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SERMON XIII.

CHRIST WALKING ON THE SEA.

MARK Vi. 50.

And immediately he talked with them, and saith unto them, Be of good cheer; it is I: be not afraid.

To a mind that should be anxious to examine the transactions of the Saviour's life, with reference to the objects of his sojourn on earth, nothing could afford greater satisfaction, or more abundant proof of his divine character, than the wisdom which is apparent, in the adaptation of all his works, to some important instruction and information calculated to advance the purposes of his divine mission. It ought never to be forgotten, that our blessed Saviour knew what was in man that he was acquainted with the inmost thoughts and imaginations of the heart of every one around him and that he not only seized upon opportunities which offered themselves of making suitable impressions upon their minds;

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but that he evidently so arranged the times and circumstances of most of his remarkable works, that they should necessarily convey the most important lessons which he wished to inculcate, exactly in the most effectual manner to the hearts for which those lessons were designed.

A careful examination of these peculiarities (so to speak) of our Lord's conduct, would well repay the labour of one who should accomplish it, in setting before him the most amiable, as well as the most lofty views of the Saviour's character; and, at the same time, would afford a most powerful collateral evidence of the truth of his revelation-an evidence which, though it might not convince the unbeliever of the full certainty of the gospel, would at least confirm the Christian, and establish his heart in the faith.

The chapter before us is peculiarly adapted to illustrate the correctness of the observations which I have ventured to make: as the narrative contained in it beautifully exhibits the care which Jesus employed, in preparing the minds of his apostles for the great work of preaching the gospel, which they would have to undertake after he himself had been taken from them. It appears that he had sent out the twelve apostles by two and two: and had given them power over unclean spirits; and to heal the sick and a commission also to preach that men should re

pent. He had charged them to make no provision for the way, for that the labourer was worthy of his meat and that, although some might, by their refusal of their ministry, compel them to shake off the dust of their feet for a testimony against them; yet there would be houses into which they might enter, and abide, till they departed from the place where they were thus received. We find that the disciples, on their return to Christ, spoke of the success which had attended their preliminary mission: and that he himself rejoiced in their success. But this mission was, as we have said, only preparatory to a more important and more difficult one. They had gone, indeed, armed with power against the malice of the evil one, and with ability to heal the diseases of the body. They would hereafter be called to combat against his spiritual influence, and to administer that healing to spiritual maladies, which now they had wrought for temporal disease. That this would be a more difficult task, we may learn from his own words upon a subsequent occasion. He then said, "He that hath a purse let him take it; and likewise his scrip: and he that hath no sword, let him sell his garment and buy one." And it was doubtless to prepare them for this conflict, to assure them of his support and sustenance under it, that he wrought the miracles which it is recorded that he performed imme

diately after the return of the apostles. They had already experienced his bounty in providing for their wants during their journey, when comparative plenty was around them. They were to be taught by the miracle of the loaves, that even amid scarcity and famine he could supply them with abundant sustenance, and spread a table for them even in the wilderness. They had already seen his power exerted, by their agency, over the diseases of which men were anxious to be healed, and when prejudice and passion offered comparatively trifling obstacles. They were to be taught by his stilling the tempest on the sea, that amid the turbulence of men, and the madness of the people, he could equally curb the tumult and assuage the storm, and guide them in safety to the successful termination of their labours, though toilsome and dangerous those labours might appear.

But we must not dwell longer on the reflections which have arisen from the apparent intention of the Saviour in these miracles, which were thus performed in immediate succession after the return of the apostles. We would rather contemplate the latter of these wonderful displays of divine power, as intended to convey, both to the apostles and to ourselves, lessons of practical importance, and also of holy consolation.

It appears that such an impression of the divine character of Jesus was made by the mira

cle of the loaves and fishes, that the people, concluding him to be the promised Messiah, were anxious to show this their confidence in his power, by attempting to invest him at once with regal dignity. To prevent any unseasonable display of popular feeling, and to keep the disciples from being induced to take any part in such display, Jesus commanded them to leave him where he was, and to pass over the sea to Bethsaida, while he dismissed the multitude who had lately been the objects of his miraculous bounty. In the mean time, he himself retired into a mountain to pray, fortifying himself against the dangers and difficulties which he would have to encounter; and showing to us the example of his great humility and piety, in retiring from the prospect of worldly splendour to solitary and earnest prayer. The disciples, however, were overtaken by a storm upon the sea, and the wind being contrary, they were driven from their course, and after many hours' toil were still far from the place whither they were going, even though they had laboured till the fourth watch of the night. At this time, Jesus, who knew well the condition of his alarmed followers, came to their assistance; and walking on the surface of the troubled water, he drew near to their vessel thus showing his title not to the mere dominion of an earthly kingdom, but to the sovereignty of the universe. "Thy way is in