5 For whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and walk? 6 But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (then saith he to the sick of the palsy,) Arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thine house. 7 And he arose, and departed to his house. 8 But when the multitudes saw it, they marvelled, and glorified God, which had given such power unto men. 9And as Jesus passed forth from thence, he saw a man, named Matthew, sitting at the receipt of custom : and he saith unto him, Follow me. And he arose, and followed him. 10And it came to pass, as Jesus sat at meat in the house, behold, many publicans and sinners came and sat down with him and his disciples. 11 And when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto his disciples, Why eateth your Master with publicans and *sinners ? 12 But when Jesus heard that, he said unto them, They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick. 13 But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, *but sinners to repentance. a ch. iv. 13.-6 Mark ii. 3. Luke v. 18. ech. viii. 10. -d Ps. cxxxix. 2. ch. xii. 25. Mark xii. 15. Luke v. 22, & vi. 8, & ix. 47, & xi. 17.-e Mark ii. 14. Luke v. 27.-f Mark ii. 15, &c. Luke v. 29, &c.-g ch. xi. 19. Luke v. 30, & xv. 2. h Gal. ii. 15.-i Hos, vi. 6. Mic. vi. 6, 7, 8. ch. xii. 7. k 1 Tim. i. 15. Reader. In explanation of this passage, I have only to remark that Matthew in v. 9 is the same as Levi, Luke v. 27, probably the writer of this Gospel. The name signifies The gift of God. He was sitting at the receipt of custom, i. e. in the taxgatherer's office, the place where the Roman imposts were paid.-Publicans (v. 11) denote Roman tax-gatherers, who were usually persons of bad character, and extortionate. READER. Our Lord passed over from the place where he had been so rudely treated, and came into his own city, i.e. Capernaum. He forsakes those who reject him, and visits those who are willing to entertain him. Seeing their faith. It was hum ble, firm, and active. They took great pains in order to introduce this poor man to Jesus; See Luke v. 18, 19: teaching us not to be discouraged by difficulties. Son. See Heb. xii. 5.-Be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee. -The assurance of pardon may impart peace and joy, even though outward affliction should continue. And if earthly comfort is restored, the sense of God's favour will greatly enhance the blessing.-Sin is the cause of suffering. When sin is forgiven, all suffering ceases, or is turned into a benefit. See Ps. ciii. 1-3. At the receipt of custom.-Engaged in the work of his calling. This man blasphemeth.-Even the ❘ conferred upon other men as so many sight of a miracle is not enough to displays of the divine goodness and work faith in the heart. Ungodly glory. men may resist the Holy Ghost, by whose power alone they can believe. -Certain of the Scribes men learned in the law, said this within themselves. A mere acquaintance with the letter of God's word does not secure us from false practical conclusions, and erroneous views. We must have humble and holy hearts; or else all our knowledge is vain. Jesus, knowing their thoughts. Who is this that forgives sins, and looks into the hearts of men, but God himself? Jesus knows our thoughts, Heb. iv. 12, 13.-O Lord, cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of thy Holy Spirit! Ps. cxxxix. 23, 24. Whether is easier? - Both equally impossible with man, equally possible with God. That ye may know. -The power of Christ in the kingdom of nature is a proof of his power in the kingdom of grace; for there is but one God. Besides this, his power to remove that which is a punishment of sin, indicates his power to remove sin itself. Power-to forgive sins. See John v. 22, 27; xvii. 2.- On earth-Much more so now; Acts v. 31. Follow me.- Christ is first with his gracious invitations and commands. See Rom. x. 20. He arose and followed him. The call was obeyed. How prompt and blessed this obedience! How great the power of divine grace! As Jesus sat at meat in the house, viz. of Matthew, - who modestly omits to tell us, what the other Evangelists record, that he made a great feast for our Saviour and his disciples. See Prov. xxvii. 2. Why eateth, &c. - See Isa. lxv. 5. -A bad interpretation of a good action. Let us expect reproach, and bear it patiently, even when we do well. -See Heb. xii. 3. "deform They that are sick. Sin is the great malady of the soul; ing, weakening, disquieting, wasting, killing, but, thank God, not incurable."-Christ is the good physician. All men need his presence and aid, because they are afflicted with spiritual sickness unto death. But they who are ignorant of their malady, are careless of the remedy. Go and learn. - We must ascertain not only the letter of Scripture, but its meaning; and, above all, its practical bearing on our circumstances He arose and departed. - They whose sins have been forgiven must walk in the way of God's command- | and conduct. ments. Such is the proof and demonstration of their spiritual recovery. Thus men may know it. They marvelled, and glorified God. -Let us thankfully regard benefits I will have mercy, and not (i.e, rather than) sacrifice. Moral duties are of higher obligation than ritual observances, even when the latter are commanded by divine authority. How much more must they be pre- | Can "the children of the bridechamber mourn, as long as the bridegroom is with them? but the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken from them, and "then shall they fast, 1 ferred to the vain traditions of antiquity! 1 Sam. xv. 22, 23.-Sacrifices were a type of God's mercy in Christ. They were a shadow of good things to come. See Ps. xl. 6. I am not come to call the righteous, -if all men had been righteous, Christ would not have come; and to as many as think themselves righteous, he will have come in vain ;but sinners to repentance, -to beseech, persuade, and enable them to change their mind, and to turn from sin to holiness and God. HYMN. Before thy mercy-seat, O Lord, Let thy eternal truths, we pray, Lord, from thy word remove the seal, § XXXII. BATHURST. CHAP. IX. 14-26. Christ defendeth his disciples for not fasting; cureth the bloody issue; and raiseth from death Jairus' daughter. 