great truths, as if he had a right from heaven to dictate and decide. And this circumstance, so full of dignity and power, when considered in connexion with his humble origin and appearance, and the intrinsic beauty and excellence of his doctrine, drew toward him their respect and reverence, though his doctrine was so different from what they had been hoping to hear. Yet it is evident, from what afterwards took place, that he had by no means succeeded in correcting their erroneous notions respecting the nature of his office and kingdom.

As he came down from the mountain, the multitudes still following him, he was met by a man diseased with leprosy; an odious disease, unknown in our country, but common in the East, and an object of great horror. It affects the skin with violent swellings and blotches, and spreads till it corrupts the whole body, and renders the patient an object of disgust to all who behold him. The suffering it occasions is intense. It is also contagious; and therefore the law of Moses separated lepers from all intercourse with other men. Hence, in cases which were incurable, and such were most cases of long

Matt. viii. 2.

Mark i. 40.

Luke v. 12.

standing, the sufferings and privations of those affected by it were most pitiable. Cut off from society, shunned by all they met, they dragged out a miserable existence, without alleviation and without hope.

It was one of these wretched beings who now threw himself in our Lord's way. Confident that he had power to restore him, he fell on his face and besought him, "Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean." The strong faith which was evinced in these words, pleased our Lord, and he immediately put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, "I will; be thou clean." And it was so. He stood up a sound and healthy man. Jesus then desired him not to stay and publish the news of his cure, but to go immediately to the priest. the priest. For the law respecting the treatment of the leprosy was very particular and rigid [Leviticus xiv.], and required of every one who had been cleansed, that he should offer a certain sacrifice at the temple. Jesus did not choose to interfere with the execution of this law; and therefore directed this man to go without delay, and show himself to the priest, and make the offering which Moses commanded.

There is another thing to be observed of this miracle. Jesus commanded the man not to noise

it abroad. Now it probably had not been performed in the presence of the multitude; for as a leper was always avoided, no one would choose to be present where he appeared; and it is a proof of the man's earnest faith, that he was able to make his way to our Lord's presence, as well as of our Lord's benevolence, that he would receive and touch a person so odious to all. Being done therefore in private, the cure was not known to the multitude, and Jesus forbade it to be published, because he was already in some degree inconvenienced by the crowds that followed him, and it was very important that he should not create such a degree of excitement as might give occasion to his enemies to complain of him to the government, and thus shorten the period of his ministry. We read that on several occasions he expressed this desire to conceal his miracles. He wished to avoid all unnecessary occasion of offence, and to complete, without premature interruption, the work given him to do.

Having dismissed the leper, Jesus left the multitude, and retired to a desert place and prayed. His object probably was, both to avoid the throngs of people and give them an opportunity to disperse, and to gain for himself strength

and enjoyment from the exercises of devotion. His example teaches us true wisdom,

- to retire

at times from the excitement of the world, and seek light and truth in communion with our hearts and with God.

How long our Lord had now been absent from Capernaum we cannot tell, nor to what distance · he had extended his travels. The account given by the Evangelists is very general, and such as does not render it necessary to suppose the time very long, nor the circuit very great. Capernaum was still his head-quarters; and, having escaped from the crowds, who, as Mark intimates, had prevented his entering the city, he returned thither to his home.

As soon as his arrival was known, a Roman centurion, that is, captain of a company of a hundred soldiers, sent to him a message through the Jewish elders of the city, entreating him to visit and heal a favorite servant of his who was ill of the palsy. The elders seconded the message by giving a high character of this Roman officer, who had gained the good will of the citi

Matt. viii. 6.

Mark i. 45.

Luke vii. 1.