Matthew 9:31

But they... spread abroad his fame in all that country.

This was wrong. It was their duty to obey whether they understood why or not. Christ had not commanded silence without good reasons. Loud-mouthed and prating zeal often does harm, even when the parties intend well.

PRACTICAL AND SUGGESTIVE.

It is right to pray for temporal as well as spiritual blessings,--for whatever we want.

We should act with as much energy as those who expect every thing from themselves; and we should pray with as much earnestness as those who expect everything from God.

Those who come to Christ for benefits should approach him earnestly, directly, and with humility.

Christ's purpose to heal the ruler's daughter does not lessen his willingness to heal the suffering woman on the way. He has power enough and grace enough for all who need.

THE HELPER.--He had an ear open for every tone of wail;. heart ready to respond to every species of need. Specially the Redeemer of the soul, he was yet as emphatically the "Savior of the body." He "taught the people;" but he did not neglect to multiply the loaves and fishes. The peculiar need of the woman, the father's cry of anguish, the infant's cry of helplessness, the wail of oppression, and the shriek of pain--all were heard by him, and none in vain.-- F. W. Robertson.

FAITH ESSENTIAL.--The faith, which in itself is nothing, is yet the organ of receiving every thing. It is the conducting link between man's emptiness and God's fullness; and herein is all the value which it has. It is the bucket let down into the fountain of God's grace, without which the man could not draw up out of that fountain the purse which does not itself make its owner rich, but which yet effectually enriches him by the treasure which it contains.-- Trench.

WHO TOUCHED ME ?--There is. vast difference between the world-touch and the faith-touch. Christ has untold blessings for all; but what men receive from him depends on the faith and love with which they come to him. It is the common experience. We receive from nature according to what we bring to nature. Multitudes of men have seen apples fall, but only Newton received from the falling apple the law of gravitation. Men still go through the world with "eyes and no eyes," and one writes. book where another sees nothing. Arthur Helps compares some men to the birds on. telegraph-wire, who are utterly unconscious of the messages of sorrow and joy, of business and friendship,--messages sometimes affecting whole nations, which are passing right under under their feet. It needs the battery and connecting instruments in order to read what passes on the wire. It needs hearts of love and faith, longings for holiness, and the spirit of prayer, if we would receive the blessings which Christ has for us all.-- P.

POINTS FOR TEACHERS.

1. Note the three great lessons about our Lord: (1) He is the Life. He not only breaks the bonds of mortal death but endows the soul with spiritual life. (2) He is the infallible Physician. Diseases of the body, sorrows of the heart, and sins of the soul that no man could heal, disappear at his touch. (3) He is the Light of the world. At his word sightless eyes see. At his word darkened souls are flooded with light. 2. Note the three lessons for us: (1) In time of Deed we must pray if we would be heard, and we may ask for whatever We need. (2) We must come near to Christ, so near as to touch the hem of his garment. If we can lay the hand of faith upon him we will be made whole. (3) We must not only believe, but confess our faith by word and by act. 3. Peloubet suggests that this lesson teaches that faith in Christ is the cure for all human ills, and the nature of that faith. (1) We see the dying girl, and faith leading her father to Jesus for help. (2) The suffering woman comes to Jesus, having sought cure as earnestly as we should seek salvation; but seeking in vain, as we often seek from the law, and good works, and good resolutions, the cure for sin. (3) The faith cure, showing the nature of true faith,--strong, humble, patient, confessing, and in Jesus. (4) We see certain trials of faith in the delay of Jesus while the child was dying, and in the report of her death; but the trials were to lead to greater blessings. (5) The rewards of faith: first to the disciples, by receiving this privilege of being with Jesus; and, second, to Jairus, whose daughter Jesus brought to life.