more than the man who reaps a field of grain should boast over the man who sowed it. The labour of both is equally necessary. 2. We should not be discouraged if we do not meet with immediate success. The man that sows is not disheartened because he does not see the harvest immediately spring up, Eccl. xi. 6. Ps. cxxvi. 6. 3. Every part of the work is needful, and we should rejoice that we are permitted to bear any part, however small, in bringing sinners to the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, 1 Cor. xii. 21–24.

39 And many of the Samaritans of that city believed on him for the saying of the woman, which testified, He told me all that ever I did. 40 So when the Samaritans were come unto him, they besought him that he would tarry with them: and he abode there two days. 41 And many more believed because of his own word; 42 And said unto the woman, Now we believe, not because of thy saying: for we have heard him ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the world.

We should never despair of doing good in the most unpromising circumstances.

43 Now after two days he departed thence, and went into Galilee. 44 For Jesus himself testified, that a prophet hath no honour in his own country.

'Jesus himself testified.' See Matt. xiii. 57. The connexion of this verse with the preceding may be thus explained: 'Jesus went to Galilee, although he had said that a prophet had no honour in his own country; yet because he foreknew that inany of the Galileans would believe on him.'

45 Then when he was come into Galilee, the Galileans received him, having seen all the things that he did at Jerusalem at the feast: for they also went unto the feast.

'Received him.' Received him kindly, or as a messenger of God.

46. So Jesus came again into Cana of Galilee, where he made the water wine. And there was a certain nobleman, whose son was sick at Capernaum.

'A certain nobleman.' Perhaps one who was of the royal family, connected by birth with Herod Antipas; or, one of the officers of his court. Capernaum was about a day's journey from Cana. where Jesus then was.

47 When he heard that Jesus was come out of Judea into Galilee, he went unto him, and besought him that he would come down, and heal his son: for he was at the point of death.

'He went unto him.' Though high in office, yet he did not refuse to go personally to Jesus to ask his aid. If men receive benefits of Christ, they must come in the same manner. The rich and the poor, the high and the low, must come personally as humble suppliants. Would come down.' It is probable that the miracles of Jesus heretofore had been performed only on those present with him. One design of Jesus in working this miracle was to show him that this was not necessary. Hence he did not go down to Capernaum, but healed him where he was.

48 Then said Jesus unto him, Except ye see signs and wonders, ye will not believe.

'Except ye see signs,' &c. This was spoken not to the nobleman only, but to the Galileans generally. The Samaritans had believed without any miracle. The Galileans were less disposed to believe him than even they were.

49 The nobleman saith unto him, Sir, come down ere my child die.

The earnestness of the nobleman evinces the deep and tender anxiety of a father. So anxious was he for his son that he was not willing that Jesus should delay a moment-not even to address the people.

50 Jesus saith unto him, Go thy way; thy son liveth. And the man believed the word that Jesus had spoken unto him, and he went his way. 51 And as he was now going down his servants met him, and told him, saying, Thy son liveth.

'Go thy way.' This was a kind and tender address. It was designed to convince him that he could work a miracle though not personally present. 'The man believed.' This is an instance of the power of Jesus to convince the mind; to remove doubts; to confirm faith; and to meet our desires. The father wished his son healed by Jesus' going down to Capernaum. Jesus healed him, but not in the way in which he asked it to be done. God will hear our prayers, and grant our requests, but often not in the precise manner in which we may ask him. It is his to judge of the best way of doing us good.

52 Then inquired he of them the hour when he began to amend. And they said unto him, Yesterday at

the seventh hour the fever left him. 53 So the father knew that it was at the same hour in the which Jesus' said unto him, Thy son liveth and himself believed, and his whole house. 54 This is again the second miracle that Jesus did, when he was come out of Judea into Galilee.

'The seventh hour.' About one o'clock in the afternoon. 'The same hour.' The very time when Jesus spoke. "The fever left him.' It seems that it left him suddenly and entirely. Jesus had Almighty power. Nothing else could have healed this child. Nor could it be pretended that he did it by any natural means. It could not be said that there was any collusion. All bears the marks of being the simple energy of God-put forth with equal ease to heal whether far or near. Thus Christ can save the sinner. Ever ready to aid, he may be called on at all times, and will not be called on in vain. Himself believed.' This miracle removed all his doubts, and he became a real disciple and friend of Jesus. 'His whole house.' His whole family. We may learn from this, that sickness, or deep affliction, is often the means of great good. Here the sickness of the son resulted in the faith of all the family. God often takes away earthly blessings for a time that he may impart rich spiritual mercies. There is a peculiar charm when piety thus comes into the families of the rich, and the noble. It is so unusual; their example and influence go so far; it overcomes so many temptations; and affords opportunities of doing so much good that there is no wonder that the evangelist selected this instance as one of the effects of the power, and preaching of the Lord Jesus Christ.

