immediate reference to the mirade oxir Lord was going to perform. But we need not doubt that they were also meant for the perpetual benefit of the Church of Christ. They were meant to reveal to us the grand secret of comfort in the hour of need. That secret is to exercise faith, to fall back on the thought of Christ's loving heart and mighty hand, — in one word, to believe.
Let a petition for more faith form a part of all our daily prayers. As ever we would have peace, and calm- ness, and quietness of spirit, let us often say, "Lord increase our faith." A hundred painful things may happen to us every week in this evil world, of which our poor weak minds cannot see the reason. Without faith we shall be constantly disquieted and cast down. Nothing will make us cheerful and tranquil but an abiding sense of Christ's love, Christ's wisdom, Christ's care over us, and Christ's providential management of all our affairs. Faith will not sink imder the weight of evil tidings. (Psa. cxii. 7.) Faith can sit still and wait for better times. Faith can see light even in the darkest hour, and a needs-be for the heaviest trial. Faith can find room to build Ebenezers under any circumstances, and can sing songs in the night in any condition. "He that believeth shall not make haste." " Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace whose mind is staid on thee." (Isa. xxviii. 16 ; xvi. 3.) Once more let the lesson be graven on our minds. If we would travel comfortably through this world, we must "believe."
Let us notice, finally, in these verses, the almighty power which our Lord Jems Christ possesses even over death. We are told that He came to the house of Jairus