mxu IS^ * ^^' mi'^ .:li»* lM|j)lllwliM'^l^= ^m dautor. Kraua QIl^rtHt. frnm tl}t mattgrr to tift tl^roup. ^iuittg a hiograplitral abrtrl^ nnh a Utbliral l^iatorii of (SH^xxat's Hifr. iKtutBtrij. Pruipr to l^pal tl)p airk. anb l^ia uion&rrful Ifltrarka. «1T ir. i'. A. Utrlimnnb Qlljf ppojjUa* Ijumblp arruattt in Qlljrtat Jraua 19 4 Preaa of tt|p ifirka-JlubJi GIo. S'att JPranriaro fop Aft lingAo ^f^oi Congress, in th U ' Entered accordingAo >^^^of Congress, in the year 1904, by U ' DR. S. A. RICHMOND, In the office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington. INTRODUCTORY. In presenting this book on divine healing to the pubHc, the author has no apologies to make ; believing that it will meet with the hearty approval and support of everyone who peruses its con- tents. It is the first and only book of its kind ever published, and is indeed a book of revelations from start to finish. It is the key to the scriptures and unlocks the portals containing the secrets of divine healing, and reveals them unto man. When Christ bestowed power upon His disciples to preach the gospel, He also bestowed upon them the power to heal the sick. And He said unto theiii, "Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature, and these signs shall follow them that believe : In My name shall they cast out devils, and they shall'lay hands on the sick and they shall recover." We have our Savior's example. We are told that He ''is the way, the truth and the life ; He went over Palestine and Judea, preaching the gospel and healing the sick. What He did He said we should do,and we are doing. His command to His disciples was to go into all the world and preach this gospel that He had been teaching them, and these signs should follow those who believed. Mind you, the signs were not to follow the preacher, but the command was to go and teach the gospel and preach it, and ''these signs shall follow those who believe" your preaching. What were these signs ? Among other things, they should drink deadly poison and it should not hurt them ; they should handle reptiles and nothing could harm them ; they should lay their hands on the sick and they should recover. In the Bible this is the only definition given of a believer, how a believer should be known. He who believes, has and must have that power. The signs must follow. They had the power then, and according to the immutable and unchangeable laws of God Almighty there never was a change ; those who believed then had the signs following, and those who believe today have the signs and can heal the sick. The evangelists tell us that Jesus touched the leper with His own finger ; that He anointed the eyes of the blind ; and that in cases where He was asked to speak the word only at a distance, He did not usually comply, but went Himself to the sick bed and there personally wrought the cure. A lesson to us. If we would do good, do it ourselves. Give alms with our own hand. A kind look or word will enhance the value of the gift. Our Lord's mode 6 DIVINE HEALING. of doing good sets forth His incessant activity. He did not only the good which came close to hand, but He went about on His errand of mercy and of practicing divine healing, and throughout the whole land of Judea there was scarcely a village or a hamlet which was not gladdened by the sight of Him. By the Master's final words to His disciples the obligation is laid upon every Christian to heal the sick and to be a soul- winner. To be a soul- winner is the happiest thing in the world. With every soul you bring to Christ you get a new heaven upon earth. But who can conceive the bliss which awaits us above? Oh, how sweet is that sentence, ''Enter thou into the joy of thy Lord !" Do you know what the joy of Christ is over a saved sinner? This is the very joy which we are to possess in heaven. Yes, when He mounts the throne, you shall mount with Him. When the heavens ring with "well done, well done," you shall partake in the reward. You have toiled with Him. You have suffered with Him. You shall now reign with Him. You have sown with Him. You shall reap with Him. Your face was covered with sweat like His and your soul was grieved for the sins of men as His soul was. Now shall your face be bright with heaven's splendor, as is His countenance. And now shall your soul be filled with beautiful joy, even as His soul is. History teaches us that the ministers of the gospel practiced this service of divine healing for two or three centuries after Christ's ascension. Either from unbelief or some other cause unknown to us, the practice was abandoned and became obsolete and has prac- tically so remained until the dawning of a new century. It is now again being revealed to man. These revelations the author has re- vealed to the world in his wonderful book of revelations on divine healing, and he sends this consecrated book out into the world with the humble prayer that it may prove a blessing to all who may read its contents. The main object of the author is to heal the sick, and reclaim the infidel and sinner and point them the way to the Lamb of God that taketh away the sins of the world. May it be the means of encouraging great multitudes of sin-sick souls to press through the throng of difficulties, doubts, and fears and touch the hem of the Savior's garment and be made perfectly whole. This is the prayer of your humble servant. I remain, yours truly, S. A. RICHMOND, The People's Humble Servant in Christ Jesus, Hot Springs, Ark. CREDIT TO WHOM CREDIT IS DUE. With a grateful heart I return thanks to the following authors whose names I will append, from whose books I have been per- mitted to gather much of the information and material for my book concerning our Savior and His wonderful works and miracles per- formed while here on earth. Among whom is first the immortal John Wesley, the founder of Methodism, who was a ripe scholar in Jesus' college, as his life and works will verify. Another was the late C. H. Spurgeon, one of the most famous preachers of modern times. He was also a ripe scholar in Jesus' college. I got permission from the American Tract Society of New York city to gather and cull information from their publications of Spurgeon's works. I also received permission from Fleming H. Revell Com- pany of New York city to gather and cull information from their publications of C. H. Spurgeon's works. The following are other authors from whom I received permission to gather and cull in- formation from their books : J. W. Byers, O. C. Sabim, J. B. Wilson, Gustave Dore. A WORD OF EXPLANATION. locate in SnF '" ^''""' '"' '"^"^ '°"''"'^' *° w ere w,ll be pleased to ,„eet those desiring to learn of "ly methods and teachings. THE AUTHOR. DEDICATION. This book is reverently dedicated unto Him that loved us and washed us -from our sins in His own blood, and healed our diseases, and hath made us kings and priests unto God and Our Father. To Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. Oh, how sweet to view the flowing of His soul-redeeming blood, with divine assurance, knowing that He made my peace with God. CONXKNTS. PART I. Page Our Redemption Right 17 Divine Healing 28, 157 How Long Does It Take to Effect a Cure? 27 Strong in Faith 28 Shall I Discharge My Doctor? 35 Esculapius and the Pill Bag : 39 The Magic of Touch 55 God's Table 71 Health Without Drugs 96 Attending Jesus' College '. 107 Absent Treatment 112 The Sacred Fountain 135 Divine Healing in Prophecy 146 God Answers Prayers 159 Whether is Easier 164 Humble Thyself. 186 Conversion and Healing 197 The Divine Law of Redemption 201 How to Come to Him for Healing 208 Have Faith in God 217 His Resurrection, Will and Promise 228 An Invalid for Over Thirty Years 232 The Power of Healing in God's People 247 The Gifts of Healing 248 Questions Answered 254 Does Sickness Come from God? 259 Summarized Questions and Answers on Divine Healing 263 PART II. The Nativity of Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ 279 The Preaching and Baptism of Saint John 293 The Baptism of Jesus 297 Jesus Was Tempted in the Wilderness 301 Jesus Preaching His First Sermon 302 The Sermon on the Mount 307 The Ordaining of the Twelve Apostles 309 12 DIVINE HEALING. Christ's Entry into Jerusalem 313 Jesus and the Woman of Samaria 317 A Woman Anointeth the Feet of Jesus 321 Suffer Little Children to Come Unto Me 025 Jesus Stilling the Tempest 331 St. Peter Walks on the Sea 335 I Am the Good Shepherd 339 Come Unto Me 349 The Trees of the Lord Are Full of Sap.. 355 I Am the Vine; Ye Are the Branches 361 What Think Ye of Christ? 370 The Prodigal Son 373 I Am the Bread of Life 380 If Thou Believest With All Thine Heart 382 The Tongue and Its Evils 386 The Transfiguration 393 And Yet There Is Room 401 The Raising of Lazarus 409 You Should Be Like Jesus 412 Christ Instituteth His Holy Supper 415 The Lord's Supper— Judas Dipping His Hand in the Dish 418 My Soul Is Exceeding Sorrowful Unto Death 423 The Agony in the Garden 427 Betrayest Thou the Son of Man With a Kiss? 431 Peter's Denial 437 Christ Is Scourged 443 Put Upon His Head a Crown of Thorns 447 Behold the Man 451 On Him They Laid the Cross, That He Might Bear It After Jesus 457 They Gave Him a Procession of Honor 461 The First Nail Driven 465 A Lesson on the Crucifixion 471 His Dying Cry 475 The Earthquake 479 The Precious Blood of Christ 480 Easter Day, the Resurrection 483 Mary Magdalene at the Tomb 491 The Lord's Command Before the Ascension 499 The Day of Pentecost 503 What Is the Badge of Your Service? 507 The Churches of Today . 512 Arise Ye, and Depart 517 Born Again 519 Saul Going Towards Damascus 527 Eternity! Eternity! Then What? 531 The Lord Controls the Universe 553 Let God Be True 554 And I Looked, and, Lo, a Lamb Stood on the Mount Zion 557 LIST OR ILLUSTRATIONS. Pagk Frontispiece, Dr. S. A. Richmond 2 A Patient Consulting Dr. S. A. Richmond 21 Dr. S. A. Richmond in the Act of Treating a Patient 25 A Nut to Crack 29 We Are in the Same Boat 33 Esculapius and the Pill Bag 37 Healing of Simon's Wife's Mother 41 The Magic Touch 53 " Thou Preparest a Table Before Me " 69 The Tree of Life 73 The Dumb Man Possessed of a Devil Healed at Capernaum 79 Healing of the Blind '. 85 In the Villages the Sick Were Brought Unto Him 93 The Lame Man at the Beautiful Gate 99 Attending Jesus' College 105 The Good Samaritan 109 The Palsied Man Let Down Through the Roof 113 The Demoniac Boy at the Foot of Mt. Tabor 121 The Sacred Fountain 133 Jesus Went About All the Cities, Healing the Sick 139 Dr. Richmond Writing His Book 155 "Young Man, I Say Unto Thee, Arise" 167 All the City Was Gathered Together 183 Jesus Healeth Great Muhitudes 187 The Nativity of Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ 277 The Magi on Their Journey 283 The Flight Into Egypt 287 Saint John Preaching 291 The Baptism of Jesus 295 Jesus Was Tempted in the Wilderness 299 The Sermon on the Mount 305 Christ's Entry Into Jerusalem 311 Jesus and the Woman of Samaria 315 A Woman Anointeth the Feet of Jesus 319 " Suffer Little Children to Come Unto Me " 323 Jesus Stilling the Tempest 329 Saint Peter Walks on the Sea 333 " I Am the Good Shepherd " 337 "If Any Man Hear My Voice and Open the Door, I Will Come in to Him" 341 14 DIVINE HEALING. *' Come Unto Me" 347 " The Trees of the Lord Are Full of Sap " 353 " I Am the Vine, and Ye Are the Branches " 359 '* Launch Out Into the Deep, and Let Down Your Nets for a Draught "... 363 "A Certain Beggar Named Lazarus, Which Was Laid at His Gate, Full of Sores" 367 The Prodigal Son 371 "And Knew Not Until the Flood Came and Took Them All Away. So Also Shall the Coming of the Son of Man Be " 377 Mary at the Feet of Jesus 383 The Transfiguration 391 "A Certain Man Made a Great Supper" 399 The Raising of Lazarus 407 Christ Instituteth His Holy Supper 413 " My Soul Is Exceeding Sorrowful Unto Death " 421 The Agony in the Garden 425 " Betrayest Thou the Son of Man With a Kiss?" 429 Peter's Denial 435 Christ Is Scourged 441 " Put Upon His Head a Crown of Thorns " 445 " Behold the Man" 449 "On Him They Laid the Cross, That He Might Bear It After Jesus "... 455 They Gave Him a Procession of Honor 459 The First Nail Driven 463 A Lesson of the Crucifixion 469 His Dying Cry 473 The Earthquake 477 Easter Day, the Resurrection 481 Mary at the Tomb 489 Christ and the Two Disciples on the Road to Emmaus 493 The Ascension 497 The Day of Pentecost 501 Crowned With Thorns 505 Beneath Thy Cross I Lay Me Down 509 Death on the Pale Horse 515 Angels Swinging Their Censers 521 Saul Going Towards Damascus 525 Dr. Richmond's Vision of Eternity 529 Saint John's Revelations 555 PART I. Treats of Health without Drugs Divine Healing, Mind and Faith Cure, all by the Power of God Almighty. OF THt OF DIVINE HEALING. OUR REDEMPTION RIGHT. Many of God's dear people suffering under the bondage of disease, when they hear the gospel of healing, are troubled with doubt as to their right to claim it. It was for all in the first century, and doubtless for some now, but have I a right to claim it? There is much involved in this question. Thousands today are held in bondage who might be free, leaping and shout- ing and praising God for deliverance from all manner of sickness and disease, and the cause of Christ exalted above a mere form of godliness, were the question of our redemption right settled. The church of God has been trailing in the dust of humilia- tion and weakness, while the unbelieving world stands off with scoffs and jeers, largely, because of the unbelief in the right of every child of God to be healed. Many an earnest seeker has been perplexed and almost driven to despair, when just within reach, yet kept hid from sight through unbelief, is the blood-bought inheritance of abundant life and health. It is but a trick of the Devil to thus keep God's people in bondage. The most sorrowful fact of all is that the majority of the sectarian clergy is used to propogate this infernal lie of Satan, and hinder many from making their escape from the yoke of bondage. At this present critical epoch in the history of spiritual advancement there is no greater deception imposed upon us than the denial of the right to divine healing and health. If we have not the right to this, what blessing in the atonement can we claim ? ''With his stripes we are healed" dare not be substract- ed from the fundamental principles of redemption. God pity an apostatized ministry that passes lightly over this, and more deplorable still, that disbelieves it. This unbelief and superstition belong to the dark ages, which have boldly disputed every redemp- tion truth, as God has by the Holy Spirit turned the light of heaven upon His Holy Word. 18 DiriXE HEALING. At one time, for a long period, the Devil would have it that salvation by faith was an impossibility, but when his deceptions were exposed in this respect, he was compelled to retreat by the mighty thunderbolts of truth thrown into his ranks. God gave the experience of justification by faith to those who came to Him, and they were not afraid to tell it to the world at the cost of their lives. The truth became established, and now it is largely ad- mitted that it is the right of those who repent and believe to receive forgiveness of sins. Yet in the face of all this there is a denial of this redemption right in every individual case, until the seeker begins to believe against the deceptions of the enemy, and appropriate the blessed promises of God to all who come to Him for pardon. This blessed truth is based upon