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luctance that I yielded, and finally , deserted sanctuary ! The gratitade said yes. With many, many mis- and joy of my heart at this intelligivings, I did at length say this, gence were not a little heightened and go.'

by the knowledge, in addition, that On awakening on the morning of the revival among my own people, the Sabbath, I found the very ele- instead of suffering any abatement, ments to be in sympathy with my was progressing with increasing feelings. One of the most violent power. storms of the season had com. It is due to the grace of God that menced. During the entire day it be said, distinctly and emphatithe rain fell in torrents, and the cally, that this unexpected result of streets were flooded. It was ex- that Sabbath's labours was not ceedingly dark, and everything produced by any wisdom of words seemed tinged with gloom.

or peculiar power on the part of the The audience, gathered in a large doubting minister of Christ. The house, was very thin, only here and sermon that was particularly blessed there one, making in all scarcely as on that day, was by far the less many scores as there were usually elaborate of the two, and, to human hundreds. Without any super- view, far less likely to leave a stitious feeling on the subject, I profound and lasting impression. could hardly repress the thought The result was clearly and wholly that I was not where I should be. due to the simple power of the Yet, as I was there, I determined Holy Ghost, who designed thus to that, so far as I could, I would dis- use a human instrument just at the charge my duty to the few hearers time when his own sense of weakI had. There had been no recent ness, inefficiency, and unworthi. religious interest in the place, yet I ness, was necessarily more than soon noticed a very still and marked usually clear. He found, too, that attention, and here and there a he had unconsciously regarded his tearful eye. This gave my mis- own presence and agency at home giving heart more courage. I as essential to the progress of God's hardly dared, however, even then work there. In this, also, he was to believe, as the day and labour taught a salutary lesson. And the closed, that any real good had Sabbath of darkness and misgiving been done to a single soul. What fixed more deeply than ever upon then was my surprise, on receiving his heart those familiar words, a letter from that place, two or which experience alone makes three weeks subsequently, to learn clear and precious: “I will bring that a revival had commenced there, the blind by a way they know not; and that eight persons had already I will lead them in paths that they expressed hope in Christ, all of have not known.” “O Lord, I whom dated the beginning of their know that the way of man is not interest to that dark and stormy in himself; it is not in man that Sabhath, while seated in that almost walketh to direct his steps."

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GROUPINGS FROM THE GOSPELS.
BY THE REV. F. BOSWORTH, M.A.

II.-Grouped Miracles. The miracles of our Lord furnish even richer materials for our purpose tban His parables. Regarded in their essential oneness, they may all be considered as connecting the Incarnation with the Ascension; as pointing to the greatest miracle of all, “ God manifest in the flesh," and to its remedial character and lasting issues. Like beams of the dawn, they usher in and predict the day of final consummation. They may further be classified by their threefold relation to nature, to man, and to the spirit-world. Wonderful beginnings in each department, with the full meaning, the perfected glory, yet to come, deeply suggestive hints of still more sublime unfoldings. Or they may be arranged as works of faith, of intercession, and of love: the faith of recipients, the intercession of others, the love of Christ. It will, however, be more in keeping with the objects contemplated in these short papers, to dwell upon them in still smaller, and, therefore, to us, more manageable groups.

In many of our Lord's miracles we cannot but notice, as we found in the parables, a readiness to admit of arrangement in pairs. God has many ways of urging the attention of men to His word, and of inciting them to its careful study. To this end resemblance with diversity is very prominent, and of frequent occurrence. This, these double miracles strikingly present. Sometimes the difference is more important than the similarity ; sometimes otherwise. In either case the mind is aroused, investigation and comparison are called into exercise, and truth is advanced. The draught of fishes, the only miracle after the resurrection, is evidently to be associated with that which preceded the call of the Apostles to their life-work. Both, as it would seem, took place on the same fishing ground, in the same lake, while in both a large return followed an unsuccessful night's toil. The one commenced, and the other terminated, that personal training which fitted the disciples to be “ fishers of men.” The significant differences seem to point, in the first miracle, to imperfect success here; in the second, to complete and final results hereafter. It may suffice to mention other miracles thus united, without considering them at length. The feeding of the five thousand, and of the four thousand, present resemblances, and suggest comparison. Jews going to the passover at Jerusalem constituted the multitude fed in the first miracle ; Gentiles from Decapolis were probably for the most part recipients of the second. Hence the expression respecting them"They glorified the God of Israel.” Alike to Jew and Gentile He is the helper in time of need, Himself the bread of life to both. The two miracles on the lake, with the contrasts, " asleep on a pillow," "walking on the sea," appealing so strongly to the imagination and

