to himself, as the Physician of the soul, and recalling to their remembrance the glorious descriptions given by their favourite prophet of the Messiah, by fulfilling them before their eyes.

A picture is drawn of the divine Saviour, when thus engaged, which beautifully represents his mission to this world of disease and death, and which ought to encourage every human being to come to him. " And he came down with them, and stood in the plain, and the company of his disciples, and a great multitude of people out of all Judea, and Jerusalem, and from the sea coast of Tyre, and Sidon, which came to hear him, and to be healed of their diseases; and they that were vexed with unclean spirits and they were healed. And the whole multitude sought to touch him, for there went virtue out of him, and healed them all. And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples and said, Blessed are ye poor,

H

for your's is the kingdom of God." What a contrast must this mass of human misery which surrounded the Saviour, have formed, with his own beautiful creation spread around!

How deeply he felt such scenes, his tears at the grave of Lazarus testify. His loved friend was about to be restored to his weeping family; but the Saviour could not witness the ravages of sin and death in this once happy and still beautiful world, without emotion.

If we had formed part of that immense multitude, and had beheld the wretched objects as they pressed, or were carried through the crowd to meet the Saviour's eye, and had seen them all returning with thanksgiving and praise, and all the newborn joy of great and sudden deliverance, whilst we ourselves were suffering,-oh! think you, dearest, we should have lin

gered, despondingly considering our case? should we not rather with all the strength which hope imparts, have forced our way to the Saviour's feet, sweetly assured, that we also should return rejoicing? But, had we been mourning the diseases of the soul ; had we been faint with the sickness of sin; oh! what a gleam of heavenly joy would have passed over that divine, yet suffering countenance, as the prayer burst from our lips, and he graciously said to us, as to others so oppressed, "Be of good cheer, thy sins are forgiven."

But there is another picture drawn of our Lord, which may even prove more encouraging than this: " And Jesus departed from thence, and came nigh unto the sea of Galilee; and went up into a mountain, and sat down there. And great multitudes came unto him, having with them those that were lame, blind, dumb, maimed, and many others, and cast them down at the

feet of Jesus; and he healed them: insomuch that the multitude wondered, when they saw the dumb to speak, the maimed to be whole, the lame to walk, and the blind to see; and they glorified the God of Israel." Could any thing give us a more beautiful idea of the Saviour's gracious and kind deportment than this? They felt it was enough to lay the afflicted ones at his feet; and bring them beneath his compassionate eye, for them to obtain immediate relief. Nor did they hope in vain; all were instantly healed.

The many busy feet that then pressed that mountain, have long been mouldered in the grave; the hum of human voices has long since passed away; and the blue waters of Galilee roll on in silence and solitude. The Saviour no longer sits as a man of sorrows, in deep humiliation, on that desolate mount; but he is seated in glorious majesty on Mount Zion, and around him are his loved apostles, and a

multitude that no man can number, redeemed to God by his blood. But, though now in glory, his heart is unchanged; "He is the same yesterday, to-day and for ever;" numbers are daily-hourlycoming to his footstool, diseased and wretched, and are sent rejoicing away : and if we have but faith to remain there, though we may be speechless from distress, or the dryness* of the soul, yet the prayerful look of want will bring down his blessing, and ensure his help.

And after these days of incessant fatigue, in which he was so unweariedly engaged in doing good, in relieving those oppressed by the Devil, and in "healing every sickness," how does the graciousness of our Lord appear in his nights of prayer. Cold are our hearts, and little do we feel the sufferings of others; yet, have we never visited the sick, the dying, and the sor

* Isaiah xli. 17, and xliv. 3.