The Pulpit Commentary — Mark — Volume 1 — Section 189

"in the branches thereof." Its growth is beyond, far beyond, what might have been rea.sonably expected. So we see to-day; so will it be more and more eeon. These parables Jesus spake unto the multitude" as they were able to hear;" and privately then, as he now does to them who care to know, "he expounded all things."-G. Vers. 35--U.-The stilling of the storm: the deliverance of the (Jfiurch. The miracles so far recorded were miraclos of healing, and demonstrate the dominion of Christ in the realm of the human life-he is Lord of the human body. Now he declares his eaueJ dominion in the realm of disturbed nature, "even the wind and the sea obey him.' The Chnrch has found two uses in the miracles of our Lord, 1. In an earlier age they were a sign to unbelievers, evidences of the authority of the Teacher, attestations to the truth of his message. Christ appealed to them : " The works that the Father hath given me to accomplish, the very works that I do, bear witness of me, that the Father hath sent me. Though ye believe not me, believe the works.'' 2. In later times they have been found to be a treasure of spiritual teaching, a word of revelation and power to believers. Thus they form a part of the Church's inestimable possessions. The instruction divides itself into two branches: the positive knowlcdo-e which they convey-as in this, the lordship of the world's Redeemer over extern~l nature ; and the typical and more hidden spiritual lessons. The Church has ever seen herself represented in that ship. "The ark of Christ's Chnrch" is a consecrated term, and in the sea. she has beheld the wild, raging, unfriendly world. So the incident becomes typical: (1) of the Chnrch's exposure in the world, as a bark on a stormy sea; (2) of the Church's true safety in the presence of Christ; (3) of the ever-present and final stilling of the rage of the world and the perfect deliverance of his own from all surrounding peril. J. 'I'ml: HISTORY OF THE ClruRCH OF THE LORD JESUS I8 A HISTOBY OF EXPOSURE TO DANGER. What perils have threatened the holy writings-that ark in which all the truth is held I At first but a few scattered recollections of men ; Heaven's high treasures held in earthen vessels. Then written on a few flying leaves of parchment by tremulous human hands in uncertain human letters. Afterwards followed dangers from the errors of dim-sighted transcribers, from injudicious interpolators, from the destructive ravages of fire. Yet after the long ages it is probable we possess a more accurate transcript of the original documents than the Church ever possessed since the very early transcripts were penned. To what perils has the true Society of Jesus-the holy Catholic Church-been exposed in her very varying history I Scarcely had thie barque left the shores ere the strong surf of Judaism threatened to overturn it. Then fitful winds of human wisdom-" the profane babblings and oppositions of the know- ledge which is falsely so called." Dangers have arisen from internal contentions-a mutinous crew ; from UDSteady hands at the helm, and clouded eyes upon the watch ; from overl.ading with worldly goods, gold, raiment, precious stones; from sunken rocks of pride and worldly glory. False lights have threatened to wreck the vessel upon rugged and uncertain coasts, while black darkness has overcast the heavens, when "for many days neither sun nor stars have shone and no small tempest lay" on the exposed craft. Truly this Galilean boat, this "ark of Christ's Church," has been often in periloUB seas. But with all she has not sunk. Christ has said, " Let us go over unto the other side." A wider view would lead 118 to think of the exposure of the whole spiritual interests of men. '!'hough these have been expo~ed to dire destruction, they still survive, and faith, and hope, and love, and truth, and nghteousness abound. lL THE CHURCH'S SAFETY HAS EVEB JIEEN, IS NOW, A.ND EVER WILL JIE, IN CHRIBT, This no believer will doubt. To all human appearance asleep, he hastily responds to the cry of prayer, of fear, and desire. The Church to-day is as truly safe in the midst of her many tlangers as in that night when the whole Church and the Lord thereof were in that one fishing-boat, when all seemed to be risked, and men accustomed to the sea cried, being fearful, " We perish." up out of ~he evils of this s~rm:r life will he lift hie own by the miracles of hie supremacy. HIS sweet, calm voice :win yet be beard above " the raging of the sea and the tumult of the people," above str1f~ and w~r and cruel hate, above ignorance, and sin, and aon:ow, and pam. Even to evil he will say, "Peace, be still." So that unto him whom wmds and seas obey shall be glory and honour from the quiet spirits of hia whole Church for evermore.-G. <ttt. rt.1-41.] THE GOSPEL ACCORDING T() ST. MARK. 185