stretch out our hands with humble boldness and confidence, nor doubt but that virtue shall proceed from him to heal our souls.]
Mark vi. 6. And he marvelled because of their unbelief.
ONE would suppose, that those who had the fullest opportunity of knowing the Lord Jesus from his ear- liest infancy, would have been the first to embrace his salvation, when once it was openly proclaimed to them. But the very reverse of this was the fact. The circumstance of their knowing his family con- nexions was a ground of offence to them ; so that they were more averse to receive him, than others were who had never possessed these advantages. We are not to suppose that this excited real surprise in the bosom of our Saviour ; because he knew, from the beginning, that " a Prophet has no honour in his own country. But, as the inspired writers always speak of him as if he had been affected as other men, we are told in my text, " He marvelled because of their unbelief."
A similar effect is generally produced wherever Christ is preached. His Gospel is but too generally despised by those to whom it is more immediately sent ; and it is more sought and valued by those who are somewhat remote from the sphere of its stated ministration. In fact, there are but few, in any place, who embrace it with their whole hearts. In proof of this, I will shew you,
I. What unbelief prevails amongst us—
I grant, that if the name of Christianity were sufficient, we all are Christians. But the slightest observation of what is passing either around us or within us, is sufficient to convince us,
1 . How few regard the Lord Jesus Christ with the veneration he deserves —
[As to the bowing of the head or knee at the mention of his name, many will do that, who never bow their hearts to his