June 30

Psalm xxxii.—1. Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.

2. Blessed is the man unto whom the Lord impateth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile.

3. When I kept silence, my bones waxed old through my roaring all the day long.

4. For day and night thy hand was heavy upon me: my moisture is turned into the drought of summer.

5. I acknowledged my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the Lord; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin.

7. Thou art my hiding-place: thou shalt preserve me from trouble; thou shalt compass me about with songs of deliverance.

Mark ii.—1. And again he entered into Capernaum after some days; and it was noised that he was in the house.

2. And straightway many were gathered together, insomuch that there was no room to receive them; no, not so much as about the door: and he preached the word unto them.

3. And they come unto him, bringing one sick of the palsy, which was borne of four.

The form of house then common in the villages of Palestine was a low, square building, one-story high, with a yard or court in the interior, over which was a flat covering, or roof, made either of boards or of course matting, that could be easily removed. This roof was commonly reached by a stairway from the court. Jesus probably stood in the court; and the throng of people would not allow of access to him on the ground floor. The paralytic was stretched on a thick quilt, which was the common style of bed: a section of the roof was lifted off, and he was let down directly in front of Jesus; the crowd, of course, giving way before such a spectacle. "The whole affair was the extemporaneous device of plain peasants, accustomed to open their roofs, and let down grain, straw, and other articles, as they still do in that country." Such

4. And, when they could not come nigh unto him for the press, they uncovered the roof where he was; and, when they had broken it up, they let down the bed wherein the sick of the palsy lay.

5. When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee.

6. But there were certain of the scribes sitting there, and reasoning in their hearts.

7. Why doth this man thus speak blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God only?

8. And immediately, when Jesus perceived in his spirit that they so reasoned within themselves, he said unto them, Why reason ye these things in your hearts?

9. Whether is it easier to say to the sick of the palsy, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and take up thy bed, and walk?

10. But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins (he saith to the sick of the palsy).

11. I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy bed, and go thy way into thine house.

12. And immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went forth before them all; insomuch that they were all amazed, and glorified God, saying, We never saw it on this fashion.

faith as this Jesus would honor by his miraculous healing. But first he would make a deeper use of the incident, especially as he was surrounded by cavillers. Ever placing the spiritual above the temporal, and making the miracle tributary to grace, he first pronounced over the sick man the forgiveness of sins. The bystanders, justly regarding this as the prerogative of God only, accused him of blasphemy. In face of this charge, he accepted their interpretation of his words; and, to prove that he had this divine right, he restored the paralytic by a word. But would God work a miracle to confirm a blasphemous usurpation of his prerogative? Assuredly Jesus was divine! Then let it be our joy that we can go to him for what he himself declared his greatest blessing,—the forgiveness of sin.

APPROPRIATE HYMNS.]

Prayer.

[Nos. 1, 97, 177.

We thank thee, heavenly Father, for the goodness and mercy that have followed us all the days of our life. Thou hast watched over our going-out and our coming-in. We have been delivered from many dangers, seen and unseen. Thou hast been our refuge from evil, and our strength in trouble. Continue to bless us, O Father! Let all things work together for our good. Give us thankful and submissive hearts, that we may recognize all our mercies as thy gifts, and may bow to thy holy will when thou dost see fit to send sorrow upon us.

We bring thee thanks this morning for thy favor in the past night: thou hast refreshed us with sleep, hast kept us from harm, hast brought us with new vigor to the light of this day. We beseech thee, guide us in all our duties, prosper the work of our minds and of our hands, and grant us in all things

the joy of thine approval. [May these children be diligent in their duties, and gentle and loving in their conduct!] We commend our friends to thy care.

Father of mercies, and God of all comfort, who dost comfort thy children in all their tribulation, we humbly beseech thee of thy goodness to succor and sustain all those who are in trouble, sorrow, need, sickness, or any other adversity; granting them strong consolation and good hope, and the abiding grace of thy Spirit. We beseech thee to hear us for the poor, the destitute, and the tempted, that thou wouldst succor and comfort them.

Our prayers are before thee; our hope is in thy mercy. May we as a family, with all whom we love, dwell forever in the light of thy presence, through Jesus Christ our only Saviour! Amen.