grateful to GOD, (referring all to His grace,) and do good to his neighbour as far as he is able. We should attribute nothing to ourselves, by vain-glory, but offer all to GOD; for GOD has reserved three things specially to Himself, and will give no share of them to any creature, viz., glory, vengeance, and the power of judgment. The vain-glorious take away His Glory, the proud and vindictive, who would avenge themselves for wrongs done them, would take away His vengeance, the rash and presumptuous who would judge the secrets of others, arrogate His judgment. The benefited man should be grateful, and give thanks to his benefactor, even though he need them not. Therefore, though the LORD had commanded the leper, when cleansed, to be silent about his cure, yet he went out and began to publish it much, and to blaze abroad the matter; and the fame of His healing and doctrine spread the more. The healed man did the office of an Evangelist, and showed that he was cured internally as well as externally; so that the salvation of one brought many to GOD. And JESUS could no longer openly go into the city, through the crowd and pressure of men running to be cured, and to see His miracles; He therefore retired into the desert that He might pray secretly. (S. Mark i. 4.) As GOD He heals; but as Man He prays. And crowds came to Him from every quarter, to hear His doctrine, and to be healed. He flees from the din and tumult, and seeks a retired place, to show that He loves a more quiet life, removed from the cares of the world: for He retires from carnal minds, to visit those who are separated from worldly cares. He shows in this, that

M

preachers of the Word of GOD should shun the applause of men, and sometimes withdraw from the multitude, to have time for prayer.

He does not manifest Himself to all, who in the broad streets and ways are slaves to applause, and their own will, but to them, who leave the delights of the world, and say, the LORD is my portion. The Glory of the LORD is manifested to them, who come together from every side, through plains and hill country to Him, and whom nothing can separate from the love of CHRIST. In the city He does miracles, He passes the night in prayer in the desert or on the mountain, to give an example of both kinds of life, the active and the contemplative; that through the love of contemplation a man may not neglect the care of his neighbours; nor be so immoderately busied about the care of his neighbour as to leave the study of contemplation; that neither the love of our neighbour may obstruct the love of GOD, nor the love of GOD prevent the love of our neighbour.

Meditation.

O LORD, my wickednesses are gone over my head, and my whole soul is full of bruises and leprous sores; but through the blindness of my heart, and my manifold defects, I am not sensible of the dangerous diseases of my soul. I have need of Thy enlightening Grace that I may discern all the disorders of the inward man; see my sins in their stains, their guilt and pollution; in their loathsome and destructive nature,

and in their offensiveness against Thy Infinite Majesty. Whither shall I fly for health both of soul and body, but to Thee the Physician of souls, Who healest those who are broken in heart, and givest medicine to heal their sickness? I am sick, and cry to Thee for help; blind, and seek to Thee, the Light of life; dead, and implore Thee, Who art Life itself. O JESUS! my Divine Deliverer! have mercy on me. If Thou wilt, Thou canst make me clean. O Fountain of Health! hearken to my complaints, and heal my diseased and leprous soul. Stretch forth Thy Hand, and cleanse me with Thy healing touch. Raise me, O Life Eternal, from the grave of my sins, for my misery is great. I will, therefore, confess my vileness before Thee, and show Thee all my trouble. Help me, O my strength! Shine upon me, O Thou my true Light! Come, and quicken me, O my Life, by Whom alone I live. For Thou only art my Help and Light, my Life, and my Joy, my LORD, my Saviour, and my GOD.

See also Meditations, Chap. xviii.

Prayer.

O LORD JESUS CHRIST, Who didst come down from Thy FATHER's throne into the Virgin's Womb, to cure the leprosy of man; lo, I, a leper, covered with manifold spots of sin, adore Thee. If Thou wilt, Thou canst make me clean. Stretch forth the Hand of Thy Grace and Mercy, touch the body and soul of the leper who calls upon Thee, pity me a penitent, and speak with power to the disease of my sins. My

GOD, and my Saviour, Who wouldest not the death of a sinner, but that he should be converted, O perfect in me a sinner, this work of thorough conversion, that my soul may be renewed, and live with Thee for ever. Amen.

See also "Prayer for Pardon," and Confession of Sin." Devotions for the Sick Room, page 101 and 146.

CHAPTER XVI.

THIRD SUNDAY AFTER THE EPIPHANY.-PART II.

THE LORD MANIFESTS HIS DIVINITY IN HEALING THE CENTURION'S PARALYTIC SERVANT.

Gospel Narrative.

See S. Matt. viii. 5-13, and S. Luke vii. 1-10.

Reflections.

And when JESUS was entered into Capernaum, a centurion came unto Him. This Roman soldier came with the faith, desire, and devotion of a Jew, not of a stranger. But being an alien he did not presume to come to JESUS himself, thinking himself unworthy; and therefore he deputed the elders of the Jews to go in his name, and say, "My servant (slave) lieth at home sick of the palsy." He does not cast him out of his house, as many proud, inhuman masters do, sending their servants to a hospital when they are afflicted with sickness, to save themselves the trouble of attending on them.

He uses these three words, "lying," "paralytic," and "grievously tormented," to show the anguish of