Imatges de pàgina
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shadow of it. And with many such parables spake he the word unto them, as they were able to hear it; but without a parable spake he not unto them: and when they were alone, he expounded all things to his disciples. And the same day, when the even was come, he saith unto them, Let us pass over unto the other side. And when they had sent away the multitude, they took him even as he was in the ship; and there were also with him other ships. And there arose a great storm of wind; and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full. And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow; and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish? And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith? And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?

REFLECTIONS.

It is the same being, who wept over the tomb of Lazarus, who took up little children in his arms and blessed them,who, on the cross, forgot his own agony in the thought of his mother, that now, in the majesty of the Son of God, commands, and "the wind and the sea obey him." If ever a being could be raised above his race, if ever there were one in whom we should look to see no mixture of the softer human feelings, it would be one gifted with such power as Jesus possessed; yet never was there a heart in which every feeling of holy human nature glowed more warmly. How does his perfect character shame the cold philosophy which has been too prevalent, the philosophy of selfishness,

the idea that dignity or happiness can be attained by the destruction of the purer and gentler affections. The religion of Jesus smiles on all that is lovely in human character. At its voice, as at that of the Saviour on the lake of Galilee, the winds and waves of passion sink, and a holy and beautiful calm spreads over the soul beneath its sway.

HYMN.

MRS HEMANS.

Fear was within the tossing bark,
When stormy winds grew loud;
And waves came rolling high and dark,
And the tall mast was bow'd.

And men stood breathless in their dread,
And baffled in their skill-

But One was there, who rose and said
To the wild sea, "Be still!"

And the wind ceas'd :-it ceas'd!-that word
Passed through the gloomy sky;
The troubled billows knew their Lord,
And sank beneath his eye.

And slumber settled on the deep,
And silence on the blast,

As when the righteous falls asleep,
When death's fierce throes are past.

Thou that didst rule the angry hour,
And tame the tempest's mood;
Oh! send thy spirit forth in power,
O'er our dark souls to brood!

Thou that didst bow the billow's pride,
Thy mandates to fulfil ;—

Speak, speak to passion's raging tide,
Speak, and say "Peace, be still."

*

torment me not.

SECTION XXV.

CURE OF A DEMONIAC.

LUKE VIII. 26.

AND they arrived at the country of the Gadarenes, which is over against Galilee. And when he went forth to land, there met him out of the city a certain man, which had devils long time, and ware no clothes, neither abode in any house, but in the tombs. When he saw Jesus, he cried out, and fell down before him, and with a loud voice said, What have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God most high? I beseech thee, (For he had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man; for oftentimes it had caught him; and he was kept bound with chains, and in fetters; and he brake the bands, and was driven of the devil into the wilderness.) And Jesus asked him, saying, What is thy name? And he said, Legion; because many devils were entered into him. And they besought him that he would not command them to go out into the deep. And there was there a herd of many swine feeding on the mountain; and they besought him that he would suffer them to enter into them. And he suffered them. Then went the devils out of the man, and entered into the swine; and the herd ran violently down a steep place into the lake, and were choked. When they that fed them saw what was done, they fled, and went, and told it in the city and in the country. Then they went out to see what was done; and came to Jesus, and found the man, out of whom the devils were

clothed, and in his

departed, sitting at the feet of Jesus, right mind; and they were afraid. They also which saw it, told them by what means he that was possessed of the devils was healed. Then the whole multitude of the country of the Gadarenes round about, besought him to depart from them; for they were taken with great fear. And he went up into the ship, and returned back again.

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REFLECTIONS.

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What more fearful spectacle is there, than a mind in ruins? what more beneficent act than its restoration to intellectual health? What blessing then, can approach in value to a comparison with the intellectual portion of our nature! How should we bless the "Father of our spirits,' that he has permitted us thus to bear the image of himself! And how deeply then are we responsible for the right cultivation and employment of our mental powers; for their developement, fully, and in their due proportion. We here commence an existence which shall never end. How important that it should be commenced aright; that now, in this, the infancy of our being, we learn to love that God, whose presence will be with us through eternity; and to expand those faculties with which we are endowed, in such a manner, that ages hence we may look back on this dawn of our existence as a fit commencement for the bright course of heavenly glory to which it introduced us.

HYMN.

Oh uncreated Light and Love,

Dwelling in majesty above!

Thou, who didst blend the mental ray,

At Nature's dawn, with human clay;

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And when, life's journey o'er, we tread
The shadowy regions of the dead,
When the last foe his threatening dart
Points at the Christian's trembling heart,
Thy mercy then, thy people's shield,
Shall cause the last dread foe to yield,
Thy sons shall pass the valley o'er,
And in thy heavenly courts adore.

SECTION XXVI.

CURE OF A PARALYTIC.

MARK II.

AND again he entered into Capernaum, after some days; and it was noised that he was in the house, and straightway many were gathered together, insomuch that there was no room to receive them, no, not so much as about the door; and he preached the word unto them. And they came unto him, bringing one sick of the

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