Matt. XV. 30j 31. And great multitudes came unto him, having with them those that were lame, blind, dumb, maimed, and many others, and cast them down at Jesus' feet ; and he healed them: insomuch that the multitude wondered, when they saw the dumb to speak, the maimed to be whole, the lame to walk, and the blind to see : and they glorijied the God of Israel.
EVERY miracle which our Lord performed suggests to us some pecuhar subjects of profitable meditation. But we shall not now dwell upon any one act, how- ever great or benevolent ; our attention at this time will be fixed upon a more than ordinary exertion of omnipotence, the working of miracles in a mass, if we may so speak. We behold Jesus healing great mul- titudes of persons who laboured under a variety of disorders ; which circumstance may very properly lead us to inquire,
I. What sensations must this exercise of divine power have excited ?
A more interesting spectacle cannot be conceived than that which was exhibited on this occasion. Consider the impression that must have been made,
1. On the persons healed — [It could not fail but that the persons, who had been healed instantly, and without any painful operation, must be deeply affected with the mercy bestowed on them. With what fixed- ness of attention must the blind, whose eyes had been opened, survey their benefactor ! They would feel no disposition to gratify their curiosity by gazing on the wonders of creation : neither the meridian sun, nor the face of nature enlightened by it, would for one moment attract their notice. The restorer of their visual powers would engross their whole minds ; nor would they turn their eyes from him for a moment, unless to wipe away the tears of gratitude and joy that would stream as from an overflowing fountain. With what exquisite delight would the deaf listen to the voice of him who had unstopped their ears ! with what insatiable avidity would they drink in the sound, while, with the teachableness of little children, they received his gracious instructions ! As for the dumb, whose tongues were loosened, they would, by an involuntary and irre- sistible impulse, fill the air with acclamations and hosannahs,