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will reveal; like Abraham, you may go up to the mount in difficulty and distress; but it is written, “ The Lord will provide.” Like him, you shall be favoured with more complete views of your God and your Saviour; like him you shall return rejoicing in the assurance of the promises of God; and the blessings of his covenant being confirmed by the immutability of an oath, you may have sure confidence and good hope in him, that you shall not lose your inheritance, nor fail of your reward.

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SERMON XV.

THE PARALYTIC HEALED.

MARK ii. 8-11.

And immediately when Jesus perceived in his spirit that they so reasoned within themselves, he said unto them, Why reason ye these things

in

your hearts? Whether is it easier to say to the sick of the palsy, Thy sins be forgiven thee, or to say, Arise, and take up thy bed, and walk? But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (he saith to the sick of the palsy,) I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy bed, and go thy way into thine house.

IT is impossible to consider the conduct of the Jewish rulers towards our Saviour, without being indignant at their bigotry and hardness of heart. That the miracles which he wrought failed to convince them of the truth of his claims, is not, however, surprising, when we remark, how utterly at variance with their preconceived

opinions were the pretensions of the meek and lowly Jesus. Yet even the obstinacy of the Jewish people tends to confirm our belief in Jesus Christ; for though their minds were unwilling or unable to submit to the conviction, which his miraculous powers were intended to produce, yet they were compelled to accord the testimony of their own senses to the actual performance of these his wonders. That mighty works did in truth show forth themselves in him, was fully acknowledged. And while Herod feared, in the imagination that the murdered Baptist had risen from the dead; and while the Pharisees referred to diabolical agency the manifestations of divine power; neither Herod nor the Pharisees appear to have attempted to calm their own fears, or to refute the pretensions of Jesus, by any exposure of the fallacy, or imposture of his works. The absence of any such attempt is surely a conclusive evidence, that the works were indeed wrought; and the necessary consequence must be, our conviction of the claims of him who wrought them. Thus does God cause the bitterness of his enemies to work his will, and the fierceness of men to turn to his praise."

The miracle before us is related, with little variation, by three of the evangelists. As it was performed in the presence of many who came purposely to cavil at his doctrines; and as also the

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circumstances of the miracle were calculated to meet the cavils which passed in their own minds, it becomes one of the most important of the narratives of the evangelists, both as to its bearing on the evidence of the power of Jesus, and as to the moral instruction which may be deduced from it. Let us consider the circumstances as related by the three evangelists.

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On the Saviour's return to Capernaum being known, a large concourse of people assembled within and around the house where he was. Amongst them were several of the Pharisees and doctors of the law, which had come out of every city of Galilee, and Judea, and from Jerusalem. And, behold, they bring unto him one sick of the palsy, lying on a bed." Being, however, unable to approach his presence, because of the multitude, these persons showed their faith in his power, and their eagerness to present their suffering friend before him, by ascending to the top of the house, and, having removed part of the covering, they let down the bed, and the paralytic thereon, into the midst before Jesus. "When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the sick of the palsy; Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee." The cause of thy malady is removed. The sins for which thou sufferest, are forgiven. This assumption of the power which was universally acknowledged to belong to God alone, excited in the minds of the Pharisees a

just indignation, as they imagined, against the blasphemer of their God. Before, however, this thought of their minds was uttered, it was known by him to whom all hearts are open; and, doubtless much to their astonishment, he proceeded to vindicate himself from the charge which, in their hearts, they had brought against him. He appealed to his power of healing this paralytic by his word, as a proof that he might justly claim the power also of forgiving sins. And, having instantly completed the cure before their eyes, he left them without excuse he produced, in the multitude around him, the greatest astonishment at the miracle; " insomuch that they glorified God, which had given such power unto

men."

Now, let us examine, first, the conduct of our blessed Saviour on this occasion.

No mention is made of any petition actually expressed, either by the paralytic or his companions, as to the object of their thus coming to Jesus. Yet, as the cure of bodily diseases was the general object of those who thus applied for his assistance, it is probable that the hopes of these persons extended not beyond this benefit. Jesus, however, addressed the suppliant in terms which implied a blessing of a spiritual nature :

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Thy sins be forgiven thee." May we not here discover a desire, on the part of our Lord, to seize the opportunity that now presented itself, of

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