the believer, and freedom also, he must not go in bondage and sackcloth; for so he does, in heart, return to the old way of the law-do this and live-to the beggarly elements. Besides, the day for mourning will soon enough come, and to tender and weak converts there is need of all the joy which comes from the presence of Christ with them.

17. Bottles. Bottles made of skins were used, especially for wine. They would become dry and cracked at | length, unfit to hold new wine that should ferment greatly; hence there would be impropriety and injury in using old bottles for it. So, every thing in its time and place. The law for Pharisees the gospel for disciples: milk for babes-strong meat for full-grown men: joy in Christ's presence-fasting and grief for His absence. For the form of these skin bottles, see Cut from Kitto's Bib. Cyclop.

n Jno.11.22,25.

18. This occurred while our Lord was at Matthew's feast. Mark and Luke speak of this man as a “ruler of the synagogue," and call him by name, Jairus. In Mark it is said he was one of the rulers of the synagogue," which shows that in this of fice there were more than one (see Acts 13. 15). He was one of those church officers whom we call Ruling Elders. "Elders of the Jews" (Luke 7. 3).- T Worshipped. "He fell at his feet" (see Mark and Luke, and note on ch. 2. 11). He paid Him this outward homage as an expression of reverence, which could be done without any hearty worship; yet he humbled himself in prayer. Mark has it, "he besought Him greatly." The ruler was convinced of Christ's marvellous power, and though he regarded his daughter as dead, or dying (Mark 5. 23. Luke 8. 42), he had faith in the touch of Christ, though he seemed to think it necessary for the hands of Christ to be laid upon her. He did not feel with the centurion, that a word would be enough.

¶ Even now dead. Mark has it, "at the point of death;" Luke reads, "she lay a dying." Our faith must reach to this: that Christ is able to meet the extremest case-to raise dead souls.

19. Jesus arose. Here again we see Christ's willingness to relieve the distressed who called upon Him. This was His work, in a higher sense, that might be shown by these outward and visible doings. The maid was "one only daughter, about 12 years of age" (see Luke 8. 42).

20. Here there occurred, on the

22 But Jesus turned him about; and when he saw her, he said, Daughter, be of good comfort;

q

o Mar.5.25. Lu.8.43.

way, a case which shows the sinner in another light, and exhibits the power and grace of Christ.T And behold, a woman. Here was a great sufferer, whose disease had been of 12 years' standing. It was held to be unclean by the Jewish law (Levit. 15. 25), and hence she would not give her case publicity if it could be helped. So the sinner, though a sufferer, conceals his sin and shame, and keeps back from Christ and from humble confession to Him. Mark and Luke tell us that she had spent all that she had upon physicians, and was nothing bettered, but only grew worse. "I said unto thee, when thou wast in thy blood, LIVE.". -¶ Touched the hem of His garment. She thought there must be virtue in touching Him, since His touch was seen to give cures. This was as far as she could see

p Ac.19.12. q Lu.7.50; 17.19; 18.42. Ac.14.9.

of His Divine power. Her faith was full of trembling, yet she did well to think that He was so full of grace, that this touch of His clothes could cure her. She touched the hem or fringe on the border, as having peculiar sanctity with the Jews (Matt. 23. 5). This was the hem or fringe of the outer robe, cloak or mantle; and hence it was not at the feet, but below the waist (see fig. and note 5. 40). Fringes on the borders of the garments were commanded (see Numbers 15. 38). The Holy Spirit put this into her mind, and recorded it here that we may see how earnestly Christ must be sought in all circumstances, and how much virtue there is in any contact with Him, and how the power of Christ can make the simplest means efficacious. Many press upon press upon Christ like the care

less crowd. She, with her heart full, touched Him; and the touch of faith was more than the common press upon Him.

22. Jesus inquired after her, as we find from Mark and Luke. He showed an interest in her, and a disposition to encourage her. Then she saw how fully He knew her and her case, and that she could conceal no longer. She came forward and confessed. So every one finds who truly finds Christ. He inquires after such, and emboldens them to speak out, and shows by the very cure itself, how ready He is, beyond all that they had dared to dared to think, and then they are impelled by His goodness to "tell Him all the truth." We should not tremble and doubt when we see His readiness to bless, but should "come boldly to a throne of grace." Christ is found to be beforehand with the seeking soul, and shows us His foregoing love. "Before that Philip called thee, when thou wast under the fig-tree, I saw thee." T Thy faith. Her faith cured her, because it led her to Him, who alone could cure, and who was so able and ready to heal. It was thus that Abraham's faith was counted to him for righteousness. Faith must take hold, for comfort, upon Christ's power and willingness to save.

23. After this miracle wrought by the way, Christ came to the house of the ruler.——¶ The minstrels. These were musicians, hired to play at funerals. It was a method among the Jews of expressing their grief on such occasions. The daughter of the ruler being now dead, the minstrels were already there, to serve at the funeral. In Eastern countries, the people set up a wail for the dead, as

but sleepeth. And they laughed him to scorn.

25 But when the people were

put forth, he went in, and took her by the hand, and the maid arose.

u Ac.20.10. v 2 Ki.4.33,&c.

a ceremony, and used very noisy demonstrations of their grief. See fig. from Kitto's Cyclopedia.

He

24. Give place-make room. meant to intimate that He had come to show His power, and that to Him it was like raising her out of sleep. They scoffed at this. Thus He obtained their testimony that she was fully dead, and not otherwise, so that when they should see her rise, they could not say she had not been dead, but He should have the credit of raising her from the dead. Sinners scorn the thought of Christ's Divine power with their souls.

