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. They also which saw it, told them by what means he that was possessed of the devils was healed. Then the whole multitude of the country of the Gadarenes round about, besought him to depart from them; for they were taken with fear. And he went up into the ship, and returned back again.

REFLECTIONS.

What more fearful spectacle is there, than a mind in ruins? What more beneficent act than its restora. tion to intellectual health? What blessing, then, can approach in value to a comparison with the intellectual portion of our nature! How should we bless the Father of our spirits," that he has permitted us thus to bear the image of himself! And how deeply, then, are we responsible for the right cultivation and employment of our mental powers; for their development, fully, and in their due proportion! We here commence an existence which shall never end. How important that it should be commenced aright; that now, in this, the infancy of our being, we learn to love that God, whose presence will be with us through eternity; and to expand those faculties with which we are endowed, in such a manner, that ages hence we may look back on this dawn of our existence, as a fit commencement for the bright course of heavenly glory to which it introduced us!

HYMN.

Oh! uncreated Light and Love,
Dwelling in majesty above !

Thou, who didst blend the mental ray,
At Nature's dawn, with human clay;
Thy image, then, by thee impress'd,
Restore within thy children's breast:
Make us from sin and error free,
And sanctify our minds to thee!
Oh! banish from thy servants' path,
The demon host of Scorn and Wrath,
Error, with wildly beaming eye,
And dull Insensibility;

Blind Prejudice, and fierce Desire,
And Malice, with his glance of fire.
At thy command we burst their chain,
And in thine image rise again.

And when, life's journey o'er, we tread
The shadowy regions of the dead,
When the last foe his threat'ning dart
Points at the Christian's trembling heart;
Thy mercy then, thy people's shield,
Shall cause the last dread foe to yield;
Thy sons shall pass the valley over,
And in thy heavenly courts adore.

I

SECTION XXVI.

CURE OF A PARALYTIC.

MARK II.

AND again he entered into Capernaum, after some days; and it was noised that he was in the house, and straightway many were gathered together, insomuch that there was no room to receive them, no, not so much as about the door; and he preached the word unto them. And they came unto him, bringing one sick of the palsy, which was borne of four. And when they could not come nigh unto him for the press, they uncovered the roof where he was; and when they had broken it up, they let down the bed whereon the sick of the palsy lay. When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven. But there were certain of the Scribes sitting there, and reasoning in their hearts, Why doth this man thus speak blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God only? And immediately, when Jesus perceived in his spirit that they so reasoned within themselves, he said unto them, Why reason ye these things in your hearts? Whether is it easier to say to the sick of the palsy, Thy sins be forgiven; or to say, Arise, take up thy bed, and walk? But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (he saith to the sick of the

palsy,) I say unto thee, Arise, take up thy bed, and go thy way into thine house. And immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went forth before them all; insomuch that they were all amazed, and glorified God, saying, We never saw it on this fashion. And he went forth again by the sea-side; and all the multitude resorted unto him, and he taught them.

REFLECTIONS.

The place where our Saviour stood was the court, common in the interior of eastern houses; and the part removed by the attendants of the sick man was either an awning, by which this court was sheltered from the sun, or a balustrade which surrounded it on the roof. Great indeed must have been the sick man's faith in the power of Jesus, thus to encounter exposure and fatigue, while already in a state of exhaustion. Such should be our faith, when we look for relief to the religion of Jesus. Our bodily diseases are no longer removed by the word of our Saviour; but his spirit, and the power of his religion, if they indeed be living and active within us, can banish the disorders of the mind and heart, the paralysis of sin, the deadness of the soul. That such may be their influence, we should seek as earnestly as the sick man of Capernaum sought the presence of Jesus. Like him, we should think no effort too great, no means to be left untried, that we may gain the end in view.

Like him, should we retain our trust, unbroken by delay, that the mental health we seek shall be restored to us, if we be true to ourselves, through the mercy of our heavenly Father.

HYMN.

With feeble pulse, and limbs, whose power
Had sunk, through many a painful hour,
The paralytic lay.

He heard of signs by Jesus wrought,
And to his couch the tidings brought
A gleam of cheerful day.

Hope came, and Faith, though oft her wing
Had soared in vain, dared upward spring
To greet the rescue nigh.

In vain the throng oppose his way;
His faithful guides their burthen lay
Before the Saviour's eye.

Thus, Lord, may we, in every grief,
Of thy rich mercy seek relief,

And never seek in vain ;

And thus, when conscience wounded lies,

Oh bid the penitent arise

To life and strength again.