SECTION XIV.

Chap. iv. ver. 14―30.

THE PEOPLE OF NAZARETH ADMIRE HIS WORDS.

14. And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee : and there went out a fame of him through all the region round about.

15. And he taught in their synagogues, being glorified of all.

Christ is glorified of us, when we receive him into our hearts.

16. And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up for to read.

Let us be all attention, as if he were now among us, and standing up to read. He is, indeed, always present, by the power of his Spirit, at the reading of his Word, if we are with him in prayer, faith, and affection, and do not harden ourselves against it. For the love of God, let us hear him.

17. And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Esaias. And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written,

It might be the lesson for the day; or, he turned to it, as a most remarkable prophecy of himself,—of his office, and the great design of his coming. Lay it up in your hearts from this moment.

18. The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,

The true minister of Christ may say this, that the Holy Spirit is upon him, according to his measure. But he must be upon you, if ever you profit by the reading of the scripture.

18. Because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor: he hath sent me to heal the broken-hearted, to preach de

liverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,

19. To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.

The gospel which Christ preaches to the poor, is glad tidings of mercy, and peace from God:-remission of sins, -a new state of sonship in Christ, and through him a right to heaven.

Christ and his ministers are sent to preach the gospel to the poor: the poor in spirit, who are convinced of sin, humbled for it, and who know themselves to be undone by it. These are the persons whom the world pities and calls fools. Are we the men and women? We may assure ourselves that none but such can be better for his preaching. The broken-hearted whom Christ is sent to heal are those who are sensible of their danger and misery in sin: and they only can be healed. They are here, moreover, given to understand that they cannot heal themselves: they must come to Christ for healing.

Those captives to whom Christ is sent to preach deliverance, are not in the dungeon of a prison, but in a far worse place they are held fast by the chains of Satan, and bound hand and foot in sin, as all are, till Christ sets them free.

Men are stone blind, however wise in other respects, till they see themselves in the light of God's truth, perishing sinners. When any have made this discovery, Christ preaches to them the recovery of sight.

Jesus preaches liberty to them that are bruised with a sense of their sins, and who are pressed down as under some great weight. Faith in Christ, as the easer of all our burdens, brings our liberty.

May the Lord grant that this may be the acceptable year of the Lord to every one of us; a blessed year indeed. It will be so, if it comes to us with the glad tidings of the gospel of peace,-healing and deliverance, recovering of sight, and spiritual liberty and acceptance with God through Christ.

20. And he closed the book, and he gave it again to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on him.

21. And he began to say unto them, This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears.

So in substance it is fulfilled in our ears. We have now heard the whole matter; the end of Christ's coming, and who are fit for him, as plainly as they did; and perhaps, as they did, we may wonder at these gracious words. But, that they are fulfilled in our ears, is nothing, unless all be fulfilled in the heart. It was not in them. Let us mark what follows, and be in fear for ourselves.

22. And all bare him witness, and wondered at the gracious words which proceeded out of his mouth. And they said, Is not this Joseph's son ?

23. And he said unto them, Ye will surely say unto me this proverb, Physician, heal thyself: whatsoever we have heard done in Capernaum, do also here in thy country.

24. And he said, Verily I say unto you, No prophet is accepted in his own country.

25. But I tell you of a truth, many widows were in Israel in the days of Elias, when the heaven was shut up three years and six months, when great famine was throughout all the land;

26. But unto none of them was Elias gent, save unto Sarepta, a city of Sidon, unto a woman that was a widow.

27. And many lepers were in Israel in the time of Eliseus the prophet; and none of them was cleansed, saving Naaman the Syrian.

Christ, who knew what was in man, knew what entertainment they would give him and his doctrine: and that, very few excepted, they would find out some pretence for cavilling at him, and lose all the benefit of his preaching. Let us take heed that it be not so with us, the generality, at all times, go without their remedy.

28. And all they in the synagogue, when they heard these things, were filled with wrath.

This is a certain effect of the word, where it does not

speed its errand. If men are not won by the preaching of it, they will, of course, hate the preacher. Nay, verily, but their wrath is against God, whose word it is. O what a depth of wickedness there is in the hearts and souls of all unconverted men!

29. And (they) rose up, and thrust him out of the city, and led him unto the brow of the hill whereon their city was built, that they might cas him down headlong.

30. But he passing through the midst of them went his way.

Thus Christ easily delivered himself from the malice and power of his enemies, without lessening his affection towards the people who sat in darkness and the shadow of death.-Edit.

SECTION XV.

Chap. iv. ver. 31—44.

CHRIST PERFORMS MIRACLES.

31. And (Jesus) came down to Capernaum, a city of Galilee, and taught them on the sabbath days.

32. And they were astonished at his doctrine: for his word was with power.

They clearly perceived that there was something very extraordinary in him, but notwithstanding that, they were not generally converted.

33. And in the synagogue there was a man, which had a spirit of an unclean devil, and cried out with a loud voice,

34. Saying, Let us alone; what have we to do with thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth? art thou come to destroy us? I know thee who thou art; the Holy One of God.

Some, perhaps, may think that none but a devil could say to Christ," What have I to do with thee?" But every one says it in effect, who puts him off from time to time with excuses.

35. And Jesus rebuked him, saying, Hold thy peace, and come out of him. And when the devil had thrown him in the midst, he came out of him, and hurt him not.

36. And they were all amazed, and spake among themselves, saying, What a word is this! for with authority and power he commandeth the unclean spirits, and they come out.

In every miracle of which you read, keep these things constantly in mind; that it is a proof of Christ's power and will to help us, as he did others; that he alone can help us; and that our healing and cleansing is by as great a miracle as any of which we read. What can it signify to us to hear of his cures, if we do not come to him for our own? But when men attempt to come to Christ directly, naked, helpless, and undone, it is a trying time with the soul.

37. And the fame of him went out into every place of the country round about.

The report of the miracles and doctrine of Christ does not always lead men to repentance and faith in him.— Edit.

38. And he arose out of the synagogue, and entered into Simon's house. And Simon's wife's mother was taken with a great fever; and they besought him for her.

39. And he stood over her, and rebuked the fever; and it left her: and immediately she arose and ministered unto them.

It is not said," she arose, and ministered to them," without a good reason. Healing by Christ is followed by ministering to him, and to all who serve him.

40. 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.

41. And devils also came out of many, crying out, and saying, Thou art Christ the Son of God. And he rebuking them suffered them not to speak: for they knew that he was Christ.

Jesus suffered not the devils to speak, because he knew that an ill use would be made of the circumstance.

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