SUMMARY.-Our Lord heals a leper and a paralytic, and the people are amazed. He calls Levi, the publican, to follow Him, feasts with sinners, and discourses concerning fasting,

I. THE LEFER.-V. 12-15. A certain city,-in Galilee, Mark i. 39, 40. Full of leprosy. It was one of the worst of cases. Of this St. Luke, who was a physician, was well able to judge. If Thou wilt, &c.-This is a strong expression of confidence in Christ's power to heal. The man believed in His willingness also, or he would not have appealed to Him. Touched him.- No one else dared to do this, for fear of defilement; but Jesus cleansed him whom He touched, and remained pure Himself. Charged him to tell no man, -i. e., till he had been to the priest. As Moses commanded. See Lev. xiv. 4, 10, 21, 22.

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II. THE PARALYTIC.-V. 16-26. This miracle was wrought at Capernaum, Mark ii. 1. The man disabled by paralysis, and had, doubtless, begged his friends to convey him to Jesus. He was so utterly helpless, that they could remove him only by carrying him on his bed. Finding the house full, and the entry crowded, they lifted him to the top of the house, -a low, one-storied building,- removed the tiling, and let him down inside by means of the bed-clothes. The words of Jesus, on seeing him, referred, doubtless, to those who were sitting by, v. 17. He would draw their attention to the doctrine of the forgiveness of sins. Accordingly, He first declared the man forgiven, and then proved that He had the power to pardon by healing him. Strange things,-literally, "things beyond our expectation."

III. LEVI CALLED.-V. 27-32. This Levi was the Apostle and Evangelist St. Matthew. See Matt. ix. 9. He was a publican, or tax-collector; and sat at the excise-office. The publicans, as a class, were unprincipled and rapacious; and Matthew, like the rest of them, was considered a bad man. We have no reason to form the same opinion of him. He instantly obeyed the call

of Jesus, at the cost of a lucrative situation. He then made a great feast, inviting to it many of his fellowpublicans, and Jesus, his new Master. He would have them also to become His disciples. The way to save sinners is not to despise them, to call them hard names, or to keep aloof from them; but to visit them, and kindly warn them, and to show a heartfelt interest in them. If Jesus came to save them, who are we, that we should despise them?

IV. ON FASTING.-V. 33-35. John the Baptist seems to have required his followers to copy his severe and abstemious habits. The Pharisees, too, were frequently fasting; but this was to gain admiration for their singular self-denial. John's disciples were taught the duty of public prayer. The Pharisees, also, "made long prayers; but they did this "for a pretence," to parade their piety, and to win credit for a sanctity which was not theirs. Our Lord urged His disciples to pray, especially in private, Matt. vi. 5, 6. He commended fasting also; but He taught that, to be acceptable, it must be secret, Matt. vi. 17, 18. He did not require His disciples to fast. While He was with them, fasting would have been as unseemly as weeping at a wedding. But He would shortly be violently taken from them. His enemies would be their enemies. The world would be against them. They would have fasting enough then!

V. OLD AND NEW.-V. 36-39. A piece of new cloth, being full and strong, cannot well be sewed to an old garment, worn thin, and half-rotten; and if it could be, its fresh dye would not "match" with what is old and faded. Old leathern bottles, such as our Lord alludes to, would burst from their seams, were new wine put into them, and left to ferment. "New wine"-i.e., wine fresh from the grapes-is neither so pleasant nor so wholesome as wine which has been mellowed by long keeping. To enforce the austerities of the Baptist, or of the Pharisees, upon Christ's disciples, would be like attaching new

cloth to an old garment; or like putting new wine into old bottles; or like administering new wine to one who has just refreshed himself with "old."

REFLECTIONS.-1. Jesus forgives sins. -He would pardon all. Has He pardoned you? Have you asked Him?

2. Christians should bring others to Christ. He was pleased with the faith of the sick man's friends, (Mark ii. 5,) and He is pleased with what His people do to bring sinners to Himself. He is the Friend of sinners, and all who love Him should be like Him.

3. When Christ says, "Follow Me,"

follow Him.-Matthew did; why do not you?

