for relief to feel false shame. The circumstance of his poverty did not prevent him ; on the contrary, it prompted him all the more. True, he had no introduction to the Prophet from Galilee—no one to make known his situation or explain his unhappy circumstances, and bespeak the Saviour’s favour on his behalf. Still he hoped his earnest appeal would find an echo in the bosom of the illustrious Stranger. He had no merit, he knew, to recommend him, and no particular claim on that Stranger’s clemency ; yet he was resolved to try whether his misfortune might not awaken his sympathy. 3. A lesson for ourselves, Jesus passeth by ; be is near to us, and his presence is close at hand. In this sense he passeth by every time a sabbath dawns upon us, and every time we see the light of the sabbath sun. He passeth by, that is, is present, every time we enter the sanctuary and assemble ourselves with the people of God. ‘ He passeth by, and we are apprised of his presence, every time we are privileged to listen to a gospel sermon. He passeth by us every time we read his Word, or sing his praise, or call on God’s name in prayer. He passeth by us every time we partake of the sacrament of the Supper, and he maketh himself known to us in the breaking of bread. Oh, how often on such occasions has “our heart burned within us as he talked to us by the way, and opened to us the Scriptures”! He passeth by us every time his Holy Spirit strives with us or exercises his gracious influences upon us. He passeth by and makes us feel his presence times and ways past specifying or reckoning. He assures us of this ; for has he not said, “ Behold, I stand at the door, and knock : if any man hearmy voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup wita him, and he with me”? Jesus has come near and close to each of us. He assumed our nature and became our Kinsman. He saw us in our blood, cast out into the open field on the day in which we were born; he pitied us and passed us by, and his time was a time of love. He has come to us, or we should never have gone to him; he has sought us, or we should never have sought him. He has passed us by and made his mercy known to us. He has made good his word, “I bring near my righteousness; it shall not be far off, and my salvation shall not tarry.” Nor is it a mere hasty and passing visit he pays us. He has stoud at the door of our heart until his head has become wet with dew and his locks with the drops of the night. But he will not stand always. He passeth by; and while we understand this statement of his presence, and of that presence manifested to our souls, of his gracious presence in his ordinances, and of his Holy Spirit stirring in our hearts, yet we must not make the fatal mistake of supposing that this will last always. In the very nature of things it cannot continue. Life itself is uncertain, and time is short. Besides, the day of grace will not always tarry; like the Saviour himself, it passeth by. Jesus never visited Jericho again, nor did he ever pass by that way again. So with ourselves. He has visited us often; who can say when or which shall be his last visit? Oh, then, for such earnestness and eagerness as Bartimasus showed, on the part of all that hear the gospel! Jesus has passed near us many a time, and yet some of us, up to the present moment, care for none of these things. We have never cried for help as we ought, or sued for mercy as we should; we have never eagerly sought his grace, or earnestly supplicated forgiveness. We have been lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot. If so, let us beware lest, like the Laodiceans, we are spued out of his mouth. We may have been at ease in Zion, and like wine settled on the lees, forgetful of the woes pronounced on such. How little of the earnestness of this blind beggar do we show in the things of God! And yet, if like him we felt our need, we could not but be earnest and energetic, The hungry man will beg for bread; the thirsty man will repair to the clear cool spring; the starving babe, by the very instinct of its nature, will cry for nurture; even the dumb animals have ways of making known their wants and of seeking a supply: and shall we be so indifferent to spiritual necessities and eternal interests? 4. Characteristics of discipleship. Bartimeus exhibited several character- istics of true discipleship—characteristics which all should seek to possess. He was prompt. There is need for promptness, for God’s long-suffering has its limits. He may wait long, but will not wait always. He passeth by, vouchsafing his presence for a time, but withdrawing it when he sees fit so to do, He was humble, for his plea was for mercy: “‘ Have mercy on me.” He was conscious of the entire absence of all merit. He came at once, and came as he was—in his blindness, in his poverty, and in his beggary. So should it be with ourselves We must come according to the spirit of the simple lines—
cu. x. 1—52.] THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST, MARK, LE
* Just as I am—without one plea But that thy blood was shed for me, And that thou bidd’st me come to thee, O Lamb of God, I come!
* Just as I am—poor, wretched, blind— Sight, riches, healing of the mind, Yea, all I need, in thee to find,
O Lamb of God, I come!”