St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1896-10-23
CHRIST'S HEALING POWER.
sermon Preached at the Church OF the Mes
slab Oct 4, 1890, by Rev. rIrs. Effie K.
Jones Of Barre.

The most pathetic instance in our
morning lesson was the implicit faith
which the two blind men had when they
fully and firmly believed that by touch
ing Jesus and being touched by him they
would see again. In reading over the
lesson, nowhere do we find that Jesus is
to gain by healing these poor unfortu-
nate people who focked around him in
order that he might touch them and heal
them.
This was not the primary work OF
Jesus preaching was the end and aim of
his mission. He wanted those who
sought his help to know the law, but
first of all he was to illustrate to them
the faith of all the bodies, he was to per-
form miracles npon his servants. He
wished to go about performing these
miracles quietly, bidding the healed to
go and sin no more. These works of
healing are so many Illustrations of the
spirit of Christ. He not only went to
save sinners but he sent his disciples out.
Their work was to preach.
We read in our morning lesson of the
rulers daughter who had died. Jesus
took her by the hand and the maid
arose; the in6rm women came behind
Jesus and, unknown to him, touched his
garments; the blind men follow him, he
touches their eyes, and, behold once
more they see the glores of this world
There seems to be necessary in almost
all OF these healings personal contact
with the Master The delivering of ones
soul into that fullness Of life where so
many are invigorated can only be accom-
plished by being in personal touch with
Jesus. 1t is the coming near to Him that
the fullness OF His spirit, not the fullness
OF His lite, heal them. You will remember
that bodily healing is referred to as a
spiritual.
Jesus wished to do GOOD quietly you
remember what he said to the blind men
after they were made to sec, See that
no man know it," 1t was not to be, for
men spread abroad his fame in all that
country" They were not content to GO
out of the gates and say nothing; they
wanted every one to know of Jesus; they
were ready to carry on the work which
Jesus had inaugurated.
Possibly we had best inquire first as tc
the possibility OF our coming into per
sonal contact With Jesus He is not here
in our midst. Wecannot throng about hin
and touch him. we cannot, in our day
be permitted to touch his hand. The
body of Christ is not in our midst.
Does not the teachings of the church
ass are us that contact with Jesus is no
possible? But we can come together auc
partake OF his spirit and humanity the
examples OF which he set before us in the
New Testament. We have it before oiil
eyes in the experience of every true
hearted Christian.
1t is much easier for us to be more ir
touch with Jesus now than it ever was
before. You remember it was not
Christs body that healed, it was the
spirit. His body was simply vehicle.
People are coming to realize that there
is more OF Christ's spirit, active spirit il
the world today, that there is more o.
the real spirit visible among men than
there has ever been before; we know that
Christ is now healing mems souls, nspir.
ing them to new ard higher life. We
are coming to understand Him better
The souls capacity and its developments
the contact with Jesus now is just as
real and just as actual as it ever has
been. 1t is the familiarity with His life
that gives us this unity; it is our prayers
to him that are bringing us into this
unity, it is our faith and submission.
The patients did not wait for Him to
come to them, they came to Him and
sought Him to help them. The multi
tudes came from far and near and
thronged about Jesus to get Him to help
them. They came, believing in and ask.
ing for his divine touch and help. 1t is
not to be given to souls that are not
reaching out for it; the touch of Jesus
upon our souls is not to come to us il We
wait for it. Unless our souls are ready
to take the gifts he sends, his coming
will not be continued Tor any great
length of time. We must first of all be
ready. II the blind men had waited foi
esus to come and heal them, they might
have died before he came. He wanted tc
be laid at the Masters feet, and when he
had manifested such faith the blessing
was not long withheld.
We must seek this blessing; we must
be about the Masters business. If we
la Dor in this spirit, we shall know Him
His spirit is given to every one that
asketh. If we seek, we shall know the
fullness of the life of Iesus
We know, in theoretical way what
our church has been at great pains to
teach us; that these are the only things
worth seeking for; that you 60 out to
seek after them just when the realities OF