much as if it had been the only one recorded. To improve that which is now before us, we may consider,
I. The manner in which it was wrought —
Many instructive lessons may be learned from an attentive survey of our Lord's conduct in every part of his life. His manner of performing this miracle was peculiarly worthy of notice. It was,
Humble —
[He " took the man aside from the multitude" that sur- rounded him: not that he was afraid of having his miracles inspected and scrutinized : the greater part of them were wrought publicly before all : but on some occasions he sought rather to conceal his works. He wished not to excite the envy of the priests, or the jealousy of the rulers : he laboured also to avoid all appearance of ostentation : he would shew us by his example how our acts of beneficence should be performed a, and that we should never be actuated by the love of man's applause b. Hence he so strictly " charged the people " not to divulge this miracle. He also " looked up to heaven" in acknowledgment of his Father's concurrence. Not but that he had in himself all power to do whatsoever he willed0: but, as Mediator, he bore his commission from his heavenly Father, and therefore directed the eyes of men to him as the fountain of all good. Thus did he teach us to look up to heaven for aid, even in those things for which we might suppose ourselves to be most sufficient, and to consult in every thing, not our own glory, but the glory of God.]
Compassionate —
[Touched with pity toward the object before him, " he sighed." He could not view even the present miseries intro- duced by sin, without deep commiseration. Thus he shewed how fit he was to be our great high priest d, and how zve ought to feel for others, and to bear their burthens0. We should never behold the bodily infirmities of others without longing to relieve them: nor, without gratitude to God for the con- tinued use of our own faculties.]
Sovereign —
[Though he looked up to heaven, he wrought the miracle by his own power. He had only to issue the command, Be opened. He who once said, Let there be light, and there was light, needed only to express his will in order to be obeyed.
a Matt. vi. 3. b John v. 44. c John v. 21.
d Heb. iv. 15. e Gal. vi. 2.