The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-02-22
FAITH ENCOURAGEDr
INTERNATIONAL sUApAY-scHOOL
LESSON ron TO-MOkEOW.
Rev. Mr. Pelt q YES Two striking Instances
Revealing some of the Methods OF
Jesus IN strepsi b~ni. g Our fa'fh.


VII. f3. No ~
tnaelds tar giibly OF the unreasona-
bleness CT Christianity In requiring OF
an men an absolutely blind and perfect
,,nh IA matter OF fact. Christianity
is the only religion that does not require
n blind faith and there IS abundant eV'-
dence that God houors all degrees OF
fsi.h God never rcGt Tres o. y an moro
faith than might be reasonably expected
., him and ne r. always strengthening
a,a encouraging the weak hands ana
the feeble krees. our lesson emu AeS
two instances which reveal some OF tho
methods OF JESUS in encouraging our
faith.
ruler OF a synagogue came 70 Jesus
in great distress and FRUSTRATED himseii
AT his feet Ills little daughter lay a,
diving. Would the prophet come anu
restore her? We DO not Know ina, ZIG
rnler hal ever come 20 Jesus BEFORE
49,, 49, Enoco that many a man has come
70 Jesus for the first time UNDER siu''ia'
efrcun,stances and found the needed heip'
, poomsnt. and the Master was on ms
way. .., .,,.tous
- ,hNrefore not very respectful. press
81 ,tnon him The presence OF the crown
o.ss never pleasant 20 him, FOR ne khe"
how little their presence mount
but he said nothing uh,n pios-
emily some one , oenina "" ore OF
~ ,assais a, ,se corner Of his mantle
Then he stopped.
who touca.c0 me- ,.,..
The question created some uneasiness
among those who were near hlil' az
whom, denied touching him. lp,pulsive
peter could not help limiting that II was
a strange question. IN view OF the fs't
that the crowd was pressing MN y"
every side. ,,.,os
but some one ala touch me- insisted
the Master. He was not taikips
the touch OF the crOwd-tnat m'ah'
,,,htrg ttat rarely over means any
thing: a thousand might press upon MN
rom curiosity. and he would rot notics
g.. hut no one could put forth nnser
| bv faith and touch the hem Of his gar
| mont without the touching calling forth
| the mower OF his divine nature
There was a moments pause, and then
n poor woman, with tears iollihs DOWN
her cheeks and her whole frame agitateh
with mingled emotions. pushed ner way
! through the crown hun lfh az '''
II was she who had touched him FOR
a dozen vo.rs she had been afflicted with
a humi'iaiing disease. She had SUFFERED
many things Of n any physicians t'hs
| doctors of her day were trinlng lou
| and had AZ last spent all that she had
without obtaining relief. The presence
of Jesus I'm the community had once more
awakened hope. and she had started 70
him. As she came her faith grew, and
/ when she saw HIM she was sure that ne
could heal her. But how could she come
to him before the crowd ana tell OF
/ trouble that was so humiiiating Would
! he reauire il? II she should but touch
| the border of his garment would she
not be made wholcg True, she had no
right to touch il. FOR under the law her
| touch would 'mpart ceremonial unciean-
ness 10 him. hut would II make any
| difference with him supposing ne sh"Ohh
! nnd IL out2 She had touched HIM, and
Immediately she had felt that she was
| cured.
Jesus listened to her confession and
then said, with tendersness which can
not be put IN words daughter, pe OF
GOOD comfort: thy faith-nor this gar
ynenf-hath made thee whole. 20 in
| peace" ,,,..
| A, a fiat olirnpse one would be likely
20 saw that here * "a miracle In which
Jesus did not put himself forth AT an
but the blessing was taken from Nun
Probably the wCfnaD was AFRAID a'tcf
she had touched him that she had stolen
the cure from him But when he turned
about she became conscious maj ne fNew
1t ALL and that she could not Do MI
II was not a passive miracle Nh''i
this poor woman touched nm, ne rec
ognized the quality OF her faith. Hers
T.
nrstition I'm 50. but It was the best faith
che Ind and the best she could have un-
| III abe should be taught better she be-
! iieved that if she touched his garment
she would be- made whole. N she had
touched IL. and he had not honored her
! f,itn iecause IL was imperfect. she would
| have turned back, and one poor soul
would have haI chance 10 say she be-
ffaved he could help her md he AID nor
| Jesus healed her TO encourage her lath
| and then brought her forward thnt hei
faith might be- purified and strengthen.
ed.
while he yet spake' messenger came
from the rulers house 10 say that the
| child was deal Poor Jairusi II had
required all the faith he could summon
"a stand still and wait for Jesus - nave
a talk with this woman while his owl
child was dying. How could the good
! prOuhet act 80 tuilNrftufiNf ~ hN com
not this woman be put on until he haf
healed the child? And now the child
MS dead-through the cruel reelect o
Jesus. H.. had l0iiered by the way an'
let the last spark in the chllds bosom
co ont Such thoughts must have hee'
GROWING into the fathers heated hran'
when Jesus turned and saii 20 him
never fear. believe only. and she SRA J "
! made whole" Here agnin Is ne Ma ts
concerned for a weak faith. II was no
"a matter OF any concern 20 him wnethe
he should hnd tho child dead or dying
I'm either case a word would set the mat
Ter righr but il was a matter Of
grave concern whether this mans fait'
should hold out: ard when he saw 7
was tested 70 the straining point. he re
ieved the strain and encouraged him 4
continue trusting.
Taking with him Peter and James an
John and the father and mother or IN
maiden (the crowd had no right I'm IN
matter and there was abundant res soi
why lis most intiT ate disciples shout
be vOrchsared such a privilege no Wen
into the chamber OF death. pausing Z
still the loud wsiling Of the mourncrs b,
saving. she IS not dead. but sieepeth.
They knew she was dead. and they lie
ridec him: he also knew she was deDl
I hut Ia the preser ce OF him who ha'
POWER over death she was only as on
asleep who would soon awake. Thsr
could be no 1eath where ne was Stand
ing by the couch OF the l't'le one. s'ir
rounded by mother and father who wer