Mark v. 25 — 29. A certain woman which had an issue of blood twelve years, and had suffered many things of many phy- sicians, and had spent all that she had, and was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse, when she had heard of Jesus, came in the press behind, and touched his garment. For she said, If I may touch but his clothes, I shall be whole. And straightway the fountain of her blood was dried up ; and she felt in her body that she was healed of that plague.
THE miracles of our Lord afford much useful instruction. They were not perhaps always intended as types ; but they afford a just occasion for spiritual observations.
To improve the miracle now before us, we observe,
I. Sin has introduced many lamentable evils into the
world —
[Sickness and pain and death are the effects of sin. If our first parents had not sinned, these things had never existed. The infirmities of the weaker sex are especially noticed in this viewa. Deplorable was the condition of the woman mentioned in the text: but incomparably worse effects have proceeded from sin : our souls are altogether diseased in every part. The prophet's description of the Jews is applicable to usb. Our own confession is but too just a picture of our state0; and, if we should die in this state, we must surely jjerishd.]
II. We are prone to rest in carnal methods of re-
moving them —
[The woman had employed many physicians, and had spent her substance on them without any benefit. We blame her not for using all possible means of relief: but she had looked no higher than to the creature for help. This conduct incensed the Lord against good King Asae; and in every age it provokes the eyes of his glory. In spiritual things we generally act the same part. Under slight convictions of sin we rest in purposes of amendment. If guilt lie heavy on our souls, we flee to duties, and hope by them to compensate for past neglects f. Not but that it is right to use the means of salvation : but we should look through the means to the Saviour, and expect mercy, not for our diligence, but for his name's sakep. Unless we do this our labour will end in disappointment.]
III. However desperate our disorders be, the Lord
Jesus is able to heal them —
[The woman's disease had baffled all the art of medicine; but she hoped to find relief from the Lord Jesus. Nor was she disappointed, in her application to him : there went virtue out of him and healed her instantly. The same power will he exercise over the diseases of the soul. The most heinous sins may be purged away by his blood; the most inveterate lusts may be subdued by his Spirit'1. A whole cloud of witnesses have testified of this truth1: nor are there wanting many living monuments of his power and grace.]
IV. The more we honour Jesus by faith, the more will he bless and honour us —
a Gen. iii. 16. b Isai. i. 5, 6. c " There is no health in us."
d 1 Cor. vi. 9. e 2 Chron. xvi. 12. f Mic. vi. G, 7.
e Rom. ix. 31, 32. h 1 Cor. vi. 11.
' Manasseh, David, Solomon, Paul, &c. See 1 Tim. i. 10.