state into which it was fallen, into a spiritual one of life and peace. Lastly, I learn, that before the BLESSED JESUS can operate to advantage either on body or on mind, the people must be put forth; in other words, the rabble of unruly and disorderly thoughts must be separated, that so the healing virtues of the divine mercy and omnipotence may be admitted. I am resolved, therefore, from henceforth, to apply to this my GOD AND SAVIOUR, under all my spiritual infirmities, and especially under that sleep of good affections, which, if deliberately indulged in, may prove fatal to my everlasting happiness. And further I am resolved, in my application for divine aid, to endeavour to bring my mind into a state capable of receiving it, by expelling all those purposes, affections, and tumultuous thoughts, which have a tendency to banish the BLESSED JESUS from me, and to render ineffectual the divine power of His healing love and wisdom. AMEN.

73.

THE BLOODY ISSUE CURED..

MATT. ix. 20.

Behold, a woman, which was diseased of an issue of blood twelve years, came behind Him, and touched the hem of His garment, &c. &c.

Q. WHAT do you here understand by a woman which was diseased with an issue of blood twelve years?

A. By the woman here spoken of, is figured the church, as it existed at that time amongst the Jews; and by her being diseased with an issue of blood, is denoted the state of that church in regard to the falsification of truth, and the overflow of such falsification. For by blood, in a good sense, is signified the divine truth proceeding from the GREAT REDEEMER; and of which it is written, Except ye eut the flesh of the Son of Man, and drink His blood, ye have no life in you, (John vi.53.) But in an opposite sense, by blood is signified violence offered to truth, in consequence of which it is falsified, by being compelled to confirm the principles of evil in the human mind; according to which sense of the word, it is written in the prophet, Your

hands are full of blood, (Isa. i. 15.) and in the Revelations, They have shed the blood of saints and prophets, and thou hast given them blood to drink, (xvi. 6.) Thus, as the leper was a figure of the profanation of truth in the Jewish church at the time of the LORD's appearing among them; and as the sick of the palsy was a figure equally striking of the want of circulation of heavenly wisdom in that church; and as the fever was a figure of the concupiscencies of evil which then abounded; and as the possessed of devils were figures of the ascendency of the powers of darkness which were then prevalent; in like manner the woman here spoken of, who was diseased with an issue of blood twelve years, was also a representative figure, and this a most exact one, of another corruption in that church, which corruption consisted in its propensity to falsify truth, or to pervert it to the confirmation of evil. It is said twelve years, to denote that this had always been the case with that church; for years, according to the spiritual sense, signify states of the church, and twelve signify all.

Q. But it is said of this woman, that she came behind Him, and touched the hem of His garment; for she said within herself, If I may but touch His garment, I shall be whole-what do you here understand by the woman coming behind JESUS, and touching the hem of His garment?

A. The term behind, when applied to the BLESSED JESUSs, denotes the exterior things of

His Word, of the church and of worship, since as His face, or front, is expressive of His mercy, love, and innocence, in like manner His back, or back-parts, are expressive of what proceeds from his mercy, love, and innocence, that is to say, of His wisdom, truth, and the faith to which that truth gives birth. Accordingly, it is written in the book of Exodus concerning Moses, when he desired to see the glory of Jehovah, Thou shalt see my back-parts, but my face shall not be seen, (chap. xxxiii. 23,) to denote, that he was not qualified to behold the ALMIGHTY as He really is, beaming with divine love, but only to behold Him in His Word, and in His works, according to the manifestation of His divine wisdom, It is therefore added, that she touched the hem of His garment, because the hem of his garment is expressive of the same idea, viz. of the exterior things of the Word, of the church, and of worship. For garment, according to the spiritual idea, when applied to the GREAT REDEEMER, denotes the divine truth of His wisdom, which invests, as it were, the divine good of His love; in agreement with which signification it is written of Him, that He clothed Himself with light as with a garment, (Psalm civ. 2;) and the hem of this garment manifestly means its most external part; whilst to touch it denotes communication with that part. On this occasion, therefore, the woman touched the hem of JESUS's garment, because she was incapable at the time of any nearer communication

with Him than by the mere externals of His Word or truth.

Q. But it is added further, that she said within herself, If I may but touch His garment, 1 shall be whole- -how do you understand these

words?

A. By saying within herself, is to be understood her interior thought, or persuasion; and by saying, If I may touch His garment, I shall be whole, is to be understood the interior thought or persuasion, that any communication with the BLESSED JESUS, howsoever remote, would be sufficient for the cure of all her infirmities; and thus the words are expressive of an extraordinary degree of faith in her GOD and SAVIOUR, which, as it afterwards appears, was her qualifi cation to receive from Him the blessing of health which she wanted.

Q. And what do you understand by the words which follow, where it is written, that JESUS turned Him about; and when He saw her, He said, Daughter, be of good comfort, thy faith hath made thee whole?

A. By JESUS turning Him about, is to be understood the manifestation of his divine mercy or love; and by seeing the woman, is denoted inspection from that mercy and love; and by saying, Daughter, be of good comfort, is further to be understood the communication of those blessed principles, from parental affection; and by adding, thy faith hath made thee whole, is lastly denoted, that such communication was the result of a belief in His divine omnipotence,

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