publicans and others were invited to the second, those who sat down "came" without being asked. Upon the first occasion, our Lord made no reference to the text in Hosea; which he specially applied in the second. It was the disciples of the Pharisees, with some of John's, who enquired of our Lord concerning fasting at the first: it was the disciples of John only who made the enquiry at the second. Our Lord spoke of fasting upon the first occasion, and of mourning on the second. These differences serve to shew, that this passage of Scripture gives an account of circumstances which are not the same with those spoken of in the forty sixth portion, though they are very much alike and we may learn from the comparison, how useful it is to be very particular in examining the word of God, that we may have a clear understanding of the truth.

The applications Nos. 2, and 3, of the fortysixth portion, together with the heads for Prayer, and Prayer, are exectly suited to the present portion. Refer to pages 33-36.

SEVENTY-NINTH PORTION.

I. BEGINNING PRAYER.

MAY GOD, for the sake of JESUS CHRIST, give me the HOLY SPIRIT, that I may understand this portion of his Holy Word, and profit by it. AMEN.

II. THE SCRIPTURES.

Read St. Matthew's Gospel, c. ix. v. 18 to 26, and St. Mark's Gospel, c. v. ver. 22 to 43, and St. Luke's Gospel, c. viii. v. 41 to 56.

III. THE MEANINGS;

or sense of some words as used in this portion. MATTHEW ix. verse

20. hem of his garment means here the border or

edge of his mantle or cloak

As Jesus was explaining the subject of fasting to the disciples of John the Baptist, he was interrupted by a person who came to him in great distress. His name was Jairus, and he was one of those who were called rulers of the synagogue. (see vol. i. page 210.) As soon as Jairus came into the room, he cast himself upon his face before

our Lord in token of worship, and earnestly begged Him to go along with him to his house; where he had left his only daughter, a little girl of twelve years old, lying in the struggles of death, so that he even feared that she might be dead by the time he was speaking: but although she was so far gone, this man believed that if Jesus would come and put his hands upon her, the disease would be taken away, and she would be preserved from dying. Jesus immediately rose from the table, and went with the man; and his disciples followed them.

As usual, a large number of people had collected about Jesus; and now the whole crowd went along with him through the streets, towards the ruler's house; there were so many, that they pressed quite close round him as they pushed each other to get near. Among the rest, there was a woman who for twelve years had been afflicted with an issue of blood. She had been to many doctors, under whose treatment she had gone through a great deal, and she had laid out all her money in this way but none of them had done her any good, on the contrary she was worse rather than better. She had heard however of Jesus, and of the wonderful things which he had done; and she so believed in him, that she felt certain if she could but touch his clothes, she should be cured of her complaint. She had come that morning amongst other people to see Jesus; and when he came out into the street, she took the opportunity of getting near him. As the crowd pushed her close to Jesus, she touched the border of the cloak which he wore, not doubting but that this would relieve her. The moment she had done so, her illness went away,

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and she felt at once that she was cured. though several of the people about were pushed so close to Jesus that they could not help coming upon him, yet he knew directly the difference between the touch of this woman, and the crowding of the others; and he was aware that his healing power had been exercised. He directly turned round and asked, who it was that touched him. Those about him immediately said that it was not they; while Peter and his other disciples observed to him, that amongst such a crowd who were pushing about him, it was strange to ask what particular person had touched him. Our Lord however repeated that some one had touched him, in a manner different from the pressing of those in the crowd; for that a healing power had gone forth from him, which would not have been the case upon the accidental touch of persons who did not mean to put their hand upon him for that purpose: and he still looked about to find the woman of whom he spoke. (See Luke vi. 19. and page 88.)

Jesus must have done this for the express purpose of giving the woman an opportunity to come forward of her own accord; for he who secretly knew what had been the consequence of touching his cloak, must also have known every thing else. The woman was not long in taking the opportunity which he afforded her; and though trembling and alarmed at the public observation which was thus brought upon her, she came forward, as the people made way for her; and kneeling down at the feet of Jesus, she told him before every body what had been the matter with her the reason she had touched him—and the perfect cure which had been the consequence.

As soon as she had told all this, Jesus spoke to her with great kindness, and bid her take comfort. He said that it was her faith in him that had been the means of applying his power to cure her; and he bid her go home in peace, assuring her of the certainty of her cure. From that time forward the woman never felt any more of her complaint.

This circumstance had detained our Lord upon his road to the house of Jairus, who was with him; and just at the moment that he finished speaking to the woman, a messenger came from the house to meet Jairus with the news of his daughter's death; so that (the man said) there was no occasion to give our Lord the trouble of coming any further. Jesus heard the message, and turning to Jairus, he, told him not to be afraid, but only to believe, and that if he exercised this faith, it was not yet too late, but that his daughter should be restored. He then proceeded to the house; into which he would let nobody go with him, but Peter and the two brothers James and John, with Jairus and his wife. Every thing that was customary to do upon a person's death had already begun. It was usual in that country whenever a death happened in a family, to have persons who played on the flute, and made a melancholy piping to express sorrow. There were also women called mourning-women, who gained their livelihood by attending upon these occasions and making a loud crying and moaning, to join in the noise of the flutes. (2 Chron. xxxv. 25. Jer. ix 17, 18; xlviii. 36-38. Amos v. 16.) Some of these pipers and mourning-women were in attendance at Jairus's house in consequence of the death of his daughter, and when Jesus came in they were making the