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his hearers to apply this miracle, the day after he had done it: when he taught them, saying, "I am the bread of life which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever; and the bread which I shall give, is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world." Which promise he fulfilled, when he gave his blessed body to be crucified by wicked men, and died upon the cross. For by this sacrifice of Himself, He hath made atonement for the sins of the whole world; he hath obtained the pardon of sin, and reconciliation with God, for as many as will obey him; and hath purchased for them, the grace of the Holy Spirit, and the hope of eternal life, which were lost by man's disobedience: which blessings are in a lively manner set before us, in the blessed sacrament of the Lord's Supper; and confirmed to us in the devout partaking of it. *

Lastly, therefore, as Christ exhorts, "Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life." Though God require our care, and industry, and labour, in procuring the food which He gives us by the fruitfulness of the ground; yet, let us not bestow our whole time and thoughts upon

* See 1 Cor. xi. 26. x. 16.

it, how we shall obtain, or how enjoy it. But, while we do what is necessary for ourselves and families in this matter, let us constantly remember that ONE THING IS NEEDFUL, of a higher and nobler kind. The profits, honours, or pleasures of the world, can neither carry the soul to the place of the blessed, nor raise and glorify the body at the last day; nor bid him who once possessed them, inherit the kingdom prepared for the faithful servants of God. This must be done, as far as we are concerned in the great work, by believing in Christ, as the Saviour of sinners; obeying Him, as the King of Righteousness; and honouring Him, and expecting his coming, as the King of Glory. This is labouring for that meat, which endureth unto everlasting life.

144

DISCOURSE XII.

Saint Luke, vii. 9, 10.

WHEN JESUS HEARD THESE THINGS, HE MARVELLED AT HIM, AND TURNED HIM ABOUT, AND SAID UNTO THE PEOPLE THAT FOLLOWED HIM, I SAY UNTO YOU, I HAVE NOT FOUND SO GREAT FAITH, NO, NOT IN ISRAEL.

AND THEY THAT WERE SENT, RETURNING ΤΟ THE HOUSE, FOUND THE SERVANT WHOLE, THAT HAD

BEEN SICK.

THE evangelists tell us of our blessed Lord, that he taught with authority. This authority was founded, not only on the excellence of his doctrine, but on the greatness of his miracles. If any other teacher or prophet could have spoken as he spake, which no man ever did, his words must still have wanted that power to command the attention and obedience of the hearers, with which the mighty wonders done by Christ, enforced his doctrine.

Saint Luke, therefore, having recited, in the sixth chapter of his Gospel, a discourse of our Lord full of heavenly precepts and instructions, proceeds, in this seventh chapter, to relate some of the miracles, by which his doctrine was confirmed: it being evident that no man could do them, except God were with him.

Of this kind, is the miracle which I am going to consider. But I shall consider it, not so much to show the greatness of the work, for that speaks for itself, as to set before you the example of the person for whose sake it was done; and the instruction to be gained from this example.

The story, as collected from the Gospels of Saint Matthew and Saint Luke, is this. An officer of the Roman army, called from the nature of his command a centurion, was stationed or resided at Capernaum; where a faithful servant of his was seized with a palsy, attended with great pain, and danger of death. This officer was well informed of the Divine power and miracles of Christ, and implored his aid for the healing of his servant; but, being no Israelite by birth, and probably an uncircumcised person, that he might apply in the manner which he judged the most respectful to so great a prophet, he desired the intercession of some elders of the Jews, whom he

had particularly obliged, by building them a synagogue at his own expence. The merciful Jesus, ever ready to do good to those who sought it, was accompanying these elders to the house of the centurion, when he received a second message from him, in these words: "Lord, trouble not thyself: for I am not worthy that thou shouldest enter under my roof: wherefore neither thought I myself worthy to come unto thee: but say in a word, and my servant shall be healed. For I also am a man set under authority, having under me soldiers; and I say unto one, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it." That is, If I, who am but a man of inferior authority, can give such orders, as are readily obeyed, and speedily performed, by those who are under my command ; how much more easily canst thou, to whom I find all nature obedient, say the word, that my servant shall be healed, and the word shall go forth, as thy messenger, with immediate and certain power, at whatever distance from thy presence. Then come the words of the text: "When Jesus heard these things, he marvelled at him, and turned him about, and said unto the people that followed him, I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.

And

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