the redemption principle, "He was wounded for our transgressions." This is indeed glorious, and eternity will not be too long in which to praise God for this wonderful fact. But is it any more a fact than that "with his stripes we are healed"? When the paralytic was let down through the roof of the house where our blessed Redeemer stood, He, seeing their faith, granted the poor sufferer the forgiveness of his sins. This of course was a surprise to the people, but Jesus had a purpose in this, which was, that they might know that he had the power on earth to forgive sins. He asks the question, "Whether it is easier to say to the sick of the palsy, Thy sins be forgiven thee ; or to say. Arise, take up thy bed, and walk ?" Truly no one could ques- tion his ability to do both. The recorded facts establish this beyond a doubt, but does not the same blessed example prove to us that He is just as willing as he is able to do both? It was just as much the right of the sufiferer to have one as the other. It was not a question of worthiness on his part, neither is it upon ours, but it is all according to God's mercy. It certainly must be clear to the mind of every reader who believes the record that God gave of His Son, that all who came to Jesus had the right to believe for healing. None were disap- pointed. "As many as touched him were healed." It may yet be said that this does not make it clear ; that though sufficient has been said to show that it was the will of God, and the right of His people to claim healing in the primitive time, yet we are in different days now, and God's will in this respect has been changed. Suppose such an illogical argument were admitted. If God's will MIND AND FAITH CURE. 19 has been changed with respect to heaUng, then who can tell us that there is anything left in the plan of redemption ? But we shall not give place to such foolish imagination. God has given us an expression of His will toward mankind through Jesus Christ, who promised to be with His disciples as they went into all the earth, unto the end of the world. All nations were to hear the gospel, and as long as it is yet to go forth God will honor His word and confirm it with His healing power upon all who by faith come to Him for healing. Those who went forth in primitive times preached the full gospel, and all who heard and believed received a full experience. This was by no means limited to the twelve apostles. It is recorded that healing and miracles followed the ministry of Paul, Stephen, and Philip. How could the people hear the gospel without it being preached in those days? It was necessary then that ''all things whatsoever I have commanded you" should be boldly taught. The people heard it, and all who were disposed to believe, were saved and healed. ''Faith cometh by hearing the word of God." — Rom. 10:17. The impotent man at Lystra must have been listening to the doctrine of Christ the Healer, when Paul perceived that he had faith to be healed. The marvelous result that followed shows beyond doubt that he believed, and was healed. In fact it is utterly impossible to preach the gospel of Christ without preaching divine healing, and as it is the distinctly expressed will of God that Christ should be preached to all the world, and nothing could please Him but the preaching of His perfect redemption, why should we be satisfied in this twentieth century with but a part of the gospel ? Whatever Christ was to the world in the days of His earthly ministry. He continued to be in the Holy Spirit in the days of the apostles, and those that followed. The Spirit was His executive to carry on the redemption work as long as this dis- pensation shall last, which will be until the coming of Christ. Wherever the Holy Spirit dwells and can do the will of God, which only can be done in those who believe the gospel, we have the right to claim the gospel blessings. Among the gifts of the Spirit which God has put in the church are the gifts of healing (1 Cor. 12:9), which with every other means of grace are designed for the comfort and profit of the church, and also to give authority and power to the gospel of Christ. Not a sentence in the sacred record can be given to show 20 DI Y IX E HEALING. that these gifts have ever been taken out of the church, neither that Christ the Healer should not be preached. Just as truly as salvation from sin is our blood-bought inheritance, so is healing. Let us therefore, in the face of all doubts and disputations of the Devil, meet the conditions of faith and claim our redemption right "Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits : Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; Who healeth all thy diseases." — Ps. 103 :2, 3. A PATIENT CONSULTING DR. S. A. RICHMOND. Paul says, " There is one God and one Mediator between God and men — the man Christ Jesus.'''' ^ M I N D A A' D F AIT H C U RE . 23 DIVINE HEALING. The divine healer is the mediator between Christ and the afflicted. Therefore God does, through man, in the name of Jesus Christ, heal the sick. In the first place, God healed the sick through Jesus Christ. Now he heals the sick through man, in the name of Jesus Christ. Then man has inherent power to heal through and in the name of Jesus Christ. If you wish to lay your hands on the sick you will heal them, with the spoken word, as Jesus healed by the laying on of hands with the prayer which must always ac- company it. It is one of the greatest gifts that Christ bestowed upon man. It destroys pain almost instantly. It is a panacea for every disease known to man where it is applied by the spirit of God Almighty. It is God's work. It is God's method accorduig to the gift of Jesus Christ of the laying on of hands. The divine healer reads the mind of the afflicted and diagnoses his case, and telegraphs his case to Christ, through silent prayer. Christ pleads his case before the throne of God. Christ read the minds of the afflicted and had no trouble in healing their diseases. The divine healer must cast all evils out of himself and live a pure and Christ-like life before he can be endowed with this great gift of spiritual power from heaven to heal the sick. He must approach his patients with divine love. If he has not this power invested in himself, he cannot heal the sick. The afflicted must have faith. If they come doubting, as doubting Thomas did, they must not expect God to heal them. We are healing the afflicted as commanded by Christ, and we know that we are on the right road because we heal the sick. We know that God gives us the power and he answers our prayers. We know that we are right because the Bible tells us that the disciples went forth preaching this doctrine, and the truth was vindicated by their works. This is how we know that we are right. Our works show that we are right. Are you going down with this great body of humanity, going over the precipice called death, bowing down to sickness, to sin, and to sorrow, or are you going to turn your face toward the sunlight of God's truth and walk up the stairs of intelligence until you know the truth, as Jesus says, which makes you free? If you select the proper road, God's hand reaches out to lead you and take you along the pathway, 24 DIVINE HEALING. filling every step with joy, with peace, with contentment, blesses you in health, harmony and plenty. God's blessings are here awaiting you. In the last command that Jesus gave to His disci- ples on the day of His ascension was : " Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature; he that believeth and is baptized, shall be saved, but he that believeth not, shall be damned, and these signs shall follow them that believe." Listen, reader, and study Christ's own word — " and these signs shall follow them that believe." "In my name shall they cast out devils." " They shall speak with new tongues." " They shall take up ser- pents, and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them." "They shall lay hands on the sick and they shall recover." This blessing was made perpetual, and gave to every man and woman power to heal the sick. Listen to Christ's own words — " And these signs shall follow them that believe." Brother, sister, do you believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God? If so, be baptized, and you will have the power bestowed upon you by Christ to heal the sick. These are Jesus Christ's own words. Now, when we doubt, we become fearful, and what is the result ? We are simply denying what Jesus Christ told us. It is an indictment against God, saying that God has lied to us through His Son. Now, the record shows this, that in the first place, God healed the sick through Jesus Christ. We are told in the sixteenth chapter of Mark, when the order went forth to heal the sick, that "in my name," Jesus says, you shall do so and so ; and wherever the apostles went to heal any person that we have any record of, they healed him in the name of Jesus Christ. He has set the way. He gives us the path in which to follow, and we are to do as He did and do it in His name. Therefore God does, through man, in the name of Jesus Christ, heal the sick. Mark you that God did, through Jesus Christ, heal the sick. God is the healer. We have the same power that Jesus Christ had, because Christ said so, but we have to do our healing through and in the name of Jesus Christ. The healing gift he lends to them Who use it in His name, The power that filled his garments' hem Is evermore the same. The healing of his seamless dress Is by our beds of pain, We touch Him in life's throng and press, And we are whole again. Whittier. DR. S. A. RICHMOND IN THE ACT OF TREATING A PATIENT. MIND AND FAITH CURE. 27 IN THE ACT OF TREATING A PATIENT. Dr. S. A. Richmond in the act of treating a patient according to the teachings of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, and by St. James, His brother. Christ practiced the laying on of hands. Mark VII:31-37; Mark VIII :22-26, and many other cases could be enumerated. Is any among you afflicted ? Let him pray. Is any merry ? Let him sing psalms. Is any sick among you ? Let him call for the elders of the church and let them pray over him, an- nointing him with oil in the name of the Lord, and the prayer of faith shall save the sick. Saint James, IV:13-15. HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO EFFECT A CURE? This is a question frequently asked. The length of time re- quired depends upon the patient. If he comes for treatment with a heart like stone, full of hatred, malice, envy, jealousy, and eyes full of the lust of the flesh, I cannot promise a speedy cure. He must be born again and come as a little child and humble himself to God, as the father of the lunatic did when he said with tears, *' Lord, I believe, help thou mine unbelief." And Jesus rebuked the foul spirit, saying unto him : "Thou deaf and dumb spirit, I charge thee come out of him and enter no more into him." His disciples asked Him privately why they could not cast him out, and the Lord said unto them, '* this kind can come forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting." The disciples tried to heal this case, but failed for lack of spiritual power. The divine healer must go up to the mount of transfiguration to receive power up there. Then he is prepared to go below in the valley to heal the sick. He can- not impart to others what he does not possess himself. If the afflicted will have faith and come with pure hearts, they can get a cure almost instantly, but if they come unprepared to receive the blessing, it will take longer to cure them. They must be fed on this gospel milk until they become spiritually minded, then they will be fed on the gospel meat of this divine healing and mind cure. It may take a week to effect a cure, and it may take several weeks or even months before they can get this gospel of divine healing thoroughly inbred into them. They must give up sin and quit sinning and give up all for Jesus. 28 DIVINE HEALING. STRONG IN FAITH. (Romans, IV:20.) If we want blessings from God, nothing can fetch them down but faith. Prayer cannot draw down answers from God's throne, except they be the earnest prayers of the man who beheves. Faith is the angeHc messenger between the soul and the Lord Jesus in glory. Let that angel be withdrawn, we can neither send up prayer nor receive the answer. Faith is the telegraphic wire which links earth and Heaven ; on which God's messengers of love fly so fast that before we call He answers, and while we are yet speaking he hears us. But if that telegraphic wire of faith be snapped, how can we receive the promise? If I am sick, I can obtain immediate help for my trouble by faith in God's power to heal. Faith clothes me with the power of God. Faith engages on my side the om- nipotence of Jehovah. Faith insures every attribute of God in my defense. It helps me defy the hosts of hell. It makes me march triumphant over the necks of my enemies ; but without faith how- can I receive anything of the Lord ? Those who brought their friends to Jesus do we think for a moment had no faith? No, they had all faith in His ability and power, or why would they have come? Do you think that those who were carried had no faith? Surely they had faith, or would they have consented to the process ? Do we suppose the centurion and his servant had no faith when he came to Jesus? Ah, he knew what Jesus was willing and able to do, for he said: " I am not worthy for you, the Son of God, to come under my roof. Just speak the word and my servant shall be healed," and it was done. They came in assurance. They came in a humble and worshipful attitude, not in doubts, fears and unbelief. They gave Jesus a chance to do His will. We seldom do. They were full of faith and obedience and adoration. We come full of doubts and fears and unbelief. We live far away from God until perhaps some calamity overtakes us. Then we run quickly to God. Will He then hear ? He may hear, but He may see fit first to administer a lesson. Can we expect the blessings of our Father's house when we occupy it so little ? It is He that dwelleth there, and those who keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing ir His sight, that are to receive what they ask for. A NUT TO CRACK. MIND AN D FAITH C U RE . 