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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.

SECTION XXVII.

THE DAUGHTER OF JAIRUS RAISED TO LIFE.

LUKE VIII. 41.

AND behold, there came a man named Jairus, and he was a ruler of the synagogue: and he fell down at Jesus' feet, and besought him that he would come into his house; for he had one only daughter, about twelve years of age, and she lay a dying. But as he went, the people thronged him. And a woman having an issue of blood twelve years, which had spent all her living upon physicians, neither could be healed of any, came behind him and touched the border of his garment; and immediately her issue of blood staunched. And Jesus said, Who touched me? When all denied, Peter, and they that were with him, said, Master, the multitude throng thee, and press thee; and sayest thou, Who touched me? And Jesus said, Somebody hath touched me; for I perceive that virtue is gone out of me. And when the woman saw that she was not hid, she came trembling, and falling down before him, she declared unto him before all the people, for what cause she had touched him and how she was healed immediately. And he said unto her, Daughter, be of good comfort: thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace. While he yet spake, there cometh one from the ruler of the synagogue's house, saying to him, Thy daughter is dead: trouble not the Master. But when Jesus heard it, he answered him saying, Fear not; believe only, and she shall be made

whole. And when he came to the house, he suffered no man to go in, save Peter, and James, and John, and the father and the mother of the maiden. And all wept and bewailed her; but he said, Weep not: she is not dead, but sleepeth. And they laughed him to scorn, knowing that she was dead. And he put them all out, and took her by the hand, and called, saying, Maid, arise. And her spirit came again, and she arose straightway: and he commanded to give her meat. And her parents were astonished: but he charged them that they should tell no man what was done.

REFLECTIONS.

Can we not see the blesscd Saviour, standing in the midst of the group, with a look of calm, but joyful benevolence, as he witnesses the happiness he has produced? And how must the hearts of the family have been filled, and almost overpowered, by the union of awe, and love, and gratitude, and joy! Blessed Jesus! though thy life was one of suffering, in many an appalling form, there was one pleasure, even connected with this world, which was thine more fully than any other being ever possessed it, the pleasure of doing good. What could have equalled the transport of thy emotions, in the midst of that favoured family; and what hours of delight must have been thine, when thy heart overflowed at the thought of that happiness, which would result to thousands, in this and in the future world, through thy life and death! May we, thy disciples, tread in the steps of our Saviour; and though it is not ours to bless, like thee, the eyes of mourning parents with the sight of their restored child, may we do our part in the work of usefulness, comforting the mourner, binding up the broken hearted, relieving, with our abundance, the necessities of poverty, and receiving, as the earnest of our heavenly reward, the blessings of those that were ready to perish.

HYMN.

MRS. GILMAN.

They have watched her last and quivering breath,
And the maiden's soul has flown;

They have wrapped her in the robes of death,
And laid her, dark and lone.

But the mother casts a look behind

Upon that fallen flower;

Nay, start not, 't was the passing wind,
Those limbs have lost their power.

And tremble not at that cheek of snow,
Over which the faint light plays;
'T is only the curtain's crimson glow,
Which thus deceives thy gaze.

Didst thou not close that expiring eye,
And feel the soft pulse decay?
And did not thy lips receive the sigh
That bore her soul away?

But listen!

what name salutes her ear?

It comes to a heart of stone

"Jesus," she cries, "has no power here,
"My daughter's life has flown.”

He leads the way to that cold white couch,
And bends o'er that senseless form.

She breathes! She breathes! At his hallowed touch
The maiden's hand is warm.

And the fresh blood comes with its roseate hue,

And life spreads quick through her frame;

Her head is raised, and her step is true,

And she murmurs her mother's name.

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