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constrained his disciples to get | into a ship, and to go before him unto the other side, while he sent the multitudes away.

23 And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray and when the evening was come, he was there alone.

24 But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves for the wind was contrary.

25 And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea.

26 And when the disciples saw him 'walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear.

27 But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.

28 And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water.

29 And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus.

30 But when he saw the wind || boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me.

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34 "And when they were gone over, they came into the land of Gennesaret.

35 And when the men of that place had knowledge of him, they sent out into all that country round about, and brought unto him all that were diseased;

36 And besought him that they might only touch the hem of his garment and as many as touched were made perfectly whole.

i Mark vi. 46.-k John vi. 16.- Job ix. 8-Or, strong.-m Ps. ii. 7. Mark i. 1. ch. xvi. 16; & xxvi. 63. Luke iv. 41. John i. 49; & vi. 69; & xi. 27. Acts viii. 37. Rom. i. 4.-n Mark vi. 53.-o ch. ix. 20. Mark iii. 10. Luke vi. 19. Acts xix. 12.

Reader. It is necessary to know the usual division of the night by watches when the Evangelist wrote, in order to understand the note of time in v. 25.-The first watch was from six o'clock in the evening till nine; the second from nine to twelve; the third from twelve to three in the morning;—and the fourth from three till six.

READER. When he had sent the

31 And immediately Jesus multitudes away, &c.-Here our Lord

gives us an example of occasional retirement and secret prayer.-Let us dismiss the multitude of worldly thoughts and cares when we would draw near to God in holy exercises.

But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, &c.—The disciples were in state of apparent danger. But they were in the way of duty, for they had sailed at Christ's command; and therefore they were really in safety under his protection. The Lord sometimes commands his people as it were to put to sea, even when there is a storm approaching. But this he does in wisdom and in love. The church is often tossed upon the waves of this troublesome world, but always preserved. While the ship While the ship was tossed with waves, Christ was on the mountain praying. And "it is the singular comfort of the church of God, that in all her difficulties and distresses Christ is interceding for her; when she is on the sea, conflicting with the waves, Christ is on the mountain, praying for her preservation."

In the fourth watch of the night.When the night was almost ended; not until the distress of the disciples had lasted for many hours. Sometimes the troubles of a Christian continue long; but the Saviour sends help in due time.-Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea. How striking an exhibition of the deity and majesty of Christ! Job ix. 8; Ps. lxxvii. 19.-Let us remain at our post of duty as long as we can, notwithstanding difficulties or distress; and we shall have the comfort

of God's presence, and of his aid seasonably vouchsafed.

They were troubled, &c.-Sometimes, through our own ignorance, we are perplexed and disquieted even at the approach of that which is afterwards found to be an occasion of comfort or rejoicing. See Exod. iii. 6, 7; Luke i. 29.-An obscure or confused view of Christ, in his nature, work, and offices, often gives trouble instead of peace, especially in seasons of temptation or affliction. When we recognise him clearly, our fears abate.

But straightway Jesus spake unto them, &c.-The presence of Christ. with us, as our friend and Saviour, is enough to banish despondency and fear. fear. It is the privilege of faith to see Christ walking on the stormy waves, and to hear his voice speaking in accents of encouragement.

Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water.-An exercise of faith, and an expression of attachment to the Saviour's person, with a desire to be ruled by his command. But we should not court danger: we should wait for calls to hazardous undertakings, instead of seeking for them. Perhaps Peter's zeal was greater than his faith:-or his selfconfidence was too great.

And he said, Come.-The Lord Jesus condescended to confer the favour and to give the sign; perceiving, no doubt, the faith and love of the apostle, although mingled with much infirmity.

He walked on the water, &c.-Thus he became sensible of the sustaining power of Christ.-But when he saw

And his disciples came and besought | upon their minds a deep sense of

him, &c.-The disciples interceded

for her, requesting that her case might receive attention, and that she might be dismissed with the grant of her petition. But this, as it appears, was only that they might not be troubled with her cries. The love of good men, even in its greatest display, is far inferior to the love of the Saviour, though hidden from our view.

I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.-Our Lord's personal ministry on earth was chiefly confined to the Jews. See Acts iii. 26; Rom. xv. 8. Thank God, we know that the Gospel and the grace of Christ have been sent to the Gentile as well as to the Jew; and that all who believe in the Saviour receive the benefits of his salvation.

their own unworthiness. See 1 Pet.

v. 6, 7.

And she said, Truth, Lord; yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters' table.—If her heart had been proud, she would not have endured the Saviour's reply; if her faith had been weak, she would have been discouraged;-but now, with an humble mind and a lively faith, she overlooks everything like indig nity and discouragement in what she had heard, and fixes her thoughts upon that which could be understood as affording a faint gleam of hope. She remembers that dogs are not wholly rejected and spurned; and upon this she founds the renewal of her modest plea. "An humble, believing, soul, that truly loves Christ, takes everything in good part that he saith and doeth, and puts the best construction upon it." Faith derives comfort from that which unbelief views as an occasion of alarm.— When answer to prayer is deferred, let the delay excite us to importu

Then came she, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, help me!-Beautiful for simplicity, humility, faith, and fervour, is this short but comprehensive petition. Let it serve, in these respects, as a pattern for our own supplications at the throne of grace.-nity, and to increased humility.— It is sad that these words are often employed as a careless or profane exclamation!

