be in the bodies of men, or even of animals; and according to St. Mark, v. 10, in one place rather than another. We learn also from hence that the devils are wholly under the power of Christ, and can do nothing without his permission.

32. And there was there an herd of many swine feeding on the mountain and they besought him that he would suffer them to enter into them. And he suffered them.

33. Then went the devils out of the man, and entered into the swine: and the herd ran violently down a steep place into the lake, and were choked.

34. When they that fed them saw what was done, they filed, and went and told it in the city and in the country.

35. Then they went out to see what was done; and came to Jesus, and found the man, out of whom the devils were departed, sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed, and in his right mind: and they were afraid.

36. They also which saw it told them by what means he that was possessed of the devils was healed.

37. Then the whole multitude of the country of the Gadarenes round about besought him to depart from them; for they were taken with great fear: and he went up into the ship, and returned back again.

These Gadarenes dreaded the presence of the Saviour, and feared some greater loss: they little thought that the greatest loss that could befal them, would be the departure of Jesus, to return no more. How many, in effect, beseech Christ to depart from them! Even all who do not hear him, and leave their sins.

38. Now the man out of whom the devils were departed besought him that he might be with him:

He could not but cleave to Jesus, in his present mind, and knowing how great a change had happened to him.

38. But Jesus sent him away, saying,

39. Return to thine own house, and shew how great things God hath done unto thee. And he went his way, and published throughout the whole city how great things Jesus had done unto him.

And this is recorded, that others hearing it may think of their own case, and look to Christ for great things for themselves.

When we read this account of the man possessed with devils, and think it a pitiable case, let us turn our eyes inward and have pity on ourselves. The devil rules in all unconverted men, and his name is Legion. But know that Christ is at hand to cast him out: and he wrought this miracle on purpose that we might be convinced of his power and will to help us.

SECTION XXIX.

Chap. viii. ver. 40–56.

JAIRUS DAUGHTER RAISED TO LIFE.

40. And it came to pass, that, when Jesus was returned, the people gladly received him for they were all waiting for him.

What, all then, and so few now! and yet he has no blessing for us, if we do not wait and long for him, with the desire and will of our souls. Learn from the two following miracles, how we get help from him. The woman was healed of her issue of blood, and the ruler had his daughter raised to life again; and why? because they came to him in faith and longing for his benefits.

41. And, behold, there came a man named Jairus, and he was a ruler of the synagogue: and he fell down at Jesus' feet, and besought him that he would come into his house:

42. For he had one only daughter, about twelve years of age, and she lay a dying. But as he went the people thronged him. We here see, how a penitent and believing sinner sues to Christ; and how powerful the intercession of such is with the Lord Jesus.-Edit.

43. And a woman having an issue of blood twelve years, which all her living upon physicians, neither could be healed

had

spent

of any, 44. Came behind him, and touched the border of his garment: and immediately her issue of blood stanched.

45. And Jesus said, Who touched me? When all denied, Peter and they that were with him said, Master, the multitude throng thee and press thee, and sayest thou, Who touched me ?

Though Jesus asked the question, he knew who touched him, and for what end. But he inquired, that the miracle might be known; and that we might observe the power of a true faith, and what it springs from, namely, a feeling of our disease.

46. And Jesus said, Somebody hath touched me: for I perceive that virtue is gone out of me.

So virtue will come out from Christ to heal our souls, if it be the will of God.

47. And when the woman saw that she was not hid, she came trembling, and falling down before him, she declared unto him before all the people for what canse she had touched him, and how she was healed immediately.

She found that she was not hid, and therefore would not: she made a full discovery of all, though it was what her modesty would otherwise have inclined her to conceal.

48. And he said unto her, Daughter, be of good comfort: thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace.

Daughter, was a healing and kind word, indeed! Christ has the same comfort for all, who know their want of it above all things, and therefore can have faith to receive it.

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.

O! how often do fearful penitents want to have these words sounded in their ears. But do not mistake. This saying does not belong to the careless, who never saw their danger in sin, and think they believe, only because they are blind.

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.

Christ speaks of her as only asleep, though she was dead, because he knew that she would presently awake from it. 53. And they laughed him to scorn, knowing that she was dead.