that he alludes to the worthies whom he has mentioned, not only as the witnesses of the truth and certainty of God, and as the evidences of their own victory, but as the spectators also of our exertions, in the race which they have run before us. And if, in the contest for an earthly crown, it was no little stimulus to exertion, that a mighty crowd of spectators, many of whom had been successfully engaged in the same contest, were looking upon the labours of their descendants, and waiting to applaud their success; surely the thought, that the church triumphant in heaven looks with intense interest upon the struggles of the church militant here on earth, may serve to animate us to keep the faith, and to run our course with patience.

This thought would at least afford us a powerful secondary motive, (so to speak,) when we had acquired the proper estimate of earth and heaven. Neither need we look only at the ancient prophets and martyrs, for our examples in the conflict, or as the spectators of our triumph. Who amongst us cannot remember some venerable parent, some sainted mother, who was his guide and protector in virtue, and his teacher in the truth? Who cannot recollect some pious friend or instructor, who once animated him by his example, and encouraged him by his prayers? And if the presence and

society of such an one, while on earth, were indeed a source of support and encouragement, will it not also tend to excite the zealous pursuit of christian holiness, to imagine that these, even when entered upon their reward, may yet be beholding our struggles against sin, may yet be anxious for our support against temptation, and interested and delighted in our progress towards the participation of their joy? But be this as it may, there is one whose example is more perfect, and whose affection is more pure, than that of any earthly parent or friend there is the Saviour, at once the bright pattern of his people, and the anxious spectator and supporter of their toil. From the example of those who have gone before us, we can look off, to fix our stedfast gaze on him who is our leader in the contest, and our leader in the triumph. His example of unwearied perseverance, of unwavering piety, of spotless purity, we may safely contemplate, as free from every taint of error; and though we must follow him at an humble distance, in his career of suffering and of glory, yet the path which he trode is marked out for us, and according to our measure of grace, he will lead us through our trials, he will guide us to our reward. "Wherefore seeing we are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and

the sin that doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us; looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him, endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God."

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SERMON XI.

THE CENTURION'S SERVANT HEALED.

MATT. viii. 10.

When Jesus heard it, he marvelled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.

To a mind that carefully considers the peculiar character of the miracles of Jesus Christ, and that remarks the circumstances under which they were severally wrought, little doubt can arise of their great importance in the scheme of Christianity, not only as evidences, but as illustrations of its truth. Among a people who had long been accustomed to receive instruction from types and symbols, to whom, at least, divine instruction had long been offered in such form, it could scarcely appear strange, that a message professing to come from God should be supported or explained by some similar means. Accordingly we are prepared to find in the miracles of

L

the gospel, much of this peculiar purpose manifested-much, which though not apparent to the casual reader, may well reward the labours of one that carefully examines their details, and may throw a clearer light upon the wonders of the man Christ Jesus. It is scarcely possible to conceive that the incarnate Son of God, in whom dwelt all the fulness of the Godhead bodily, could have acted in any single instance without some merciful purpose. It is scarcely to be imagined that infinite wisdom, goodness, and power, could do anything in vain; or that any of the transactions of the brief sojourn of Jesus upon earth, were irrespective of the mighty purposes of his mission, or were not calculated, more or less apparently, to advance the accomplishment of human redemption. And if so, what a treasure of holy contemplation does the gospel history contain; what sources of the purest and holiest of intellectual enjoyments; what opportunities of contemplating the beauty of the Redeemer's character, "till we are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord."

The miracle before us, which appears to be the same as that described in the seventh chapter of St. Luke, is highly worthy of an attentive examination; and may furnish us with several interesting particulars for our improvement in spiritual knowledge.