the heart, teaching us that this brother of ours is Lord of all; that of the nobleman's son, and of the centurion's servant, unfolding diversities of faith and corresponding treatment; the destruction of the swine, and of the fruitless fig-tree, exceptional features in the miracles of Christ; and the healing of the lepers on two separate occasions,—all are instances of mutual coherence and harmony, and will well reward careful study. There is, however, one other group which should be noticed more at length. Mark gives us two miracles not narrated by any other evangelist. These are brought near together in the record, are closely connected in order of time, occur on the very same journey, and differ, in a most marked way, from other miracles. In these two miracles the similarities are very much more impressive and full of meaning than the differences. In both there is an indefiniteness as to the persons bringing the sufferers to Jesus. “They bring." These unnamed, unknown friends of the afflicted express a wish as to the means to be used-" They beseech Him to put His hand upon bim ; " " They besought Him to touch him." Tbus, they, in their weak faith, in a manner prescribed to Jesus what He sbould do. In both there is a taking aside and away from the multitude. The most striking features, however, common to the two miracles, connecting them together by very peculiar circumstances, is the variety of accompanying incident, with the progressiveness of the cure. There is a marvellous laying bare of processes, advances step by step to the perfect result. And why? It is not difficult to answer. Both miracles were preceded by simple intercession-the only instance among our Lord's miracles of such simple, unrelational intercession. Stress, in the narratives, is laid on the faith of the men who brought the suffering, rather than on that of the afflicted themselves. Now, it cannot be without meaning that just in these cases the cure was effected with the most outward preparation—that in both instances Jesus leads the men away from crowd and noise, and makes use of certain appliances, showing a developed process. The faith of others, such as it was, led the sufferers to Jesus, a faith rather general than special. This was made the starting point of personal faith, the feeble beginnings of which were fostered and tenderly cherished by symbolic act and word, till strong enough to receive the full blessing. The men themselves, shut out by their privation and position from the ordinary sources of information, could know but little of Him whose help they sought, Hence their faith, so feeble, was aided, and their knowlege advanced, by gradual disclosures. In the case of the man deaf and dumb, ear and tongue were moistened and touched ; in that of the blind man, the eyes were moistened, touched, and touched again. Both were reached through the senses which remained unimpaired, and so were. at length healed by Him who is alike infinite in compassion, wisdom, and power.

Larger groups of miracles must now be considered. The first of these which naturally presents itself is that of the three miracles of

