discovered to the nobleman whose case we have considered. We can scarcely doubt that on his arrival at home he would communicate to the members of his household the particulars of the interview which he had had with our Lord. They had before witnessed the afflicting malady of his beloved son: they had observed the ravaging progress of his destructive complaint: they appear to have been apprized of the father's visit to Jesus, and of the object of that visit. When therefore they heard the account of what had transpired on that occasion, and compared that account with the sudden recovery which they had witnessed, they must have been convinced that the event was effected by the power and compassion of our Lord. Hence they became partakers of the same faith which had been wrought in the nobleman's own mind; according to the words of the Evangelist: "himself believed, and his whole house." Have we, my brethren, received spiritual benefit from an acquaintance with our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ? Let us then declare his power and grace, and use our efforts that others may be brought to know the same Jesus, and to acknowledge him as the author of eternal salvation to all them that obey him. We know not but that such efforts may in many instances be effectually blessed, to the glory and praise of God, and to the everlasting joy of our fellow-creatures.

Are there any who can regard such a subject with indifference?-We tremble for them, in contemplating their danger; we entreat them, ere it be too late, to apply to the Lord Jesus Christ for deliverance from

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the destructive malady of sin, with which they are at present most awfully infected. We would assure them, that as, on the one hand, He alone can exalt them to the blissful enjoyment of eternal glory;-so, on the other hand, if they neglect to resort to Him as their all-sufficient Saviour,-none can deliver them from the vengeance of eternal fire. Hear then His affectionate expostulation: "Ye will not come unto me, that ye might have life." Turn you at the reproof of the Lord. Embrace his offered mercy. Look to Him for salvation. Then will he heal your infirmities. Then will he quicken you by his power. Then will he exalt you to the glories of immortality.

DISCOURSE III.

THE CENTURION'S SERVANT CURED.

MATTHEW VIII. 13.

And Jesus said unto the centurion, Go thy way; and as thou hast believed, so be it done unto thee. And his servant was healed in the self-same hour.

SYMPATHY excited by the distresses of others is one of the most engaging affections of which the human breast is susceptible. It assimilates those who are under its genuine influence to the moral character of God himself, in one of its most interesting and endearing developements. When connected with suitable feelings of piety, and confidence in Him who alone can alleviate or remove the sorrows by which it is brought into exercise, it raises its possessor to an elevated distinction, in which he is presented as an object at once commanding esteem and urging imitation.

Such an instance is placed before us in the narrative to which our attention is now to be directed. In many respects it resembles that which we recently contemplated in the case of the nobleman who

applied to our Lord in behalf of his son who lay sick at Capernaum. The present instance, however, exhibits a stronger degree of faith than the former ; —such a degree indeed as attracted the especial notice of our Lord, and drew from his lips a striking attestation in its favour. It may be proper to recite the whole narrative as it is here detailed by this Evangelist; in connection with which we shall have to notice in our subsequent observations the account which is given by St. Luke. The narrative is as follows:

"And when Jesus was entered into Capernaum, there came unto him a centurion, beseeching him, and saying, Lord, my servant lieth at home sick of the palsy, grievously tormented. And Jesus saith unto him, I will come and heal him. The centurion answered and said, Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof: but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed. For I am a man under authority, having soldiers under me: and I say to this man, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it. 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. And I say unto you, That many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven. the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. And Jesus said unto the centurion, Go thy way; and as thou hast believed, so be it done

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unto thee. And his servant was healed in the selfsame hour."—In directing our attention to this narrative, with earnest prayer for the Divine blessing, let us notice

I. WHAT PASSED BETWEEN OUR SAVIOUR AND

THE CENTURION:

II. THE SPECIAL OBSERVATIONS OF OUR LORD ON THE OCCASION:

III. THE HAPPY RESULT WHICH SPEEDILY ENSUED.

I. Let us notice WHAT PASSED BETWEEN OUR SAVIOUR AND THE CENTURION.

The latter, as his designation imports, was a person of some eminence and distinction ;-an officer in the Roman army, having the command of a hundred soldiers, and those not of the lowest class of the community, but citizens of respectable rank. Our Evangelist represents this individual as coming to our Lord in the capacity of a supplicant: "There came unto him a centurion, beseeching him." St. Luke says, "he sent unto him the elders of the Jews"-a circumstance, by the way, which further proves that he possessed considerable influence and authority. It should seem then that he did not at first personally wait upon our Lord, though it is probable that he did so before our Lord's arrival at his house. What passed between the parties, however, will be substantially the same, whether we suppose them to have had a personal interview, or to have carried on their communication throughout by means of intermediate messengers.