§ The Sermon on the Mount.-The Leper cleansed.The Paralytic healed at Capernaum.—Matthew called. Matt. v. vi. vii. viii. 1—4. ix. 1–9. Mark i. 40-45. ii. 1-14. Luke v. 12-28.

During our Lord's progress through Galilee, seeing himself surrounded by a vast multitude, he ascended one of the mountains, that He might be the better heard, and then addressed one of his most important discourses, commonly called the Sermon on the Mount. It was especially designed to shew the spiritual nature of true religion, and the wide extent of the divine law, as extending not only to outward actions, but to the inmost thoughts and intents of the heart. It teaches the necessity and efficacy of prayer, and gives instructions and encouragements for that holy exercise. It also strikingly points out the vast importance of building our hopes for eternity on a right foundation, and of being Christ's disciples, not in outward profession only, but in constant obedience and holy imitation.

In one of the cities of Galilee, our Lord was applied to by an individual suffering from that loathsome disease, the leprosy. Though forbidden, in his diseased state, to approach human society in general, the poor creature ventured into the presence of the compassionate Saviour, and, falling at his feet, exclaimed, 66 Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean;" nor was his humble boldness reproved, or

his faith disappointed: Jesus said, "I will, be thou clean;" and immediately his leprosy departed from him. On this occasion, our Lord enjoined the poor man to secrecy as to the manner of his cure, but bade him go and shew himself to the priests, that of them he might receive the regular testimonials of his cleansing, and offer the accustomed sacrifice of gratitude and expiation. Our Lord's prohibition, in all probability, was given, that the jealousy of the Roman or Jewish rulers might not be prematurely excited, or that his ministry might not be interrupted by the clamours of the people, who, in their misguided zeal, endeavoured to make Him a king, Perhaps, also, lest the priests, if informed that Jesus had performed the cure, should withhold the necessary acknowledgment of its completion. However, the poor man's grateful ardour could not be restrained; he went publishing abroad the power and compassion of his benefactor; and great multitudes came together to hear, and to be healed of their infirmities.

The miracles of Jesus were designed to attest the truth of his divine mission; they also displayed the benign temper and design of his errand-to scatter blessings on the necessitous and the miserable; and they were strikingly figurative of the infinitely more important moral cures wrought by the efficacy of the gospel. The leprosy in particular has ever been considered a most express emblem of sin; its beginning small, and apparently inconsiderable, yet soon extending over the whole frame, and communicating

its contagious nature to every thing it can touch or influence. It is also hereditary; and it is incurable by human means. In like manner, the contagion of sin overspreads the whole human race, and descends through every generation; and its guilt and pollution can only be removed by the power of God himself, without whose special influence no means can avail. Conscious, as we must be, of being ourselves the subjects of this fatal moral malady, let us imitate the poor leper in the Gospel, and, falling at the feet of Infinite Mercy, say, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean: and both His word and His character afford us the most delightful encourage

ment.

He can relieve, for He is Power;
He will, for He is Love.

At Capernaum, which place our Lord again visited, a poor paralytic was presented by his sympathizing friends, to the compassionate Saviour. Our Lord was at this time surrounded by a numerous audience, among whom were Pharisees and doctors of the law, who had come from the different towns of Galilee and Judea, to hear the words, and observe the works, of Jesus. The house was so crowded, that no other way of entrance presented itself, than by ascending an outside staircase, which led to the roof of the house, and then, throwing open the flat roof, (which in eastern houses is commonly practised,) they let down the paralytic on his couch, into the