they had already reached the Western side of the Lake:

And when they had passed over, they 53 came into the land of Gennesaret, and drew to the shore. And when they were come 54 out of the ship, straightway they knew Him; and ran through that whole region 55 round about, and began to carry about in beds those that were sick, where they heard He was.

The concluding verse of the present chapter clearly discovers to us the Great Physician making the circuit of some part of Galilee. Having intimated that many acts of mercy ensued immediately after our LORD's disembarcation from the ship, the Evangelist proceeds,

And whithersoever He entered, into vil- 56 lages, or cities, or country, they laid the sick in the streets, and besought Him that they might touch if it were but the border of His garment and as many as touched Him were made whole.

For the unction of the Spirit,-a faint type of which was supplied by the precious ointment wherewith the garments of the High Priest were anointed,—" went down to the skirts of His clothing" and CHRIST is our Great High-Priest,-in whom all the shadows of the Law find their fulfil

ment. See more in the last note on St. Matthew xiv.

Who can read the concluding words of the present chapter without emotion? No one, surely, who studies the Gospel with a heart at all alive to the deep practical teaching, the high spiritual consolation, which is constantly vouchsafed beneath the written letter. What mean, for instance, these frequent notices of our LORD's Miracles of Healing? what higher purpose is thereby served, -than to remind us that He is no less mighty to relieve all those Spiritual ailments, of which Bodily maladies are but types or symbols? And if, as was shewn in our note on St. Mark v. 31, the Touch of Faith it be,—(a touch which may be given when we approach Him in Prayer, or in any other way of His appointing,)-if this alone it be which is needed in order to draw healing grace from the person of our SAVIOUR CHRIST,-how blessed is the assurance of the text, that not for one or two faithful hearts alone is it reserved thus to touch Him and liveh, but that 'as many as touch Him,'-as many as will touch but the border of His garment,'—shall be made whole.'

Alluding to the case of the Woman with the Issue of Blood, -St. Mark v. 27 to 29; St. Luke viii. 43, 44.

A

PLAIN COMMENTARY

ON THE SEVENTH CHAPTER OF

St. Mark's Gospel.

1 The Pharisees find fault at the Disciples for eating with unwashen hands. 8 They break the Commandment of GOD by the Truditions of Men. 14 Meat d fileth not the man. 24 He healeth the Syrophenician woman's Daughter of an unclean spirit, 31 and one that was deaf, and stammered in his speech.

VII. THEN came together unto Him the Pharisees, and certain of the Scribes, which came from Jerusalem. And when they saw 2 some of His Disciples eat bread with defiled, that is to say, with unwashen, hands, they found fault.

The first eight verses of the present Chapter will be found far more briefly given in the earlier Gospel of St. Matthew,-xv. 1, 2. The only purpose of either Evangelist, however, in this place, is to set forth the fact, that the memorable Discourse which follows, was delivered by our LORD on the occasion of certain cavils brought against His Disciples by some of the most learned of the Nation, who

came from Jerusalem;" of set purpose, as it would seem, to assail Him.

3 For the Pharisees, and all the Jews, except they wash their hands oft, eat not, holding 4 the tradition of the Elders. And when they come from the market, except they wash, they eat not. And many other things there be, which they have received to hold, as the washing of cups, and pots, brasen vessels, and of tables.

5

It will be at once perceived that the curious information contained in the last three verses was intended, in the first instance, for the satisfaction of those "aliens from the commonwealth of Israel," to whom the Preachers of the Gospel were in due time sent. The margin of a ReferenceBible should here be consulted.

Then the Pharisees and Scribes asked Him, Why walk not Thy Disciples according to the Tradition of the Elders, but eat bread with unwashen hands?

Grafting their traditional precepts upon the letter of such commands as are found in Isaiah i. 16, -"Wash you, make you clean;" (unmindful of those words which immediately follow,-" put away the evil of your doings from before Mine eyes:" or those of Jeremiah,—“ Wash thine heart from wick

⚫ Ephes. ii. 12.

edness, that thou mayest be saved":") the Teachers of Religion among the Jews had invented a purely human system which entirely supplanted, and even subverted, the Divine Law; making "the Word of GOD of none effect," as our SAVIOUR, in ver. 13, declares. Our LORD reproves them out of those very Writings, with a surprising quotation :

He answered and said unto them, Well 6 hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me. Howbeit in vain do they worship Me, teach- 7 ing for Doctrines the Commandments of men.

These words are found in Isaiah xxix. 13. It is surprising to find that the Prophet was thereby prophesying of the men of our LORD's time.

For laying aside the Commandment of 8 God, ye hold the Tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do. And He said unto 9 them, Full well ye reject the Commandment of God, that ye may keep your own Tradition.

Let us be well persuaded that the tendency of man's heart is ever to supplant the Divine with that which is of merely Human growth. The Christian Church, in some respects, presents a

b Jeremiah iv. 14.