The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1913-05-16

the bier and they that bore It, with 1t
inanimaIe burden, stood still b He
wrought the wonderful miracle that
gave back alive to the arms of his re-
joIeing mother the son whom she had
mourned as dead.
I am impressed with the fact that in
this, as n many others Of the mir
acles wrought by Jesus for the relief
of suffering human beings He did not
demand a confession of faith IN His
power on the part Of those who we're
the subjects OF His mercy. Even sim
ful men were healed OF infirmities
without question, though He knew
their diseases were the result OF sin
against the laws of nature. This was
notably true Of the impotent man at
the Pool of Bethesda who, when he
was made whole was admonighed to
sin no more lest a worse thing should
come upon him. Evidently. az the re-
suit of some sinful transgression OF
the laws Of health the poor man had
been a helpless invalid for thirty
eight years. He did not know Jesus
and made no appeal to Him for help
In his pitiable plight but He, whose
compositions fail not" gave back to
him the vigor of body which he had
| forfeited by his wrongdolng
In many other instances Jesus took
the initiative when lie wrought mir
aeles OF healing. The man who was
born blind, the woman who was
bowed With an infirmity eighteen
years, the man with the withared
hand, and others were healed OF their
diseases without their own solIcita-
lions. The infinite tenderness Of His
heart prompted these acts OF mercy
and He did not wait to convince them
of His power to heal. Their accep-
lance Of His internositIon in their
behalf. argues a certain sort OF faith
in His ability TO afford them relief.
They obeyed Ills word The impotent
man took up his bed. the bowed wo-
man Strengthened her bent body and
the blind man went TO the Pool of
Sloan. washed and came seeing.
Samuel said 10 Saul. Obedience IL
better than sacrifice" and obedience
10 the commands of Jesus IN the cases
cited, and others, 1t may be- made His
power effective In working those mir
aeles OF healing. Il Is possible. also.
that He impaired 10 the subjects OF
His mercy the faith essential 10 It's
efficiency. Therein Il a subject for q
sermon. but Il Is not the purpose. In
these reflections, to dwell upon IL.
They are only designed To SHOW. by
these voluntary acts OF the Saviour.
Ills neYer-failIng tenderness towards
unfortunate and suffering humanity.
He never saw = suffering mortal thai
Ills compassion was not stirred and
Ills power ezerted FOR the relief OF
the sufferer
There are but two instances IN the
cases Of those who appealed 10 Him
for the healing OF themselves OF their
loved ones In which lie seemed to
hesitate about granting their petitions.
Those we're when The Syno-P henIelan
woman appealed 10 Him to deliver
her daughter from demonlacai DOS
session and when the nohIemau
sought the healing Of his son Hia
motives IN thIH heaIlancy can only Be
eonleetnned N the case Of the wo.
man II may be thai as she wa =
heather. she .as laborinK under the
Impression that he Eas either one OF
her gods. OF his representative. and
tint lie desired 20 convince her thai
lie was The Only Son OF the OnlY True
God. In the case Of the nobleman
Who prayed he healing IF hfH son.
Jesus probably desired 70 imuresz
hin with the Iact TINT his hlgh social
standing could not be regarded a
emitting him 10 The favor which he
erayed. However That my b the
mans anguiBhed appeal Sir. come
down ere M child die was N irz
resistlble call 10 the tender heart Of
HH4 IHIHa Ha#H44a A.Fa
absorbed In luYe for His lind, aud lie
replied Immediately TO the appeal
10 thy way. thy son liYefh." lie al
. fully granted the petition Of the
heather woman.
or all the other eases N which ap.
nsals we're made II Hia mercy and
power Hwift answers granting the
petitions were given HoH promptly
tie centurion was assured TIM hi
servant was healed. how without de-
laY lie accompanied JaIruz and rails
Cd bis daughter. hi only daughter.
from The dead: how when ten Iepera
standing afar on, beaoughI His mercy
lie gave them an answer that wrought
their healing. how Immediately Bar
thmaeus' blindness was dIapelied
when h crleI-"Iord that | NAV re
eeiye NJ sight" and hoH swlfliy the
single poor leper. Nho vent kueallnk
to Him. doubling hIs Willingness but
not His power 10 heal. was made
whole. As he knelI he erIed--aIord
/ II thou wilt thou canHI make me
clean. and tie answer vent back n
swift a. light. Il vii. be thou clean. :
and Immediately the lcproay departed
from him.
/ The miracles cited we're not the
only ones specifically named b the
EYanRelists. Sight vas given u 9th
IT blind men. deaf ears we're openaa
and tie dumb anake, demons were
exercised and feYers rehuked. These
we're recorded. but many sick oneH
we're made we'll of which only eaner-
II mention Il found in the gospels
We are told b. Matthew that lie went
/ about all GaIfilee HaalIne
al manner Of sickness and all man
ner OF disease among the people: :.
1nat lis fame went throughout al
syria: and they brought unto Him
al sick people that were taken with
divers diseases and tormepIa and
those which were possessed with
devils. and those which we're IunatIe
and those that had the palsy, and He
healed them all" Two Of His moeI
notable miracles OF which we have :
record are His twice multiplying >
few loaYes and few fishes TO feed the
hungry multItndes. who we're thronez
Ing Him. because lie would not send
them away fasting lest they should
have become faint BY the way In al
these acts He continually demon
Hfrated the extreme and never mar
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