I. The Greatness of Faith. "When Jesus heard it, He marvelled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel."-MATTHEW viii 10. I T was a beautiful instance of the sympathy of Jesusthat He should wonder at the largeness of that centurion's faith. It seems quite natural when, on another occasion, He "marvelled at their unbelief." But knowing, as He did, what God was,-what He was,-and what the promises were,-we might have supposed that no measure of faith, even the greatest, in any man, would ever have surprised Him. Evidently, Christ knew all the man had gone through to arrive at that faith. He knew how unlikely it was that he should have any faith at all; much more that he should have that high order of faith. He sympathized with faith's exceeding difficulties. And therefore it was that Christ "marvelled” at the great faith of that Roman soldier. Faith is very hard work; and Jesus knows it. And it will be a comfort to you to feel, as you may, that Jesus thoroughly appreciates any attainment you ever make in that grace of faith. If you do well in it, I do not say that Christ is pleased with you,—He marvels at you. And it is a very happy thing to give Him that pleasant right. Hitherto, in the history of our world, Gentiles have B |