who could give me eyes. And O! in a moment, " he will be out of hearing, and when may he pass by "again?—He cried so much the more, thou son of "David, have mercy on me!"

Such a cry arrests him in his journey: he cannot take another step-he stood. What cannot prayer do? Once the sun of nature stood still at the desire of Joshúa, who was eager to complete his victory. And, lo! Now the Sun of righteousness stands still with healing under his wings, at the desire of Bartimeus, who begs a cure. He stood. And has thereby taught us never to think it a hindrance in our journey to pause to do good. To do good is our chief business; and to this every thing else is to be rendered subordinate and subservient.

-And commanded him to be brought. By this circumstance he administered reproof and instruction.Reproof-by ordering those to help the poor man, who had endeavored to check him: instruction-by teaching us, that though he does not stand in need of our help, he will not dispense with our services; that we are to aid each other; that though we cannot recover our fellow creatures, we may frequently bring them to the place and means of cure.

:

-Our Saviour is acquainted with all our sins, but he requires us to confess them: he understands all our wants, but he commands us to acknowledge them he is always graciously affected towards our case, but he would have us properly affected with it ourselves. He knew the desire of this man-the case was too plain to be mistaken-but he would know it from himself; and therefore when he was come near, he asked him, saying what wilt thou that I shall do unto thee?.... And he said, Lord that I may receive my sight. And Jesus said unto him, receive thy sight: thy 'faith hath saved thee.' Wherein did this man's faith appear? I answer, in his confession....calling him the Messiah, or Jesus, son of David: and also in his application....for had he not believed in his power, as

able, and in his goodness as willing to succour and relieve him....he would not have addressed himself so earnestly to him. Thus his faith honored Christ, and Christ honored his faith. Thus his faith excited prayer, and prayer brought him relief. Thus his faith produced a unity of design, and a correspondence of disposition between the giver and the receiver, the agent and the subject, the physician and the patient. It is in this way that so much is ascribed in the scriptures to the influence of faith.

And what would be the feelings of this man as soon as he received sight? O what joy, what ecstacy, what gratiude, would he discover! How would he look, and gaze....all things are become new!....But the first object upon which he would fasten his eyes.... would be....his benefactor, and deliverer. He would admire, and weep, and adore, and kneel,...and arise, and resolve never to leave him. Thus, the man lame from his mother's womb, no sooner received strength in his feet and ancle bones, than he "leaping up, stood "and walked, and entered with his deliverers into the "temple....walking....and leaping....and praising God:" how exquisitely natural is all this! But what follows is. no less so it is said...." the lame man which was

healed HELD Peter and John, while all the people "ran together unto them, in Solomon's porch:" he HELD them, grasping their hands or their garments.... it was a grasp of affection....of gratitude...perhaps also of fear, lest the malady should return, and he should not be near those who alone could cure him.

So here as soon as Bartimeus received sight from the Lord Jesus, "he followed him in the way, glorify. "ing God." We may view this two ways. It was first an evidence of the reality and perfection of the cure. In other cases, where human skill has removed blindness, by couching-the restored orbs cannot be immediately used; light is admitted into them by degrees: the man cannot measure distances; nor judge with accuracy: and he is not fit to be left to himself. But it

is said, our Lord did all things well: his manuer distinguished him the man saw at once clearly; and was able to conduct himself. Secondly, it was an improvement of the greatness of the mercy. I can never,' says he, discharge my obligations to such a gracious, ' and Almighty Friend. But, O! let me devote myself to his service-let me continually ask, Lord, what 'wilt thou have me to do?"

From the narrative thus explained, I would take occasion to bring forward four admonitions.

