are constrained to say with the patriarch of Uz, "Miserable comforters are ye all;" just then, it may be, a happy thought occurs to us, a ray of heavenly light shines down upon us, a gleam of comfort comes to cheer us. We fear we are imposing on ourselves. Not so. Jesus come~ in a way ~ot to be misapprehended, and says to us, "It is I;' you need IJot be afraid. The wmds have fallen and the waters subsided. It was I says Jesus; they did it at my bidding. 3. The real source of succour. Relief comes'. We are rescued from danger; from sickness we are restored to health; out of a situation of discomfort and unrest we are relieved. At such times we are apt to speak of the immediate instrumentalities in the case, and to attribute the change to second causes. '!.'his passage corrects that error. In it Jesus says," It is I;" in other words, that medicine that proved so effectual derived its efficacy from me ; it was I directed to it. Those friends that were so kind in. the day of )'.O~r troubl~ were mo_ved to sympathy by me. It was I prompted them ; 1t was I put 1t into the1.r heart; 1t was I placed it in their power. " While some trust in horse~, and some in chariots, we will make mention of the Name of the Lord." Thus, in all that betides the Christian, Jesus takes a part; in all the variety of char:ge, and scene, and condition, and circumstance-that wonderful co-operation of all things for our good-we trace the presence of the Saviour. In the painful things and the pleasant, in the heights and depths, in the ups and downs, in the joys and sorrows, we are assured of the Saviour's power and presence • he is condncting us through all to the goodly land afar off. ' "When the shore is won at last, Who will count the billows past? n, 4. Jesus with us all the way. (1) When the hour of our departure is at hand, when the last conflict approaches, when the darkness of death is beginning to envelop us, when we are passing through the dark valley of death-shade, the same Friend is at our side, the same friendly hand is on our shoulder, and the same fond voice sounds in our ears. It is the voice of Jesus, saying, "It is I;" death is my minister, my mes- senger; he can do you no harm; I have removed his sting. My rod and staff will comfort yon; through me you will be more than conqueror, and will be able to challenge Death himself, and say," 0 Death, where is thy sting? 0 Grave, where is thy victory?" "This God is our God for ever and ever: he will be our guide even unto [rather, over] death." (2) Again, on the resurrection morning, when all that are in their graves shall hear the voice of the Son of God and come forth, the same voice will reverberate through the graves of the poor and the tombs of the rich with the words, "It is I;"" I am the resmrection and the life;" "My dead men shall live; together with my dead body shall they come;" or, more literally and more correctly, "my dead body shall they come." There is not merely conjunction, not only union-all this is true, and all this it; much; but more is meaut, for the words" together with" are in italics, and so we are notified that they are not in the original 'l'hus there is identity; om Lord identifies himself with the dead in Christ. He is the Head, they are the members; and thw;, one in life, one in death, they shall be one in the resmrection, and one through all eternity; therefore it is, "My dead body shall they come." (3) Also in the day of judgment, when "we shall all stand before the judgment-seat of Christ," the same loving tones will cheer us. The Judge on the throne will stoop down and say to his people," It is L" The same Saviom that shed his blood for you-in whom you believed, whom you obeyed, whom you followed., loved, and served-is now your Judge. It is I that said to you on earth, "Come unto me, all ye that la.hour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." It is I, your Elder Brother, who say to you now in heaven, "Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you before the foun- dation of the world." 5. Words of courage as well as comfort. Words of courage are .a.lso spoken by him. He adds, " Be not afraid." Be not afraid of temptation, for with every temptation he will prepare a way of escape. Be not afraid of trials; they enlarge your experience: "the trial of your faith worketh patience; and patience, experience; and experience, hope." Be not afraid of tears; they will soon be wiped away: even now the tears you shed cleanse the eyes, so that you see spiritual things more clearly. Be not afraid of toils; they will soon be past, nnd then " there remaineth a rest for the people of God." Be not afraid of troubles, for ·, through much tribulation we must enter the kingdom of God." Be not afraid of the perplexities of the wilderness; he will "guide <JR. vu. 1-37.] THE GOSPEL ACCORDUTG TO ST. MARK. 291
you by his counsel" all the way. Be not afraid of the dark night of storm; for the dark -clouds will scatter, and the feet of Omnipotence will come walking on the water. Be not afraid of the storms of persecution; "blessed are ye when all shall persecute yon for the Saviour's sake." Only make sure you are his, and all the blessings of the covenant will be your portion. 6. The feeling of danger a pre,;ursor of sa/ay. " He would have passed by them." Why was this? Just that they might fully feel their need of bis help, and earnestly apply for it. Salvation is the response of heaven to man when, .n his misery, he cries for it. We hnve read of II young prince who toiled much and travelled much, who was often in danger, many times in perplexity, frequently in diffi- culties. But he was never left alone; a faithful friend called Mentor was ever at his side-hie counsellor, caretaker, guide, and guardian. How much greater is onr privi- .iege, to whom Jesus says, "It is I;" I will be with you all the way; I will be with you at every tum of the way; I will be with yon in every time of need; I will be with you in every place of peril; I will be with yon in the darkness of the night and amid the terrors of the storm ! In calm majesty he will come, walking on the surface of the foam-crested wave ; nor will he pass you by, but provoke your confidence, and prove your faith, and pour into your ears the inspiriting words," Be of good cheer: -it is I; be not afraid.", "Thus soon the lowering sky grew dark O'er B11shnn's rocky brow; The storm rushed down upon the bark. And waves dashed o'er the prow. "The pale disciples trembling spake, While yawned the watery grave, •We perish, Master-1\laster, wake I Carest thou not to save?' •Calmly he rose with sovereign will, And hushed the storm to rest. •Ye waves,' he whispered,• Peace! be still I' They calmed like a pardoned breast." .J.J. G.