Ver. 9 (see also Mark ii. 13, 14; Luke v. 27, 28).-The sudden but safe call. In introduction show that the three evangelists all place this call of Matthew in the same order, viz. after the healing of the paralytic, but go on at once to the account of the "great feast" which be gave, and which was attended by the "disciples" of Christ. This feast, we leam from the narrative of Mark and Luke, belonged to a little later period, when Jesus had crossed to the other side of the lake. The occasion of it is there identified by the application of Jairus, spoken of in our present chapter (ver. 18). Notice-- I. THE DOUBLE N.A.lfE, THE NATION, .AND THE EMPLOiMENT HITHERTO OF THE "MAN" NOW CALLED TO DISCIPLESHIP. Dwell on the change herein, and the contrast of his business-how possible, with God's grace and the Holy Spirit's might to alter and to renovate, such changes are; how welcomely the change was ever traced in this instance ; how blessed hereafter was its course and success; and how divinely refresh- ing to the Church of the present day to read of, to hear of as o. modern spiritual miracle, and to know in all the practical reality of this typical original case. 11. THE SUDDENNESS OF THE CALL. Such suddenness not unsafe with Christ, the omniscient; Christ, who knew all that was in man, at the helm. Guard against human haste, human incaution, human confidence. "Lay hands suddenly on no man" is tbo text for man, but not needed for the "chief Shepherd," "the Shepherd and Bishop of souls," the "great Shepherd of the sheep." III. THE SWIFT OBEDIENCE, THE READY HE.ART, THE UNDELAYING AND UNJIESERVING SELF-SURRENDER OF THE MAN 0.ALLED. All this was an auspicious omen, so far as it went. Illustrated by the future, it was all a perfect vindication of the foreknowledge and the gro.ce of him who called.-B.
Vers. 10-13 (see also Mark ii. 15-22; Luke v. 29-39).-Tlie model readiness of mercy. Lenrn that- I. THE MOST UNUSUAL PLACES AND THE MOST UNUSUAL TIMES .ABE, .ACCORDING TO THE EX.AMPLE OF CIIRIST, TO BE UTILIZED FOR THE SEEKING .AND CONVERTING OF TBB MOST UNUSUAL Cll.AR.ACTERB, AND THOSE WHO MAY BE .APPARENTLY OF THE MOST HOPE- LESS KIND. II. TH.AT DY THE EX.AMl'LE OF CHRIST NO LIMIT MUST DE BET TO THE CONDESCENSION -WHENEVER EVEN IT MAY MOST RE.ALLY MERIT TH.AT DESCRIPTION-OF THE II.AN WHO WOULD EMULATE THE CHARACTER AND THE WORX .AND THE METHODS OF TH.AT MODEL PHYSICUN OF SOULS. Ill. TH.AT AB THE SUPREME :t-'"EED OF THE SOUL IS MERCY, SO .ALSO THE SOVEREIGN QUALIFICATION OF HIM WHO WOULD DE ITS PHYSICIAN IB READINESB TO :UERCY-TO FEEL IT .AND TO SHOW IT, Contrast tlie "having mercy" and the requiring of sacrificc.-B.
Vers. 14-17 (see also Mark ii. 18-22; Luke v. 33-39).-Human diefiguringa <.J! the <Jhurch's order and discipline. Observe- i34 THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. MATTHEW. [en. rx.1-38.
l. THE FORESHADOWING FOUND HERE OF THAT LONG HISTORY OF RUMAN INTER• FERENCES WITH THE UNWRITTEN BUT SIMPLE MANIFEST ORDER OF THE CHUBOH'B LIFE AND PRACTICE AS GUIDED EVEN BY REASON. II. THE FORESHADOWING HEREIN OF RUMAN RENDINGS OF TIil!: UNITY OF THB CIIURCH lN 'MATTERS NOT OF DOCTRINE NOR, JUSTLY SPEAKING, OF DISCIPLINE. Ill. THE FORESHADOWING OF RUMAN 0 DISFIGURING ON A MOURNFULLY LARGE SCALE OF THE BEAUTY OF THE CHUBCH 8 FORM AND APPEAR.ANOE BEFORE AN EVEB·CBITIOAL AND SCEPTICAL WORLD.-B.
