bis condition and his danger. But he does not at once learn to distinguish objects. When converted he is in a new world. Yet he sees at first indistinctly. It is only by repeated applications to the source of light that he sees all things clearly. At first religion may appear full of mysteries. Doctrines and facts appear on every hand that he cannot fully comprehend. Yet let him not despair. Light, in due time, will be shed on obscure and mysterious truths. Faithful and repeated application to the Father of lights in prayer, in searching the scriptures, and in the ordinances of religion, will dissipate all these doubts, and he will see all things clearly.

26 And he sent him away to his house, saying, Neither go into the town, nor tell it to any in the town.

'The town. The town of Bethsaida. Nor tell it,' &c. Lest it excite the jealousy of the pharisees, and produce commotion and danger.

27 And Jesus went out, and his disciples, into the towns of Cesarea Philippi: and by the way he asked his disciples, saying unto them, Whom do men say that I am? 28 And they answered, John the Baptist: but some say, Elias; and others, One of the prophets. 29 And he saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? And Peter answereth and saith unto him, Thou art the Christ. 30 And he charged them that they should tell no man of him.

See this passage illustrated in Matt. xvi. 13-28.

31 And he began to teach them, that the Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders, and of the chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again. 32 And he spake that saying openly. And Peter took him, and began to rebuke him. 33 But when he had turned about and looked on his disciples, he rebuked Peter, saying, Get thee behind me, Satan: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but the things that be of

men.

'He spake that saying openly. Without parables or figures; so that there could be no possibility of misunderstanding him.

34 And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever

will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. 35 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it. 36 For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? 37 Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? 38 Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.

'Ashamed of me.' Ashamed to own attachment to me on account of my lowly appearance, and my poverty, contempt, and sufferings. And of my words.' My doctrines, my instructions. 'This adulterous and sinful generation.' This age given to wickedness, particularly to adultery. 'In the glory of his Father.' In the day of judgment. See notes on Matt. xxvi. 64. The meaning of this verse is, Whosoever shall refuse, through pride or wickedness, to acknowledge and serve Christ here, shall be excluded from his kingdom hereafter. They that would not acknowledge him here must be rejected by him there; they that would not serve him always, will never enjoy him; they that would cast him out and despise him, must be cast out by him, and consigned to eternal, hopeless sorrows.

CHAPTER IX.

1 AND he said unto them, Verily I say unto you That there be some of them that stand here, which shall not taste of death, till they have seen the kingdom of God come with power.

'Verily I say,' &c. See notes on Matt. xvi. 28. This verse properly belongs to the preceding chapter, and the preceding discourse.

2¶ And after six days Jesus taketh with him Peter, and James, and John, and leadeth them up into an high mountain apart by themselves: and he was transfigured before them.

'And after six days,' &c. See this passage explained on Matt. xvii. 1-9.

3 And his raiment became shining, exceeding white as snow; so as no fuller on earth can white them.

'No fuller.' Rather, no scourer. The office of the person here mentioned was, to scour or whiten cloth; not to full it, or to render it thicker.

4 And there appeared unto them Elias with Moses: and they were talking with Jesus. 5 And Peter answered and said to Jesus, Master, it is good for us to be here: and let us make three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias. 6 For he wist not what to say; for they were sore afraid. 7 And there was a cloud that overshadowed them and a voice came out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son hear him. 8 And suddenly, when they had looked round about, they saw no man any more, save Jesus only with themselves. 9 And as they came down from the mountain, he charged them that they should tell no man what things they had seen, till the Son of man were risen from the dead. 10 And they kept that saying with themselves, questioning one with another what the rising from the dead should mean.

'He wist not.' He knew not. He was desirous of saying something, and he knew not what would be proper.

11 And they asked him, saying, Why say the scribes that Elias must first come? 12 And he answered and told them, Elias verily cometh first, and restoreth all things; and how it is written of the Son of man, that he must suffer many things, and be set at nought. 13 But I say unto you, That Elias is indeed come, and they have done unto him whatsoever they listed, as it is written of him.