4. Despise no one.-The vilest person alive was bought by the blood of Jesus.

5. All who feel themselves sinners may be saved. No sickness, no physician; no sin, no Saviour.

QUESTIONS.-How did the leper act when he saw Jesus? How was he healed? What was he not to do? What was he to do? What did Jesus then do? Who was brought to him? how? How did they get him to Jesus? What did Jesus say to him? What did the Pharisees say to this? How did Jesus answer them? Who was Levi? Where was he found? For whom did he make a feast? Who murmured? why? How were they answered? What was said about fasting?

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SUMMARY.-Moses repeats God's words to the people, who promise obedience; and the covenant is solemnly ratified. God appears to Moses and the elders at the covenant-meal; and Moses ascends the mountain, where he sees God's glory, and remains forty days.

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of the covenant. Wrote all the words, -thus forming what is called "the book of the covenant," v. 7.

II. "THE BLOOD OF THE COVENANT." -V. 4-8. Builded an altar,-as previously commanded, ch. xx. 24, 25. Young men,-chosen for their strength and ability for the work. Which offered burnt-offerings,-as assistants to Moses, who acted as priest. Their work was to kill, flay, and cut up the oxen. Put it in basons,-to be sprinkled on the people. Sprinkled on the altar,—as a sign that God accepted the atoning sacrifice. Sprinkled it on the people,as a sign that they were reconciled to God. This, however, was not done till they had again heard the conditions of the covenant, and repeated their promise to be obedient. This

I. "THE BOOK OF THE COVENANT." -V. 1-4. Come up,-i. e., after the ratification of the covenant, as described below. Moses and Aaron were already on the mount. See ch. xix. 24. not come nigh,-i.e., shall not go far up the mountain. All the words of the LORD,-i. e., the commands and promises of the previous chapters, in which God proposed to enter into covenantrelations with them. All the words, &c.-By this unanimous resolve they signified their acceptance of the terms

covenant was to introduce a better, (Heb. viii. 8-12,) and these sacrifices typified another, Heb. x. 4-14.

III. THE COVENANT MEAL. -V. 9-11. Then went up Moses, &c.,from "under the hill," v. 4. Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu,-who were soon to be appointed priests. Seventy of the elders, as representatives of the people. They saw the God of Israel,-i.e., a vision of God in some form of manifestation which made Him discernible to the human eye. A paved work of a sapphire stone,-i. e., what resembled some beautiful piece of mosaic. As it were the body of heaven, &c.,-or, "Like the sky itself for clearness." He laid not His hand.-They saw Him, and yet lived. Compare Acts xii. 1, 2. And did eat and drink,-i. e., what remained of the "peace-offerings."

IV. MOSES WITH GOD.-V. 12-18. Tables of stone.-The ten commandments, written by God Himself, because they were never to be repealed. See ch. xxxi. 18; xxxii. 15, 16. His minister,-or, "servant." If any man have any matters to do,-i. e., any matters of dispute to be settled. days and forty nights,-without eating or drinking. See Deut. ix. 9. Compare 1 Kings xix. 8; Matt. iv. 2.

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REFLECTIONS.-1. We should hear God's Word in an obedient spirit.-He promises blessings, and enjoins duties; and, while we accept the former, we are

expected to perform the latter. The Israelites promised obedience, and we are required to come to a similar decision.

2. To God's Word we should frequently refer. Why did Moses write down the words of God? Why have the Gospels and Epistles been formed into a Book? Because it is not enough to hear God's Word once. We must have it by us, and constantly increase our knowledge by referring to it.

3. Moses was a type of Christ.-As the mediator of the old covenant, he alone was permitted to draw nigh to God. Jesus is the Mediator of the New Covenant, and none can come to the Father but by Him.

4. God should be heard with fear.The seventy elders saw God, and yet lived, but their "carcases fell in the wilderness: Balaam uttered extraordinary prophecies, but he loved the wages of unrighteousness. We may know much of Christ, and yet perish in our sins.

5. God is terrible only to His enemies. -To His own people He is a God of peace.

QUESTIONS.-What words did Moses tell the people? What resolution did they make? Why did Moses write the words? Where did he erect an altar? What did he do with the blood of the sacrifices? Why did he sprinkle the altar why the people? To whom did God appear? Why was Moses called up into the Mount?

APOSTLES CHOSEN AND

SUMMARY.-Our Lord passes a night in prayer, chooses the twelve Apostles, heals many, and preaches to His disciples.