14 Then came to him the disciples of John, saying, 'Why do we and the Pharisees fast oft, but thy disciples fast not ? 16 No man putteth a piece || of new cloth unto an old garment, for that which is put in to fill it up taketh from the garment, and the rent is made worse. 17 Neither do men put new wine into old bottles: else the bottles break, and the wine runneth out, and the bottles perish : but they put new wine into new bottles, and both are preserved. 18 While he spake these things unto them, behold, there came a certain ruler, and worshipped him, saying, My daughter is even now dead: but come and lay thy hand upon her, and she shall live. 19 And Jesus arose, and followed him, and so did his disciples. 20 And, behold, a woman, which was diseased with an issue of blood twelve years, came behind him, and touched the hem of his garment: 21 For she said within her self, if I may but touch his garment, I shall be whole. 22 But Jesus turned him about, and when he saw her, he 15 And Jesus said unto them, said, Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee | boast of our own acts of piety, nor whole. And the woman was sneer at the supposed defects of others. made whole from that hour. 23 And when Jesus came into the ruler's house, and saw *the minstrels and the people making a noise, Jesus said unto them. - He gave two reasons against the use of a painful or grievous discipline. It was not suited to the circumstances of his disciples at the time; and it was more than their strength would bear. Christ is ever ready to defend his 24 He said unto them, 'Give place: for the maid is not dead, but sleepeth. And they laugh- people against all accusers; ed him to scorn. 25 But when the people were put forth, he went in, and took her by the hand, and the maid arose. 26 And || the fame hereof went abroad into all that land. I Mark ii. 18, &c. Luke v. 33, &c.; & xviii, 12.m John iii. 29. n Acts xiii. 2, 3; & xiv. 23. 1 Cor. vii. 5.- Or, raw, or unwrought cloth.-o Mark v. 22, &c. Luke viii. 41, &c.-p Mark v. 25. Luke viii. 43.-q Luke vii. 50; & viii. 48; & xvii. 19; & xviii. 42.r Mark v. 38. Luke viii. 51. s See 2 Chr. xxxv. 25.-t Acts xx. 10.-|| Or, this fame. Reader. These verses give but little work to the critics. I need only remind you, that the reference in v. 17 is to bottles made of skin or leather, still common in Eastern countries. The "minstrels" in v. 25 were hired musicians, according to a heathen custom. READER. Why do we, &c.It is a common error to regard ourselves and our performances as a kind of rule or standard for other men. It is sad that religious observances should be made an occasion of debate, and even of strife and envying! See Isa. lviii. 4. - Let us neither against the great adversary. even Can the children of the bridechamber mourn.-Christ is the Bridegroom of the Church; and true Christians can rejoice on account of his presence in the midst of them by his word and his Spirit. Christ in the heart is the author of its joy; Christ in the Church, and in heaven itself, is the fountain of its glory. Then shall they fast. -The disciples were not exposed to any persecution during our Saviour's ministry; but afterwards they endured great sufferings. It was a custom in the early Church to observe an annual fast of forty hours, -the space of time during which the body of Jesus lay in the grave. - See Psalm xlii. No man putteth, &c. -Some believers are not able to fulfil the harder duties and more severe exercises which religion may sometimes demand; nor should such burdens be harshly imposed upon them. They should be gently treated, in order to their profit. (See Rom. iii. 2; Heb. v. 12.) A certain ruler, -governor of one of the synagogues, Jairus, Mark v. 22.-An example of faith and earnest supplication. If I may but touch his garment. - | by the hand, and cause us continually See John i. 16. - Great faith on the part of the applicant; great mercy and condescension on the part of Christ. Be of good comfort.-" Comfort ye my people, saith the Lord." Christ can command and create comfort for the troubled soul.-Do we desire temporal mercy or relief? Let us seek it in faith, with a regard to God's promises, in submission to his will, with a desire for his glory. When he saw her. -Christ looks with an eye of compassion and love on many that retire humbly and modestly from the sight of men. Give place. Let our mourning for the death of relatives and friends give place to the word and promise of Christ. In this case, the death of the maid was the same thing, in effect, as if she had been asleep. Death is but as a sleep to all who are in Christ Jesus. Isa. lvii. 2; 1 Thess. iv. 14; 1 Cor. xv. 18. They laughed him to scorn. -Men often deride truth which they do not comprehend, and are unwilling to believe. Sneers at religion are dreadful indications of a depraved heart.By thus manifesting their conviction that death had taken place, they became (unintentionally) witnesses of the reality of the miracle. wrath of man shall praise thee." "The When the people were put forth,perhaps because they were in an evil state of mind, he went in, and took her by the hand, and the maid arose. -So, likewise, in a spiritual sense, "thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power."-Lord, take us Christ giveth sight to two blind men; healeth a dumb man possessed of a devil; and hath compassion on the multitude. 27 And when Jesus departed thence, two blind men followed him, crying, and saying, "Thou son of David, have mercy on us. 28 And when he was come into the house, the blind men came to him: and Jesus saith unto them, Believe ye that I am able to do this? They said unto him, Yea, Lord. 29 Then touched he their eyes, saying, According to your faith be it unto you. 30 And their eyes were opened; and Jesus straitly charged them, saying, "See that no man know it. 31 "But they, when they |