But he answered and said, It is not meet to take the children's bread, and cast it to dogs. Here is a still further trial of this good woman's faith. When our Lord vouchsafed to notice her, his answer was, at first, repulsive. And still he is pleased sometimes to exercise strong faith with great trials. When he designs to bestow great favours upon his people, he often sees fit to impress

Crumbs from their masters' table.Let us regard the least of God's mercies as not only worth having, but worth seeking with faith and prayer.

Then Jesus answered and said unto

her, O woman, great is thy faith.— All that was good and praiseworthy in her conduct was the product of that one principle, faith,-a firm re liance on the goodness and power of him to whom she prayed. The Lord Jesus saw this faith and its operation; he sees the same grace wherever it exists; and whenever he sees it, he

And when our hearts are cold and dead,
O help us, Lord, the more!

O help us, through the prayer of faith,
More firmly to believe;

For still the more the servant hath;
The more shall he receive.

O help us, Jesus, from on high!
We know no help but Thee:
O help us so to live and die,
As thine in heaven to be!

M.

does not fail to reward it with the tokens of his approbation. The greatness of this woman's faith had appeared in the fruits which it produced; in the humility and meekness, the wisdom, the patience and perseverance which had been its manifest result. No mortal tongue can satisfactorily declare to us the existence of this great religious principle within ourselves, nor can we expect to be assured of it by a voice from heaven; but if we find that it produces in our temper and conduct the same results as those which have been displayed in the Christ healeth great multitudes; and history before us, we have abundant with seven loaves and a few little fishes reason to thank God and take cou-feedeth four thousand men, besides women rage. and children.

And her daughter was made whole from that very hour.-The prayer of Christian faith,-a prayer which has for its foundation the promises of a God who cannot lie, is a prayer which never can be lost. It may be answered in a way that we do not expect; it may be answered at a time much later than we had hoped; but, in God's own way, and in God's own time, it will infallibly secure to us a blessing.-Let us derive wisdom and encouragement from the eminent success of this woman's distinguishing graces, seriousness, humility, faith, and perseverance in prayer.

HYMN.

O help us, Lord! each hour of need
Thy heavenly succour give;
Help us in thought, and word, and deed,
Each hour on earth we live!

O help us when our spirits bleed
With contrite anguish sore;

§ LII.

CHAP. XV. 29–39.

29 "And Jesus departed from thence, and came * nigh unto the sea of Galilee; and went up into a mountain, and sat down

there.

a

30 And great multitudes came unto him, having with them those that were lame, blind, dumb, maimed, and many others, and cast them down at Jesus' feet; and he healed them :

31 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.

32 Then Jesus called his disciples unto him, and said, I have compassion on the multitude, because they continue

with me now three days, and have nothing to eat and I will not send them away fasting, lest they faint in the way.

33 And his disciples say unto him, Whence should we have so much bread in the wilderness, as to fill so great a multitude?

34 And Jesus saith unto them, How many loaves have ye? And they said, Seven, and a few little fishes.

35 And he commanded the multitude to sit down on the ground.

e

seven

36 And he took the loaves and the fishes, and gave thanks, and brake them, and gave to his disciples, and the disciples to the multitude.

37 And they did all eat, and were filled: and they took up of the broken meat that was left seven baskets full.

38 And they that did eat were four thousand men, beside women and children.

39 And he sent away the multitude, and took ship, and came into the coasts of Magdala.

y Mark vii. 31.- ch. iv. 18.-a Is. xxxv. 5.6 ch. xi. xiv. 19.- 1 Sam. ix. xiii. Luke xxii. 19-ƒ Mark viii. 10.

§ LIII.

CHAP. XVI. 1—12.

The Pharisees require a sign. Jesus warneth his disciples of the leaven of the

Pharisees and Sadducees.

THE "Pharisees also with the Sadducees came, and tempting desired him that he would shew them a sign from heaven.

2 He answered and said unto them, When it is evening, ye say, It will be fair weather : for the sky is red.

3 And in the morning, It will be foul weather to day: for the sky is red and lowring. O ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky; but can ye not discern the signs of the times? 4 'A wicked and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given unto it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas. And he left them, and departed.

C

5 And when his disciples were come to the other side, they had forgotten to take

bread.

6 Then Jesus said unto them, "Take heed and beware

5. Luke vii. 22.-6 Mark vili. 1.-c 2 Kin. iv. 43.-d ch of the leaven of the Pharisees

For remarks on this passage the Reader is referred to the Commentary on chap. iv. 24, 25, and xiv. 14-21.

and of the Sadducees.

7 And they reasoned among themselves, saying, It is because we have taken no bread.

8 Which when Jesus perceiv

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