of life : let us look well to the whole of our spirit and temper, that we may not even in the smallest matter " cause the enemy to speak reproachfully," but rather may " adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things."]
Acts iii. G — 8. Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none ; but such as I have give I thee : In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk. And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up : and immediately his feet and ancle bones received strength. And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God.
IT is justly said, that " we know not what a day or an hour may bring forth." Nothing under heaven was further from the expectations of this poor cripple, or of the friends who brought him to " the beautiful gate of the temple," than that he should obtain such a mercy as that which was now vouchsafed unto him. Possibly he might hope to receive some larger dona- tion than any he had ever yet been favoured with ; but, to obtain a perfect cure of his malady, with all the attendant benefits of it to his body and his soul, he had not the slightest hope. Nor indeed had Peter and John any thoughts of conferring such a benefit, till God, by his Spirit, put it into their hearts to im- part it. But the miracle here wrought is of standing use to the Church in all ages. We see in it, I. A divine attestation to the Messiahship of Jesus —
For this end it was wrought by the Apostles —
[When they were first sent forth by our Lord, soon after the commencement of their call to his service, he gave them this command : " Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely givea." The same command was in force during the whole of their ministry ; because it was by working miracles that they were to convince men that they were messengers from the Most Highb, who alone could so confirm their word, or give such testimony to
» Matt, x 8. b John xiv. 12. Mark xvi. 17, 18.