away. (Exod. x. 13, 19.) No power i^ort of this could in a moment turn a storm into a calm. ''To speak to the winds and wayes " is a common proverb for attempting that which is impossible. But here we see Jesns speak- ing, and at once the winds and waves obey ! As man He had slept. As God He stilled the storm.
It is a blessed and comfortable thought, that all tbis almighty power of our Lord Jesus Christ is engaged on behalf of £Qs belieying people. He has undertaken to save every one of them to the uttermost, and He is " mighty to save.'' The trials of His people are often many and great. The devil never ceases to make war against them. The rulers of this world frequently persecute lliem. The very heads of the church, who ought to be tender shepherds, are often bitterly opposed to the truth as it is in Jesus. Yet, notwithstandiug aU this, Christ's people shall never be entirely forsaken. Though sorely harassed, they shall not be destroyed. Though cast down, they shall not be cast away. At the darkest time let true Christians rest in the thought, that "greater is He who is for them than all they that be against them." The winds and waves of poli- tical and ecclesiastical trouble may beat fiercely over them, and all hope may seem taken away. But still let them not despair. There is One Uving for them in heaven who can make these winds and waves to cease in a moment. The true Church, of which Christ is the Head, shall never perish. Its glorious Head is almighty, and Uvea for evermore, and His believing members shall all live, also, and reach home safe at last. (John xiv. 19.)
We see, lastly, in ihese verses, how needful it is for Christian to keep their faith ready for use. We read tibat
LTJKE, CHAP. Vlll. VER. 22 25. 265
our Lord said to His disciples, when the storm had ceased, and their fears had subsided, "Where is yonr faith ? " Well might He ask that question ! Where was the profit of believing, if they conld not believe in the time of need P Where was the real value of faith, unless they kept it in active exercise ? Where was the benefit of trusting, if ihey were to trust their Master in sunshine only, but not in storms ?
The lesson now before us is one of deep practical im- portance. To have true saving faith is one thing. To have that faith always ready for use is quite another. Many receive Christ as their Saviour, and deliberately commit their souls to him for time and eternity, who yet often find their faith sadly failing when something un- expected happens, and they are suddenly tried. These trhiugs ought not so to be. We ought to pray that we may have a stock of faith ready for use at a moment's notice, and may never be found unprepared. The highest style of Christian is the man who lives like Moses, " seeing Him who is invisible." (Heb. ii. 27.) That man will never be greatiy shaken by any storm. He wiU see Jesus near him in the darkest hour, and blue sky behind the blackest cloud.
Notes. Lukb Vm. 22—25.
22. — [He went into a ship, dc] The events here recorded took place OD the lake of Gennesaret, or sea of Galilee. At the tune of our Lord's earthly ministry, the country round this lake was thickly inhahited, and there seem to have heen many hoats on it. At present, according to the latest travellers, there are very few hoats on it, and the population round it is very thin.
23. — [There came down a storm of wind.] All travellers agree in saying, that the lake of Gennesaret is very liahle to he visited hy
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