Sabbath-day ? Let us all then acknowledge the evil of our own hearts ; and give God the glory if we be in any measure freed from the prejudices by which so many in every age and place are blinded.]
2. How desirable is it to embrace every oppor- tunity of waiting upon God !
[The woman broke through every difficulty that she might honour the public institutions of religion. And was she not well repaid for her trouble at last? Surely the restoration of her body to health and strength was a blessing that would have abundantly compensated for still greater toil than she ever endured. And have none amongst us received a still richer recompence ? If j^our bodily disorders have not been removed, have you never received grace both to bear and improve them? Have none of you been delivered from the bonds in which Satan held your souls? Has not your guilt been removed, and the corruption of your hearts been in some measure healed? Let this encourage all to wait upon God. Let it make you fearful of yielding to any excuses, lest you be absent from the ordinances at the very time that Jesus shall manifest his presence there : worldly business, worldly pleasure, dinner company, and such like engagements, will ill repay you for the loss of spiritual and eternal good. Say not, ' I can serve God as well at home ;' for it is not the means we use, but the bless- ing of God upon them that renders them effectual to our benefit ; and God's blessing cannot be expected, if we seek it not in the way of his appointment. And if proud and envious hypocrites condemn you, regard it not. Your Saviour him- self will vindicate your conduct, to your honour, and to their confusion.]
3. With what comfortable hope may we look to Jesus under all our troubles !
[It is alike easy to him to save from bodily or spiritual disorders. A touch of his hand, or word of his mouth, will convey the blessing we desire. Are we then labouring under any affliction of mind or body ? Are we, like David, " bowed down greatly, and do we go mourning all the day longb?" Behold, it is the Saviour's office to bind up that which is broken, to heal that which is sick, and to raise up them that are bowed downc. Nor can we doubt but that he, who pre- vented the application of this afflicted woman, will come at our entreaty, and impart the aid which we implore. Let us all, then, direct our eyes unto him, and may we all become monu- ments of his power and grace, for his mercy's sake! Amen.]
b Ps. xxx^iii. 6. c Isai. lxi. 1. Ps. cxlvi. 8.