touched me,' for the cootnct hBa not heco between soul a.or! soul, bnt r,nl_v bctwe,,n form and form," We are very much thronged in this modem life we live, but we are not very often touched to newness of thought and feeling; and except we Jive a life of prnyer and genuine hum1m sympathy, we must not expect to "tonch" other souls so as to quicken and inspire them. II. THE USELEBBNES8 OF ANY REMEDY BUT THE GOSPEL FOB OUR SPIRITUAL NEED. This woman in her helplessness is a picture of humanity. It is sick with the worst of all maladies--ein. It is suffering all the wretched consequences of guilt---weariness, restlessness, misery, remorse. It often spends its resources on things which have no healing virtue, and which leave it ill as ever. At length it repairs unto him in whom is no disappointment, in the shelter of whose cross, and in the shadow of whose love, and in the euushine of whose service is pardon for every sin, comfort for every sorrow, rest for every soul. III. 'l'HE DUTY OF DECLARING WHAT Goo HAS DONE FOR us. That sensitive heart, trying to screen herself from the observation of the crowd, and wishing to come and go unnoticed, was not rejected. Nevertheless, the Lord, by his repeated questioning, con- strained her to come forward and acknowl~dge the blessing she had received. Christ does not wish for an ostentatious piety; he hates all pretence; but he approves an,l desires a suitable nnd grateful avowal of our indebteduess to him. 'l'hough we come with a trembli~ heart, yet we a.re to come and tell our frieuds what grea.L tbiugs the Lor<l has done for us. IV. THE DISTINGUISHING NOTICE CHRIBT TAKES OF us. "Who t-0uched me?" askrd the Lord. "Master, the multitude throng thee; is it wonderful that somebody should touch thee? Anybody might chance to touch thee in such a crowd; can it ma.tter who it was?" urges Peter. "Ah I but that is not enough. Somebody, some one, bath touched me; there is one individual; whom I distinguish from the others, that has laid an appealing hand upon me. You see nothing iu that touch but an accideotal encounter. I see much more than that-the approach of a human mind, the appeal of a human heart, the contact of a. human soul with mine. 9 This is the spirit of onr Lord's reply. And it conveys to us the important truth that we are not lost in the crowd. It is not so true to say, "God loves man," as to say," God loves men." "He tasted death for every man;"" He loved me, and gave himself for me." There are no limitations in the lufioite One. The fact that he controls the universe is no reason why he Rbould not watch the workings of each humblest human soul The vastness of the range of his observation does not diminish the fulness of his knowledge of every member of his family. Disciples sec only a pressing, pushing throng; but the Master singles out the woman who has come to see whether her last chance will fail her. The crowd may hide us from one another, but not from ot:r Lord. God sees us, every one; follows us; pursues us with hie watchful and redeeming love; guides us with his hand; le&<1s us into hie kingdom. But we must see that our touch is one that will call forth such a response a.s this. Christ discriminates between the touch of this woman and that ot the unmannerly crowd. It is not necessary for us to have a full and perfect under- standing of his nature, or even a perfect, unwavering assurance of the succe~s of onr appeal. This woman had neither of these. It is necessary that we should have what she had-earnest1,ess of spirit, and a measure of genuine faith in him. 'l'hen will he say to ;;.a, as to her, "Be of good comfort . . . go in peace."-C. Ver. 4:9.-..4 needless anxiety concerning <Jhrist. "Trouble not the Master." Thie ruler of the synagogue shuwecl a commendahle desire not to give useless trouble to the Prophet of Nazareth; he could not expect that his power would extend so far 11s to raise the ,lead, and he witibed to eave him fruitless trouble. Equally creditable was the behaviour of the centurion whose action is recorded in a previous chapter (vii. 6). He felt th,1t the Lord could accomplish in the distance the object of his perhaps tuii- 8'imo joumey, and he sent to say, "'l'rou blo not thyself: for I am not worthy t11at thou ehouliiest enter under my roof." It was right that, by considerate kindness, the Sen oF man should be saved all that those who loved and honoured him rc u!tl save him 0
from. And the same ie true enough to-day of the Son of God. 'l'liere nre- I. WrsE AND R.OflT SOLIClTUDEM CONCl,RNINO HIM, We are hound tu refrain mo,1 carefully antl conscir.nti,rnsly from troubling the Master by: 1. Duin~ in his n:une that TIIE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. LUKE. [on. vrn. 1-50,