CHAPTER V.

1 AFTER this there was a feast of the Jews; and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.

'A feast.' Probably the passover.

2 Now there is at Jerusalem by the sheep market a pool, which is called in the Hebrew tongue Bethesda, having five porches.

"The sheep market. This might have been rendered the sheepgate, or the gate through which the sheep were taken into the city for sacrifice, Neh. iii. 1, 32; xii. 39. A pool.' This word may either mean a small lake or pond in which one can swim, or any waters collected for bathing, or washing. 'Hebrew tongue. The language then spoken, which did not differ essentially from the ancient Hebrew. 'Bethesda.' The house of mercy. It was so called on account of its property of restoring

health to the sick and infirm. Five porches.' The word ' porch' commonly means a covered place surrounding a building in which people can walk or sit in hot or wet weather. From each one of these they could have access to the water.

3 In these lay a great multitude of impotent folk, of blind, halt, withered, waiting for the moving of the water.

'Impotent folk.' The word means those who were feeble rather than those who were afflicted with acute disease. 'Halt.' Lame. Withered.' Those who were afflicted with one form of the palsy that withered or dried up the part affected. See note, Matt. iv. 24.

4 For an angel went down at a certain season into the pool, and troubled the water: whosoever then first after the troubling of the water stepped in was made whole of whatsoever disease he had.

It is not affirmed that the angel did this visibly, or that they saw him do it. They judged by the effect, and when they saw the waters agitated they concluded that they had healing properties, and descended into them. This was produced by the ministry of an angel. Nor can it be shown to be absurd or improbable that such blessings should be so imparted to man. 'Went down.' Descended to the pool. 'At a certain season.' At a certain time. Periodically. They knew about the time when this was done, and assembled in multitudes to partake the benefits. 'Troubled the waters.' Stirred, or agitated the water. Whosoever then first.' The healing properties of the water soon subsided, and those who could not at first enter into them were obliged to wait for the return of the agitation. Stepped in.' Went in. Was made whole.' Was healed.

It is known that many important places and events have not been mentioned by the Jewish historian, and it is no evidence that there was no such place as this, because he did not mention it. When this fountain was discovered or how long its healing properties continued to be known, is no where mentioned. We may remark, however, that such a place is an evidence of the great goodness of God. Diseases were healed in such places, that no human skill could remove. The Jews regarded such a provision as proof of the mercy of God. They gave this healing spring the name of a house of mercy.' And there is no place where man should be more sensible of the goodness of God, or be more disposed to render him praise. And yet how lamentable is it, that such places-watering places-should be mere places of gaiety, and thoughtlessness; of balls, and card-playing, and amusement! How melancholy that amidst the very places where

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there is most evidence of the goodness of God, and of the misery of the poor, the sick, the afflicted, men should forget all the goodness of their Maker, and spend their time in scenes of dissipation, and folly, and vice!

5 And a certain man was there, which had an infirmity thirty and eight years.

'An infirmity.' A weakness. We know not what his disease It was doubtless regarded as incurable.

was.

6 When Jesus saw him lie, and knew that he had been now a long time in that case, he saith unto him, Wilt thou be made whole ? 7 The impotent man answered him, Sir, I have no man, when the water is troubled, to put me into the pool: but while I am coming, another steppeth down before me.

'Sir, I have no man.' The answer of the man implied that he did wish it, but in addition to all his other trials, he had no friend to aid him.

8 Jesus saith unto him, Rise, take up thy bed, and walk.

'Rise, take up,' &c. For almost forty years, he had been afflicted. He was not even able to walk. Jesus commanded him not only to walk, but to take up his bed also and carry it as proof that he was truly made whole. It is our business to obey the commands of Jesus however feeble we feel ourselves to be. His grace shall be sufficient for us, and his burden will be light. Never was a sinner more helpless than was this man. If God gave him strength to do his will, so he can all others. This narrative should not be abused. It should not be supposed as intended to teach that a sinner should wait, and delay repentance as if waiting for God. It is a simple record of a fact in regard to a man who had no power to heal himself. There is no reference to the difficulties of a sinner; no intimation that it was intended to refer to his condition; and to make this example an excuse for delay, or an argument for waiting, is to abuse and pervert the Bible. Seldom is more mischief done, than by attempting to draw from the Bible what it was not intended to teach, and by an effort to make that convey spiritual instruction which God has not designed for that purpose. Thy bed.' Thy couch; or the mattress, or clothes on which he lay.

9 And immediately the man was made whole, and took up his bed, and walked: and on the same day was the sabbath.

'The sabbath,' To carry burdens on the sabbath was for