MARCH 8TH.-THE NOBLEMAN'S SON HEALED.

For Repetition.-John IV. 50-53. Reading Lesson.-John IV. 43-54. First. THE NOBLEMAN'S APPLICATION TO CHRIST.

Not many of the great and rich applied to the Saviour, but a few did. Nicodemus; this nobleman; Jairus; and a few others. Christ was as necessary to them as to poorer people.

Neither the wealth of the nobleman, nor the relation in which he stood to royalty, could exempt him from sorrow. His beloved child suffered from severe fever, and the father's wealth failed to procure the dying boy relief. The father's heart was sad. Riches cannot make people happy.

A friend was once saying to a childless rich man, at whose window he stood gazing on a beautiful view over his grounds, that he must be happy, having so elegant a mansion in so beautiful a place. "No, sir," he said, "I am not happy, because I have no little boy to break those windows."

This nobleman's home was full of grief, since the child was so near death.

But Jesus, who had wrought miracles, and whose fame had reached Capernaum, was in the neighbourhood. Perhaps he will pity me, the nobleman thought. At all events he would try.

To send servants, or even friends, to Jesus, was not enough. The sad father would go himself. None could feel as he did, or plead with such urgency. Nobody feels for a suffering child like a parent.

He took the journey, therefore, and as soon as he met with the Saviour, he urged his request. Some doubt mingled with his hope.

At first Jesus seemed as if not willing to listen to the request. He knew how improperly the people looked for miracles, and he would rebuke this. He knew how weak the nobleman's faith was, and it must be stronger ere the cure he desired was effected. Hence the apparent repulse. The nobleman and the people must regard the teaching of Christ more. The miracle was wrought in such a way as to awaken this attention. We should apply to Christ for mercy, every one for himself. Our application should be believing as well as earnest. Christ is gracious, though our application to him is imperfect. Christ hears prayer offered for others, as well as what we offer for ourselves.

Secondly. THE NOBLEMAN'S DEsire granted.

He had with some impatience wished that Jesus should go with him, thinking that the cure he desired could not be wrought otherwise. The Saviour's first words might have seemed a refusal of his request. "Go home," were those words in effect, "without me." What follows, however, would give him hope.

Both in this instance and in that of the centurion, the conduct of Christ was designed to bring out the faith of the parties applying to

him. "I'll come," he said to the centurion; but that centurion's faith prompted him to reply "No, that is not needful, a word will be enough." "Go home without me," he said to the nobleman; "thy son is well," and the man believed and went.

A great change was wrought by the word and spirit of Christ on the nobleman's mind. He doubted before; he believed now. Had Christ gone as requested, his son might have died ere they reached Capernaum. Jesus healed the child at once, doing more than the father asked. His grace exceeds our desires, Ephes. iii. 20.

The man went home without the hurry that might have indicated doubt of what Jesus had said to him. It was one o'clock in the day when Christ said, Thy son liveth; it was not till the next day that his servants met him. The words of Christ had made his heart easy, Isa. xxviii. 16.

And not only did he believe that this miracle could be wrought. He and his household thenceforth received the doctrine which Jesus taught, ver. 53. A happy household they became. Nothing more indeed is said of them in the narrative; but surely they would never forget what Christ had done for them. They would receive him as their Saviour, and love him and serve him with all their heart. Christ can do for us what we want, though he is not seen by us. Faith in his word will remove our anxieties. Christ's grace should bind our hearts to his service.

MARCH 15TH.-THE MIRACULOUS DRAUGHT OF FISHES.

For Repetition.-Luke v. 4—6.

First. CHRIST IN PETER'S BOAT.

Reading Lesson.-Luke v. 1-11.

The multitude who crowded around the Saviour rendered it necessary for him to have a place from which he could address them without hindrance or inconvenience. The boat of his friend Peter would be just such a place.

Jesus had, however, another object. After speaking to the multitude for a short time, therefore, he turned to Peter and desired him to go farther out to sea, that he might take a large number of fish. Jesus would thus symbolise what Peter should afterwards do. He was about to call upon the four men, who hitherto had lived by fishing, to leave their employment, their nets and boats, and to follow him. They would need strong faith to do this. They would require to be assured that it was possible for him to sustain them while they followed him, so that he would work a miracle to attain these purposes.

Hitherto Peter and his companions had toiled in vain. They should now succeed. Peter at once complied with the direction given him, and, with his Master on board, he would do anything that could indicate his faith and obedience.

Secondly. THE MIRACULOUS DRaught of fishes.

By his divine power, Christ brought together, to the place where there had been none before, a large number of the finny tribe, so that the net was immediately filled. It was near breaking, and Peter and his brother had to call for help from James and John. And now were seen the Saviour's power, and their own success. Both boats were filled, and at length they reached the shore in safety.

The effect on Peter was very striking. He saw at once that Jesus was more than man. He was filled with surprise. His own sinfulness rushed upon his view. He was awe-struck at the thought of the purity and grandeur in presence of which he stood; nor would he have been able to converse with the Saviour, but for the gracious manner in which his apprehensions were calmed, ver. 10. Thirdly. THE RESULT OF THE MIRACLE.

The men who saw what Jesus had done, and who heard his words in explanation, ver. 10, did not hesitate as to what they should do. Christ showed them that they were henceforth to be employed in bringing men to him. Their secular callings were to be relinquished. They were to catch men, or to bring men to Christ. They were to attend the Saviour's steps, to proclaim his word, and to bring sinners to him.

