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those who desire to fear His name. "When my LECT. soul fainted within me," said one who had rebelled against the Lord, but nevertheless obtained mercy, " when my soul fainted within me, I remembered the Lord: and my prayer came in unto Thee, into thine holy temple."

d See Neh. i. 11.

e See Jonah ii. 1 sqq. and Is. xxvi. 8.

LECTURE XLIV.

JUDICIAL BLINDNESS.

LECT.

JOHN ix. 35-41.

THE man that had been born blind had witXLIV. nessed a good confession: and he had suffered for it; as those who are determined to tell the truth, and to do that which is right, must be prepared to suffer. He had suffered wrong because he refused to do wrong; evil, because he was firm to do good. But did he repent of it? Nay; who ever repented of doing his duty even when it brought him present pain and loss? Who ever repented not of shrinking from it, though the act of moral cowardice may have brought some present gain or pleasure?

These wicked judges pronounced against him a curse but the Lord his God turned the curse into a blessing. Nay, such suffering for righteousness sake was itself the subject of a beatitude: "Blessed are ye," said the Saviour, "when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of Man's sake."

"Jesus heard of it." What is there touching His flock that the good Shepherd hears not? The

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sad news was brought to Him probably by some LECT. of His disciples, who had witnessed the miracle, and sympathised with the sufferer so unjustly dealt with. "So when his fellow servants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told unto their Lord all that was done." Doubtless He knew it by His divine omniscience even before they told Him: but it may teach us their friendly zeal, their indignation at the injustice, and their confidence in Jesus.

And what does Jesus do? The good Pastor when he hears of distress goes at once to relieve. Presently He sets Himself forth to us under this similitude. The good Shepherd goeth after that which was lost until He find it. Here we read, "When He had found him, He said unto him, Dost thou believe on the Son of God?" This finding implies seeking. He said of Himself, "The Son of Man is come to seek and to save that which is lost." And so in this case were fulfilled literally those words of the Psalmist, which we saw before, "When my father and my mother forsake me, the Lord taketh me up".

The Lord was about to perfect His work of mercy; to give complete spiritual, as He had given bodily sight. So he puts to him the question above; implying that the Messiah had come, and would receive him, though these who professed to be the Messiah's favoured ones had cast him out.

4 Καὶ εὑρὼν αὐτὸν, εἶπεν αὐτῷ.

b"How can I but envy thee, O happy man, who, of a patient, provest an advocate for thy Saviour; whose gain of bodily sight made way for thy spiritual eyes; who hast lost a synagogue, and hast found heaven; who being abandoned of sinners, art received of the Lord of Glory!" Bp. Hall.

LECT.

The man recognised his Benefactor. He underXLIV. stood what that title, Son of God, implied: but as yet was at a loss to whom he should apply it, who could justly claim it. For hitherto Jesus had been to him but a man, though a man of God; at most a prophet. For he had been blind from his birth, and had had no opportunity, as the rest of the people, to witness the many ways in which He was declared to be the Son of God. Yet so assured is he of the wisdom and goodness of his Benefactor, that he only requires Him to point Him out, to shew when and where He is to be found, and he is prepared straightway to acknowledge Him, at any risk. He is prepared to encounter any thing further, convinced that this his Benefactor will direct him aright. And should He, at whose bidding he went to the pool of Siloam and received that signal benefit, direct him to go any whither else, thither he is prepared, nay willing and ready, to go. "The expression," as an early Father remarks," is that of a longing and enquiring soul."

But he had not to go far. "The kingdom of God cometh not with observation: neither shall they say, Lo here! or, Lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you." The Lord did for him exceeding abundantly above all that he asked or thought. What a surprise was this! How much nearer the blessing than he had ventured to hope, or even imagine! "Jesus said unto him, Thou hast both seen Him, and it is He that talketh

c

vv. 31. 33.

e Chrys. in Jo. Hom. lix.

d v. 17.

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with thee." Was there not in that word "seen" LECT. a faith-exciting remembrance of the blessing bestowed, the miracle wrought, the signal benefit received? Thou born-blind not only seest, but hast seen thy Lord. An equal surprise had awaited that woman of Samaria. She had said, "I know that Messias cometh: when He is come, He will tell us all things. Jesus saith unto her, I that speak unto thee am Hes." And now could this man say with old Simeon in the temple, "Mine eyes have seen thy salvation." To two senses did the Saviour here graciously appeal. It were privilege and marvel enough even to behold Him; and, lo! He vouchsafes also to converse with him. Eye and ear both so gratified and blessed. "Blessed are your eyes, for they see

and your ears, for they hear. For verily I say unto you, That many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them."

The Lord as it were took away the veil. He revealed Himself: and the man believed and acknowledged Him; did Him reverence. As the disciples before on the sea of Galilee, when the Lord walked upon its waters, and rebuked its winds and waves; "Then they that were in the ship came and worshipped Him, saying, Of a truth Thou art the Son of God." And as we read, "With the heart man believeth unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation," in this man both of these were

ι δ λαλῶν μετὰ σοῦ, ἐκεῖνος ἐστιν. He that talketh with thee is He. gch. iv. 25, 26.