When I say the only special manifestation, I mean, the only manifestation, besides that, which we are of course particularly bound to exhibit, in common with all Christians; namely, the fruits of the Spirit, the fruits of a holy and religious life; "that both by our preaching and living we may set forth God's word, and shew it accordingly."

a

To more than this we need not, we never do pretend to appeal. The emergencies of the Church require no sudden calls, no extraordinary gifts. A supply of ministers may be prepared by the natural means of education; and with the ordinary assistance of God's grace may discharge their functions to the edification of the Church. If they be not wanting to themselves, that grace will be sufficient for them; and the Holy Spirit does not so offer his aid, as to warrant the expectation that he will either give it in such a measure as to encourage supineness and indolence in the Ministers; or accompany it with such manifestations as are calculated to indulge the capricious fancies, and satisfy the sceptical demands, of the people. The clergy now are not putting forth a new revelation, neither do they profess to speak by inspiration. They reason upon, and appeal to a revelation already acknowledged, and claim attention to

their doctrine, not as the dictum of inspiration, but as it agrees with the "Word of God."

God does nothing in vain; he gives to us all that measure of the Spirit, which is requisite, with proper diligence, to the effectual performance of our several duties.

Be it then our care to employ the talents, and the aid given to us, so as to profit withal; so as to promote our own, and the general salvation. Instead of coveting the office or interfering with the business of others, let us, as members of the body of Christ, endeavour to perform well the part allotted to us. Instead of envying them their gifts, or advantages, let our whole thoughts be bent upon making the best use of our own; remembering that it is of them, we must give account at the day of judgment. Let us follow the salutary advice of St. Paul to the Church at Rome, with which I shall conclude this dis

course.

Having gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us;" if ours be those of the ministry, "let us wait on our ministering; or he that teacheth, on teaching; or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness"."

Romans xii. 6, 7, 8.

SERMON XVII.

THE WOMAN WITH AN ISSUE OF BLOOD MADE

WHOLE.

ON THE TWENTY-FOURTH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY.

MATT. IX. 21, 22.

For she said within herself, If I may but touch his garment I shall be whole. But Jesus turned him about, and when he saw her, he said, Daughter, be of good cheer, thy faith hath made thee whole.

THE narrative of this remarkable transaction forms a part of the Gospel appointed for the day. A Jewish ruler, whose daughter lay at the point of death, came to Jesus, to entreat his merciful and almighty interposition. He openly declared his faith, “Come,” said he, "and lay thy hand upon her, and she shall live." Jesus graciously condescended to his prayer, and proceeded towards his house, surrounded by an immense concourse of persons,

Luke viii. 42.

Mark v. 24.

Matt. ix. 18.

anxious, as we may suppose, to witness this extraordinary manifestation of Divine power. We may easily conceive, that the people must have thronged him closely, and that there must have been a considerable press and struggle to get near his person, in order to be present at the miracle. In the crowd was a woman, who had been diseased with an issue of blood for twelve years, and had in vain applied to physicians to relieve her. Weak and feeble as she must have been from this continual drain upon her constitution, she was nevertheless in the crowd. She exerted herself to get amongst the foremost: she strove till she was within reach of our Saviour. "For she said within herself, if I may but touch his garment I shall be whole." She perceived his divine power; she believed that every thing about him must be holy and salu tary; that if she could but touch his clothes she should be healed. She did touch the hem of his garment; and, in an instant, her disease was cured; "straightway," says St. Luke, "the fountain of her blood dried up."

But whence was this? What was the cause of her being made whole? What, in one single moment staunched that issue of blood, which no physicians could heal, which twelve whole years could not exhaust? Was

any

it our Saviour's garment? Was there sense, any power in a garment? Was there in it any charm or spell? None! For Christ himself guards against any inference of that description: turning about, he says, "Daughter, be of good cheer, thy FAITH hath made thee whole."

a

Jesus was empowered to heal all manner of diseases, and her faith, her lively faith rendered her a fit object for the operation of That faith was manifested most

his

power.

b

strongly in the eagerness with which she sought to touch the hem of his garment. He, who knoweth all things, needed not to see with his eyes, needed not to be told, that such an act of faith had been performed. It was instantly present to his view, though apparently done in secret. And for him, who so often said, "I will, be thou clean!" for him to will was sufficient. Instantly it was effected; instantly,

That lively faith displayed some of its fruits at that very time; her humility in touching the hem of his garment, her sense of unworthiness, indicated in her doing it by stealth, her deep veneration for Jesus, when she came "trembling" (Luke viii. 47.) before him, and her gratitude and devotion when she "fell down before him, and declared unto him, before all the people, for what cause she had touched him, and how she was healed immediately:" these are some of the fruits, which indicate the "tree" from which they sprung.