same Saviour, they are led by the same Holy Spirit, they look up to one reconciled Father, they hope to dwell together in one home. There is no hatred or strife among them.

They are bound to one another, as travellers along the same road, soldiers in the same army.

greatest com

He who has

It is comforting to think of this. It makes us feel not alone in the race. But the fort of all is, that God is with us. set us in the race, and will give the prize, He is with us all through. If we do but cleave to Him by faith, then He will never forsake us. His grace is sufficient for us. There cannot come to us any trial or difficulty too great for His power, His Wisdom, His love. He can help, and He will help. "Pray without ceasing." Pray, and

trust.

107

CHAPTER XIII.

JESUS, BOTH ABLE AND WILLING TO
FORGIVE.

LUKE V. 12—15.

12. And it came to pass, when He was in a certain city, behold a man full of leprosy: who seeing Jesus fell on his face, and besought Him, saying, Lord, if Thou wilt, Thou canst make me clean.

13. And He put forth His hand, and touched him, saying, I will: be thou clean. And immediately the leprosy departed from him.

14. And He charged him to tell no man: but go, and shew thyself to the priest, and offer for thy cleansing, according as Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them.

15. But so much the more went there a

fame abroad of Him and great multitudes came together to hear, and to be healed by Him of their infirmities.

THERE were many sufferers then, as there are now; and this leprosy seems to have been almost worse than any of the diseases which we have. It did not generally prevent people from going about; but it was very painful to the sick man, and very disagreeable to others; and in most cases there was no cure for it. No cure, that is, by common means. Jesus Christ could cure all sickness; and this poor leper came to Him. Happy for him that he did!

It seems to have been a bad case, for the man is not called a leper merely, but "a man full of leprosy." Whether other cases could be cured by medicine or not, certainly this one could not. A man would not continue a leper, if medicine could cure him. But this man was "full of leprosy " still. Doubtless he had tried all the means in his power, but all in vain.

Yet, bad as his case was, he believed that Jesus could make him well. We do not know what led

him to believe this. Perhaps he had seen some who had been healed by Jesus. Perhaps he had even been present (though keeping at a distance, as lepers were obliged to do) when Jesus cured some sick person by a word. We do not know what led him to believe, we are only told that he did believe. He came to Jesus with these words,

Lord, if Thou wilt, Thou canst make me clean." It was much for the poor leper to say. It was faith. Feeling, as he did, that dreadful disease upon him, and finding that nothing that he did made him any better, it was a great thing that he should come and fall down on his face before Jesus, and say, "Lord, if Thou wilt, Thou canst make me clean."

But why any If? Why did he not believe that Jesus was as willing as He was able? Whatever it was that made him believe that Jesus could heal him, might just as well have taught him that He would. Jesus had healed some, and he knew it. But this could not have been, if Jesus had not been willing, as well as able. He had been both, and therefore the sick had been made well. This poor leper had no more reason for thinking that He was able, than for thinking that He was

willing. He had full reason for believing that He was both.

Still, though he came with an if, he must have had some faith, or he would not have come at all. He "fell on his face, and besought Him." His words were a prayer. There was hope, there was faith, in them. They showed what was the feeling in his heart,-"I know He has healed others, I believe He can heal me; perhaps He will."

And Jesus did. Without a word of rebuke for the weakness of his faith, He "put forth His hand, and touched him, saying, I will, be thou clean. And immediately the leprosy departed from him."

Blessed hand, that touched so many, and never without healing in the touch! Blessed lips, that spoke so often to the afflicted, and never without bringing comfort! Blessed, these few and simple words of Jesus, "I will, be thou clean." Here was the answer to the if. "Lord, if Thou wilt," said the man. "I will," was the Saviour's reply.

Sometimes it pleases God that we should wait for our blessings. But this man had not to wait.