31 A NUT TO CRACK. A nut for ministers of the gospel to crack. The very last words Jesus said to His disciples, the day of His ascension, were : ''Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved, but he that believeth not shall be damned, and these signs shall follow them that believe." Brothers, here is the nut that I want you to crack. Read this carefully, slowly and prayerfully : "And these signs shall follow them that believe. In my name shall thev cast out devils. They shall speak with new tongues. They shall take up serpents, and if they drink any deadly thing it shall not hurt them. They shall lay hands on the sick and they shall re- cover." Brother, can you deny Jesus' own words? Mind you, signs were not to follow the preacher, but the command was to go and preach this gospel and these signs should follow those that believe your preaching. Among other things, they should lay then- hands on the sick and they should recover. That gift from Christ was made perpetual, and those who believe can heal the sick the same today as the believers did nineteen hundred years ago. We have our Savior's example. We are told that He "is the Way, the Truth and the Life" ; He went over Palestine and Judea, preaching the gospel and healing the sick. What He did He said we should do, and we are doing. His command to His disciples was to go into all the world and preach this gospel that He had been teaching them, and these signs should follow those who believed. Mind you, the signs were not to follow the preacher, but the com- mand was to go and teach this gospel and preach it, and "these signs shall follow those who believe" your preach- ing. What were these signs? Among other things, they should drink deadly poison and it should not hurt them ; they should handle reptiles and nothing could harm them; they should lay their hands on the sick and they should recover. In the Bible this is the only definition given of a believer, how a believer should be known. He who believes, has and must have that power. The signs must follow. They had the power then, and according to the immutable and unchangeable laws of God Almighty there never was a change; those who believed then had the signs fol- lowing, and those who believe today have the same signs and can heal the sick. 32 i> I y I A' f^ It I'J A hi N a . Jesus went apart to hold high fellowship with the Father, and we must enter into the same divine companionship if we would bless our fellow men. No wonder that the apostles were clothed with power when they came down fresh from the mountain where Jesus was. This morning we must endeavor to ascend the mount of communion, that there we may be ordained to the lite-work for which we are set apart. Let us not see the face of man today till we have seen Jesus, Time spent with Him is laid out at blessed interest. We, too, shall cast out devils and work wonders if we go down into the world girded with that divine energy whicli Christ alone can give. It is of no use going to the Lord's battle till we are armed with heavenly weapons. We niiLSt see Jesus : this is essential. At the mercy seat we will linger till He shall mani- fest Himself unto us as He doth not unto the world, and until we can truthfully say, "We were with Him in the Holy Mount." Jesus' promise was made perpetual for all time to come, and means you, me and everybody that believes and is baptized. You should heal the sick, and every man and woman should heal the sick that believes as Jesus intends that we should believe and is baptized. Brother, do you believe or do you doubt Jesus word? If you doubt it, you make Jesus out a liar. There are a great many people who cannot heal the sick, but every person who believes as Jesus Christ intends he shall believe can heal the sick. And if you cannot heal the sick you have not the full belief that set you free. Ministers of the gospel, God's holy annointed, are the last persons on earth who should employ a physician, other than Christ Jesus. When they were anointed to preach the gospel, they were made shepherds to look after Christ's sheep. They were given power to heal sin and save souls. The same power that heals sin will heal the sick, only they have to use and apply this power in a different way. Jesus said, "He that believeth on Me, the works that I do he shall do also." Whenever you believe as Christ intends you should, then there is no power on earth to prevent you from healing the sick. Nothing can be found in the word of God where these conditions were to be altered in the ministration of these blessings throughout the Holy Spirit dis- pensation. It is the blessed privilege of every true and humble minister of the gospel of Christ to possess this same power, yea, more, no one should dare undertake to preach the gospel without the endowment of this power. The command to the disciples is equally binding upon every disciple of Jesus today, whether a professed minister or not. WE ARE IN THE SAME BOAT. IND AND FAITH CURE. 36 SHALL I DISCHARGE MY DOCTOR? Shall I discharge my doctor ? is a question frequently asked. My answer is, no. If you have any faith in him you cannot afford to discharge him and make a life-long enemy. If God Almighty cannot heal the sick in spite of the physicians, then He is not omnipotent in power. The physicians of Esculapius and myself are all in the same boat — they are powerless and are in the hands of God. If God does not give their medicines their medical vir- tues and healing properties, they make no cures ; on the other hand, if the patient comes to me filled full of unbelief, and God does not hear my prayers, I make no cures. So, you see, we are all depending upon God for power, through Christ. Christ has charge of the keys of the celestial kingdom that unlock and reveal unto men the hidden mysteries. I treat the afflicted in accordance with the divine rules laid down and practiced by Jesus Christ. It is all done through love. That was Christ's method. In that way I accomplish the desired results and will not block the wheels of this precious truth by needless antagonism. I never ask my patients whether they are taking medicines, or how many physicians they have treating them. It makes no difference to me how many doctors they have. God through Christ does the healing. I care not whether the afflicted is healed through drugs or by the divine power. I shall do my duty and do all I can for my patient. If I fail to cure him, I will do him no harm; but, if he gets in the hands of an unskilled and unprincipled medical doctor, and he does not cure him he is liable to do him injury. My advice to the afflicted is, when they employ a medical man, to employ a good one and to avoid the one whose hide is soaked with rum. Such a man should not practice medicine even on dumb brutes, much less the human family. Jesus tells us to be wise as serpents and as harmless as doves. Here is a world which, since the days of Jesus Christ, has been depending upon materia medica alone for its healing, for we have no record of any miraculous healing, so-called, since about three centuries after Christ's death. To come to the people now as a divine healer, after all of these ages, and say, you must discharge your doctor, before I will take the case, is a preposterous and an unchristian spirit. If the presence of a physician in the sick-room serves as a balm in Gilead to the sorrowing soul, who can ration- 36 DIVIN E H EALIN G. ally object but a heathen. The power of a divine healer is purely spiritual — a gift direct from the All- Wise Divinity. They, of course, can have no confidence in medicine, which even the higher class of medical men declare to be absolutely empirical, simply ex- perimental and not definite in its results. Really and unprejudiced- ly, the practice of materia medica is merely a system of guess work from beginning to end — a sort of hit or miss in its results. I was a disciple of Esculapius and his pill bag for many years. When the hand of God Almighty was behind my medicines, I made cures and when it was not, I made failures the same as all other doctors. What is God? What is Truth? What is Life? Love, mind, health, spirit, intelligence, strength, soul, good, right, they are all one and the same thing. They are all real, because they are all in- finite and eternal. We now recur to the question, What is God? We are told, first, that God is spirit. We find that the spiritual tree is judged by its fruits. The fruits of the spirit are love, peace, joy, long suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, tem- perance. There is no hate among these fruits. There is nothing but good. There, good is the fruit of the spirit. We are told that when He shall come again we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. We are told, God's spirit maketh life, for God is the Life. What is life ? Did you ever notice, did you ever think what life is ? When God made man, He breathed into his nostrils. What ? The breath of life. There never was one child created any different from another since the original creation. All have this breath of life, which is the breath of God. Life, therefore, is what? Life is the breath of God — life is God. Therefore know that God is omnipresent love and that God's love surrounds you ; that you live in it — that it covers you as the waters cover the fishes in the sea. Now, can evil come near you ? can it touch you ? can you be sick ? can you be poor ? can you be sorrowful ? can you be in trouble of any kind or character when God Almighty's love engulfs you and you live in it, and love covers you as the waters cover the fishes in the sea? God's love is unlimited power, om- nipotence. God is good, all good, and you live in love and you live in God, and you live in all good as well. Therefore, good surrounds you upon the right hand and upon the left, and it is only he or she who fails to realize this truth, who doubts the word of God Almighty, that can suffer. p:sculapius and the pill bag. MIND AND FAITH CURE. 39 ESCULAPIUS AND THE PILL BAG. For many years I was a disciple of Esculapius, and carried his pill bag and treated and prescribed drugs to thousands of sick people. I made failures the same as all other doctors, and I made some wonderful cures, and have been lauded to the skies by the press and pulpit. I never made a cure in my life, nor did the medical faculty or any living man, but that the hand of God Almighty was the prevailing character in each and every case. God gave the patient faith to believe that the medicine would cure him, and God gave the medicines their medicinal virtues and heal- ing qualities, and the cure was performed by God and not by man. There is nothing impossible with God. If He can heal the sick with drugs. He can just as easily heal them without drugs. I be- came disgusted with drugs and dropped th,em, and put my trust in God Almighty through Jesus Christ, the great Healer and founder of divine healing that cures every known disease. My honest opinion is that doctors do more harm than good. There is a medical book written, entitled "Every Man His Own Doctor." The author ought to write one more book and entitle it, ''Every Man His Own Undertaker." The doctor is welcomed in every mansion. Children shout when they see his gig coming, and old men, recognizing his step, look up and say, "Doctor, is that you?" He stands between their families and the grave, fighting disease. No one receives as many hearty thanks as the doctor. Under God and by God's divine hand, he makes the blind see, the deaf hear, the lame walk. The path of such is strewn with the benedictions of those whom they have befriended. But we never hear any shouts of thanks from the thousands whose lives were wrecked by their poisonous drugs, as the result of their medical mistakes and malpractice. How many thousands of children are now suffering from the results of the ruined constitutions of their parents as a trophy and an heirloom, or a legacy, bestowed upon them by the medical profession. How many thousands of consci- entious parents suffer all the torments of the damned as the result of poisonous drugs, medical mistakes and malpractice by incom- petent doctors. Look around you on every side and see the thous- ands of sickly, half imbecile, dwarf children, about half made up. From whence do these all spring ? Certainly not from nature. Ah 40 DIVIDE HEALING. no ! Look back to the days of our forefathers, through the dim vista of ages, and see to what an age human Hfe was prolonged. That was nature before Esculapius and his pill bag arrived. There may be some physicians who have objections to this article. If they do, investigate and you will find that they are infidels, scribes and Pharisees, and would crucify Jesus Christ as quickly and as readily as they did nineteen hundred years ago. I am not making a fight or warfare on doctors, but am championing the cause of Christianity and God's power through Christ to heal the sick. I have seen physicians completely under the influence of rum pre- scribe medicines for the sick ; when they were so drunk that they could not walk erect and their tongues were paralyzed, so that no one could understand what they said. No wonder doctors lose so many patients, and still they are protected under the cloak of the medical profession. You may take any leading doctor's pre- scriptions and they are not worth the paper they are written on without the power of God Almighty. The hand of God gave the medical virtues and healing properties to the drugs they prescribed. There is not a conscientious Christian medical practitioner in the world but what will acknowledge this to be the fact. Dr. James B. Bell, of Boston, an eminent physician and be- liever in divine healing, in writing about the blind faith of people in the use of patent medicines, says, "But, to be faithful, I must also warn you against the use of drugs by physicians. Narcotics, sedatives, stimulants, tonics, quinine, antipyrine, and hundreds of others are injuring brains and nerves, stomachs and livers, bring- ing on heart failure and doing far more harm than good. Dr. Oliver Wendell Holmes, whose fame is known from ocean to ocean as a medical man, said that, 'if all the drugs were cast into the sea, it would be better for humanity, but worse for the fishes.' '' Dr. Bell said, "I believe that if the advice of Dr. Holmes were followed, and physicians would confine themselves to giving good advice and mechanical and surgical aid when needed, those afiiict- ed would be better off." That is Dr. S. A. Richmond's theory, and he applies all the mechanical and surgical aids in connection with his divine healing, and that is the secret of his great success in healing the sick. I am fulfilling Christ's commands : "Go out into the world and lay your hands upon the sick and heal them." Christ made many miraculous cures by laying His hands upon the diseased spot. Di- vine healing uses the hands to correct these obstructions and then the Spirit of God does the rest. HEALING OF SIMON'S WIFE'S MOTHER. A-^ MIND AND FAITH CURE. 43 HEALING OF SIMON'S WIFE'S MOTHER. (mark 1:29-31.) '' And forthwith, when they were come out of the syn- gogue, they entered into the house of Simon and Andrew, with Jesus and John." " But Simon's wife's mother lay sick with a fever." " And He came and took her by the hand, and Hfted her up; and immediately the fever left her, and she ministered unto them." Very interesting is this little peep into the house of the apos- tolic fisherman. Peter's house was probably a poor fisherman's hut, but the Lord of Glory entered it, lodged in it, and wrought a mir- acle in it. Should this book be read this morning in some very humble cottage, let this fact encourage the inmates to seek the company of King Jesus. God is oftener in little huts than in rich palaces. Jesus is looking round your room now, and is waiting to be gracious to you. Into Simon's house sickness had entered, fever in a deadly form had prostrated his mother-in-law ; and as soon as Jesus came they told Him of the sad affliction, and He hastened to the patient's bed. Have you any sickness in the house this morning? You will find Jesus by far the best physician ; go to Him at once, and tell Him all about the matter. The tender heart of Jesus waits to hear our griefs; let us pour them into His patient ear. HEALING OF A GREAT FEVER. "And when Jesus was come into Peter's house, he saw his wife's mother laid, and sick of a fever. And He touched her hand, and the fever left her: and she arose and ministered unto them." — Matt. 8 :14, 15. This same narrative given in the gospels of Mark and Luke, teaches us that this woman was prostrate with a great fever. Jesus rebuked it, took her hand, and lifted