the way to have good subjects and citizens. Innumerable are the advantages which communities derive from it, in civilizing, restraining, and sanctifying mankind. Human laws cannot extend far enough in a thousand cases, interesting to the peace and welfare of a nation : they can never reach the heart. But religion lays hold of the conscience, and places a man even when alone under the eye of God, and in sight of endless happiness

or woe.

Let masters of families promote it in their households. This is the way to have obedient servants, and dutiful children. Piety is the firmest basis of morality: secure God's claims, and you will not miss your own.

Let this influence those who have companions to choose ; and also those who have connections to form, O young man, favor is deceitful, and beauty is vain, 'but a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be prais'ed.' O young woman, devote thyself to nothing profane, sceptical, irreligious: marry, but only in the Lord.

II. If religion be profitable to others, it is much more. so to ourselves. It sanctifies all our mercies. It sweetens all our trials. It teaches us in whatever state we are, therewith to be content. Its ways are pleasantness, and its paths are peace. 'Yea, it is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.' No wonder there. fore, it should be called wisdom, and that Solomon should speak of it as he does : wisdom is the principal thing: therefore get wisdom and with all thy getting, get understanding.'

DISCOURSE IX.

THE CURE OF BLIND BARTIMEUS.

And it came to pass, that as he was come nigh unto Jericho, a certain blind man sat by the way-side begging: and hearing the multitude pass by, he asked what it meant, and they told him that Jesus of Nazareth passeth by; and he cried, saying, Jesus thou son of David have mercy on me : and they which went before rebuked him that he should hold his peace but he cried so much the more, thou son of David have mercy on me. And Jesus stood and commanded him to be brought unto him, and when he was come near, he asked him, saying, what wilt thou that I should do unto thee? and he said, Lord that I may receive my sight; and Jesús said unto him, receive thy sight; thy faith hath saved thee: and immediately he received his sight, and followed him glorifying God.-Luke xvii. 35 to 43.

To

O read the scriptures superficially, will not answer the purpose of a man who is desirous of being made wise unto salvation. He will peruse them with reverence, he will explore them with diligence, and feel all anxious and prayerful to have the end for which they were given, realized in his own experience.-And what is this end? The Apostle tells us whatsoever things were written afore-time, were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures, might have HOPE.'

Our Saviour made every misery he beheld his own: " he took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses." As he moved from place to place he restored friends to the bereaved, and health to the diseased. He rais

ed the dead; he made the lame to leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb to sing: he gave ears to the deaf, and eyes to the blind.

These things even in a temporal view, cannot fail of exciting in us a sympathetic joy with the poor wretches who received relief, and adoring praise to the author of their deliverance. But as intended to convey spiritual instruction,they acquire additional importance. For if these miracles are not to be considered as types, they furnish us with illustrations in explaining the disorders and cure of the mind.

Let us therefore glance at the circumstances of the history before us-and endeavor to derive some useful admonitions from it.

The subject of the miracle was a blind man. We are not informed whether he was born blind, or whether the calamity had befallen him by disease or accident. This however was his melancholy condition; and a more pitiable one, perhaps, cannot be found. It is worthy of compassion, even when found in circumstances of affluence and ease-but how much more so, when it is attended with indigence and want. And this was the additional affliction of blind Bartimeus : he sat by the way side begging.' Poor people should be thankful to God for the preservation of their limbs and senses. If they have no patrimony or independence, they can lobor, and while they have hands and eyes, they should scorn habits of beggary. But the helpless are not to starve; nor are we indiscriminately to reject every application we meet with upon the road. -Though, blessed be God, there is less need of this in our highly favored land, than in most other countries, owing to the legal provision made in all our parishes, for the poor and needy, who are unable to gain a subsistence by labor.

One of the characters of our Saviour's miracles was publicity. Impostors require secrecy and darkness. There have been miracles designed to delude the ignorant and credulous. But where have they been manu

factured? In cells, convents, deserts. Before whom have they been performed? A few selected, interested witnesses. But sa s our Saviour. in secret have I done nothing. He wrought his miracles in the face of day; in the most open and exposed situations: before crowds of spectators; and among whom were found, not only the curious, but malicious. Thus he recovered this man before a multitude in the high way, and close to the city of Jericho.

Several of our Saviour's miracles seem to have been unintentional. Thus it is said, "as he entered a certain village, there met him ten men, that were lepers, who stood afar off." Thus again we read, that "when he came nigh to the gate of the city of Naim, "behold there was a dead man carried out, the only

son of his mother, and she was a widow." And so here: "it came to pass that as he was come nigh unto "Jericho, a certain blind man sat by the way side, beg-66 ging" Was then, you may ask, was his finding these objects accidental or designed? Unquestionably designed. He was not taken by surprise, he saw the end from the beginning. His plan was formed, and he was "working all things after the council of his own "will."-But he would shew us that he is master, not only of events, but of occasions, and of circumstances: and that though these circumstances appear loose, irregular, and contingent to us, they subserve his pleasure, and all occur in their proper time and place. Thus the how drawn at a venture, carried the arrow, which fulfilled the purpose and the word of God, in the death of the king of Israel.

The occurrence however, was casual to Bartimeus himself and when he rose in the morning, and was led forth by some friendly hand to the place where he was accustomed to beg-little did he imagine, that before the evening he should obtain his sight, and be walking at the distance of some miles from home without a guide! This was the most successful of all his begging days. Despair not; boast not-of to-mor 1 2

VOL. II.

row, for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth, either as good or evil.

Imagine him then sitting under the shadow of some hedge, or tree, against the side of the road-listening to apprehend if any travellers were approaching, of whom he may ask a small pittance of alms. For though he could not see, he could hear-this was an alleviation of his distress, and it has been remarked, that scarcely ever was there an instance of a man being naturally both blind and deaf. And in many cases we find the loss of one sense in some measure made up by the greater perfection of another: blind people are generally very quick of hearing; as may be observed by those who visit their asylums.-Well, while musing -a noise strikes him, and the sound draws nearer and He asks what it means-and being told that Jesus of Nazareth was passing by-he cried, saying "Jesus, thou son of David, have mercy on me. Though I am not deserving, my case is distressing. "O pity me! O help me!"

26

-nearer.

But whenever was it known that a poor suppliant met with no hindrance in coming to the Deliverer for mercy" They which went before rebuked him that "he should hold his peace." From what principle could this proceed? Did they suppose that he was clamorous for alms, and knew that silver and gold the master had none? Did they conclude that his entreaties would be deemed noisy and troublesome? Did they deem him beneath his notice and suppose that the son of David would have nothing to do with him? Alas! they discovered too little tenderness themselves, and were too little acquainted with their Lord and Saviour, who never did, and never will, consider such importunity unreasonable, or presumptuous; never broke a bruised reed or quenched a smoaking flax. Nor was Bartimeus to be discouraged. He felt wisely. "This is my opportunity, and it may never re"turn. I have addressed thousands who could give "me bread-but never did I meet with one before