'Why say the scribes.' &c. See notes on Matt. xvii. 10-13. 14 ¶ And when he came to his disciples, he saw a great multitude about them, and the scribes questioning with them.

See this passage explained in the notes on Matt. xvii. 14-21. 'Questioning with them.' Debating with the disciples, and attempting to confound them. In Christ's absence they had taken occasion to attempt to perplex and confound his followers.

15 And straightway all the people, when they beheld him, were greatly amazed, and running to him saluted him.

6

Were greatly amazed.' Wers astonished, surprised at his

sudden appearance among them, 'Saluted him.' Received him with joy, with the customary marks of affection and respect.

16 And he asked the scribes, What question ye with them?

"What question ye? What is the subject of your inquiry or debate with the disciples?

17 And one of the multitude answered and said, Master, I have brought unto thee my son, which hath a dumb spirit;

A dumb spirit.' A spirit which deprived his son of the power of speaking.

18 And wheresoever he taketh him, he teareth him : and he foameth, and gnasheth with his teeth, and pineth away and I spake to thy disciples that they should cast him out; and they could not.

'He teareth him.' He rends, distracts, or throws him into convulsions. 'He foameth.' At the mouth. Among us these would all be considered as marks of violent derangement or mad, ness. And pineth away.' Becomes thin, haggard, and emaciated. This was the effect of the violence of his struggles, and perhaps of the want of food.

19 He answereth him, and saith, O faithless generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? Bring him unto me. 20 And they brought him unto him: and when he saw him, straightway the spirit tare him; and he fell on the ground, and wallowed foaming. 21 And he asked his father, How long is it ago since this came unto him? And he said, Of a child. 22 And ofttimes it hath cast him into the fire, and into the waters, to destroy him: but if thou canst do any thing, have compassion on us, and help us.

'If thou canst do any thing.' I have brought him to thy disciples, and they could not help him. If thou canst do any thing, have compassion, &c.

23 Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.

If thou canst believe.' This was an answer to the request. I can help him. If thou canst believe, it shall be done. Jesus here demanded faith or confidence in himself, in his power of healing. So he demands faith of every sinner that comes to him; and none that come without confidence in him can obtain

the blessing. All things are possible to him that believeth.' All things can be effected or accomplished in favour of him that believes; and if thou canst believe, this will be done. God will do nothing in our favour without faith.

24 And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief. 25 When Jesus saw that the people came running together, he rebuked the foul spirit, saying unto him, Thou dumb and deaf spirit, I charge thee, come out of him, and enter no more into him. 26 And the

spirit cried, and rent him sore, and came out of him: and he was as one dead; insomuch that many said, He is dead. 27 But Jesus took him by the hand, and lifted him up; and he arose. 28 And when he was come into the house, his disciples asked him privately, Why could not we cast him out? 29 And he said unto them, This kind can come forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting.

'Said with tears.' The man felt the implied rebuke in the Saviour's language. Nothing can be more touching or natural than this. Distressed at the condition of his son, having applied to the disciples in vain, now coming to the Saviour, and not having full confidence that he had any proper qualification to be aided, he wept. Any man would have wept in his condition, nor would the Saviour turn the weeping suppliant away. 'I believe.' I have faith. I do put confidence in thee; though I am conscious that my faith is not as strong as it should be. Lord.' This word here, signifies master, or sir, as it does aften in the New Testament. Help thou my unbelief.' Supply thou the defects of my faith. Give me strength and grace to put entire confidence in thee. Every one who comes to the Saviour for help has need of offering this prayer.

30 And they departed thence, and passed through Galilee; and he would not that any man should know it. 31 For he taught his disciples, and said unto them, The Son of man is delivered into the hands of men, and they shall kill him; and after that he is killed, he shall rise the third day. 32 But they understood not that saying, and were afraid to ask him.

See Matt. xvii. 22, 23. Is delivered.' Is given to men to make an atonement by his sufferings and death, and will in due time be taken and killed.