her up. She was immediately healed of the fever and received divine strength and at once arose and ministered to them. In this expression of mercy we see the power and will of Christ to heal fevers. He could not be a perfect Healer if He could not heal 44 D IV IN E H E ALIN G. fevers. ''Himself bare our sicknesses," includes all diseases which He healed in His earthly ministry, and every invention of modern name that Satan has fastened on suffering humanity. Christ was more than a match for the works of the Devil then, and the centuries that have passed have not diminished his saving and healing power. The gospel dispensation has not ended yet, there- fore we have the privilege of the same provisions of redemption now as were enjoyed through faith in Christ at the beginning of this glorious age. Theological theory and tradition speak to the contrary, but how can we whose ears and hearts are open to the gospel only, receive the sayings of men who have but the form of the gospel, and deny the power thereof ? We bow in humble reverence to the name of Christ today, who is the Exalted One on the right hand of the Majesty on high, and proves to His people who believe in Him as Healer, that He is just as ready to rebuke devils and heal fevers as He was when He entered the sick-room and stood by the bedside of the mother-in-law of Peter. His compassionate heart is just the same today. He waits to be invited to the bedside of every sufferer. Multitudes can testify today of cases of healing from fever where the loving hand of Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit has been laid upon them and the burning fever was stayed. *T am the Lord that healeth thee" is as deeply significant to God today as it was in the days of Israel ; and if it were no less so to His church, there would be a mighty advance of spiritual power and vindication of the word of God, in the midst of this crooked and perverse world. Indeed there is no greater scriptural manner by which the church can glorify God and shine forth with the brilliancy of apostolic times than by honoring and worshiping Christ our Healer. Why not, brethren, pray as did the apostles, and then act accordingly? "Grant unto Thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak Thy word, by stretching forth Thine hand to heal, and that signs and wonders may be done in the name of thy holy child Jesus. " This is an apostolic prayer. Let us pray it. Believe it. Receive it. Live it. Then will we shut the mouths of the gainsaying world and compel men to confess the truthful- ness of the word of God. Why did the people flock to Jesus in some places in great throngs? He was not attractive in his manner, or appearance, or words. He did not restrain the M 1 N D AND FAITH CURE. 45 unpleasant theme of His earthly ministry, repent. His words cut men to their hearts,until even his enemies were compelled to con- fess: "Never man spake like this man." Why then did they gather around Him so from all quarters where they heard of Him ^ Was it not because He stretched forth His hand to heal ? Ah, this was the secret. How then shall men be attracted to Him today ? The multiplied counterfeits of Satan are designed to hold the world in unbelief, and keep men from coming to Christ. But is not the unbelieving, weak, and formal church, as she trails the banner of full salvation in the dust, and her light shines forth only in flickering rays, thus making the word of God of none effect, doing more to keep the world in unbelief than the Devil himself can possibly do otherwise? JESUS REBUKED THE FEVER but there was something back of this that was the cause of the trouble. The fever was only the effect, and had no power of its own to remain or depart. In his rebuke Jesus spoke directly to a living power which could put on or take off the fever. This was a spirit of infirmity. The fever was but the burning hand of the evil spirit which Jesus rebuked. At His word it had to let loose its destructive grasp, which would soon have ended the earthly life of this woman. If the reader needs light upon this subject, it will be found in abundance in the word of God. It is the business of Satan to bind with diseases. It is the business of Christ to heal those who are bound. In Luke 13 ill we read of a woman who had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years. Jesus testifies after healing her that Satan had bound her, and proves by the miracle, that He came to undo the works of Satan. This truth may seem repulsive to some of God's children w^ho cannot understand how a true Christian can be thus bound by the Devil. Being bound or oppressed by the Devil does not necessarily imply that the individual is living in sin. It is true that sin is the door through which the Devil enters and takes possession in every possible manner in which he can. This subject will be dealt with more definitely in another chapter, but for the present it may satisfy the mind of the reader to say that devil- oppression and devil-possession are scripturally in many respects very much alike. All sickness is in a greater or less degree devil- 46 DIVINE HE ALIN G. Oppression, which term includes being ''bound of the Devil." We do not think it possible that any responsible person can become possessed of the Devil without the commission of sin, either directly or indirectly. In case of devil-possessed children in their innocency the cause lies in the parents who have sinned, perhaps before the child was born. In such cases nothing but true repent- ance on the part of the parents will ever bring deliverance to the child. Devil-oppression exists in many cases upon God's children through a simple lack of faith. Sin may be the direct cause in most cases ; yet to say that every child of God who is sick has com- mitted sin, would be making an unwarranted statement. The expression in Jas. 5 :15, "And if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him," signifies that we may be sick without having committed sin. An unintentional mistake in judgment as to the proper use of our bodies, or a lack of faith in an unavoidable exposure to disease, or other usual means through which sickness comes, may give the advantage to the Devil, who is ever on the alert to destroy. He is "seeking whom he may devour," physically, as well as spiritually and morally. There is but one means of safety, a prescription that never fails, ''Whom resist steadfast in the faith/' The testimony of Peter in Acts 10 :38 proves that sickness is the oppression of the Devil. Jesus " went about doing good and healing all that were oppressed of the Devil." Either Satan himself or his spirits are the direct agencies of sickness. This is of course only by the permission of God, the same as temptation in other respects. Sickness should be considered and resisted the same as temptation. God tempts no one (Jas. 1 :13) and we can as boldly and scripturally say that God does not make any one sick. Jesus did not come to work against God in His earthly life and ministry in healing the sick ; but He did work against the Devil, and conquered him in every respect. By faith in Jesus today every diabolical disease from the pit of destruction may be destroyed. Hallelujah ! Let us bow in rev- erence to Christ, the mighty Deliverer. This scriptural truth should fill every heart with a holy vehemence against disease, with a determination that by the grace of God there shall be no silence until perfect healing is received. Let every sufferer move out upon the plane of our redemption right, and marvelous will be the results to the glory of our God. May the cries and prayers of faith be heard in every direction from those who are bound and M IJ^ D AN D FAIT H CU RE . 47 oppressed by Satan. Let the earnestness of the bHnd man be manifested — "Thou Son of David, have mercy on us." While we are humbly grateful to God for our own deliverance from diseases, we are intensely in earnest as intercessors for others, and those who seem to make no progress in faith for them- selves, must take courage and lay hold upon God as never before. He will deliver if you but keep believing. It may be appropriate and timely to ofifer a suggestion here to those seeking healing, especially those who may have sought for some time without any manifest evidence of answered prayer. A deeper earnestness is advisable to all, such as has characterized the prayers of Daniel, Hezekiah, and many of the patriarchs and prophets ; but in such depths of earnestness, let every one bear in mind the instructions of the apostle to the Philippians — '7n everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God/'— Fhil 4: :6. In the deepest intensity of prayer and supplication when the soul is lost to all the world and absorbed in the one desire, there are instances where God sees proper for the time being to with- hold the answer. This seems like death to the seeker, who may perhaps have to go his way with an unanswered prayer. A heavy gloom may begin to settle down upon him and great discourage- ment follow, until like Abraham a great ''horror of darkness" may encompass his soul. What to do he knows not. More prayer but adds to his misery. Here is the difficulty. He should not cease the prayer and supplications, but he should in the midst of his deep intensity mix much thanksgiving into his supplications. There are thousands of blessings in this great salvation which we already possess which should cause much thanksgiving. We must never become so much interested in anything else as to forget to thank God for what we already possess. This sweetens our earnestness and gives wings to our faith, which carries our prayer into the ears of God and brings the answer back. Let every request be made known to God by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving. Try it, dear sufferer, and see how your heart will brighten as you earnestly pray for your healing. It puts a heavenly relish into our prayers, and helps us to rejoice in the most dis- couraging trials. The answer will come when faith has been developed, and you will find there has not been one prayer nor tear too many. The blessed Christ is waiting to do his part. Believe him. 48 DIVIN E H E ALIN G. HEALING THE MULTITUDE. "When the even was come they brought tinto Him many that were possessed with devils : and He cast out the spirits with his word, and healed all that were sick : that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying. Himself took our infirm- ities, and bare our sicknesses." — Matt. 8 :1G, 17. Jesus had previously been through different parts of Galilee, where He had healed all manner of sicknesses and diseases. Hi^. fame had gone out to surrounding places so that the people from Jerusalem, Decapolis, and elsewhere sought for and followed Him. He went up into the mountain and was followed there by disciples who sat at His feet and heard His wonderful words of life, the sermon on the mount. He descended to Capernaum and on the Sabbath day went into the synagogue and taught the people. It was directly from this synagogue that He went into Peter's house and healed his mother-in-law. The people knew He was there in the house and began to gather around Him. Their strict regard for the Sabbath kept them from bringing their sick until the sun was setting, which was the close of the Jewish day. To bear any burdens on the Sabbath would, of course, be in viola- tion of their law. But as soon as the closing moment of the day had arrived they began to bring their sick and helpless from all parts of the city, until all the city was gathered together at the door. What an interesting time for all, but especially the poor captives (who were under the cruel hand of the Devil ; some were possessed *and others oppressed my him), as Jesus took them one by one and cast out the evil spirits with His word, and laid his hands on the sick and healed them all. There must have been great joy in that city that evening. JESUS HEALED THEM ALL. Had He healed with respect to persons, there might have been no hopes for some, but there is no record of one case ever being turned avv^ay by our compassionate Redeemer, and we do have repeated testimony that He healed all who came to Him. "And MIND AND FAITH CURE. 49 Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness, and every disease among the people." — Matt. 9 :3o. "And Jesus went forth, and saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion toward them, and he healed their sick. . . . And when they were gone over they came to the land of Gennesaret, and when the men of that place had knowledge of Him, they sent out into all that country round about, and brought unto Him all that were diseased ; and besought Him that they might only touch the hem of His garment, and as many as touched were made per- fectly whole."— Matt 14 :14, 34-36. The conditions were simple. They came to Him. Every sinner must do this to obtain pardon. Every believer must do this to obtain cleansing. The gift of God is offered freely to all, but none can receive without a perfe(!t compliance with the divine conditions, which may be summed up in two words — Obedience and Faith. It is frequently stated that Jesus healed the people unconditionally, but such was not the case. The individual instances mentioned, either definitely state, or clearly imply the faith of the individual, or some intercessor, or both. God is not to be limited within the bounds of human comprehension in the operations of His free grace toward man, and yet we can clearly perceive the scriptural grounds which we are instructed to take if we would come to Him for these blessings. Wherever and whenever the sick and suffering came to Jesus He healed them. This was the delight of His loving heart to minister this heavenly deliverance unto all. Nothing could have afforded Him greater joy than to see them coming from all directions with their sorrowful hearts and sick bodies, and pressing their way through the throng to either touch Him or have His loving hand reach out and touch them. It must have been painful to His heart when in any place like in His own city He could do no mighty work because of the unbelief of the people. If He could do no mighty work among the people then because of their unbelief. He is for the same reason hindered from doing so today. Oh, that the church of God might awaken to this solemn fact. Our feeble experiences through unbelief, are so often made the standard of what God is able and willing to do. We should rather humbly bow before Him and His holy word, confessing our unbelief, and then with a death-grip lay hold upon the promises until they are fulfilled in us. He healed all that were 50 Din \ E H E AL I y a . sick, when they came to Him in faith. He is still the same loving, compassionate Christ with more power than he had at that time, for He has since then met and made powerless him that had the power of death, and has been exalted "far above all principality and power and might and dominion and every name that is named, not only in this world, but in that which is to come." One great error taught among the people of God today, is that He is not willing to heal all who come to Him. No one can exercise perfect faith in any promise unless first assured that the promise is for him. He must have some scriptural ground for his faith to rest upon to be able to claim a definite attainable blessing. Unless we have this warrant for our faith, it would be much better not to ask at all than to ask God for something contrary to His will. The question of His will must first be settled. There is no means of doing- this outside of His word. His word is His will. Jesus Christ is that spoken word. Every deed and word of Jesus was the expression of that divine will. It has not been revoked and will not be, until the close of this gospel dispensation. There is no blessing of grace more plainly promised than the blessing of healing. Why not then step out on His word and receive it ? If, when every known condition is met, the answer has not yet come, let us not begin to say the answer is not for me. A delay is not a denial. There are some things we may pray for that ,are not in harmony with God's will, and therefore the answer must be refused by our dear Father, whose mind and wisdom is infinitely greater than ours, and an answer would not be for the best. In every such case it is our perfect right to learn zvhy our petition is not granted. Every seeker for any blessing that is not plainly promised of God, should always be ready at any time to withdraw the petition. No such proviso need be made when asking for salvation or heal- ing, but there are some things asked for at times, by nearly every child of God, that need this limit. Moses asked to enter Canaan. God could not grant the petition, but definitely and satisfactorily gave Moses the reason why. Jesus in Gethsemane asked that the cup of suffering be removed. The father could not grant His petition, but satisfied the heart of our Savior, and sent an angel to minister unto Him. He unmistakably knew why His petition was not granted. Paul sought God thrice to have the thorn in his fiesh removed. Gid did not remove it, but did tell him whv. ^Lct MINDANDFAITHCURE. 