and the powerful, it is easy to perceive how fearfully efficacious they will be in causing men, both in public and in private life, to forget that "the eyes of the Lord are in every place, beholding the evil and the good;" since they will not only occupy the mind with the gross things of sense, and so unfit it for retaining the consciousness of the invisible world, but will also prevent it from observing those many signs and tokens which otherwise, like clouds half filled with light, might have attracted its notice even in the confusions of these busy days, and warned it that every path of man is compassed by the Presence of God. May He grant that we be not blinded by worldly-mindedness or unbelief, but be ready and prepared, through His grace, both to give up this world for His sake, and also to use it to His glory.

SERMON XIV.

PRACTICAL FAITH.

ST. MATT. ix, 21.

FOR SHE SAID WITHIN HERSELF, IF I MAY BUT TOUCH HIS GARMENT I SHALL BE WHOLE."

THE story of the afflicted woman who reasoned thus within herself is related by St. Mark and St. Luke, as well as by St. Matthew, and though very brief, is full of interest and instruction. The approbation and miraculous reward which she obtained will at once teach us to regard her simple and affecting confidence with admiration, as the fruit of a most rare and

Our

blessed wisdom-the heaven-taught wisdom of a lowly, reverent, and believing heart. But our admiration will increase when we attentively consider all the circumstances of the case. blessed Saviour, followed by His disciples, and surrounded by a great multitude, was on His way to the house of Jairus, one of the rulers of the synagogue, who had earnestly besought Him to come and lay His Hand upon his daughter that she might live, having described her as being, when he left her, so evidently "at the point of death," that she might be said to be (and in fact, as it afterwards appeared, actually was) "even now dead." It was, doubtless, immediately understood by the multitude, that a great miracle was about to be performed; and accordingly they pressed closely upon the Lord Jesus, as He went with the ruler, shewing apparently little or no respect to His sacred Person in their eagerness to see another proof of His marvellous power. What took place on the way is related by St. Mark in the following words:"A certain woman, which had an issue of blood twelve years, and had suffered many things of many physicians, and had spent

all that she had, and was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse, when she had heard of Jesus, came in the press behind, and touched His garment. For she said, If I may touch but His clothes, I shall be whole." She

believed that the Power which dwelt in Him was so mysterious, so incomprehensible, so divine, that its operation would not be confined to His own Person, but would flow out from that most holy source, and extend to every thing belonging to Him, so as to give healing virtue even to outward things which in their own nature are weak and perishable. She believed that the Power by which He was about to restore the dead to life, needed not, as the ruler seemed to suppose, the lifting up of His Hand, or even the sound of His Voice, but might work effectually in the very Hem of His Garment. And the event proved that her faith was indeed well-founded. For when she acted upon that faith, and reverently touched His clothes, "straightway the fountain of her blood was dried up; and she felt in her body that she was healed of that plague." But the fact, that the miracle had been wrought in the manner she

expected it would be, was not suffered to depend on the testimony, however strong, of her own feelings, for that testimony was confirmed by One who alone could make it perfectly sure and convincing. "And Jesus immediately knowing in Himself that virtue had gone out of Him, turned Him about in the press and said, Who touched My clothes? And His disciples said unto Him, Thou seest the multitude throng Thee and sayest Thou, Who touched Me? And He looked round about to see her that had done this thing. But the woman fearing and trembling, knowing what was done in her, came and fell down before Him, and told Him all the truth. And He said unto her, "Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace, and be whole of thy plague."

Now with respect to the instruction which may be gained from this wonderful occurrence, we can be at no loss to understand what it is, or how it should be applied. The very nature of the miracle, but especially the words of encouragement and approbation with which our Lord was pleased to accompany it, will direct our thoughts at once to the remarkable faith of this