revealed God as the Dispenser of health and the Giver of all blessincre, 3. It was a mirack having special significance for the spectators. By means of it Ch~ist taught more cle,arly the nature and design of the sabbath day, His foes had followed him from Jerusalem,_ with the resolute determination to destroy his influence and, if possible, to compass his death. Already they had detected his disciples in the violation of a rabbinical rule by rubbing corn in their hands on the sacred day. And the Lord had at once thrown over his followers the shield of his authority, as an Achilles would have done over the wounded Greeks, and had roundly declared that the" Son of man was Lord even of the sabbath day." They hoped now that he would publicly commit himself by some action in harmony with this declaration, and that so prejudice mi..,ht be raised against his heresy. Show how bravely, wisely, and victoriously he met th~ and taught for all generations that "it is lawful to do well on the eabbath day." ' II. THE LESSONS JEsus TAUGHT. 1. Neglecting opportunities/or doing good is really doing evil. Jesus Christ meant, by the alternative he put in the fourth verse, that if he did not do the good he was able to do for this poor sufferer, he did him a wrong. 'l'his is universally true. If at the judgment seat any appear who have done nothing for others and for their Lord, they will not be able to say, " We have done no harm I " for they ha,e injured themselves and others by neglect. The "wicked and slothful servant" was not condemned because he had done harm with his wealth and. talent, but because he had done no good with them, having digged in the earth and hid his lord's money. 2. Loving help is better than outward ritual. 'l'he religious leaders of our Lord's day thought it of vital importance that the law of the Jewish sabbath- " Thon shalt do no manner of work "-should be observed with scrupulous exactness. But on that holy day Christ freely cured disease, and so taught the people the meaning of J ehovah's words, " I will have mercy, and not sacrifice." We are bound so to use our sacred day, associating acts of love and mercy with the services which sanctify its hours. 3. Fear qfpersonal consequences should never hinder the true servant of God. What our Lord did on this occasion so aroused anger that we read in St.·Lu.ke's Gospel, "They were filled with madness ; " and " straightway they took counsel with the Herodians against him, how they might destroy him." Foreseeing this, he did not hesitate for a moment. :May the fear of God in us also cast out all fear of man !-A. R.
Ver. 5 (first part).-The Saviour's view of sin. Describe the scene in the synagogue; the wickedness of the plot formed by the Pharisees ; the compassion of our Lord, breaking through it as a mighty tide over a flimsy barrier; the nobility of his teaching concerning the right use of the sabbath; the healing of the man with the withered hand, etc. Our text graphically describes the feeling with which our Lord regarded his adversaries, and this deserves earnest consideration. At first the bold declaration, "He looked round about on them with anger," startles us; for it seems in contradiction to his meekness and patience, which were perfect. But the explanation follows, " Being grieved for the hardness of their hearts." 'l'bis shows the nature of bis feeling. It reminds us of another occasion (Luke xiii. 34), when he spoke of Jerusalem in a tone of reproachful indirnation; but at once added the gentle words, "How often would I have gathered thy ~hildren together, as a hen doth gather her brood under her wings I" On both occasions there was a blending of feelings which too often appear to us contradictory and incompatible. But it is possible to be "angry and sin not." Christ looked on the Pharisees, and was indignant at their hypocrisy and unscrupulous hatred• but at once the feeling softened into pity as be thought of the insidious proce~ of "hardening," which (as the Greek implies) was still going on, to end in hopeless callousness. With him warning was mingled with weeping; as his disciple Paul afterwards spoke with tears of those who were" enemies of the cross of Christ" (PbiL iii. 18). In this, as in all things else, Christ has left us an example; therefore we will endeavour first to-- L UNDERSTAND THE COMPLEX FEELING HERE EXEMPLIFIED. We see in it two elements : I. Indignation against sin. We are _constantly coming in contact w_ith the faults and sins of men. Our newspapers contain accounts of murders and cruelties, of thefts and treasons. Overreaching and fraud meet us in business; slander and enmity lurk in society. Sensibility to such sins is not only not wrong, it is right and Christlike, and will become more keen as we grow in likeness to our Lord. It is a~ oa. m. 1-35.] THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. MARK. 133