found it, he layeth it upon his shoulders rejoicing." Here, to the very life, see pictured the unwearied nature of divine mercy, and God's delight in shewing mercy. From the wilderness we are taken to the temple, and the voice of supplication and penitence is heard. Two worshippers are standing before God's throne, the one lifts up his head with confidence, the other smites on his breast with sorrow. One thanks God for what he is not, and the other confesses before God what he really is; and God be merciful to me a sinner," resounds through the temple, and is heard in the highest heaven. Mercy has her favorites, and this is one. 66 66 We might dwell on many other parables, but it is difficult to know which to leave; the substance of our Lord's teaching and parables, being, "All things are ready, come to the marriage," Always pray and never faint.” Mercy is never wearied in giving, be not you weary in seeking and asking. In his private conversations with his disciples, our Lord had the same object in view; all his teaching, all his discipline was designed to make them rich in mercy make them like himself, harmless as doves, tender as lambs. O what pains did he take to teach them to prize mercy, and to imitate it. The conduct of Christ suggests to us, what are the means we should use while attempting to imitate God, and what is the spirit we should cultivate if we would be successful. Our bject should be to exhibit mercy, in all its va beauties, and we should seek to do this in the same spirit that Jesus did, "compassion."* "And Jesus, when he came out, saw much people, and was moved with compassion toward them, because they were as sheep not having a shepherd and he began to teach them many things." Mark vi. 34. III. Let us glance at some of his miracles and we shall see that all were wrought to advance the cause of mercy. "Jesus went about doing good;" his whole life was one vast act of loveone prodigious and continuous display of mercy. He could make no mistake in his plans, for he perfectly knew what real good was: he could not fail in his aims, for God had said, "he shall not fail, nor be discouraged." He was ever doing, and doing good. The seclusion of Nazareth; the solitudes of the wilderness; the bleak mountain top, as well as the social circle; the crowded city, and the sacred temple, all witnessed it. He did good to men's bodies "the multitude sought to touch him, for there went virtue out of him, and healed them all." No applicant was refused, no case was pronounced too desperate. He gave sight to the blind, health to the sick, life to the dead. He did all so kindly, so graciously, so "Had all that is terrific and appalling marked the pathway that Jesus trod, then by what is terrific and appalling might we best expect to turn sinners from the evil of their ways. Had he caused pain to increase instead of laboring for the removal of it-had he strewed the earth with dead instead of wresting from death its spoil, then John would more closely have followed the example of his master, by calling down fire from heaven to consume the ungodly, than when he breathed 'little children love one another;' but 'the Son of man came to seek and to save that which was lost."" MELVILLE. - like himself, we scarcely know which most to wonder at, the supernatural character of his works, the more than angelic gracefulness wherewith he performed them, or the infernal hardness of heart which resisted them. Take a few moments of his life as a sample of the rest. Imagine a lovely evening in Palestine, and a secluded spot on which the sun is just shedding his departing rays. See Jesus standing in all the majesty of mercy, and view the scene around him. "Now when the sun was setting, all they that had any sick with divers diseases brought them unto him; and he laid his hands on every one of them, and healed them." Luke iv. 40. One would think all the chambers of affliction were emptied of their tenants; every form of misery is there, from the panting babe on the maternal bosom, to decrepid old age, borne in the arms of filial affection. Now behold the wonders wrought: Jesus speaks― sickness flies health blossoms again --devils depart― peace returns-angels wonder-and man remains unconverted! Sometimes the sacred historian, in reciting the wonders Christ wrought, dwells on one miracle with great minuteness, as in the case of Lazarus and the young man who was born blind; and then a thousand lovely views of Christ's character, of his tenderness, thoughtfulness, and sympathy, break in upon us. At other times we have a whole cluster of miracles brought before us in a few words. The first is like taking a view of a beauteous valley from an abrupt eminence, whence we see its minute beauties; and the other, like gazing at the heavenly arch, where worlds on worlds revolve; by the first, the mind is softened, and by the second, overwhelmed. Who can, without a thrill of sacred feeling, accompany Jesus to the gate of Nain, or the village of Bethany, and see him bringing back to life a lost son, or a beloved brother; and let it be remembered the cause of both these miracles was found in compassion and love, Jesus 66 saw the widow weeping and he had compassion;" "he loved Mary, Martha, and Lazarus. He had compassion on the multitude and fed them; he had compassion on the leper, and healed him, on the blind men, and gave them sight; and to the demoniac he said, "Go home to thy friends and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and how he hath had compassion on thee." It should never be overlooked "that our Lord performed all these cures on the body, to shew man his need of spiritual healing, and to encourage him to believe in his own willingness to become the physician of souls.* There is no form of misery on earth as it regards the body, but has its corresponding features in the soul, and Jesus is the healer of the soul. "For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned into the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls." 1 Peter, ii. 25. "Strange the disease," for which no med'cine's good To cure its pain, but the physician's blood." "If evil tempers arise, I go to Christ as some demoniac; if deadness creeps upon me, I go a paralytic; if dissipation comes, I go a lunatic; if darkness clouds my peace, Bartemeus; and when I pray, I always go as a leper, crying as Isaiah did, unclean, unclean." Berridge. go a When we see Jesus raising the dead, it shews him forth as the author of eternal life; when he opens the eyes of the blind, as the source of heavenly wisdom; and when he heals all manner of sickness and diseases, as the overflowing fountain of spiritual health and strength. We close this rough and very imperfect outline of the Saviour's character, ministry, and miracles, with the following beautiful testimony to his excellency: "Christ clothes himself in the raiment of flesh, puts on like passions and affections, and presents himself to be beheld, talked with, and handled of the sons of men. He opens up the heart of God, and shews it wondrously tender to his fallen creatures. He opens up his own heart, and shews it devoted to death for their restoration. He stretches out his hand; disease and death flee away. He opens his lips, lovingkindness drops upon the most sinful of men. He opens a school of discipline for heaven; none are hindered from entering it. Whoever comes, he cherishes with food fetched from the storehouse of his creating word. The mourner he anoints with the oil of joy, and clothes with the garment of praise. And what more can we say than that, if the knowledge of deserved death averted from your heads, be joy, and the knowledge of offences forgiven, be contentment; and the knowledge of God reconciled, be peace; and the sure hope of heaven, be glory; and if wisdom streaming from its everlasting fountain, be light to the understanding; and strength ministered from the arm of the omnipotent, be life to the soul; then verily this peace, content |