I. A NIGHT IN PRAYER -V. 12. In those days,-i. e., about the time when the things recorded above transpired. He went out,-from Capernaum. Into a mountain. Compare Matt. xiv. 23.

Continued all night in prayer. This was, doubtless, in preparation for the momentous work of the morrow,-the choosing of the twelve Apostles.

II. THE CHOSEN TWELVE.-V. 13— 16. Called unto Him His disciples.Mark says He "calleth unto Him whom He would," Mark iii. 13. He summoned to Him a certain larger number,

out of which He selected twelve. Whom also He named Apostles,-i. e., He did this now for the first time. Whom He also named Peter. - See John i. 42. Zelotes, the Zelot, or the zealous. Judas the brother of James,-the son of Alphæus. This Judas was the author of what is called the Epistle of St. Jude.

III. THE GREAT HEALER.-V. 1719. The disciples came to Jesus before He left the mountain, where He had been praying. Then, having chosen the twelve, He descended with them to the level country, where multitudes from all quarters met Him, bringing their sick with them. How many were healed on this, and similar occasions, is not said; but they were so very numerous, that, had all been narrated, the record would have been too large to read. See John xx. 30, 31; xxi. 25.

IV. "BLESSED ARE YE!"-V. 2023. Ye poor.-The disciples were poor; but our Lord does not refer mainly, if at all, to this world's poverty. The word is to be understood in a spiritual sense. See Matt. v. 3. Only the "meek and lowly in heart can enjoy true happiness here and hereafter. That hunger.-Here, again, the sense is spiritual. See Matt. v 6. Our desires for more light and goodness should resemble the feeling of hunger in their intensity. That weep.-They who were entitled to this benediction wept for their sins, for the sins of others, and for the low state of religion in general; but many gay and giddy laughers had more reason to weep than they; and one day all their tears would be for ever wiped away. Shall separate you. This refers not only to Jewish excommunication, but to all kinds of expulsion from society. Cast out your name as evil.-See 1 Peter iv. 14-16. In that day,-i.e., in the very day in which they were thus injured. The prophets, now in heaven, were similarly treated.

V. "WOE UNTO YOU!"-V. 24-26. You that are rich.-God gives riches, 1 Chron. xxix. 12; so that it is not a sin to be rich. The words apply only to those among the wealthy who forget God. Their riches can give them no consolation after death. That are full,i. e., satisfied without religion. Hereafter they will for ever hunger in vain for happiness. They may laugh now, but then they will mourn and weep.See Matt. xxiv. 51. When all men shall

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speak well of you. -This appears to have been spoken to the disciples, to deter them from all unworthy endeavours to conciliate the good-will of sinners. They could not gain the "good word" of "all men without great unfaithfulness to their Master.

VI. LOVE FOR HATE.-V. 27–38. The followers of Jesus should exhibit a higher kind and degree of virtue than ever was exemplified among men. They should return, for hatred, love; for curses, blessing; for malice, prayer; for evil, good. They should be benevolent, without any selfish aim; and, when they suffer wrong, they should not cherish a vindictive spirit. They should deal with others as they may reasonably desire to be dealt with in like circumstances. They should imitate the goodness of God. They should judge no one rashly, or uncharitably. They should ever be generous to the needy; and by so doing they will be gainers.

REFLECTIONS.-1. Important undertakings should be prepared for by prayer. -Before choosing the twelve Apostles, our Lord spent a whole night in prayer. When Nehemiah desired the consent and help of Artaxerxes to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem, he first prayed that God would dispose the king to regard his request with favour, Neh. i. 11. The surest and the shortest way to true success in anything, is to commit it to God in prayer. See Prov. xvi. 3.

2. "Who knows what is good for man in this life?"-The general opinion is, that the rich, and great, and honourable are happy; but Jesus tells us that the poor, and the hungry, and the sorrowful, and the hated, are "blessed."

3. Holy dispositions are the best proofs of our being God's children.-Have you these dispositions? If you are poor in spirit, and hunger for righteousness, and weep for sin, and are hated by those who do not wish to be good, "your reward is great in heaven.'

4. Make your choice.-To be poor on earth, and a king in heaven; or to be proud on earth, and poor in hell: to be hungry here, and filled hereafter; or here to be filled, and hereafter to hunger: to weep now, and be happy in eternity; or to laugh now, and weep for ever.