raising from the dead. One of these is mentioned by Matthew and Mark, another by Luke, and the third by John. There is a marked progression in them. They took place at the moment of death, a day after death, four days after ; in the room, on the road, at the tomb; on the bed, on the bier, in the grave. Those thus raised were an only daughter, an only son, an only brother; the one a child, the second a youth, the third a man. To all, the words of power were few startling modulated tones of that voice which shall yet awake all the dead. Seven times did our Lord work miracles on the sabbathday: all of them miracles of healing. These, considered together, furnish much matter for thought suggested by the day itself. Of them, five excited the enmity of the Jews. These again might fittingly be regarded in that light. Passing, however, by these groups we notice another. Three of the miracles were wrought in the synagogue, That of the demoniac in the synagogue at Capernaum, the man with the withered arm in Galilee, and the woman with the spirit of infirmity in Peræa. These miracles furnish much needed instruction now. The sufferers, however greatly afflicted, were in the synagogue. Their maladies did not keep them from God's house and worship. While there they met with the Great Healer. Had each been away just that one sabbath morning, how much would have been lost by the sufferer and by all assembled ! Very marvellous is the teaching power of our Lord's miracles. What light they throw on faith! By bringing three passages together from Mark's Gospel (ii. 4 ; x. 48; vii. 28) we have as many ascending degrees of faith in overcoming difficulties. In the first, the paralytic and his bearers break through outward hindrances, crowd, roof, all; in the second, Bartimæus through hindrances arising from the disciples ; while in the third, the Syro-Phænician gains her request through apparent hindrances even from Christ Himself. "O woman, great is thy faith!” The last group we shall mention now, for it is impossible with limited space to do more than glance at the subject, so wide in its bearings, so rich in its instruction, will be that comprising all the miracles of giving sight to the blind. In addition to the four cases given at length, many general notices of such healing occur. They all stand apart from all the other miracles of Christ. It is remarkable that while no miracle of the kind is recorded in the older scriptures, they contain repeated predictions that such cases of healing should distinguish Messianic times. The interest excited by these signs will be still further deepened when it is, too, borne in mind that the apostles are never described as giving sight to the blind. They are exclusively miracles of Christ, predicted of Him, wrought by no one else. Seeing, as being the exercise of the greatest of the senses, is, in the Bible and elsewhere, constantly used of moral and spiritual things, as is a want of sight, of blindness to their surpassing importance. Now, as all our Saviour's miracles of healing are expressive of His redemptive grace, especially is this the case with the miracles before us. They loudly

proclaim His power to give sight to the spiritually blind. This is His special and sole prerogative. He is the light and the giver of it. How shall we see when He gives full power to see Him perfectly and for ever!

A STITCH IN TIME.

FOR THE YOUNG. It was autumn, and a bright fire just as well to - morrow," said was blazing on the hearth. Before Madge. it, curled up in an easy-chair, a “So you said last night,” returned young girl, some twelve or thirteen Mrs. Sanford. years of age, was reading. This, to “ But I sha'n't want it till Sunher, was the height of luxury. Pre- day, and this is only Thursday. sently she was recalled to the cares There is really no hurry," said the of this world by a very common. incorrigible Madge. place question.

| “You may want it very much. "Madge, have you mended your How can you be sure you will not ? blue dress yet?"

Remember, 'A stitch in time saves “No, mother, but I'm going to nine.'" by-and-by; just let me finish this The next morning, just as the chapter first,” replied Madge, Sanford family were rising from the scarcely raising her eyes from her breakfast-table, the door-bell rang, book.

a quick patter of feet was heard in Mrs. Sanford, who was merely the hall, and two bright, blooming passing through the room on some young faces appeared at the dining. errand, said no more ; but having room door. occasion to return again when the “Good-morning, uncle, auntie, clockon themantlepiece had marked all of you !” cried the new-comers, off just half an hour more, she who were Madge's cousins, Cynthia found Madge in the same position, and Bell. “And oh, Madge, only excepting that the now waning think how delightful!” said Cynthia; light caused her to bend her head a “Uncle Peter has sent for us to trifile lower.

spend the day at Longwood.” “ That must be a very long chap- “Us? does that include me?” ter," said Mrs. Sanford, quietly asked Madge, laughing.

“Oh, mother, I forgot; and it's “Of course it does. And we're so interesting; but it's too late to to start just as soon as you can get mend the dress now, anyway. I ready. Hamlet and the horses are shall have to wait till the gas is waiting for us, so run and dress lighted,” said Madge.

yourself. Shall we help you ?” But evening brought company, "Yes, do,” said Madge, and the and a game of " logomachy;” and three girls tripped merrily upstairs when Madge was again reminded of to Madge's room. her dress, she said, "Oh, well, “Isn't it too bad ?" said Madge, mother, it will do just as well to as the blue dress was at last taken morrow!"

from its hook and thrown on the The next day passed-Madge bed; “the last time I wore it, I could scarcely tell how-and still caught it on a nail and started some the torn dress had not been taken of the ruffles; but I can sew them from its hook in the closet.

on in a minute. I've got to wear it, “Never mind, mother; it will do for it belongs to my new suit."

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