the Lord upon this his word, and you will find that in it you have all that is needful for the life of your souls. After this

Verse 29. "He (Jesus) sent away the multitude, and took ship, and came into the coasts of Magdala."

Prayer.

O God! without thy Son to be our Saviour, this world would be a weary wilderness. The nature of all is hard as stone. There is no food for our souls, no rest for our minds, but in Christ the Lord. We are far from our heavenly home. In our own strength we never could reach it—we should but faint by the way. O holy Jesus, bless thy word unto the strengthening and refreshing of our souls, and then whensoever we die, we shall have enough for every spiritual want. Give us that calm faith that fears no evil, so that only we are thine for ever and ever. Amen.

You have heard before that the Pharisees and the Sadducees were two great parties in the Jewish nation.* They hated each other, for all their opinions were different; but they agreed in this one thing, to do all they could to hinder men from believing that Jesus was the Messiah. They hated him and his doctrine. They could not say any thing against the wonderful works He had done; but since He said, that He was the Son of God, they persisted that some sign more striking than miracles performed on earth- a sign from heaven itself was needful to convince them. It is written

See Vol. I. page 73, 74.

MATTHEW xvi. 1-3. "The Pharisees also with the Sadducees came, and tempting desired him that he would shew them a sign from heaven. He answered and said unto them, When it is evening, ye say, It will be fair weather : for the sky is red. And in the morning, It will be foul weather to-day: for the sky is red and lowering. O ye hypocrites ye can discern the face of the sky; but can ye not discern the signs of the times ?”

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In the common things of life they had no difficulty. They could tell very well the changes of the weather by the changes. of the sky; if the sun set red and glowing, they knew it mised another day of fair weather; but if it rose in a red and lowering sky, they knew they must prepare for a storm. Why did they not in like manner use their sense to help them to understand the signs of the times? There could be but one reason-they were not willing. All that the prophets had foretold of the coming of the Messiah had come to pass. The very time had been marked-the place of his birth-the manner of his birth-that his mother should be a virgin of the family of David-the place wherein He should be brought up -his way of life-the wonderful works He should do-the gracious words He should speak-yes, even the very hatred of his countrymen, all had been foretold, nothing remained now but the last sign of all, his death, his burial, and his rising again on the third day. These men could tell by the face of the sky whether it would be fine or stormy weather; but they could not tell that Jesus was the Messiah, because they would not consider "the signs of the times." A storm, such as never had been from the beginning, was about to sweep over their land; and when it was past, a bright morning of hope and love, and holy knowledge, would dawn upon the world. Night was coming upon Israel, but the morning that should follow would grow brighter and brighter, till the perfect day of

God should for ever disperse the clouds and darkness of Satan's kingdom. This the Pharisees and the Sadducees knew not, because they would not consider. Therefore, our Lord "sighed deeply in his spirit," and said unto them :—

Verse 4. "A wicked and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given unto it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas. And he left them, and departed."

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MARK Viii. 13. “And he left them, and entering into the ship again departed to the other side." (of the sea of Galilee.) The Lord Jesus had before explained to them how the sign of the prophet Jonas was to be given them, by his body being buried out of their sight, and by his rising again on the third day.* He would not now repeat his words, but left them to recal them if they chose. Their sky was every day becoming more red and lowering. Oh! would they but, while yet they might, discern the signs of the awful time so fast coming upon them. And we too can tell the weather from the sky, why do we give less heed to the word of God? When in the sky we see a storm coming, we seek for shelter. Every thing in ourselves, in our lives-every thing that happens about us, tells us with one voice, that the Bible is true. Why then do we not all, before it be too late, believe its warnings-seek for the shelter it points out-even the pardoning mercy of Christ the Lord?

MATTHEW xvi. 5. "And when his disciples were come to the other side, they had forgotten to take bread :

MARK viii. 14. "Neither had they in the ship with them more than one loaf."

MATTHEW xvi. 6-8. " Then Jesus said unto them, Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees. And they reasoned among themselves, saying, It is because we have taken no bread. Which, when Jesus

*Vol. II. page 149. No XXIX.

hindrance to you,—only press the nearer, be more instant in your prayer. Nay, even if you have till now lived in open sin, keep not back for that. It is true that you are but as a dog before him, "yet the dogs eat of the crumbs that fall from their master's table." He will not refuse you. He may for a time keep you waiting, that He may humble you indeed, and make you confess that you deserve nothing at his hand, that you depend only upon his mercy, the mercy He shows to all his creatures, of which you feel that you are the vilest. Yes, He may keep you waiting for a time, but He hears your prayers, and He will grant them. If your daughter be grievously vexed with a devil: if sin rule openly over her, and she neither feels your grief, nor joins your prayers, pray, pray yet the more, Christ will hear.

Or is it pain and sickness that bows her down, and in her youth brings over her the feebleness of age? Pray, Christ will hear. Or is it the saddest grief of all: has a cloud passed over the mind of your child, darkening her young days, so that even the joyful light of the gospel cannot gladden her soul? Has gloomy fear taken such possession of her, that the promises of God in Christ are vainly spoken, she can neither hear nor feel them?

Poor mother! well may you sorrow for your child, this is the saddest grief of all but Christ will hear. Whatever you have been, whatever you still may be, let your need bring you to the feet of Jesus, the Son of God. From him each good and perfect gift doth come. He called the light and it came. He gave to men the mind that can know and love him. He can, He will give light to your child. He can and he will give her power to understand and believe his love. Oh, grieving mother, pray; your own sins may now be made to pass before you in sad remembrance-you may have long to wait, but Christ the Lord will hear-therefore pray.

Prayer.

Oh Jesus, Lord have mercy upon me. Son of David, Son

grievously vexed with None but thou canst

of God, have mercy upon me. I am the power of Satan in me and mine. heal. Son of David, thou knowest the weakness of our frame. Son of God, thou hast the power, the love that dwells in God alone. I am but as a dog before thee: I have not one single claim upon thy mercy; but my need is great, oh have pity upon me. The dogs eat of the crumbs that fall from their master's table let me share thy kindness, though I deserve it not, for the sake of thy dear love. Amen.

III.

MATT. XV. MARK VII.

After having granted the prayers of the Syrophenician woman, and healed her daughter, the Lord Jesus left that distant part of the country, [which, as I have before told you, was quite on the edge of the Holy Land, close to the heathen nations] and turned back again to the sea of Galilee. St. Mark writes,

MARK Vii. 31. "And again, departing from the coasts of Tyre and Sidon, he came unto the sea of Galilee, through the midst of the coasts of Decapolis."

St. Matthew tells us, that after he had reached the shores of the lake, He

MATTHEW XV. 29–31.

"Went up into a mountain, and sat down there, and great multitudes came unto him, having with them those that were lame, blind, dumb, maimed, and