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With the fame authority with which he performed these benevolent miracles, he nounced a curfe on the barren fig tree, as an emblem, no doubt, of the approaching fate of the Jewish nation. For finding nothing on it but leaves, he said, Matt. xxi. 19. no fruit grow on thee henceforth for ever." 2. Jefus having this power of working miracles, as far as appears, at pleasure (though we learn from the account of the refurrection of Lazarus that it was in consequence of prayer to God, who, he says, heard him always), he was not afraid to exert it fometimes in a manner that shocked the prejudices of his countrymen, and therefore must have given much offence; which, if there had been any trick or impofition in the cafe, he would have been careful to avoid. For this would naturally excite fufpicion, and lead to a stricter examination of his conduct.

Befides curing diseases on the Sabbath day, which he frequently chofe to do, though it never failed to give offence, and excite a ftrong indignation against it, he fometimes declared the cures in language that shocked

his

his audience. When a paralytic person was brought to him as he was teaching in a crowded houfe, or court, fo that they were obliged to go to the roof of the house, and thence let the fick man down to him, inftead of faying, as he fometimes did, Rife up and walk, or use any other expreffion fimply indicating the removal of his diforder, het faid, Mark ii. 5. "Son, thy fins be forgiven thee." He ufed the fame language, though without working any miracle, to a woman who had probably been a prostitute, who from deep contrition fell at his feet, and bathed them with her tears at the house of a Pharifee.

On both thefe occafions the Pharifees who were prefent were much offended; but he was far from endeavouring to conciliate his enemies by making an apology for the language he had ufed, in whatever manner he might have explained it. On the former occafion, "when the Scribes, who were prefent, faid, that he blafphemed ; he, knowing their thoughts," as the evangelift fays, replied, "wherefore think ye evil your hearts? For whether is it easier to

in

fay,

fay, Thy fins be forgiven thee, or to say, Rife and walk? But, that ye may know that the fon of man hath power on earth to forgive fins, he fays to the fick of the palfy, Arife, take up thy bed, and go unto thy houfe." By this he fhewed that he was juftified in ufing his former language, and he left them to interpret it as they could. On the latter occafion, "when the perfons present began to fay within themselves, Who is this that forgiveth fins also?” he, without directing his difcourfe to them, only faid to the woman, " Thy faith hath saved thee. Go in peace."

3. On this, as on other occafions, Jefus took the opportunity to speak in commendation of faith, as feeming, through modefty, to intimate that not any thing done by him, but that a steady faith in the power of God, which was manifefted by him, was the caufe of the happy effect. Thus, when one of the ten lepers, whom he had fent away, after bidding them fhew themfelves to the priest (as if to afcertain whether they really had the leprofy or not) finding himfelf cured, returned to give him thanks, Jefus

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Jefus faid, John xvii. 17. "Were there not ten cleanfed, but where are the nine? There are none found to return, and give glory to God, except this ftranger (he was a Samaritan); and he faid unto him, Arife, go thy way, thy faith hath made thee

whole."

When the Roman centurion at Capernaum requested that he would cure his fervant, who was paralytic; faying at the fame time, that it was not neceffary for him to take the trouble of going to his house for the purpose, that he was not worthy to receive him, and that he did not doubt but that he had the fame authority over all difeases that himself had over his own fervants, Jefus, we read, Matt. viii. 1o. "when he heard it, marvelled, and faid to them that followed, Verily I fay unto you, I have not found fo great faith, no not in Ifrael." He then faid to the centurion, "Go thy way, as thou haft believed fo fhall it be done unto thee; and his fervant was healed from that fame hour."

Having at first, evidently with a view to try the faith and patience of a woman of Phenicia,

Phenicia, who applied to him for the cure of her daughter who was a demoniac, refused her; faying he was only fent to the "loft sheep of the house of Ifrael,” and that it was "not meet to take the children's bread, and give it to the dogs ;" when the replied, that "even the dogs eat of the crumbs that fall from their master's table," Matt. xv. 27. "Jefus faid unto her, O woman, great is thy faith. Be it unto thee even as thou wilt; and her daughter was cured from that very hour."

In like manner, when he was going to the house of Jairus, whofe daughter was at the point of death, and he was met by a perfon who brought him word that she was actually dead," Jefus faid to him, (Mark v.. 36.) Be not afraid; only believe." At the fame time, when a woman who had had an iffue of blood twelve years, and finding no relief from any phyficians, thought that, without making herfelf known to Jefus, The might be cured by only touching his clothes, as he was walking in a crowd, which the accordingly contrived to do, and found the effect the expected; he being aware

VOL. III.

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