51 US not say that this thorn was some sickness or disease, because this cannot be scripturally proved.) Nothing else than the answered prayer or the reason why should satisfy us. It is much easier to submit to an unanswered prayer sometimes than it is to sumbit ourselves to God for the necessary preparation and search- ing by His Spirit, before He can entrust us with the answer. Dear sufferer, search the scriptures and be convinced that it is the will of God to save, cleanse and heal you, and then acquaint yourself with the necessary conditions ; meet them in dead earnest- ness, submitting yourself without reserve to Him for every necessary preparation to receive the blessing, and you shall have the desire of your heart. He is just as ready and willing to heal all who come to Him now as He ever has been in the past. THE MAGIC TOUCH. MIXD AND FAITH CURE. 55 THE MAGIC OF TOUCH. (LUKE 8:46.) And Jesus said, "Somebody hath touched Me, for I preceive that virtue is gone out of me." From Capernaum, in Gahlee, Jesus has crossed the sea of Tiberius to Gadara for the purposes of rest and recuperation. But after a notable miracle, the heaHng of two furious demoniacs and the destruction of the herd of swine, he is driven out of the country because the people had too much stock in hogs to take any in Christ. Again in Capernaum, he is scarcely landed from the fishing boat when another demand is made upon His power and sym- pathy. One of the local dignitaries, Jairus, a ruler of the syna- gogue, is in sorrow ; his only daughter is at the point of death, maybe now even dead. Will He come and heal her ? Yes, He will come. Never was there an appeal of expectant suffering disre- garded by the Savior. Though consenting to go and starting at once, He does not go very fast and lets the multitude hinder His footsteps in a most unaccountable way, especially when it is remembered that in the last throes of death the sweet child is gasping. The reason is soon apparent, for on His way to the performance of His seventh miracle, there is an occurrence which makes it the eighth of His ministry when He gets there. Ah, the Master's footsteps are slow on the way to the rich ruler's abode, that an impoverished stricken woman may be able to overtake Him. She who for twelve years had been wasting with an incurable disease. Her little patrimony with all her earnings had been spent upon her disease and she had suffercl many things of many physicians, only to impoverish her purse and aggravate her diseased condition. But, after all her disappointments and impoverishments of her time, when she heard of the return of Jesus, ceremonially unclean as she was by reason of her infirmity, she determined to brave everything and go to Him ; for she said within herself, 'Tf I may but touch His clothes I shall be made whole." Longing for health and inspired by this faith, she wended her way through the multitude, now swayed this way and that, but ever gaining 56 DIVINE HEALING. upon the tardy motion of the waiting Savior. True, a ruler's daughter was dead and the mourners waiHng, but her restoration must wait upon the faith of this daughter of sorrow. She touched Him with unfaltering faith. Immediately when the material con- nection was made that her faith had claimed she was healed and knew it for herself. And shall she speed away with her recovered strength and never give glory to Him who hath healed her with testimony. No, the Master is too tender of His shrinking ones to let them treat Him so, and He Himself institutes the inquiry as to who hath touched Him. How strange the query. Thronged by the multitude there were touches and touches. Scores had touched Him and received nothing, and He had felt nothing, but there had been one simple, single touch from a soul in need with a hand of intelligent faith to which healing virtue had responded. Ah, there is magic in the touch of the right kind. What a moment for the trembling penitent when Jesus turned and said, " Daughter, be of good comfort." Ah, the tenderness of His nature is shown in the very term which he employs. Be of good comfort. Her Healer is her Comforter. There are those who relieve needs, but leave one colder for the contact. She only touched the hem of His garment As to His side she stole. Amid the crowd that gathered round Him, And straightway she was whole. She came in fear and trembling before Him ; She knew her Lord had come. She felt that from Him virtue had healed her, The mighty deed was done. He turned with ''daughter, be of good comfort, Thy faith hath made thee whole," And peace that passeth all understanding. With gladness filled her soul. We have but to think of the myriads who have been delivered from all sorts of diseases through the power and virtue of His touch, and we shall joyfully put ourselves in His hands. We trust Him, and sin dies ; we love Him, and grace lives ; we wait for Him, and grace is strengthened; we see Him as He is, and grace is perfected forever. MIND AN D FAITH CV RE . 57 It is the privilege of every child of God in Christ to possess every redemption blessing, but every such blessing is measured out to us according to our faith. In simpler words, Jesus Christ is to us just what we take Him for. He is able to do exceeding abund- antly above all that we ask or think, irrespective of our desires, but in His redemption plan He does not do this. He only does, in and for us "according to the power that worketh in us," which power is the power of faith. Every blessing is in itself far beyond our comprehension or power of expression, even after we have it in our possession. It is much more than we ask for, but it cannot be obtained without the asking, and the asking must be a definite act of faith. Faith is the golden key that God puts into the hand of every obedient person who comes to him. With it the royal storehouse of heavenly treasures may be unlocked, and we may help ourselves to all we can make use of for our highest good and His glory. As we grow in grace and in the knowledge of Christ, we shall by the revelation of the Holy Spirit know how to obtain the sacred treasures within the inner court, the second veil. The capacity to obtain and retain will increase in proportion with the divinely directed use of this golden key, which will surely give access to all of Christ ''in whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge." "A certain woman, which had an issue of blood twelve years, and had suffered many things of many physicians, and had spent all she had, and was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse, when she heard of Jesus, came in the press behind, and touched His gar- ment. For she said, If I may touch but His clothes, I shall be whole. And straightway the fountain of her blood was dried up ; and she felt in her body that she was healed of that plague. And Jesus, immediately knowing in himself that virtue had gone out of Him, turned about in the press, and said. Who touched my clothes? And His disciples said unto him. Thou seest the multi- tude thronging thee, and sayest Thou, Who touched Me ? And He looked round about to see her who had done this thing. But the woman fearing and trembling, knowing what was done for her, came and fell down before Him, and told Him all the truth. And He said unto her. Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole ; go in peace, and be whole of thy plague." — Mark e5 :25-84. For twelve long years this poor sufferer had hoped for help from earthly physicians. She had not ceased with trying one 58 DIVINE HEALING. physician, but had employed many, who had not only exhausted their medical skill but perhaps had used surgery, for "she had suffered many things of many physicians," but gradually her life forces were ebbing away, and her financial resources were propor- tionately decreasing, until all her living was gone, and but a small supply of life remained. She was left utterly helpless and hopeless, and probably had heard but little of Jesus and God's way of heal- ing, up to this time, but she had a heart to believe. Her faith was beyond the intellectual ; it was in her heart. She heard of Jesus as many others had. The curious throng that was gathered around Him had all heard of Him, and were very anxious to see Him do some miracle — some perhaps simply through idle curiosity, who had evil hearts of unbelief ; and others to learn more about Him and be convinced that He had power to heal. But this woman believed that He was both able and willing. She had neither a curiosity to be gratified nor a mere desire for experiment, as so many have today. She was not a rebellious sinner, but had a heart obedient toward God, who when she had heard of Jesus be- lieved in Him. How did she happen to have such faith ? She did not happen to have it. She had it because she had an obedient and willing heart. Jesus told the chief priests and elders (Matt. 21 :32.) how they could have believed on John, but they would not repent that they might believe. This woman had met the conditions for faith. She was on believing ground, and therefore had faith to be healed. Jesus did not heal her, nor any one else, unconditionally. There may be instances in which we may unconsciously have met the conditions of faith, but these must, nevertheless, be met. There may be instances in which others may have a great measure of faith for us, and for the time secure the blessing of healing for us, but sooner or later, where we are individually responsible, we must have faith for ourselves. This woman had persistent faith, the only kind that ever ac- complishes anything, or receives blessings from God ; the only kind that God can honor. SHE ACTED HER FAITH. There was no feeling healed, or feeling to see if she was healed in this part of her experience. Her actions were actions of faith. MIND AXD FAITH CURE. 59 Very strange, no doubt, to the unbelieving spectators ! Perhaps as strange as the actions of the bHnd man, who cried out to the Son of David for mercy as He passed by. An act of faith is always a strange act of unbelievers, and usually misunderstood by our breth- ren, but faith is blind to all but its object, and with unswerving purpose keeps its course like the ship with her mighty engines plowing her way through the billows, wind, and tide. Unheeding the ridicule or opinions of men, faith moves out with reckless indif- ference to its surroundings. The act of faith must necessarily sep- arate and single us out from those who cannot act in harmony with us. Others cannot see our object, and are almost certain to see the opposite — everything that is a hindrance to faith. In the material and sense world everything is by sight, but in the faith world we ''walk not by sight," but like Noah, Abraham, Moses, and all those whose names have been 'singled out as God's faithful children, we must endure as seeing Him who is invisible until every act shall be rewarded by Him who hath promised. The woman in her struggles did not fail, although she meant to touch Him perhaps differently from what she succeeded. She aimed to touch at least his clothes, but she accomplished her object quite imperfectly and touched but the hem of His garment, which was reached by her last desperate stretch. But it was an act of faith, and she was not disappointed in the result of that act, even though the execution on her part was not altogether perfect. Her most discouraging moment was just before the touch, but her faith was equal to the trial. Her physical feeling must have been intensely discouraging in such a struggle, but faith, not feeling, was the prompting motive of her effort, and now when faith had reached its object, the blessing came. The healing virtue from the body of Jesus was felt. He turned about to see who it was who had touched Him with this touch of faith. "SOMEBODY HATH TOUCHED ME," He said, as the disciples tried to explain to Him that there were many thronging Him and touching Him all around ; but these touches were only the ordinary contact with the people. They did not attract His attention, nor obtain any virtue from Him, but here was a touch of faith which thrilled His very soul and body. Faith produced the feeling in the body of the woman ; for 60 DIVINE HEALING "SHE FELT IN HER BODY THAT SHE WAS HEALED," but not until she had first accompHshed the act of faith. Had she said she would not believe until she felt healed, she would never have received it, and had she believed she had it before putting forth the act of faith, she would never have received it. Faith can hold the blessing in the promise and rejoice in the prospect of its fulfillment, but the fulfillment will never be realized until the act of faith is applied to the promise. Jesus looked upon her with approval and said, "Daughter, be of good comfort, thy faith hath made thee whole ; go in peace, and be whole of thy plague." What comfort and peace must have filled her heart as she realized that her body was healed of its affliction, and the smile of heaven was upon her. She was healed, and now Jesus said to her, "Be whole," which is equivalent to saying, "Keep healed." She had the obtaining faith, and now, through her con- fession and obedience, she had the promise of retaining faith. Some have lost their healing through a lack of complying with these conditions. Jesus would have us confess Him before men. He would have us tell the world how great things the Lord hath done for us, and had compassion on us. Mark 5 :19. GOD'S COVENANT WITH ISRAEL. Many of us are inclined to pass lightly by the days of the patriarchs and prophets in the study of divine healing, and thus fail to obtain the proper knowledge of its true foundation. The seed of the woman was to bruise the head of the serpent, and thus the blessings of redemption were to come upon the