And the first is this. Be persuaded that you are all spiritually in the condition of Bartimeus-and that without divine illumination, you are no more qualified for the concerns of the moral world, than a blind man is for those of the natural world. It may be as difficult, as it is important to convince persons of this truth. For • vain man would be wise, though he be born like a wild ass's colt and many, like the offended Pharisees, ask-are we blind also? But to the law and to the testimony. There is no image, under which the scripture more commonly holds forth our natural condition, than blindness. We read of our being " alienated from the life of God, through the ignorance that is in us, be'cause of the blindness of our hearts;' and we are told that the God of this world hath blinded the minds of them that believe not.' Our Saviour sends Paul to open their eyes: the apostle prays for the Ephesians, that the eyes of their understanding may be en'lightened;' and David prays for himself, open thou 'mine eyes, that I may behold wonderous things out ' of thy law.'

If a blind person were to say, 'I see,' we should be disposed to censure or pity him; we should suspect that he was influenced either by pride or insanity; and be satisfied that if a trial were made, the result of it would prove that what he affirmed was false. Let him work -see where he seeks for his instruments, and how he uses them. Let him walk-see whether he can escape that stumbling block, or that pit-fall. Desire him to

pull a mote out of a brother's eye. Shew him a fine painting, and ask him to mark its beauties Men may deny their ignorance, but their lives and actions prove it. For instance, He that loveth not, knoweth not God. And do men love God? Is he in all their thoughts? Is their meditation of him sweet? Do they love to speak of him? The Saviour is "fairer than the children of men; yea, he is altogether lovely-but they see no form nor loveliness in him; no beauty, that they should desire him. Though destruction and misery are in their paths,' they see them not; and the way of truth, though revealed in the scripture, have they not known. Is not this blindness?

Though Bartimeus was surrounded with landscapes, they were nothing to him. Though the sun skone upon his head he saw nothing of its lustre. He saw not the guide that led him to and fro: he never saw his own features ; and had he been possessed of the finest mirror in the world, it could not have shewn him what man. ner of man he was. Thus blind is man; thus unacquainted is he, even with himself: and thus ignorant is he, under all the advantages of external helps, and even of the bible too-without divine teaching. The natural man receiveth not the things of the spirit of "God for they are foolishness unto him; neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. But he that is spiritual, judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.'

Secondly. Be persuaded, that with regard to the removal of this blindness, you are in as hopeful a condition as this poor man. In all these miracles, our blessed Lord holds himself forth as the all-sufficient helper of sinners. By the cures which he wrought on the body, he shews how able he is to save the soul and they were performed and recorded, on purpose to lead us to him for spiritual and everlasting deliverance. Hence, says the evangelist, speaking of the signs which Jesus did truly in the presence of his disciples- these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ,

"the Son of God, and that believing ye might have life "through his name." Rejoice therefore, that he who raised the dead, can quicken those who are dead in trespasses of sins that he who healed the leper, can cleanse the soul from all unrighteousness, and that he who opened the eyes of the blind, can lead inquirers into all truth.

Did he refuse this man? Did he ever refuse any who applied to him in distress? What a mercy is this? For had he rejected but one suppliant, it would have been the means of discouraging some to the end of the world: they would have feared that there was something similar in their own case. But what can

we say now? We see that his actions spoke the same language with his gracious lips him that cometh, ' unto me, I will in no wise cast out. Come unto me, ALL ye that labor, and are heavy laden, and I will 'give you rest.' This is to characterize him in every age: he is the same yesterday, to-day, and for ever. He is therefore equally willing.

But I am so poor and mean. Many of my fel'low creatures who are only raised a little above me in circumstances, despise me. And will the King: ' of Glory concern himself in my affairs?' Yes; he condescends to men of low estate. He preached the gospel himself principally to the poor and to shew you that your mean condition is no disadvantage in applying to him-behold him pausing, and listening to a beggar in the road. This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him, and saved him out of all his trou'ble.'

But you say, he is no longer here! O, were he now on earth, dwelling among us, how happy should we be,. to betake ourselves to him in all our difficulties and distresses; but the heavens have received him until the restitution of all things. But though no longer visible, he is still accessible; though not to be seen, he is to be found; to be found in his word, and upon his throne, and in his house: we read of the goings of