he sighed, and 1111th 'IIJlto him, Ephphatha., The word appliee of course, primarily, that is, :Be oJ!ened. He looke<l up to heo ven, though not exclusively, to the ear; for not because from thenoe come nll good things- only were his ears opened; but the bond of words for the dumh, hearing for the dcof, his tongue was looaed, and he epake plain. heoling for all infirmities; and thus he Vere. 36, 37.-He oharged them (o,.,r-r,1'.- would teaoh the infirm man by a monifest 71.e-ro). The word is a strong one: "he sign td what quorter he WBB to look for the gave them clear and positive orders." The true source of his oure. He sighed (l,r•rl- injunction seems to have been given, both to ~a{•); literally, he groaned. Why did our the deaf and dumb man, and to thosP. who Lord sigh at such a moment? We know brought him. And it WBB given pnrtly. 110 indeed that he was " a man of sorrows, and doubt, for his own sake, and for rer"mne acquainted with grief;" but now we might connected with his gradual manifestation of almost have expected a momentary smile of himself to the worlcl, and partly for the loving joy when he was about to give back instruction of his disciples, and to show to this afflicted man the use of these valuable that he did not desire by his miracles to instruments of thought and action. But he win the vain applause of men. St. Augus- sighed even then; for he wBS touched with tine says that "our Lord desired, by putting the feeling of human infirmity, e.nd no doubt this restraint upon them, to teoch how much his comprehensive eye would take in the more fervently they ought to preach him, vast amount of misery, both bodily and whom he commissions to preach, when they spiritual, which has come upon the world who were forbidden could not be silent." through sin; and this, too, immediately He hath done all thinge well. He did after having looked up to heaven, and nothing thot the Pharisees, captious ond thought of the realm of bliss which for a envious as they were, could reasonably find time he had left "for us men, and for ou:r fault with. St. Matthew (xv. 30, 31) inti- solve.tion." Ephphatha, that is, Be opened. mates thot at this time ou:r Lord exhibited This word is, of course, addressed to the a vast number of miracles, a bright galaxy man himself; and the evangelist has re- of wonders, amongst which this shone out tained the original Syro-Che.ldaio word, as conspicuously, e.a a very prominent o.nd he has retained " Talitha en.mi" elsewhere; instructive one. But, indeed, "he went so that the e.ctual word which passed through about doing good." His whole life on earth the Saviour's lips, and restored speech and wos one connected, continued m11nifest.ation bee.ring to the e.fflictod, might be he.nded on, of loving kindness. as doubtle1111 it will be, to the end of time.
HOMILETICS. Vers.1-23.-Ceremonialism and spirituality. The teaching of our Lord Jesus wa~ often in opposition to that of the religious leaders of his age and nation. The Pharisees and scribes were most religious, but their religion was of a bad type. They themselves practised, and they inculcated upon the people, the observance of religious forms and ceremonies; whilst, generally speaking, they were negligent of the weightier matters of the Law. They laid great stress upon the outward, but they were careless of the spiritual. Our Lord's teaching, on the contrary, exalted the spiritual, and insisted upon the supreme importance of a true, a pure, o. reverent heart. The contrast between cere- monialism and spirituality is exhibited in this passage in several particulars. l. CEBEMONIALISM BUllBTITUTES WASHING WITH WATER FOB PURITY OF HEART, Ablutions occupied an important place in the system of ritual. In addition to the washings and sprinklings required by the Law, many others were invented by the super- stitious. It was a religious duty to wash the hands before eating and upon returning from market; to sprinkle and cleanse ceremonially cups and pots, vessels and furniture. In contradistinction from all these ritual purifications, our Lord laid stress upon the true baptism, the washing and purifying of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Il. CEBEMONIALIBM SUBSTITUTES THE TRADITIONS OF THE ELDERS FOB THE COMMANDS OF GoD. The Jews were n nation highly conservative in character and habit. They cherished their history, they revered the memory of their heroes, they treasured and superstitiously honoured their sacred books, and any doctrines or practices which came down from antiquity were, by that fact, commended to their respect. Their fault here was in magnifying the precepts of men rather than the commands of God. lluman interpretations, human additions, human corruptions of the Word, were put in the place 298 THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST, MAUK [en. vu. 1-37.