The figure by which the Saviour set forth the work of the men he called, was adapted to their circumstances and condition. He had invited the woman of Samaria by the offer of a well of living water; the fishermen of Galilee were invited by the argument that he would make them fishermen in a much more important sense than they had been fishermen hitherto.

They understood the figure. The Spirit of Christ taught them, and made them willing to comply with the call. They left all they had, and all they expected, to comply with it, ver. 11. To work for Christ would be their highest honour and their richest reward. This miracle of Christ may be regarded,—

1. As a proof of the truth of the doctrines which Christ taught. All his miracles had this character and design. But here he had just been teaching the multitude. What he had taught does not appear in the narrative; but by showing his dominion over the inhabitants of the deep, his supernatural power would be manifested to these fishermen. They could not but believe what was so confirmed.

2. As an indication that he could easily support them while they followed him. The four men specially observing the miracle, were to abandon their vocation, and enter upon an altogether new work. They were not rich men, and could not support themselves. rist was not rich in worldly goods. But what doubt could they

have respecting support, when he whom they followed could exercise such power over all nature?

3. As an illustration of the nature of the work they would have to do. It would require skill and perseverance, Their work as fishermen had required these things. They were to be fishermen still, only in a different sense. Their work would depend for success on God. They felt this as to their ordinary toil. God's providence brought the fish of the sea to their nets. In like manner, when they should try to catch men, they would be successful only as God should bless them. They would thus be kept humble, devout, and assiduous.

PRACTICAL.-1. Acknowledge your unworthiness of Christ's favour, and of being employed for him. 2. Be encouraged by his compassion and gracious acceptance of your service. 3. Give up anything and everything for him.

MARCH 22ND.-MIRACLES AT CAPERNAUM.

For Repetition.-Luke iv. 38-40. Reading Lesson.-Luke iv. 33-44.

The miracles of Christ, most commonly miracles of benevolence, were of all kinds that the maladies of those about him required. In the lesson we have two miracles on individuals, and a great number besides. There is something to be learned from them all.

First. THE CURE OF THE MAN WITH AN UNCLEAN SPIRIT.

It may be difficult to understand precisely the nature of these possessions. Those afflicted with them did not always lose their physical strength, as in ordinary illnesses; nor were they usually deprived of mental faculties, as lunatics were. In particular instances, there might be either or both of these effects, but they were not necessarily effects of the malady. Some evil spirit, of which there are, no doubt, multitudes, took possession of the thoughts, the faculties, the movements of the persons possessed; so that they spoke, were thrown into convulsions, and acted under control of these spirits.

It is observable that there are no traces of this particular affliction before the time of Christ; nor have there been any authentic traces of it since, except in the days of the apostles. It was peculiar to these first days of Christianity, and might be intended to illustrate the impotence of spirits-which were thought much of, and even worshipped, in ancient idolatrous times-and the absolute power of Jesus over the unseen world.

• This man was evidently a great sufferer. It seems surprising that he should have been permitted to be present in the synagogue; but perhaps his condition was not known to the people, or some

demoniacs were harmless. The evil spirit knew Christ, and trembled at what he expected Christ would do, ver. 34.

An ancient expositor says, "As a runaway slave, meeting his owner by accident, starts, and cries out, expecting punishment; so proud demons, which had been worshipped as gods, cry out in alarm when they see their rightful Lord."

This crying out, by the way, is proof of a real possession of the man by a fallen spirit. Christ rebuked the spirit, because he would not have it imagined by those who witnessed the miracle, that he and evil spirits were in concert or collusion. And at his command, the spirit, however reluctantly, was obliged to leave his victim. Christ is of infinite power, ver. 36. The devil is our most malignant foe. He is to be overcome, and we can be delivered from him only by the Saviour.

Secondly. THE healing of PetER'S MOTHER-IN-LAW.

In the house of Simon Peter and his brother, Jesus sought refreshment; but no sooner did he enter, than he found sorrow and affliction there.

Peter's wife's mother, advancing in years, had been seized with a fever which probably threatened her life. They told him her case, and sought his help. Comp. Mark i. 30, with ver. 38.

Nor did they seek in vain. He proceeded to the couch on which the sufferer lay, took her by the hand, &c., Mark i. 31. Luke says he rebuked the fever. He spoke to the malady afflicting the woman, and commanded it to retire.

She rose

And it did retire, so as to leave her strong and well. up at once, and took care that such a benefactor should be suitably received and provided for. With what delight must she have waited on him! Gratitude and love would equally prompt her.

The incident teaches us to make known our wants to the Saviour, together with his readiness to hear and help when we pray, and the way in which his mercy to us should lead us to act. They who welcome Christ will gain infinitely by it. He came with healing blessing to Peter's house. Christ's friends, as well as others, have to bear affliction. We should pray for afflicted friends. Renewed health should be spent in the service of Christ. We should be grateful to those who pray for us.

Thirdly. THE MIRACLES AT THE CLOSE OF THE DAY.

The fame of what Jesus had done in the synagogue and in Peter's house, speedily spread over the town, and what an effect did that rumour produce! Some on beds, burning with fever; some feeble with dropsy; some wasting with consumption; some shaking with palsy; the lame, the blind, the deaf were there, and anxious friends with them. The raving demoniac, the helpless, the suffering under every form of malady, were all brought to the Saviour. And he healed every one of them.