24. He chose not to have the multitude present, but only Peter, James and John, and the father and mother of the damsel (Mark 5. 40). He would have quite enough there to witness the miracle, so that it should not be done in secret (see 2 Kings 4. 33). 4. 33). But it would speak for itself.

26. The fame of Christ went abroad, though He did not desire the publicity at present. He charged them (Luke 8. 56) that they should tell no man. "He charged them straitly" (Mark). The miracle was manifest-they must all have admitted it; and yet to publish it then, would only excite jealousies against such a power in the state, and throw obstacles in the way

of His work (see Mark 1. 45). It would also encourage the idea of His temporal authority and rule, since He was showing His great work of redemption by these outward and visible doings. Presently, they could better understand, that He came to save sinners, and that this was but incidental, as yet, to His grand object. "Her spirit came again (Luke), is precisely the same language as in 1 Kings 17. 22, in the Greek version. "He commanded to give her meat" (Luke), to show that it was no phantom, but a real return to life.

OBSERVE, (1.) There are but three miracles of this kind recorded of our Lord; and these, as they are deeply significant of His regenerating power, are different cases. This one had just died—the widow's son was just about to be buried-and Lazarus had been dead four days. (2.) How carefully the proofs are brought forward to show that this was a case of actual death: the father confessed it, the minstrels were there for the funeral, and the people ridiculed any other idea. If men are not dead in sin, Christ's work is shorn of its glory.

60. Two BLIND MEN HEALED, AND A DUMB SPIRIT CAST OUT.-Capernaum?

28 And when he was come into the house, the blind men came to him and Jesus saith unto them, Believe ye that I am able to do this? They said unto him, Yea, Lord. 29 Then touched he their eyes,

sinners the way of salvation. Every variety of case is therefore given, to show that in all various circumstances, the great business is, to find Christ, and seek His power and grace, as the only hope.

The blind were a numerous class at the East (Levit. 19. 14. Deut. 27. 18). These blind men acknowledged Christ as the Messiah by calling Him the Son of David. So He was prophesied of, and so His genealogy had proved as a standing confirmation of His claims, among the Jews.

28. Here Christ allows them to call upon Him till He gets into the house. He would have them earnest enough to follow Him whithersoever He went, and not willing to give up their suit. Who can doubt that they desired sight the more, that they might see Him who was the great object of wonder ?- -¶ Believe ye. He would not only put their faith to the trial of some delay at first, but to this test as to its nature. He would also have their case attract the more public attention. It was most important that He should have credit for His ability. This would imply His Divine authority and power, and as yet, this was the great point with the people. His willingness they should also find out. But this could be fully known only when His saving work as Jesus should be revealed. They believed in Him as the Messiah, all-powerful to work bodily cures. But as yet they saw no farther. So some would seem to know of Christ as a Saviour, but only partially as a sanctifier.

29. According to your faith. So far as they believed, so far He was wil ling to show Himself for their cure.

be it unto you.

30 And their eyes were opened: and Jesus straitly charged them, saying, See that no man know it.

31 But they, when they were departed, spread abroad his fame in all that country. 32 As they went out, behold, they brought to him a dumb many possessed with a devil. 33 And when the devil was cast out, the dumb spake : and

x Is.42.2; 52.13. c.12.16. y c.12.22. Lu.11.14.

Yet this formula of speech is rather in the sense of affirming than of limiting. They credited His ability, and this He displayed. The more fully we believe in Christ, the more fully will He deliver us from evil. And what we lack, for the most part, is the implicit and hearty faith in Him. "Let thy mercy, O Lord, be upon us, according as we hope in Thee." (Ps. 33. 22). This faith is the bucket let down into the fountain, without which we cannot draw.

30. Straitly charged them. The word means, He strictly and positively commanded them, on pain of His displeasure. OBSERVE: We must confess Christ, and cry out to him, and follow Him up, and believe in His mighty and gracious work. See vs. 26.

31. They had no right to publish the miracles, when Christ so positively forbade them. He had His own reasons for charging them with secrecy, and no matter how differently they might think of it, He ought to have been fully obeyed. They thought they knew better than He. This was the sin of Adam: and they had an inconsiderate zeal, which often carries people beyond and contrary to the express word of God.

32. A dumb man. The dumbness was doubtless of such a kind as was occasioned by the demon with which the man was possessed, for when he was cast out, the dumb spake. We

It was never so seen in Israel. 34 But the Pharisees said, He casteth out devils through the prince of the devils.

35 And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people. 36 But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with

z Is.35.6. a c.12.24. Mar.3.22. Lu.11.15. b c.4.23.

find Satan and his hosts having to do with diseases. Not merely was it so thought among the Jews, but this is clearly inferred from Scripture, as in the history of Job and here. When Satan is utterly "cast out" (Rev. 20. 10), there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain (Rev. 21. 4),

33. The multitudes confessed that this surpassed all that the prophets had ever done, and that a greater than Moses or Elijah was here-that Israel, who had beheld so many wonders, had never seen the like of this. This was a sudden burst of their admiration..

34. Prince of the Devils. This was a charge full of absurdity and blasphemy. They owned the miracles, yet would not ascribe them to His Divinity, but charged Him with infernal intercourse, holding communication with Beelzebub. See ch. 12. 23, 24. The Jews practised exorcisms, or the casting out of evil spirits, in pretence. But they were all amazed at Christ's power over demons, and they made the desperate resort of ascribing this kind of miracle to an alliance with the Prince of the Devils. This charge He answered on another occasion (Luke 11. 14), "By whom do your children (or disciples-the exorcising Jews) cast them out?" &c., ch. 12. 27.