of Jerusalem, the exhortation of the prophet was, "Therefore now, saith the Lord, turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning."

But at the present season it would be unsuitable for the disciples of Christ to fast or mourn. The time would come when it would be very needful. There was no fear lest they should not be called to sufficient sorrow and self-denial, when the bridegroom shall be taken from them: and then shall they fast in those days.

How striking is the prophecy contained in these words! My disciples have a comfort and encouragement now, which they shall not long enjoy. The time is coming, when in the world they shall have only "tribulation." and when such shall be their trials and their difficulties, that they will be "in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness."

This sentence, which had an especial application to the apostles, bears a general meaning which may be carried much farther. Scripture often represents the Son of God as a bridegroom to his spouse, the church. And there are seasons with the church, when his favour seems more abundantly bestowed: when the Lord gives the word, and great is the company of those who declare the glad tidings of salvation and when his Spirit accompanies the truth as it is spoken, conveys it to many hearts, turns many to righteousness.

So likewise there are times with the individual followers of Christ, when his presence blesses them

2 Joel ii. 12.

continually and they experience the fulfilment of his promise, "Peace I leave with you :" 66 they are filled with all joy and peace in believing." They cannot mourn; the bridegroom is with them. But other days come, to the church, when he suffers the enemy to disturb its prosperity; or to individuals, when the remaining corruptions of the heart cloud the evidences of faith. Fear prevails over hope; the Bridegroom is taken away; the light of that countenance in which they were used to rejoice is withdrawn :-then shall they fast in those days; and long for the season when there shall be no more sorrow, or fear, or temptation.

The

This, however, we must bear in mind. Bridegroom was taken away, and left his disciples sorrowing. But it was only his visible presence which they lost; he was still with them by the power of his Spirit: "to the end of the world he will be with his church, so that the gates of hell shall not prevail against it:" and he will be with his faithful people who compose that church, to stablish, and to strengthen, and to settle them.

A second reason follows, why the disciples of Christ fasted not.

16. No man putteth a piece of new cloth unto an old garment, for that which is put in to fill it up taketh from the garment, and the rent is made worse.

It was not necessary that his disciples should fast, because the disciples of John and the Pharisees fasted. He was not putting new cloth to an old garment: he was making all things new. His

discipline must be a system of itself, not pieced upon the old; and the Jewish dispensation was now old, about to be folded up and changed. It might be expedient for his disciples to fast hereafter, but it was not necessarily so because other teachers had prescribed it. "The law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus makes free from the law of sin and death." And it would be hurtful rather than profitable to require outward mortification as essential to those who were to depend upon Him "for grace to help in time of need.” That which is put in to fill up taketh from the garment, and the rent is made worse.3

There is still a third reason, derived from the character of his disciples.

17. Neither do men put new wine into old bottles: else the bottles break, and the wine runneth out, and the bottles perish but they put new wine into new bottles, and both are preserved.

His disciples were as unfit to bear austerities, as old bottles (old leathern bottles, such as were used in Judea) to bear the fermentation of new wine. There must be a suitableness between the person, and that which is applied to him or expected of him. Not to consider this; not to take into account whether the discipline is fitted to the person, or the person to the discipline, would risk the loss of all the bottles break, and the wine runneth out,

3 The more usual interpretation refers both the 16th and 17th verses to the same object, the unfitness of the disciples to receive an austere discipline. It is difficult to extort this sense from the text of verse 16.

and the bottles perish. Wait the proper time, and the gradual preparation of the heart,-put new wine into new bottles,-and both are preserved.

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Here we must admire, not only the wisdom, but the tenderness of Him, who "taught as one that had authority, and not as the scribes." He " gathers the lambs in his bosom, and gently leads them that are with young. He "has many things to say unto his disciples: but they cannot bear them now."5 At the same time, he would not leave them in ignorance of anything which it were essential for them to know, or suffer them to practise anything which it were unlawful for them to do. The "babes" must have their wholesome, proper nourishment, however simple: the "lambs" must not be left to rush upon danger or destruction. If fasting, and such like mortification, had been absolutely needful to his disciples, he would have prepared them for it, and not pleaded their weakness and their want of experience. But it is not so. is a preventive of sin, or an humiliation on account of sin; and therefore may be left for its proper season and suitable occasion.

It

18. While he spake these things unto them, behold there came a certain ruler, and worshipped him, saying, My daughter is even now dead: but come and lay thy hand upon her, and she shall live.

19. And Jesus arose, and followed him, and so did his disciples.

20. And, behold, a woman, which was diseased with an issue of blood twelve years, came behind him, and touched the hem of his garment :

4 Is. xl. 11.

5 John xvi. 19.

21. For she said within herself, If I may but touch his garment, I shall be whole.

22. But Jesus turned him about, and when he saw her he said, Daughter, be of good comfort: thy faith hath made thee whole. And the woman was made whole from that hour.

23. And when Jesus came into the ruler's house, and saw the minstrels and the people making a noise,

24.. He said unto them, Give place: for the maid is not dead, but sleepeth. And they laughed him to scorn.

25. But when the people were put forth, he went in, and took her by the hand, and the maid arose.

26. And the fame hereof went abroad into all that land.

We will charitably hope, that many who heard the fame hereof, were not so lost in indifference, or in stupid amazement, as to seek no benefit to themselves. He who raised up this young person from the bed of death, would have been no less ready to raise all around her from the death of sin. He who took her by the hand, and she arose, would not abandon her, "if she continued in his word:" but would lead her onward, and raise her affections to, and set them on things above.

He will do no less for us also, who "not having seen" these things "have yet believed." All who are "his disciples indeed," he takes by the hand, and they follow him he guides them here by his counsel, and afterwards receives them to his glory.