fallen race of Adam. The curse of sin and all its deathly power had now entered into the world, and the spiritual, physical, and moral nature of man had fallen under its baneful sway. This lamentable condition at once called for a provision of mercy from God. The remedy was promised, not only at the time of the fall, but when Abraham was called to go out, and become an example of faith to the world, we again see the promise of the seed, through whom all the families of the earth should be blessed. Because of the faith of Abraham, the favor of God at once rested upon him, and the fore- shadowings of redemption were clearly seen. He had the blessed MIND AND FAITH CURE. 61 privilege of communion with God in prayer, through which many favors were obtained, not only for himself but for others. Among these blessings we find divine healing. Abimelech was in need of help in this respect. "Abraham prayed unto God, and God healed Abimelech." But this instance, although by no means an unimportant one, will, under the present consideration, only serve as an introduction to this subject of divine healing in the covenant of God with Israel. The children of Abraham, according to the word of God, spent four hundred years in Egyptian slavery. Although this was an experience of great sorrow to them, and their years of suffering under the hand of a merciless tyrant, under the burdens of incessant toil and extreme hardship, were anything but conducive to health ; we might rightly judge that their circumstances as a whole were such as to produce the exact opposite. They no doubt often fell, and many died under this inhuman treatment, but we have no history to show us that any of them died under the power of Egyptian disease. Generations of them passed away, according to the decree of God, "Unto dust shalt thou return," but the divine hand of protection was upon them. Physical health was a legacy of the Abrahamic descendants, and God in his mercy bestowed upon them this blessing through these dark years of bondage. There is one instance in their Egyptian history that we will notice here, which might be con- sidered by some as an exception. It was said of the patriarch Jacob, that Joseph heard that he was sick, but from what has already been shown of the favor of health, and what will be proved further on with reference to this matter, as well as the meaning of the Hebrew word from which the word sick is translated, we can truthfully affirm that this was nothing but the ordinary weakness of old age. It is also said of Jacob, that when he was dying he worshiped, leaning upon the top of his staff. Many other instances in connection with his death indicate what has been stated. The testimony of the mid- wives to King Pharaoh, concerning the Hebrew women in child- birth, adds much to prove the fact of special physical blessings upon them. They were "lively and not as the Egyptian women. ' The Psalmist in his recapitulation of the dealings of God with His people, says (Ps. 105:37), "He brought them forth also with silver and gold : and there was not one feeble person among their tribes." When we consider the immense number of two and one- half millions of men, women and children in this company, and 62 DIV IN E H E ALIN G . not a feeble infant, nor aged one among them, we can but feel hushed in wonder and admiration, and ascribe this astounding fact to the purpose and design of Jehovah to teach us His will and power to heal and protect from disease those who are His. Why should it not be so? How could it be otherwise in the heart of our glorious Maker, whose inheritance is His people ? But there need be no questioning here ; we will pass on in the history of this people, to their remarkable deliverance through the Red Sea, into the wilderness of Shur to the waters of Marah. Here again we see a divine provision for their health. The bitter waters were made sweet, and now we have reached what has long before been manifested toward them, unconditionally perhaps in a meas- ure, but now enacted into a statue and ordinance upon definite conditions, followed by the blessed covenant of the promise of healing. '*If thou wilt diligently barken to the voice of the Lord thy God, and wilt do that which is right in His sight, and wilt give ear to his commandments, and keep all his statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians for I am the Lord that healeth thee." — Ex. 15 :26. Here we see the conditions of implicit obedience, without which none need expect God to keep His promise. This makes every one respon- sible. Obedience to God means health to Israel. We have no scriptural evidence that this covenant with an\ of its conditions has ever been revoked, but on the other hand, there is much to prove its perpetuity. In their Egyptian life they had been servants of men, and God did not require of them the strict obedience that He enjoins upon them now. From this time ihey are to serve none but God. This is strongly emphasized in a reassurance of this blessing of health. Ex. 23 :20, 25. "And ye shall serve the Lord your God.'' No idol of Egypt or Canaan could have a share in their worship, and none of the inhabitants of the land had any right to their service. Obedience and service to God was their whole duty. The promise further reads, "And He. shall bless thy bread and thy water ; and I will take sickness awa\ from the midst of thee.' Consider well the magnitude of this double promise — food and health. As the water of Marah wa<^ blessed, so He promises to continue the same. The supply of their temporal needs was a responsibility that God had taken upon Himself. The promise was enough. Their part was to serve God. His part was to support and protect them. MIXD A^D FAITH CURE. 63 He did not promise to bless everything they might desire to eat and drink. He did not bless the flesh they lusted after in the wilderness, although because of their continual murmurings He sent it to them. So it is in the gospel dispensation; there are many who profess to love God, whose appetites are depraved. They crave for food and drink such things as God will not bless. The instructions to Noah concerning things clean and unclean were not to be ignored by Israel. No one could expect God to bless anything outside these limits, neither can we consistently expect Him to bless anything to us for food that is unclean or un- healthful. While we are not under the restrictions of the law in this matter, yet we have no license to indulge any depraved or abnormal appetite. Let all apply to the cleansing blood of Christ for the removal of all such appetites, and then only eat and drink such things as are nourishing and wholesome. This is well worth the thoughtful and prayerful consideration of all. We are not restricted to any special diet, perhaps, but if we want God's blessings upon our food, and also want Him to take sickness away from the midst of us, we must carefully follow the directions of His counsel. We have the promise (1 Tim. 4:5) that our food will be sanctified by the word of God and prayer. This is sufficient authority upon the subject, as to what should be received. Some very unwisely affirm that we have the right to eat whatsoever is set before us, quoting 1 Cor. 10 :27, but if this reference and its context are carefully considered, it will be seen that the apostle refers to food offered to idols, and that to us an idol is nothing in the world. Under certain circumstances we are free to eat food which has been offered to idols, but it is also clearly stated (verse 28) that under other circumstances we are forbidden to eat such food. There is nothing in God's word to sanction an indiscrimin- ate eating of every kind of food that is prepared. The word of God and prayer, as well as good judgment, should be our guide as to what we eat and drink. The promise of God is still sure to His people, 'T will bless thy bread and thy water," but this cannot be perverted into an extreme interpretation that would cover the scope of all the injurious, abom- inable, and disease-breeding stuff that enters into the diet of our modern and depraved epicureans. God will not heal such sinners. They may expect, not only all of the diseases of Egypt, but every other malady of the latest invention of Satan, to come upon them 64 DIVINEHEALING. until they are consumed. "Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God." — 1 Cor. 10:31. Following carefully this blessed instruction, we may claim today the same as when God made it, the promise : ''I will take sickness away from the midst of thee." Israel was carefully warned of the results of disobedience. It was necessary that they should have repeated assurances of the consequences, both of obedience and disobedience. Following on into Deut. 7 :15, we have the promise again, "And the Lord will take away from thee all sicknesses." In Deut.28 :58,1>1 we find another awful warning: ''Also every sickness, and every plague, which is not written in the book of this law, them will the Lord bring upon thee, until thou be destroyed." — Ver. 61. In the marginal reference to this verse we find an expression throwing some light upon the source of these diseases, which adds to many scriptural proofs that they all ascend from the pit of destruction. It is only by the permission of God that they come upon man ; in the majority of cases (if not all) as a punishment for disobedience. If there are any exceptions to this rule in this gospel dispensation, we shall be glad to let such be fully persuaded in their own minds as to the cause of their affliction. At the dedication of the temple in the prayer of Solomon (2 Chron. 6:28-31) we see a provision for sickness, which is ac- cording to the health covenant. The life and death of Moses is a beautiful example of the divine blessings of this covenant. In this case we have the extraordinary experience of protection from the decline of old age. Crowded with the many responsibilities of his important position, the leader of that great host through forty years of wilderness life, no ordinary person could have survived ; but when God was through with Moses in this mortal sphere, he was still in the vigor of perfect health. It could not be imagined that he died of disease, for we read that he "was an hundred and twenty years old when he died ; his eye was not dim, nor his natural force abated." — Deut. 34 :7. We have another striking example of the same blessing in the testimony of faithful old Caleb. He had a heart to believe God. At Kadesh Barnea the whole camp of Israel rose up in rebellion and withstood Caleb and Joshua, and through unbelief forfeited their right to enter Canaan, but Caleb wholly followed the Lord, and he was assured by divine promise that he should possess the land where previously his feet had trodden as a spy. He also MIND A N D F AIT H CU RE . 65 passed through the forty years of wilderness journey, but the blessing of the health covenant was upon him. Forty-five years later when Canaan had been reached, and a number of the enemies driven out, a stalwart, vigorous old man speaks to Joshua, and reminds him of the promise that God had made through Moses concerning himself, *'And now," says Caleb, "behold, the Lord hath kept me alive, as He said, these forty and five years, even since the Lord spake this word unto Moses, while the child- ren of Israel wandered in the wilderness : and now, lo, I am this day four score and five years old. As yet, I am as strong this day as I was in the day that Moses sent me : as my strength was then, even so is my strength now, for war, both to go out, and to come in."— Josh. 14:10, 11. This faithful servant was true to God, and therefore obtained the promise. Doubtless through long years of hardships, as he beheld on his right hand and on his left, his brethren fall from the ranks because of disobedience, he had many an occasion to test the promise : 'T am the Lord that healeth thee," but here he stands now, a living monument of the truth of that covenant. Thank God, it has not been changed, though more than three thousand years have passed and many generations have come and gone, who have proved the faithfulness of Jehovah Rophi. We see another occasion of this wonderful promise held up before the people, in Isa. 58 :8. They had forsaken the Lord and through many outward demonstrations of penance for their sins were making their attempts to get back to God. The prophet points them to the commandments and ordinances of God and says, "Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thine health shall spring forth speedily." Nothing could take the place of true obedience, which is the God-appointed means of obtaining His favor. David had experiences of sickness and healing. In Psalm 6 :2 he prays, "Have mercy upon me, O Lord ; for I am weak : O Lord, heal me ; for my bones are vexed." Again, we hear him rejoice in answered prayer. "I will extol thee, O Lord, for thou has lifted me up, and hast not made my foes to rejoice over me. O Lord my God, I cried unto thee, and thou hast healed me." — Ps 30 :1, 2. And again (Ps. 103 :2, 3), "Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits : who forgiveth all thine iniquities ; who healeth all thy diseases." He also testifies of the blessings of healing upon the people. "He sent His word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions." — Ps. 107 :20. ^j6 divine healing. During the reign of King Hezekiah, after the people had been in an idolatrous condition for a long period under preceding rulers, they repented and came back to God. The king prayed for them, and "the Lord barkened to Hezekiah, and healed the people."— 2 Chron. 30 :20. Hezekiah's personal experience also bears testimony of the glorious provision of God's healing favor. Although the word of God had gone forth that he should die and not live, the suffer- ing ruler turned his face to the wall and with great weeping presented his case to the Healer of his people. He could not come Avith any personal merit, but he had a clear conscience, and to the best of his ability had walked before God with a perfect heart, and had done that which was right. He had fulfilled all the conditions of the health covenant, and had a perfect right now to expect God to be his healer. This might be called a test case. Here was a faithful servant of God who was sick unto death. His condition was indeed a perplexing one. As he felt himself sinking lower and lower, and the icy hand of death grasping tightly upon him, claiming him for his victim, he must have had serious thoughts as to the meaning of the words of the covenant which God had made to Israel, 'T am the Lord that healeth thee." And now the sad announcement of his immediate death is made by the messenger of God. Oh, what thoughts of anxiety must have passed through his mind. Can it be possible? He who had granted so many signal evidences of His tender care, and healed all in the past who lived in obedience to His word ; will He now in this sad hour of extreme need forsake one who has done all that was required of him ? No. That word, which is much more sure than the foundations of the heavens, must be fulfilled. As the king pours out his heart to Him whose eyes are over the righteous and whose ears are open to their prayers, the message comes to him from the prophet, ' I have heard thy prayer, I have seen thy tears : behold, I will heal thee ; . . . and I will add unto thy days fifteen years." Although severely tested, he received more perhaps than he had asked. Praise God, this is according to His mercy. The covenant He made with His people cannot be broken. The examples of this are sufficient. We will not occupy the space here for more than a passing notice of Job in his long trial of sickness, his wonderful deliver- ance from this captivity, upon praying for his friends, and his triumphant death, being old and full of days. M I N D AN D FAIT H CUBE . 