nothing, and attend to nothing else;
and in almost impatient urgency re-
iterated his application,—" Sir, come
down ere my child die." Now Jesus
was not one to trifle with the feelings
of a wounded heart; and, therefore,
instead of saying yet more in the tone
of rebuke, his answer was,
"Go thy
way; thy son liveth."

are unwilling to expect the blessing, which we ask for at his hands, in any other way than that which we esteem right. Let us bear in mind, then, that God himself is the only judge of the best method of dealing with his creatures, and of bestowing upon them the blessing of which they stand in need; and as He is most wise to determine on the fittest way of dealing with us, so also, he is most powerful to execute whatever he thinks right. We are sometimes too apt to do, what this nobleman did, form our idea of what GOD can do, or not do, according to our own weak apprehension; and often we are al-him to go down to Capernaum and

|

most ready to say in our hearts, that
such a thing is impossible. But what
saith the Scriptures, and what is the
testimony of the Church of GOD in
every age? "With GoD all things
are possible." Let us then, my breth-
ren, beware of that unbelief, and that
presumption, which would lead us to
mark out, as it were, the course which |
GOD ought to take—which would lead
us to conceive that he can take no
other course.
When we ask for the
blessings, which his word warrants us
to look for, let us ask, and that in
faith, confidently believing, that what
GOD has encouraged us to ask, we
never shall ask in vain. Yet at the
same time, as to the way in which
our prayers are to be answered-as
to the manner in which the blessing
is to be bestowed, these we must
leave to GOD, and guard against the
unbelief that would lead us to say,
GOD must act in such and such a way
or not at all. "The things which are
impossible with men are possible with
GOD."

We find that our Lord's rebuke was little heeded by the individual to whom it was addressed. His was the anxiety of an over burthened spirit on account of his child's dangerous condition, he could think of

But here, there is one thing we must particularly notice, it is this, that while Jesus no longer rebuked him, yet he required him to manifest that very faith for the want of which he had been rebuked. He assured him his child was healed; but required

expect to find him healed. It is as if Christ had said; "Go thy way, behold I have power to heal thy son without going down to him; and if you have faith to believe it, you shall find him well." Here, then, is the fourth particular to be observed-the manner in which Jesus shows mercy to such as call upon him. He shows mercy indeed; but then he does it in such a way as calls forth the exercise of their faith in his own power, and on his own word. Of the nature of that faith, the conduct of the nobleman will lead us presently to speak; but the point to which I would now fix your attention is this that Jesus united, on this occasion, pity for the nobleman's distress, and yet firmness, in demanding from him that proof of confidence which it became him to show. Jesus did not say, "Since you have not faith enough to believe I can heal your child without going to him, I shall do nothing for you;" Jesus was too kind to say this. On the other hand, he did not say, "Well then, since you are so weak in faith, as not to trust my power, I will comply with your wish and go to Capernaum;" Jesus was too firm to say that. But he so treated the man, as to show the greatest compassion for

his sorrow and distress; and yet at the same time, a determination to have his own power known and confessed.

Let us bear in mind, brethren, that it is so Jesus will deal with you. He is ever ready to listen to your prayers: and when you come to ask of him those spiritual blessings, of which, as guilty helpless sinners, you stand in need, oh, be assured, he is far more ready to hear, than you are to ask, and to give more than you either desire or deserve! I pray GoD then, in all our approaches to the Saviour, we may cherish this conviction of his readiness to bless us; for too often do we come to him, in so heavy and cheerless a fra.ne of mind, as though | we regarded him as a being reluctant to pity us, as one from whom we should find it difficult to obtain a blessing. Let us be ashamed of the low feelings, of the feeble desires, and the backwardness of spirit with which we too often pray. Let us recollect that what Jesus was, that he is still, and ever will be, to the end. Let us come to him cheerfully. Let us have in remembrance the goodness and mercy which he has already manifest ed; and when we call upon him, let it be with the feeling of those who know that they are imploring his mercy, who said, "Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and you shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you; him that cometh unto me I will in no wise cast out."

