The state republican. (Jefferson City, Mo.) 1871-1896, 1896-02-20

houses of the people leaves a blessing
behind II. He is a flower carried
through the quiet air that breathes
its fragrant blessing, that all may
receive it and be glad"
In the jostling of the crowd this poor
woman who had been afflicted with
an incuyable disease for twelve years
and spent all her living upon the ply
s%icians, pressed her way up behind him
| and touched the border of his gar
ment and Immediately her issue of
blood was stanched." When Jesus
asked who touched him, and all denied,
Peter and the other disciples expressed
their surprise that amid such a throng
of people he should ask who touched
him, Jesus replied that somebody had
touched him, for he perceived that
virtue had gone out of him" Then
the modest and embarrassed woman,
finding that she had been discovered,
"came trembling and falling down be-
fore him, declared unto him, before all
the people, for what cause she had
touched him, and how she was healed
Immediately. Such manifestation
of faith, albeit mingled with ignorance
and superstition, brought joy to Jesus
heart and calling her by the endear-
ing name of daughter, " and assuring
her that her faith had made her whole,
he dismissed her in peace. What i'm
mortality did this simple act of this
poor afflicted, ignorant aud super.
stitious 5ma bring to herself9
MAY l but toEJh~the hem II his
garment, > has come to be q common
expression Of struggling faith. Why
did the Saviour not permit this stolen
blessing to pass unnoticed2 Was it to
teach the lesson that he does not accept
secret discipleship? Or was it to
develop in this woman a fuller and
more intelligent faith, to give her to
feel that shew as saved by her faith
rather than by any magical virtue in
the garment he wore? Have we not q
hint here also that Jesus, beyond what
we have supposed, honors an imper-
feet, a partial faith, even a faith mixed
with some superstition, and graciously
develops it into an intelligent and joy
Gus faith? At any rate as DR.. Parker
says: How kind it was to make this
little speech as well as to give the heal.
ing. A flower is all the better for
having fragrance as well as beauty.
How sweet to say something to her, to
make a whole little speech to the
woman herself He took, so to speak,
her little birthday book, and writes a
little speech, with his own dear hand,
and it is all the woman's own
Daughter, be of good comfort, thy
faith hath made thee whole.
While thus engaged in talking with
the woman one came from the ruler of
the synagogue's house saying to him,
THY daughter is dead, trouble not the
Master" The quick ear of Jesus
caught this intelligence and his sym
pathetic heart at once responded,
Fear not believe only and she shall
be made whole" All, how he ever
encourages the faith of those who
would put their trust in him. In such
a momentas this, when like an arrow
to the heart, the message comes, "thy
daughter is dead, " what assurance and
comfort there was in the words of
Jesus. And ever so is it with all His
children. In these moments Of dark
1855 - 1--r-:- IL "~-la -. Liy o.4ne
around our necks and speak loving
words of comfort and cheer. Drawing
near the house and hearing the weep
ing and wailing Of the people, he told
them to weep not, and said, "She is
not dead but sleepeth. And it is
said, they laughed him to scorn,
knowing that she was dead" Taking
with him the favored three, Peter,
James and John, and putting all Others
out Of the room, except the father and
mother, he took the child by the hand
and said, "Maid, arise. And her
spirit came again and she arose
straightway and he commanded tc
give her meat"
Then We're added only these words
And her parents We're astonished
but he charged them that they should
tell no man what was done. VIII
this injunction of silence in Mark and
Luke? He likely did not want to give
undue prominence to His miracles and
gain Tor Himself simply the reputation
of a wonder worker. His miracles
were only subsidiary to His teaching.
But Matthew states that the fame Of
this miracle went abroad in all tht
land. 1t could not be concealed.
l.. Sickness and death will com
into the homes of all, the high and thu
low, the rich and the poor. In thiI
hour of extremity all feel the need o
Jesus, and he will come into ever.
home that invites him.
2. Gods delays are not denials. ;
They are only designed to encourag
and develop faith. By this delay tn
rulers faith was strengthened and h
was enabled to still believe when tn
message Of his daughters death came
3. What a blessed heritage did Jesu
bring to the world in teaching us tina
death was but asleep, and that W
shall awake unto better environment
and better influences. Our word Gem
etery means a sleeping place"
4 God does not demand that on