conld heal him at a distance, without even seeing him, was some- thing that he could not yet understand.
Chrysostom says, " Observe how thes3 very words show the weakness of (he man. When he ought, after Christ had rebuked his state of mind, to have imagined something great concerning Him, even if he did not before, listen how he drags along the ground! Pie speaks as though Christ could not raise his son after death, and as though He knew not in what state the child was."
Brenti'is remarks that the nobleman did not bring to Christ faith, but merely a spark of faith.
50. — {Jesus saith vnto Am, d'c] Three things are very deserving of notice in this verse, (a.) We should observe our Lord's mar- vellous Idndness and compassion. He takes no notice of the nobleman's^vveak faith and slowness of understanding. He freely grants his request, and gives his son life and health with- out delay. (&.) We should observe our Lord's ajmighty power. He simply speaks the words, " Thy son liveth," and at once a sick person, at several miles' distance, is cured and made well. He spake and it was done, (c.) We should observe, not least, the unhesitating confidence which the nobleman reposed in our Lord's power. He asked no more questions after he heard the words, '• Thy son Uveth." At once he believed that all would be well, and went his way.
Cyri! observes on this verse, that onr Lord here healed two persons at one time by the same words. " He brought the nobleman's mind to faith, and delivered the body of the young man from disease."
Chrysostom remarks, '■ What can be the reason why in the case of the Centurion Christ undertook voluntarily to come and heal, while here, though invited, he came not ? Because in the case of the Centurion faith had been perfected, and therefore He undertook to go, that we might learn the right-mindedness of the man; but here the nobleman was imperfect. When there- fore he continually urged Him, saying. Come down, and knew not clearly that even when absent He could heal. He showeth that even this was possible unto Him, in order that this man might gain, from His not going, that knowledge which the Cen- turion had of himself."
Bishop Ha 1 observes, " The ruler's request wa=:, Come and heal. Christ's answer was, ' Go thy way: thy son hveth.' Our merciful Saviour meet^ those in the end whom He crosses in the way. How sweetly doth He correct our prayers ; and while He doth not give us wlia!: we asked, gives us better than we asked."
51. — [As he teas now going down.]. The relative posit'ons of Caua