September 20

safety and welfare of our souls, however painful the result may be, we shall faithfully examine ourselves. And when we see where we have been most easily overcome, or drawn aside, we shall peculiarly watch and pray, lest we enter into temptation. "A right spirit" will lead us to pass the time of our sojourning here in fear—"Blessed is the man that feareth always."

SEPTEMBER 20.—"Master, I have brought unto thee my son."—Mark 9:17.

THIS is the commencement of a very interesting and instructing narrative. The leading circumstances were these.

The man was in affliction. The affliction was indeed relative; but there are cases in which relative trials are more severely felt than even personal. And what relation is more susceptible of this than the parental? It was a child—an "only" child—possessed by "a dumb spirit," the distressing and fearful effects of which are thus described: "wheresoever he taketh him, he teareth him: and he foameth, and gnasheth with his teeth, and pineth away: and oftentimes it hath cast him into the fire and into the waters to destroy him." And this had been the case with the unhappy child from his infancy. As nothing is said of his mother, it is probable she was dead, or surely she would have accompanied this application.

But who does not feel for the pitiable condition of the father? And yet who knows what is good for a man in this vain life? But for this calamity perhaps this suppliant had never known or addressed the Saviour. How often is the valley of Achor the door of hope! How many can say, "it is good for me that I have been afflicted!" How often does trouble send us in search of the friend of sinners. It is the merciful design of it. It is the effect of it when sanctified, both in the conversion of the soul, and in renewed applications to the throne of grace all through life—

But observe the man's mistake. At first he goes and applies to the servants instead of the master: but the disciples "could not cast him out." And do not we often err in the same way? Do not our ignorance, carnality, and impatience lead us to stop at instruments? But they are nothing without God; and the sooner we are convinced of this the better, that we may not weary ourselves for very vanity. "In returning and rest shall ye be saved; in quietness and confidence shall be your strength." What can ministers do for you? If you come looking only to us you will return as empty as you came. The excellency of the power is of God, and not of us. "Who is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man? So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase." The heathens made gods of every thing that afforded them profit or pleasure: and we are paganish in the same way. But we are more criminal than they, because we know him, and know that with him is the fountain of life. And God is jealous of his glory, and is always provoked to destroy or render useless the instrument that robs him of his praise.

Despairing of all other help, the man now comes to Jesus himself—But see with what low apprehensions, and how full of suspicion