June 8

PART II.—Matthew 9:12.

WE have seen that Jesus was a celebrated physician of the body, we now observe that he was equally successful in healing the maladies of the mind. In the wonder-working days of his flesh, he healed all sorts and degrees of mental and moral diseases. He cured the lunatic boy—he cured the demoniac, who dwelt among the tombs, and brought him to sit at his feet clothed, and in his right mind. But he also proved himself the physician of the soul. The soul of man is as subject to disease as the body. Every faculty is impaired; every power disordered; the plague spot is upon it; the leprosy defiles it; the fever consumes it; it is affected with the torpid paralysis. The eyes of the mind are blinded; the ears stopped, and the tongue is speechless. The afflictions of the soul are hereditary, complicated, deep seated, universally prevalent, painful, loathsome, and absolutely fatal. They never exhaust their strength, and cure themselves, neither are they curable by any human agency whatever. Now of these otherwise incurable maladies, Jesus is the efficient physician. His knowledge is infinite, therefore he knows the cause, the progress, and the precise state of the disease of the human heart. His power is almighty; there is nothing too hard for him to effect—he can eradicate the most virulent and confirmed disorders of the soul—his tenderness is inexpressible, he deeply commiserates the misery of sin-sick souls—his bowels yearn over them—his heart is full of tenderness towards them—he does not want an application from them, but he seeks to heal and says, "wilt thou be made whole?" His terms are astonishing — he heals without money, and without price — all he desires is the use of his medicines, and humble attention to the prescriptions he gives. His success is infallible — he never fails to effect a cure — none ever sought his aid in vain. Though death had already commenced its ruinous work upon the dying malefactor, yet one word of his healed the malady of his soul, and saved him from the jaws of eternal death, and made him meet for the healthy abodes of the heavenly paradise.