67 Thus we clearly perceive by all that God hath wrought upon His people during this period of history that healing was His purpose and good-will from the beginning. No thoughtful mind upon this subject could for a moment admit that God is any the less concerned in the health of His obedient people in this dispen- sation of more perfect and glorious spiritual blessings. While healing produces its effects directly upon the physical man, it is strictly a spiritual blessing, and is never received without precious spiritual manifestations. Therefore, if we had no other evidence of the will of God toward His people than that of the days before Christ, we have sufficient and in every sickness could securely repose upon the promise of God to Israel, 'T am the Lord that healeth thee;" for "if ye be Christ's then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise." — Gal. 3 :29. HEALTH, J4AN1VERS,Y01CE, ;#TAST1NG,5MELLING, HEARING. FEELING. SEEING, DIGESTION GOD, CHRIST, RELIGION, FAMILY, PRAYER, GRACE, LOVE, INHERITANCE,TRUTH SPIRIT, MANHOOD, INTELLIGENCE, GOOD STRENGTH, RIGHT, GOODNESvS, GENTLENESS, JOY, FAITH, MEEKNESS. TEMPERANCE, KINDNESS, BROTHERi:ir LO HOPE CHARITY, PEACE OF MIND, HAPPI CHARACTER, HARMONY, LOVING iEMENT, WISDOM, KNOWLEDGE. ^ ''ELLOWSHIP, LIBERTY, HUMIUTY, L-TATH 'THOU PREPARKST A TABLE BEFORE ME " M IN D AN D FAITH CURE . 71 THOU PREPAREST A TABLE BEFORE ME IN THE PRESENCE OF MINE ENEMIES. (psA. 23:5.) Reader, God has set a table before you and asks you to help yourself. Do you do it? If you have lost a part of your inherit- ance, stretch forth your hand and help yourself. The table is loaded down with the very best things that heaven can afford. You will find on that table the very things that you have lost. Have you lost Christ ? If so, stretch forth your hand and help yourself. Tell me where you lost the company of Christ, and I will tell you the most likely place to find Him. Have you lost Christ in the closet by restraining prayer? Then it is there you must seek and find Him. Did you lose Christ by sin? You will find Christ in no other way but by the giv^ing up of the sin and seeking by the Holy Spirit to mortify the member in which the lust doth dwell. Did you lose Christ by neglecting the scriptures ? You must find Christ in the scriptures. It is a true proverb, "Look for a thing where you dropped it ; it is there." So look for Christ where you lost Him, for He has not gone away. If you have lost Christ, stretch forth your hand and help your- self. You will find Christ in the midst of the table surrounded by all the graces and blessings that God can bestow on His child- ren. You inherited from your creation health, beauty, strength, life, truth, God, love, mind, spirit, soul, intelligence, good, right. Have you lost any of your inheritance ? If so, stretch forth your hand and help yourself. You inherited a sound mind; a good memory ; a good stomach ; good digestion ; a good, pure heart ; good kidneys ; good bladder ; good eyes ; good ears ; good, pure undefiled mouth; a good, healthy body. Have you lost any ot this inheritance? If so, stretch forth your hand and help yourself. The table is loaded down with all these things you have lost. Have you lost family prayer ? Have you lost grace and the thanks you used to offer God before partaking of the food that He has so bountifully supplied you? Have you lost that spiritual power that you once had that enabled you to visit the sick and to minister to the wants of the widows and orphans, and not forget that poor widow upon the hill, that is sick nigh unto death, with a lot of 72 DIVINE HEALING. little children almost naked, starving and freezing, no fuel to warm them and not a morsel of food in the house? Do as you used to do. Go to the grocery store and order a lot of provisions sent up, also a load of coal ; and shortly after that follow with your Bible and read God's word to that dying woman, and then kneel down and offer up a prayer to God in her behalf, and you will make the very courts of heaven ring. If you have lost any of these gifts of God, stretch forth your hand and help yourself. When you pray to God in any way, know that you will receive the results not only in the affirmation but in the demands as well. Then realize this : when you want anything you do not ask God to give it. Why, you already had it given to you by your charter rights. When you were created and given power, God gave you all these things and they all belong to you. God said, "Let us make man in our image, after our likeness, and let him have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth." God did then and there give man dominon over everything, and by his charter rights he has inherited everything he needs. WHien he loses any of his inheritance, all he has to do i^ to stretch forth his hand and help himself. The idea that is held out, that this one or that one is more favored by God than some others, is false. If some persons have more power with God than others, it is because they have feasted more from God's table. Brother, stretch forth your hand and help yourself. Don't be afraid ; there is plenty for all. We are all God's children, created in His image and in His likeness, endowed with all power and all dominion, and we all have it. If you have lost any of your inherit- ance, stretch forth your hand and help yourself. Every child oE God should be diligent in seeking out and claiming his inheritance. Let us not be slack to go over and possess the land. There are great walls to be thrown down and fenced cities to be taken, and great giants to be destroyed, but our God will thrust out the enemy before us and give us full possession of the land. The inhabitants are too strong for us, but not for our God. He is the Lord, our healer. Dear suft'erer, take courage ; be strong, fear not. Strengthen thine heart, the land of salvation and healing is yours. Go in and possess it in Jesus' name and all of your diseases will flee before you, as you put Jesus up against them. Behold thy Healer. THE TREE OF LIFE. MIND AND FAITH CURE. 75 THE TREE OF LIFE. (rev. 22:2.) **And the leaves were for the heaUng of the nations." There is but one cure for the nations — the leaves of the tree. There grows no healing herb but the one plant of renown. There is one Sacred Fountain. To wash therein is health. There is but one. It was opened on Calvary. There is one Great Physician, who lays His hands on men and they are restored. There is no balm in Gilead. There is no physician there. The balm is at the cross. The Physician is at the right hand of God. Jesus is pictured here as a blessed tree whose leaves heal the nations. It is said of the blessed in the first Psalm : " His leaf also shall not wither." God takes care of the little things — the trifles of believers. And here of our Lord, it is said, the leaves are for the healing of the nations. That is to say even His common things. His lower boons of grace are full of virtue. Many know but very little about Jesus Christ, but if they believe on Him, that little heals them. How very few of us know much of our Lord. Some only know that He came into the world to save sinners. I wish that they knew more, so that they could feed upon the fruits of the Tree of Life, but even to know that is salvation to them, for the leaves heal the nations. The touch of His hand opened deaf ears. The spittle of His lips enlightened blind eyes. The look of His eye softened hard hearts. The humblest and most timid faith in Jesus Christ will save. If you have but a mustard seed of faith you are saved. She who in the press touched but the hem of the Savior's garment found the virtue flowed out of Him and came to her. Pluck a leaf of this tree by thy poor trembling faith, and if thou dost not take more than that, yet shall it make thee whole. There is not a word that ever fell from those dear lips of Jesus but what bears healing in it for some one or other of the thousand ills that have befallen our humanity. It is a sweet thing to get even a broken text from His mouth. A word of His, being His, and recognized as His, and coming home to the heart as His, brings healing to head and heart. A leaf of the Tree of Life is a medicine fitted to raise the dead. Do you not know its power by a joyful experience ? Blessed be God ! some of us know it right well, and can bear glad wit- ness to its matchless power. Then, too, this medicine heals all 76 DIVINE HEALING. sorts of diseases. The leaves of the tree were for the heahng of the nations. It does not say of this or that malady, but by its silence it teaches us that the medicine is universal in its curative power. Take this medicine, then, dear friends, to any man, who- ever he may be, and let it be applied by the spirit of God, and it will heal him of whatsoever disease he has, because the gospel strikes at the root of all diseases. Truly it exercises power over all the different branches of the tree of life, but it does so by laying the ax at the root, for it deals with sin, the sin of unbelief, the sin of not loving God. And dealing with this it removes thereby the various forms in which spiritual disease develops itself in human life. No medicine can ever heal all maladies unless it eradicates the root of the evil and creates a fountain of health. It goes to the root of the matter, operates upon the heart and purifies the issues of life. Human precepts and methods of morality lop the boughs, but leave the trunk of the deadly tree untouched. But this hits the top, roots and tears away the evil growth from beneath the soil. For this course it is able to remove all diseases. This medicine heals disease because it searches into the innermost na- ture. Some medicines are only for the skin, others will only touch a few organs, and those not vital, but the leaves of the gospel tree, when taken as a medicine, penetrate the veins and search the heart. Their searching operations divide between the joint and the marrow, and discern the thoughts and intents of the heart. A wondrous medicine this. It searches the soul through and through, and never ceases its operations till it has purged the entire manhood of every relic of sin and made it completely clean. Lord, give us these leaves ! Lord, give us these leaves continually. These leaves prevent the recurrence of disease by enabling the man hence- forth to find good in all that comes to him. A person's diseases, if healed, may by the food which he shall afterwards receive bring- on the disease again. Place a man under certain conditions which cause him an illness. You may heal him, but if you had him back to those conditions he would soon be ailing again. And here in such a world as this, even if Christ healed us to-day, we should be sick to death to-morrow if the medicine had not some wondrous continuance of power, and so it is, for all things that come to us after conversion are changed because we are changed. All things work together for good to them that love God, to them that are the called according to his purpose. Have we earthly joy? We no longer have it, but it points us to God, the Giver. Have we MIND AN D F AIT H C U RE . 77 earthly sorrow ? We dare not despair because of it, for we know who has ordained it. Why should a child of God complain who knows that there is love in every chastening stroke of his Father's rod? What we once called good is now really good to us, for the leaves of the tree of life are an infallible antidote. This won- drous medicine abides in the system as a source of health. The waters that I give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life. Other medicine taken into the system acts in its own matter and there is an end to it, but this abides. These healing leaves charge the life-blood, affect the spirits, and make the nature other than it was before. Yonder in heaven those faces which look so bright and comely, fresher than new-born babes, owe their freshness to these healing leaves, and so until the glory life begins, the abiding power of the healing leaves keeps the soul of the believer in perpetual health, and -will keep him so world without end. This gospel heals nations wherever the nations may be, and readily heals them of the direct miseries and the blackest crimes. It is the sure cure for poverty, by making men wise and economical. It is the sure cure for poverty, teaching men to love their fellows and respect the rights of all. It is the cure for drunkenness, weaning the drunkard from his filthy appetite, saving him from the spell which binds him. This same remedy will like- wise heal and restore the opium fiend and the slave to the tobacco habit. This gospel is the only preventive for war. We shall need no blood-red soldiery when once the warriors of the cross have won the day. This is the cure for those foul evils which are the curse of our social economics, which human laws too often in- crease instead of remove. This shall purge us from every form of knavery, rebellion and discontent, and this only. God grant that its healing influences may drop upon the nations thick as leaves in the jungles of Africa, till that golden age shall dawn in which the world shall be the abode of moral health. These words to close with : Are you sick this morning ? Take these leaves freely. Are you very sick? The stronger is the reason why you should take them. You are sinful. Past guilt troubles you. Take the leaves again and again. Worse than that. Temp- tations to evil afflict you. Then feed on the purging leaves as long as you live and they will prove an antidote. You need not think that you will exhaust the merit or power of Christ, for if the fruit is described as coming twelve times in the year, how abundant must the leaves be. There is enough in Christ for every 78 DIVINE HE ALIN G. sin-sick sinner. If the sinner do but come to Jesus he shall find no stint in Jesus' healing power. Though the sick soul be full of leprosy the Savior is full of grace. Put forth thy finger, sister, and touch the hem of Jesus' garment. Now lift thine eye, sinner, look to Christ on the cross. Though He seem far away from thee, there is life in a glance. However dim the eye or distant the view, come to this tree. Its very leaves will heal thee. Last of all. Are you healed? Well, then, scatter these leaves. Are you saved? Speak of Jesus Christ to everybody, for the heart that is fitted for communion is a hungering and thirsting heart. Let us learn from Mary Magdalene how to obtain fellowship with the Lord Jesus. When she went to His sepulchre she sought Him with very great boldness. The disciples fled from the sepulchre, for they trembled and were amazed, but Mary, it is said, stood at the sepul- chre. If you would have Christ with you, seek Him boldly. Let nothing hold you back. Press on where others flee. She sought Christ faithfully. She stood at the sepulchre. Some find it hard to stand by a living Savior, but she stood by a dead one. Let us seek Christ after this mode, cleaving to the very least thing that has to do with Him, remaining faithful though all others should forsake Him. Note further, she sought Jesus