But while we contemplate that mercy which he is so ready to bestow upon us, we must also remember, what is the disposition and frame of mind which he requires us to show towards him. It is precisely that, which we have recorded of this nobleman, namely, simple and implicit reliance on his word and belief of his power. "Go thy way," said Christ, "thy son liveth, I have healed him,

take my word for it, the child is restored, go home and expect to find him as I have said." Now that which Christ required of the man was faith; the same principle it is that he requires of us. Let us, then, now proceed to examine a little further of what this faith consists in the conduct of the nobleman; and to this the fifth point in our narrative will greatly assist us. "The man believed,” it is said, “the word which Jesus had spoken unto him, and he went his way." A few moments before the impression on his mind evidently was, unless Christ went to Capernaum and saw the child he could not heal him. Now we find him giving full credence to the Saviour's declaration that the child was healed, although Jesus neither went nor promised to go. There is little doubt that when Jesus spoke the words, "thy son liveth," he did it in such a way as, at once, to carry conviction to the nobleman's mind that it was so, and that belief working in his breast, enabled him to receive the conviction; and forthwith he went away, as Jesus directed him, confidently believing that he should find his son healed. Here then, you see his faith, he had nothing on which to depend but Christ's own word-he had no token, no sign, that the fact was as Jesus had said; but he believed, that what Christ declared was true; and so he went his way, thoroughly assured, although he knew not how, that the power of Christ had reached his child, and he was healed.

Now, brethren, Christ has given you in his gospel, many a declaration and many a promise on which he bids you to rest your faith. What he requires of you is, that you should rest on his word with the simplicity and confidence which this nobleman did, by acting under the influence of it even as he did.

(To be continued.)

And now, in order to explain, and you see he implored the blessingapply, this part of our subject, let me Christ told him the blessing was call to mind the reflection to which granted-he believed what Christ said we were led in the opening of this and left the presence of Jesus confidiscourse. We said, my brethren, dent that he had obtained what he there is a disease in our souls, which desired. He did not see the cure it is of the deepest importance to us wrought, but he was satisfied that it to have removed. Sin is that disease; was accomplished. Now you have a and unless it be removed, death, eter- blessing also to implore. There is a nal death will assuredly be the result. | spiritual cure which you must ask of Now there is but one cure, and that Jesus. Your souls, as I have said, are is, the grace of the Holy Spirit poured in danger and you must come to Christ into our hearts, removing the love of and be healed, or your souls must sin, checking and subduing all un- die. I hope, brethren, that many of holy desires, and, in their stead, you have already come to Jesus, I teaching us to look up to GOD with hope that the supplication of your affectionate reverence and submission, hearts already has been :-" Lord and seeking to please Him in obedi- give me thy Holy Spirit that I perish ence to his holy will. Now how is not-set my soul free from sin-dethis cure to be bestowed? Jesus is liver me from its power, or I am lost." the physician. He alone it is who can administer the antidote to the deadly poison of sin. He it is who, alone, can restore our souls to health and spiritual vigour. The Holy Spirit is his gift, and he has promised to bestow it on all who do truly, and earnestly, and with faith implore it.

But observe, you must seek it with faith. You seek in vain if you do not seek as those who really desire the blessing-as those who believe that Christ will, according to his word, bestow this blessing on them. You must act just as this nobleman did;

VOL. VI.

you

But, my brethren, when you thus ask help of Jesus, do you honour him by believing his word of promise which tells you, you shall have the blessing for which you pray. When have been offering your supplications, do you rise from your knees with something like an assurance that the mercy you ask shall be granted? Do you go away from the presence of Christ just as this nobleman did, believing that what Christ has promised, you shall receive? Alas, brethren, is not this too often the very point in which you

C

A Sermon,

DELIVERED BY THE REV. H. BLUNT,

AT TRINITY CHURCH, CHELSEA, JUNE 9, 1833.

Luke, iv. 21.-" And he began to say unto them, This day is this Scripture fulfilled in your ears."