I' ers. 25-34.-Salvation without money and without pi·iu. A figure of the spiritual experience of man. 1. CoNTRASTED WITH EARTHLY EXPEDIENTS OF SALVATION. These are expensive because : 1. They waste the spiritual nature of man. 2. They increase rather than diminish the evil. How forlorn the poor woman I How great the contrast with the " sleeping" child! Death in life is far worse than the natural death. It is not mourned for as the latter, and has all the added sorrow of disappointment and despair. 3. They keep away from the true Saviour. II. YET IT MUST BE LEGITIMATELY SOUGHT. The grace of God cannot be stolen. The Saviour knows when a sinner receives his "virtue." There is only one way-the way of faith. The salvation of God is given, not taken by force or stealth; graciously given, with a benediction and a confirming assurance. lIL IT COSTS THE SINNER NOTHING, BUT THE S.AVIOUR EVEBYTHING.-M. Vers. 25-34.-The little of things of Ohrist great things for men. How great an idea this woman had of Christ I If there was any fault, it was that she believed in the power, but did oot trust the love of Christ. Yet her humility, which was as manifest as her faith, and her shame may account in great part for the stealth and surreptitious• ness of her action. L MEANS OF GB.ACE ABE NOT TO BE DESPISED BECAUSE THEY .APPEAR OUTWARDLY INSIO- KIFICANT. Superstition, ritualism, etc., deprecated; yet an error incideot to the opposite extreme. We are oot saved by works, neither Qiterally) are we saved by faith. It is Christ that saves. This woman was touching Christ. God's sufficiency so different from man's. ll. NOT THE OUTWARD ClliJL\<n'EB OF ANY ACT, BUT THE SPIRIT IN WHICJI I'1' IB DONE, IS TO BE CONSIDERED CHIEFLY. The great end of religious acts is to bring us into com- munion with Christ. This of the woman was a mere touch, scarcely perceptible in the pressure of the crowd. The disciples had not observed it. But Christ felt that it bad taken place, and had been effectual. There are manifold ways in which he reaches souls and is reached by them. The common experiences of life may be channels of greater blessing than the ordinances of the Church, when they are regarded in a believing, pious spirit. Ill PIETY IS OFl'EN .APPARENTLY OUT OF PilOPOBTION TO ADVANTAGES .A:S-D OPPOR· TUNITIES. 1. Small things may often bring people to Christ, or keep them away from him. 2. Faith may often discover itself in the midst of ignorance and the absence of conventional religion. 8. Spiritual privileges may /tinder instead of helping religious progress if they be not spiritually tued. This poor woman will rise in judgment against many who have made great show ofreligious observance, and condemn them. We may hear too often, if we do not lay to heart and obey. We require" grace for grace."-M.
Ve!"II. 30-33.-" Who touched 'TIU P" I. CHBIBT'B SAVING GBACJ!I lB ALWAYS OON• SCIOUSLY EXERCISED. CB, V, 1-43,] THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. MARK. 221