refusal which this distressed and humble woman experienced was surprising to the disciples. He was

a man perfect and upright: one that feared God and eschewed evil." What lacked he yet? Perhaps God, who saw into his heart, saw that he yet lacked one thing: that being a prosperous man, he had given no proof of "suffering affliction, and of patience." Therefore God permitted such evils to afflict him, as should bring his patience to "its perfect work," that he might become "perfect and complete in all the will of God." 3

There may be often such reasons in the mind of infinite wisdom, why the servants of Christ should meet with delays, and perplexities, and disappointed hopes. Let them find comfort in the many examples which Scripture furnishes, where the people of God have experienced similar temptations. What they know not now, "they shall know hereafter." If it be not now done unto them according to their will and prayer, it shall be so done as they would most desire, if they could read the counsels of God, and be made acquainted with the purport and the event of their present trials.

1 Job. i. 1.

s Ib. iv. 12.

2 James v. 10.

4 John xiii. 7.

LECTURE XLIII.

CURE OF A DEAF AND DUMB MAN.

MARK Vii. 31-37.

31. And again, departing from the coasts of Tyre and Sidon, he came unto the sea of Galilee, through the midst of the coasts of Decapolis.

32. And they bring unto him one that was deaf, and had an impediment in his speech; and they beseech him to put his hand upon him.

33. And he took him aside from the multitude, and put his fingers into his ears, and he spit, and touched his tongue; 34. And looking up to heaven, he sighed, and saith unto him, Ephphatha, that is, Be opened.

35. And straightway his ears were opened, and the string of his tongue was loosed, and he spake plain.

36. And he charged them that they should tell no man : but the more he charged them, so much the more a great deal they published it:

37. And were beyond measure astonished, saying, He hath done all things well: he maketh both the deaf to hear, and the dumb to speak.

We are fond of inquiring why our Lord did not perform this miracle at once, but took the deaf man aside from the multitude, and put his finger into his ears, and spit, and touched his tongue. These means could not assist the cure.

A reason seems to be found in this: His power had been questioned: it had been said that he per

formed his miracles by the aid of Satan: and he chose to show that the virtue was in himself.

But what if we could give no reason? What if it is a mystery, why he charged them, as on this and other occasions, that they should tell no man? It might be expected that he should have motives for many of his actions which are not obvious to us.' This we know, and are sure: He has done all things well. And it is good to implant and cherish this confidence in our minds, and restrain curious inquiries.

And

The people, however, who acknowledged that he had done all things well, appear to have been contented with this praise and admiration. We do not read that they followed him as the Messiah. there are many who resemble them in this. Many are ready to allow what is here allowed, He hath done all things well; who do not act upon the acknowledgment, any more than these Jews of Galilee. They applaud his precepts and his character; but they do not trust in him, as being "made unto us, of God, wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption." The acknowledgment, He hath done all things well, unless accompanied by faith, will be their condemnation. As the chief priests and elders foresaw, when they were questioned concerning "the baptism of John, whence it was." "If we shall say, from heaven; he will say unto us, Why did ye then not believe him?" 3 So we may reason

2

One of his reasons for avoiding notice is mentioned in St. John vi. 15.

1 Cor. i. 31.

3 Matt. xxi. 25.

ably ask—If he hath done all things well; if his precepts teach heavenly holiness; if his character exemplifies divine wisdom; if his religion is a religion of peace and righteousness, which, if universally followed, would purify the world from sin, and relieve it from misery: why do ye not believe him? Why do ye not believe him when he says, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father but by me."

94

That we may believe this, and before it can be so believed as to become the ruling principle of life, a power must be exercised upon the heart, of which the power now exercised upon the bodily senses of this man is an example. The heart is naturally deaf to that which first and chiefly it ought to listen to; the word and will of God. The heart is by nature dumb as to the things which are the most worthy subjects of speech: the praise and adoration of God. St. Paul complains of the heathen nations, that "when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful:"5 that though he might be clearly "understood by the things that are made," they heard not his voice, though thus addressing them, nor offered him thanks and praise for "the rain and fruitful seasons" which he bestowed. Even to the Jews themselves our Lord applied the prophecy of Isaiah, which saith, "This people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, lest they should hear with their ears, and understand with their hearts, and I should heal them." But the prophet had likewise foretold a time of refreshing

4 John xiv. 4.

Rom. i. 20.

6 Isa. vi. 9, 10.

from the presence of the Lord, when the ears of the deaf should be unstopped; and the tongue of the dumb should sing." And Jesus fulfilled this prophecy more completely, when he removed the impediment from the dumb heart, and the dullness from the deaf mind, than when he complied with the prayer of the friends of this afflicted man, and touched his ears and his tongue.

The apostles themselves, for instance;-how slow were they to comprehend the counsels of God, to perceive the real nature of " the redemption that is in Christ Jesus," the work which he came to accomplish! How often did he repeat to them, that "the Son of man must be delivered into the hands of wicked men, and be killed, and rise again the third day!" And they understood none of these things. At last, when the proper time arrived, he said Epphatha, be opened:-as St. Luke relates it, "Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the Scriptures;" 8 "all things

which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning him." And so in every case,-though less sensibly, less audibly,

66

66

-he must say to the heart, Be opened, to hear “the wondrous things of God's law;" be opened, to perceive the mysteries of the kingdom;" be opened, to praise the Lord for his goodness, and declare the wonders that he doeth for the children of men." "For the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God, neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned." "But God reveals them unto us by his Spirit :"9 and then the ears of

7 Isa. xxxv. 5.

Luke xxiv. 45.

1 Cor. ii. 14.