Vers. 18, 19, 23-26 (see also Mark v. 22-24, 35--43; Luke viii. 41, 42, 49-56).- The advance of faith upon sense. In introduction, point out this narrative as a typical instance of the advantage of comparing the different accounts of the three evangelists. Note in this case the very graphic rehearsal of St. Mark, and how still St. Luke has to add to it. .Also point out the fine corroborating, not invalidating, witness to truth offered by the variation of St. Matthew's "even now dead," St. Mark's "on tho point of death," and St. Luke's "lay a-dying." Notice- I. WHAT SYJ,fpATHY AND WHAT .ACTIVE EXERTION THE GE~"UINE .ACCENT OF WOE .AWAKDS IN CHRIST. He heard it, and arose and followed it. lL THE m"LIMITED CO~"FIDENCE WHICH CHRIST ADVISES TO FAITH, AND WITH WHICH HE .AUTHORITATIVELY INVESTS FAITH, .AS AGAINST THE PHENOMENA OF THE BAREST SENSE. These latter may seem uncontradictable, but it is the other which u incon- testable. • III. THE GRACIOUS CONDESCENSION WITH WHICH CHRIST WILL PAUSE TO BECKON AND ABGUE WITH ERROR, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT IS NATURAL EBBOB, OB CAN CHARITABLY llE COUNTED SUCH, .AND THE EBBOB OF IGNORANCE AND OF THE UNTAUGHT MANY, R.ATHEB TH.AN THAT OF PERVERSENESS, .AND OF THOSE WHO LOVE DARKNESS BATHER THAN LIClHT. IV. THE PORTION OF PRICELESS BLESSING, THAT IB TO THE PRAYING FATHER INDEED, .AND TRUSTING MOTHER INDEED, .AND TO ELECT DISCIPLES INDEED, .AT THE IIIAJESTIO GIFT OF TREIB SA VIOUB. V. THE SOLEMN SUGGESTION OF THE INEFFABLE MYSTERY OF THE WITNEBBEB OJ' 'l'BE FIN.AL WAKING OF THE DE.AD.-B.
Vere. 20-22 (see a1so Mark v. 25-34; Luke viii. 43--48).-~ easy overflowing of the grae,e of Christ when in contact with faith. In introduction, point out that the form of the approach of this woman, ber own idea of doing nothing beyond touching the hem of a person's garment, and her fright when she had been di8covered as doing e,·en that, were presumably due just to the fact that her disease was one that rendered her ceremonially unclean, and which forbade her to touch another person. She though~ she saw her way possibly out of this by touching only the hem of only a garment. Notice-- L THE ILLUSTRATION HEBE .AFFORDED OF BOW THE SOUL, DRIVEN BY WANT, BY :WOE, BY SIN, NEED NOT BE DRIVEN WITH.AL TO BECKLESSNESS, BUT CANNOT DO BETTER THAN UTILIZE ITB DRIVENNESS OF STATE IN THE DIRECTION OF THE QUEST OJ' HELP llY METHODS EVEN THE MOST UNUSUAL. !I. THE ILLUSTRATION HERE .AFFORDED TH.AT WHERE EVERY LOOPHOLE, EVERY AVENUE, MAY SEEM CLOSED, IT MAY BE SAID TO BE .ALWAYS TRUE THAT THERE 18 ONE LEFT-TB.AT ONE THE BIGHT ONE, AS THE ONLY ONE-IT NEEDS TO BE BOUGHT, ..U.D IT I8 THEN TO BE FOUND. JIJ. 'l'BE ILLUSTRATION HEBE AFFORDED OF THE SUPREME EASE WITH WHICH THE OVERFLOWING GRACE OF CHRIST LENDS ITSELF TO THE BJ,IGBTEST CONTACT OF FAITH, WITH THE RESULT OF INSTANTANEOUS CREATION OF LIFE-OTHER CONTACT UNFRUITFUL, IV. THE ILLUSTRATION HEIIE AFFORDED OF THE PBAOTIO.ALLY .ASSURED VERDICT OF CHRIST, THAT HIB GRANDEST ACHIEVEMENT IN SAVINO .A DODY I8 INCOMPLETE E,s ~:NTIALL Y WIT HOUT TIIE SOUL BA VED ALSO. V. THE ILLUBTB.ATION HEBE GIVEN OF CBRIBT'B EARTHLY BENEDICTION UPON BUCH BODY AND SOUL TOGETHER MADE NEW.-B.
Vera. 27-31.-Tlie blindnu, of ,en,e vangul,hed by the ,ight of fait'6,. In Intro- ea, IX, l•-38.J THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. MATTHEW. 385