work he lias begun in the souls of men n, and perfects that which concerneth them0.]
Since then, without any forced interpretations or conceits, we may draw such instruction from the miracles in general, let us endeavour to,
II. Improve the particular miracle recorded in the text —
If, in the concerns of our souls, we desire either direction or encouragement , we cannot find them any where more suitably afforded than in the passage before us ; where the conduct of the multitude suggests the former, and the conduct of Jesus the latter. Let us then improve it,
1. For direction —
[We should not dare to exhort you in general to follow the multitude ; since that would be to lead you in the broad road to destruction p. But in the present instance we say, Follow that multitude.
Follow them in the conviction which they had of their oion need of Christ. Every one felt within himself that he laboured under a disorder which needed healing ; and, if each of them had been asked, ' What is your disorder? and what is yours?' they could all have specified the principal symptoms of the disorders under which they laboured. Now thus must we go to Jesus, feeling and lamenting the ravages which sin has made upon our souls. It is not sufficient for us to confess in general that we are sinners ; we must open our case to him, and tell him, " Thus and thus have I doneq." And, if the Spirit of God have truly convinced us of sin, we shall find no more dif- ficulty in this, than a poor man does in opening his complaints to a physician. More particularly, we should get our hearts impressed with the evil of our besetting sin ; and, carrying it to Jesus, we should confess it, lament it, aggravate it, and implore both his mercy to pardon it, and his grace to subdue it : and, if we thus go to him labouring and heavy-laden, we have his promise that he will give us restr.
Follow them also in their earnestness. We are told that the people pressed on Jesus, so that they who were nearest to him could not maintain their place by reason of the multitudes, who strove to get access to him, and to touch him s. They not only left their own business, but, in many instances, prevailed on their friends to relinquish their occupations also, in order to carry them to Jesus. In short, they postponed every
n Phil. i. 6. ° Ps. cxxxviii. 8. p Matt. vii. 13.
q Josh. vii. 20. r Matt. xi. 28. s Mark iii. 10.
■7. 9.