The correct explanation, wLile not exclusive of this view, is inclusive of much more. 5. The single word spoken by the Saviour. "Ephphatha.," that is, "Be opened," was the single utterance after the heavenward look and inward sigh. The root of this word is the Hebrew pathach, to open; from a similar Syriac root comes ethpatach, the impera- tive of the passive conjugation Ethpael; then, by assimilation of theta and aspiration, we get ephphatha. And no sooner had be spoken that word than its omni.fie power appeared, The dull ear was endowed with a power it had never known before, or to which it had been long a stranger. The hindrance that prevented the free passage oi the air, or deadened its undulations, was removed; the defect in its organism was reme<lied. The pleasure of drinking in sweet sounds and of listening to the music of human speech came with all the freshness of a new faculty. The man felt as though he had found himself in a new world, or had entered on a new and improved existence, or bad risen many steps higher in the scale of being. And so, in truth,he had. But this was not all; the tongue was freed completely and at once from whatever it was that had fettered it, the impediment was quite gone, and the articulation was, notwith- standing the long disease, immediately perfect. He could now tell to all around the happy change he had undergone-the perfect nature of tile cure, tbe plell.l!ure that filled bis soul, the gratitude that glowed in his heart and which then flowed from his lips. 6. The cure a cause of adoring wonder. Here we must admire, and, while we admire, adore, the power of Christ, for it is the power of God. Nothing short or Almighty power could have accomplished this wonder-work of mercy, fur " Who bath made man's mouth Yor who maktth the dumb, or deaf, or the seeing, or the bliud? have not I the Lord?" And none, surely, save the Lord could thus unmake what sin and Satan had marred, removing all deficiencies, and renewing the afflicted with more than original powers. Here, too, we trace distinct proofs of his Messiahship. Blind as the multitude so frequently were, they could not shut their eyes on this fact; they were so astonished that they could. not help admitting it. '!'hey said, "He maketh both the deaf to hear, and the dumb to speak;" they evidently bad an eye to the words of the prophet, and the works he predicted the Messiah would do, when he said, " Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped. Then shall the lame man leap ati an hart, and the tongue of the dumb sing." Ill. PRACTICAL INSTRUCTION. 1. Inferences. Thiti miracle, like others of our Lord's miracles, warrants three inferences: (l) his superhuman power, and by conse- quence his Divine commission; (2) a glorious coming day foreshadowed, when aU physical disabilities shall be finally and for ever removed ; and (3), what is of personar and practical importance, the inference of the Saviour's ability to <lo for the soul wbut he 110 often and so effectually did for the body. Tho impediments of the body are bui 330 'l'HE GOSPEL ACCORDING 'l'O ST. MAUK. [cu. vm. 1-38.
dim shadows or the worse impediments or the soul. Dy nature the e11.r is de11.f to the Divine commands, the tongue dumb when i\ should celebrate his praise; while the heart is hard, the affections frozen, the mind uhrouded in darkness-the man in a state of isolation, without fellowship with God or communion with the saints. Christ says, "Ephphatha," and oh, what a change ensues I 'l'he,ear is opened to hear God's Word, the heart, like Lydia's, to receive his grace, the tongue untied to praise his name and call upon him in prayer. 2. Hi,(d'l/,f! meed of praise. In view of all this we must join with the multitude and say," He bath done all things well." It was well for the man that was healed, because in his case it was next to life from the dead ; it was well for his relations, for their trouble was all but over; it was well for his friends, because their enjoyment of him and pleasure with him were unspeakably increased; it was well for mankind, that the Son of man had authority to exercise such power upon earth ; it was well for each of us, because herein we have an earnest of what he will ii~ for the soul, a pledge of the renovation of soul and body, an assurance of the fut1....e and final perfection of both. He did all things well, for he "did no iniquity, neither was guile found in his mouth ; " he did all things well, for he went about continually, doing good. More particularlv, he did all things well, for whatever he did he did largely and liberally, modestly and humbly, generousiy, graciously, gratuitously, and yet gloriously. Like the first creation, when God saw everything that he had made," behold, it was very good; " so, when the works of Christ are contemplated, the concurrent testimony o.. heaven and earth will be, that "he bath done all things well." Saints on earth will say it, for they are the trophies of his mercy, the triumphs of his grace, the memorials of his goodness, and the monuments of his power; saints in heaven will say 1t, adding, Ile opened our ears by his power, our hearts by his spirit, our tongues by his grace ; he washed us from our sins in his blood, making us kings and priests unto God. Multitudes when he was on earth said it; multitudes yet unborn will say it. We ourselves are entitled to say it, for his healing power has reached WI; he has removed our maladies, renewed our souls, made us to delight in his Word and rejoice in his lov~ 11 He speaks, and, listening to his voice, New life the dead receive; The mournful, broken hearts rejoice, The humble poor believe. .. Hear him, ye deaf; his praise, ye dumb, Yonr loosened tongues employ; Ye blind, behold your Saviour come; And leap, ye lame, for joy." J.J. G.