child should be raised as from a sleep. The idea of sleep, however, only called forth the dei-ision of the mourners. Such was the fruit of their ignorance and unbelief: but the ruler himself resembled the father of the faithful b.]
It is in this way that true faith will ever shew itself —
[It will surely lead us to Jesus for relief: it will make us humble and importunate in our supplications to him. We shall not presently turn from him because our difficulties increase : we shall rather adopt the expression of holy Jobc — . Unbelief may prompt us to deride what we do not understand ; but faith will make us acquiesce in God's declarations, though we cannot fully comprehend them, and expect the accomplishment of his promises, however his providence may appear to contradict them.
Jesus did not fail to respect the faith that honoured him —
III. How it was rewarded —
Jesus answered the ruler to the full extent of all his wishes —
[Our Lord reproved the excessive lamentations of the people, and encouraged them to expect the restoration of the child ; but lie would not suffer those who had derided him to be spectators of the miracle. He took with him, however, persons sufficient to attest it : he favoured the believing parents with admission to behold it, and restored their daughter, as it had been from sleep, in their very presence. The child arose instantly, and walked as in perfect health. For their further conviction he ordered food to be given to the child. By this also he intimated, that though she was restored by a miracle, she was to be kept alive by natural means. What a rich reward was this to the believing suppliant !]
Nor shall any one who asks in faith, be disappointed —
[Our Lord has commanded us to ask in faith d; and has assured us that petitions, so offered, shall be answered by hime. Things the most impossible to man, shall, if they will conduce to our good and to God's honour, be effected by the prayer of faithf: crimes the most atrocious that ever were committed, shall be pardoned8: lusts the most inveterate that ever enslaved a soul, shall be subdued h. The dead in trespasses and sins shall be raised, like Christ himself, to a new and
b Rom. iv. 18, 20, 21. c Job xiii. 15. d Mark xi. 24.
e Matt. xxi. 22. f Mark ix. 23. s Acts xiii. 39.
h Isai. lix. 19. 1 Cor. vi. 11.