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ned to bless those who came not。 While He drew the publicans； the heathen； and the Samaritans； He longed to reach the priests and teachers who were shut in by prejudice and tradition。 He left untried no means by which they might be reached。 In sending the healed leper to the priests； He gave them a testimony calculated to disarm their prejudices。
The Pharisees had asserted that Christ's teaching was opposed to the law which God had given through Moses； but His direction to the cleansed leper to present an offering according to the law disproved this charge。 It was sufficient testimony for all who were willing to be convinced。
The leaders at Jerusalem had sent out spies to find some pretext for putting Christ to death。 He responded by giving them an evidence of His love for humanity； His respect for the law； and His power to deliver from sin and death。 Thus He bore witness of them： 〃They have rewarded Me evil for good； and hatred for My love。〃 Ps。 109：5。 He who on the mount gave the precept； 〃Love your enemies；〃 Himself exemplified the principle； not rendering 〃evil for evil； or railing for railing： but contrariwise blessing。〃 Matt。 5：44； 1 Peter 3：9。
The same priests who condemned the leper to banishment certified his cure。 This sentence； publicly pronounced and registered； was a standing testimony for Christ。 And as the healed man was reinstated in the congregation of Israel； upon the priests' own assurance that there
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was not a taint of the disease upon him； he himself was a living witness for his Benefactor。 Joyfully he presented his offering； and magnified the name of Jesus。 The priests were convinced of the divine power of the Saviour。 Opportunity was granted them to know the truth and to be profited by the light。 Rejected； it would pass away； never to return。 By many the light was rejected； yet it was not given in vain。 Many hearts were moved that for a time made no sign。 During the Saviour's life； His mission seemed to call forth little response of love from the priests and teachers； but after His ascension 〃a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith。〃 Acts 6：7。
The work of Christ in cleansing the leper from his terrible disease is an illustration of His work in cleansing the soul from sin。 The man who came to Jesus was 〃full of leprosy。〃 Its deadly poison permeated his whole body。 The disciples sought to prevent their Master from touching him； for he who touched a leper became himself unclean。 But in laying His hand upon the leper； Jesus received no defilement。 His touch imparted life…giving power。 The leprosy was cleansed。 Thus it is with the leprosy of sin；deep…rooted； deadly； and impossible to be cleansed by human power。 〃The whole head is sick； and the whole heart faint。 From the sole of the foot even unto the head there is no soundness in it； but wounds； and bruises； and putrefying sores。〃 Isa。 1：5； 6。 But Jesus； coming to dwell in humanity； receives no pollution。 His presence has healing virtue for the sinner。 Whoever will fall at His feet； saying in faith； 〃Lord； if Thou wilt； Thou canst make me clean；〃 shall hear the answer； 〃I will； be thou made clean。〃 Matt。 8：2； 3； R。 V。
In some instances of healing； Jesus did not at once grant the blessing sought。 But in the case of leprosy； no sooner was the appeal made than it was granted。 When we pray for earthly blessings； the answer to our prayer may be delayed； or God may give us something other than we ask； but not so when we ask for deliverance from sin。 It is His will to cleanse us from sin； to make us His children； and to enable us to live a holy life。 Christ 〃gave Himself for our sins； that He might deliver us from this present evil world； according to the will of God and our Father。〃 Gal。 1：4。 And 〃this is the confidence that we have in Him； that； if we ask anything according to His will； He heareth us： and if we know that He hear us； whatsoever we ask； we know that we have the petitions that we desired of Him。〃 1 John 5：14； 15。 〃If we confess our sins； He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins； and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness。〃 1 John 1：9。
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In the healing of the paralytic at Capernaum； Christ again taught the same truth。 It was to manifest His power to forgive sins that the miracle was performed。 And the healing of the paralytic also illustrates other precious truths。 It is full of hope and encouragement； and from its connection with the caviling Pharisees it has a lesson of warning as well。
