fRr b~tter thRn they knew tbemsel!es, Such is bis knowledge of us. We may think tbnt we know onr~clves and what 1s beet for ourselves, But we may be utterly mis- tRken. \Ve find that our neighbours display lamentable and ruinous ignorance on these greRt matt.ere. Who are we that we should be full of wisdom where others err? Let us distrust. oul"!'elves: "There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death." Ignornut presumption is a foe that" hath slain its ten thousands." The tmly wi!!e will seek the great Teacher's feet, and say," Lord what wilt thou have me to do? "--C. ' Vere. 37-42.-The healing of the lunatic child. From thi9 most interesting story we may gather the truths- I. 'l'HAT FROM THE VERY FANGS OF DEFEAT A GREAT VICTORY MAY BE SECURED, More tha.n once in the history of war there has occurred such an incident as that which is related concerning the great struggle in the United States (1860-1864), A severe and successful attack is made by one army on the other; the enemy is driven back, hiil guns and his camp captured. As his regiment• are in full retreat, the general of t!ie defeated force, who has been unfortunately absent, arrives on the scene; he arrests the tide of retreat, gathers his soldiers about him, stops the pursuing host in their career, leads a triumphant attack upon them, drives them beyond his own camp, recaptures his guns, and chMes the once-conquering but now defeated army for miles to the rear of its first position. Such a victory snatched from the jaws of humbling defeat took place on this occasion. The returning Saviour found bis disciples driven before the hostile attack of bis enemies, but his presence· soon availed "to restore the day," and before long transformed humiliating failure into joyous triumph. In the Master's actual, spiritual, absence the cause of the Church may be brought very low indeed, and a complete and crushing disaster may impend; but let the Lord return, let his presence and his power be felt, and from the very teeth of threatened calamity there shall be secured a glorious victory. Let no heart despond eo long as there is a present Captain; failure is never irretrievable when he is "OD the field;" under his leadership even "death is swallowed up in victory.n IL THAT HUMAN AFFECTION IS MEANT TO LEAD TO BPmITUAL ATTACHMENTS. It was his son's sickness that led this man to seek Jesus; but for that he would not have sought and found him. It was his strong parental love that would not be denied, that led him to urge his plea, that enabled him to overcome his fears and to gain that valu- able victory. God employs many instrumentalities to lead his children into his king- dom. We ought to be influenced by our sense of what is right and of what is wise in the matter; but, if not won by these, let the consideration of the deep and tender interests of those who are dear to us convince and determine us. For the sake of those children of onrs, whom we love so profoundly, and who have such a vital interest in Christian truth, let us sit at the feet of Christ, and be subject to his sway. Ill. THAT THE VERY WORST CABE WILL YIET,D TO THE TOUCH OF THE DIVINE HAND. There could not well be a worse case of possession than this (see vers. 39, 42). If the malignant forces could have triumphed over the benevolent Spirit, they would have triumphed here. But everything was accomplished when" Jesus took him by the hand " (Mark ix. 27). So is it with the worst spiritual maladies. They may seem so bad as to be incurable; it may be the general opinion that the case is utterly hopeless. But there is a power in reserve against which the most virulent and the most violent evils are not able to stand. For " ... many of whom all men ea.id, • They've fallen, never more t.o stand,' Have risen, though they seemed as dead When JeBUS took them by the hand." The most stricken souls will be healed, the mofit sorrowing ones comforted, the most despondent filled with a new and blessed ~~pe, the ~?st fallen 9._nd sunk in sin l_if~ed up to purity and even to beauty and nob1hty of sp1_r1! and of l_ife, ~hen the D1v1ne voice is heard bidding to be comforted, when the Dmne hand 1s la1<l on the brukcn heart or the defiled and guilty soul. IV. TB..6.T THE EARNEST SOVL NEED NOT LET ANYTIIIN(J KEEP HIM DAOK FROM en. rx, 1-63.] THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. tUKF.. 261
CrmIAT AND ms BAl,VATION, This father hnd much to overcome-the natural reluct- ance he woul,l bo.ve to bring the poor demoniac into such publicity; the failuro of the disciples to elfoct e. cure, woll calcull\ted 11.8 that Wl\8 to discouraae and dishearten him• hie own imperfect faith (Mark ix. 22, 24). But he overcame all these, and gained hi; 11lea. Mu.ny may be the obstacles in the way of our salvation; they may be circum- stu.ntial, or they may be inward and spirituii.l; but if there be a thoroughly earnest spirit, they will not prevail over us; we shall triumph over them, and go on our way with our cause gained o.nd our hearts glo.ddened.-C.