Like the leper； this paralytic had lost all hope of recovery。 His disease was the result of a life of sin； and his sufferings were embittered by remorse。 He had long before appealed to the Pharisees and doctors； hoping for relief from mental suffering and physical pain。 But they coldly pronounced him incurable； and abandoned him to the wrath of God。 The Pharisees regarded affliction as an evidence of divine displeasure； and they held themselves aloof from the sick and the needy。 Yet often these very ones who exalted themselves as holy were more guilty than the sufferers they condemned。
The palsied man was entirely helpless； and； seeing no prospect of aid from any quarter； he had sunk into despair。 Then he heard of the wonderful works of Jesus。 He was told that others as sinful and helpless as he had been healed； even lepers had been cleansed。 And the friends who reported these things encouraged him to believe that he too might be cured if he could be carried to Jesus。 But his hope fell when he remembered how the disease had been brought upon him。 He feared that the pure Physician would not tolerate him in His presence。
Yet it was not physical restoration he desired so much as relief from the burden of sin。 If he could see Jesus； and receive the assurance of forgiveness and peace with Heaven； he would be content to live or die； according to God's will。 The cry of the dying man was； Oh that I might come into His presence！ There was no time to lose； already his wasted flesh was showing signs of decay。 He besought his friends to carry him on his bed to Jesus； and this they gladly undertook to do。 But so dense was the crowd that had assembled in and about the house where the Saviour was； that it was impossible for the sick man and his friends to reach Him； or even to come within hearing of His voice。
Jesus was teaching in the house of Peter。 According to their custom； His disciples sat close about Him； and 〃there were Pharisees and doctors of the law sitting by； which were come out of every town of Galilee； and Judea； and Jerusalem。〃 These had come as spies； seeking an accusation against Jesus。 Outside of these officials thronged the promiscuous multitude； the eager； the reverent； the curious； and the unbelieving。 Different
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nationalities and all grades of society were represented。 〃And the power of the Lord was present to heal。〃 The Spirit of life brooded over the assembly； but Pharisees and doctors did not discern its presence。 They felt no sense of need； and the healing was not for them。 〃He hath filled the hungry with good things； and the rich He hath sent empty away。〃 Luke 1：53。
Again and again the bearers of the paralytic tried to push their way through the crowd； but in vain。 The sick man looked about him in unutterable anguish。 When the longed…for help was so near； how could he relinquish hope？ At his suggestion his friends bore him to the top of the house and； breaking up the roof； let him down at the feet of Jesus。 The discourse was interrupted。 The Saviour looked upon the mournful countenance； and saw the pleading eyes fixed upon Him。 He understood the case； He had drawn to Himself that perplexed and doubting spirit。 While the paralytic was yet at home； the Saviour had brought conviction to his conscience。 When he repented of his sins； and believed in the power of Jesus to make him whole； the life…giving mercies of the Saviour had first blessed his longing heart。 Jesus had watched the first glimmer of faith grow into a belief that He was the sinner's only helper； and had seen it grow stronger with every effort to come into His presence。
Now； in words that fell like music on the sufferer's ear； the Saviour said； 〃Son； be of good cheer； thy sins be forgiven thee。〃
The burden of despair rolls from the sick man's soul； the peace of forgiveness rests upon his spirit； and shines out upon his countenance。 His physical pain is gone； and his whole being is transformed。 The helpless paralytic is healed！ the guilty sinner is pardoned！
In simple faith he accepted the words of Jesus as the boon of new life。 He urged no further request； but lay in blissful silence； too happy for words。 The light of heaven irradiated his countenance； and the people looked with awe upon the scene。
The rabbis had waited anxiously to see what disposition Christ would make of this case。 They recollected how the man had appealed to them for help； and they had refused him hope or sympathy。 Not satisfied with this； they had declared that he was suffering the curse of God for his sins。 These things came fresh to their minds when they saw the sick man before them。 They marked the interest with which all were watching the scene； and they felt a terribl