earnestly. She stood weeping. Those tears dropping were as spells that led the Savior captive, and made Him come forth and show Himself to her. If you desire Jesus' presence, weep for it. If you cannot be happy unless He come and say to you. Thou art my beloved, you will soon hear His voice. Lastly, she sought the Savior only. What cared she for angels. She turned herself back from them. Her search was only for the Lord. If Christ be your one and only love, if your heart has cast out all rivals, you will not long lack the comfort of His presence. I want always to imitate Simon's action, when he took the Redeemer altogether into his arms and said, ** Lord, now lettest Thou Thy servant depart in peace.'' There was a long distance between Simon with the Son of the Highest in his arms and the woman who touched the hem of the Master's garment, yet both have gone to heaven. And there is a good way between the Christian who can embrace a whole Christ and a poor, timid one who can only tremblingly hope in Him. If you cannot tell others all about Christ and give them the fruit of the tree, go and give them the leaves. THE DUMB MAN POSSESSED OF A DEVIL HEALED AT CAPERNAUM. MIND AND FAITH CURE. 81 THE DUMB MAN POSSESSED OF A DEVIL HEALED AT CAPERNAUM. (MATTHEW 9:32-33.) "As they went out, behold, they brought to Him a dumb man possessed with a devil. ''And when the devil was cast out, the dumb spake: and the multitudes marvelled, saying, It was never so seen in Israel." Jesus' hand can cool the heat of my burning brow, and stay the tumult of my palpitating heart. That glorious right hand which moulded the world can new-create my mind; the un- wearied hand which bears the earth's huge pillars up can sustain my spirit; the loving hand which encloses all the saints can cherish me; and the mighty hand which breaketh in pieces the enemy can subdue my sins. Why should I not feel that hand touching me this evening? Come, sinner, address thy God with the potent plea, that Jesus' hands were pierced for thy redemp- tion, and thou shalt surely feel that same hand upon thee which once touched Daniel and set hirri upon his knees that he might see visions of God. Our various experiences are meant by our heavenly Father to furnish fresh standpoints from which we may view the loveliness of Jesus; how amiable are our trials, when they carry us aloft where we may gain clearer views of Jesus than ordinary life can afford us ! We have seen Him from the top of Amana, from the top of Shenir and Hermon, and He has shone upon us as the sun in His strength ; but we have seen Him also "from the lions' dens from the mountains of the leopards," and He has lost none of His loveliness. From the languishing of a sick bed, from the borders of the grave, have we turned our eyes to our soul's Spouse, and He has never been otherwise than "all fair." Many of His saints have looked upon Him from the gloom of dungeons, and from the red flames of the stake, yet have they never uttered an ill word of Him, but have died extolling His surpassing charms. Oh, noble and pleasant employment to be forever gazing at our sweet Lord Jesus ! Is it not unspeakably delightful to view the Savior in all His offices, and to perceive Him matchless in each? — to shift the kaleidoscope, as it were, and to find fresh 82 DIVINE HEALING. combinations of peerless graces ? In the manger and in eternity, on the cross and on His throne, in the garden and in His king- dom, among thieves or in the midst of cherubim, He is every- where ''altogether lovely." Examine carefully every little act ot His life, and every trait of His character, and He is as lovely in the minute as in the majestic. Judge Him as you will, you cannot censure ; weigh Him as you please, and He will not be found wanting. Eternity shall not discover the shadow of a spot in our Beloved, but, rather, as ages revolve. His hidden glories shall shine forth with yet more inconceivable splendor, and His un- utterable loveliness shall more and more ravish all celestial minds. THE HEALING OF TEN LEPERS. (luke17:11-U.) "And it came to pass, as He went to Jerusalem, that He passed through the midst of Samaria and Galilee. "And as He entered into a certain village, there met Him ten men that were lepers, which stood afar off : "And they lifted up their voices, and said, Jesus, Master, have mercy on us. "And when He saw them, He said unto them. Go shew your- selves unto the priests. And it came to pass, that, as they went, they were cleansed. "And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God. "And fell upon his face, at His feet, giving Him thanks : and he was a Samaritan. "And Jesus answering, said, Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine? "There are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger. "And He said unto him. Arise, go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole." Dear reader, this book was mainly intended for the, edification of believers ; but if you are yet unsaved, our heart yearns for you ; and we would say a word which may be blessed to you. Open your Bible, and read the story of the lepers, and mark their po- sition, which was much the same as yours. If you remain where you are you must perish ; if you go to Jesus you can but die. "Nothing venture, nothing win," is the old proverb, and in M IN D AN D FAIT H CU RE . 83 your case the venture is no great one. If you sit still in sullen despair, no one can pity you when your ruin comes ; but if you die with mercy sought, if such a thing were possible, you would be the object of universal sympathy. None escape who refuse to look to Jesus ; but you know that, at any rate, some are saved who believe in Him, for certain of your own acquaintances have received mercy : then why not you ? The Ninevites said, "Who can tell?" Act upon the same hope, and try the Lord's mercy. To perish is so awful, that if there were but a straw to catch at, the instinct of self-preservation should lead you to stretch out your hand. We have thus been talking to you on your own unbe- lieving ground ; we would now assure you, as from the Lord, that if you seek Him He will be found of you. Jesus casts out none who come unto Him. You shall not perish if you trust Him ; on the contrary, you shall find treasure far richer than the poor lepers gathered in Syria's deserted camp. May the Holy Spirit embolden you to go at once, and you shall not believe in vain. When you are saved yourself, publish the good news to others. Hold not your peace ; tell the King's household first, and unite with them in fellowship ; let the porter of the city, the minister, be informed of your discovery, and then proclaim the good news in every place. The Lord save thee ere the sun goes down this day. THE LEPER. Jesus, if still Thou art today, As yesterday, the same — Present to heal — in me display The virtue of Thy name. Now, Lord, to whom for help I call. Thy miracles repeat ; With pitying eyes behold me fall A leper at thy feet. Loathsome, and vile, and self-abhorr'd. I sink beneath my sin; But, if Thou wilt, a gracious word Of Thine can make me clean. HEALING OF THE BLIND. ""c^' MIND AN D FAITH CUR E . 87 THE HEALING OF TWO BLIND MEN AT JERICHO. (matt. 20:29-34.) *'And as they departed from Jericho, a great multitude followed Him. ''And behold, two blind men sitting by the wayside, when they heard that Jesus passed by, cried out, saying, Have mercy on us, O Lord, thou Son of David. "And the multitude rebuked them, because they should hold their peace : but they cried the more, saying, Have mercy on us, O Lord, thou Son of David. ''And Jesus stood still, and called them, and said. What will ye that I shall do unto you? "They say unto Him, Lord, that our eyes may be opened. "So Jesus had compassion on them, and touched their eyes : and immediately their eyes received sight, and they followed Him." What a comfort to know that we have a great Physician who is both able and willing to heal us ! Let us think of Him a while to-night. His cures are very speedy — there is life in a look at him; His cures are radical — He strikes at the center of the disease; and hence his cures are sure and certain. He never fails, and the disease never returns. There is no relapse where Christ heals ; no fear that His patients should be merely patched up for a season ; He makes new men of them ; a new heart also does He give them, and a right spirit does He put within them. He is well skilled in all diseases. Physicians gen- erally have some specialite. Although they may know a little about almost all our pains and ills, there is usually one disease which they have studied above all others : but Jesus Christ is thoroughly acquainted with the whole of human nature. He is as much at home with one sinner as with another, and never yet did he meet with an out of the way case that was difficult to Him. He has had extraordinary complications of strange diseases to deal with, but He has known exactly with one glance of His eye how to treat the patient. He is the only universal doctor ; and the medicine He gives is the only true catholicon, healing in every instance. Whatever our spiritual malady may be, we should apply at once to this Divine Physician. There is no brokenness of heart which Jesus cannot bind up. "His blood cleanseth from all 88 DIVINE HE ALIN G. sin." We have but to think of the myriads who have been de- livered from all sorts of diseases through the power and virtue of His touch, and we shall joyfully put ourselves in His hands. THE BLIND RECEIVE THEIR SIGHT. "And when Jesus departed thence, two blind men followed Him, crying, and saying, Thou Son of David, have mercy on us. And when He was come into the house, the blind men came unto him, and Jesus saith unto them. Believe ye that I am able to do this ? They said unto Him, Yea, Lord. Then touched He their eyes, saying. According to your faith, be it unto you. And their eyes were opened."— Matt. 9 :27-30. Let us look into this interesting narrative for help as we come to Jesus for healing. Do you not think, dear blind brother or sister, that if you had been with these two men as they called upon the Son of David for help, you would have lifted your voice with them, and could have believed that He was able to do this for you as well as for them? Certainly you would, and you have just as good a right to your sight as they had. Let me ask you a question. Do you think you have as much faith as they had? If you have not, you may have. If we notice how much they had, we can see if we are upon the same plane with them. Their faith can be measured by their answer to Jesus. He asked them: ''Believe ye that I am able to do this?" Their answer was the indication of the measure of their faith : ''Yea, Lord." Now there was nothing very extraordinary about this, was there ^ You believe the same, without the shadow of a doubt. Who would dare to say that Jesus is not able to open the eyes of the blind? Some poor doubting professors might make such an assertion, but such should not dare call themselves Christians. But you believe He is able now, as when He was here on earth among men. Thank God, this is not hard for any of us to believe ; but there is something more to do than this. These blind men believed also that He was willing. Here is where many of us fail to measure up to them. We are constantly crying to Him, "If it be Thy will." These men did not do this. Sup- pose they should have cried, "Thou Son of David, if it be thy M IND AN D FAIT H CU RE . 89 will, have mercy on us." It might have been possible at that time, when the gospel was not fully understood by the people, that Jesus would have said in plain words, It is My will, and healed them anyway ; but they did not ask in such a doubting man- ner. The news of His great compassion toward sinful and suffering mortals, had been published abroad. This could be none other than Him of whom the prophets did foretell. He was to take our infirmities and to bear our sicknesses. Yes, He was to be the son of David. He was to do the very work that is now being done. The eyes of the blind were to be opened (Isa. 35 :5 ; Luke 4 :18), and now these poor men who had long been groping in darkness, felt that their moment of deliverance had come. The promised and long-looked-for Redeemer is here. When they called upon the Son of David, they did so in a living faith. He must be willing, for this is one of the prophetic characteristics of the Messiah. Yes, they believed He was willing, fully as much as that He was able, and why should not we ? This very incident alone should be a sufficient evidence to us of His willingness, even if there should be none other to be found in His sacred ministry. This one was enough to fulfill the prophecies concerning the opening of the eyes of the blind. How could they be more literallv fulfilled? We must also believe the prophets, for they testify of the Christ. God spoke to our fathers by the prophets (Heb. 1 :1, 2), but now speaks to us by His Son. If the words of the prophets were sufficient foundations for the faith of these blind men, how much more should the words, life, and ministry of Jesus be a foundation for our faith ! All these prove equally His power and willingness to open the eyes of the blind and to heal all diseases. To doubt His will is really doubting His word, for His word is His will. This may not seem clear without careful reflection. Jesus was the word made flesh. Jno. 1 :14. Every word and deed of His life was the spoken word of God ; irrevocable through this gospel dispensation. Jesus, therefore, was and is the ex- pressed will of God to us. What He ever did do in forgiving sins, and healing diseases. He is able and willing to do now. It would be well for every one who may not yet have settled this matter satisfactorily, to wait upon God in prayerful study of His word, until His will is thoroughly manifested and faith can rest upon the living promises. It is marvelous that God has been able to heal any one in this age of doubt. 90 DIVINE HEALING. Let us no more permit the if to come between us and Jesus when asking for healing, or anything else so plainly expressed in the plan of redemption, but with the simple faith of these blmd men, who knew the will of this compassionate Deliverer, call upon Him for help. It is the divine law of faith to ask, seek, and knock; to receive, find, and gain admittance. And if will hinder the perfect work of faith, just as a break in the wire will hinder the flow of the current of electricity. We must become perfectly assured of what the will of God is, then accept it once for all. Frequently, one says, ''I have been praying for years for my sight, or healing, and have not obtained it." Dear seeker, let me ask you to turn again in prayerful study to this incident of the healing of these blind men. Their faith was definite. They were now in His presence and had the confidence that their petition was recognized, but this was not all ; they were not yet satisfied. Nothing but their sight could ever cause them to go their way in peace. We might say they should have been content to be in His presence. This was truly a glorious privilege, but it was not enough. They were believing for more. Had they not been, they might well have considered themselves highly favored to be in the same house with Jesus and to hear His gracious words. A heart of faith never forgets to be thankful for blessings already received, but it is also thankful for those that are yet unseen, which it holds in the promise; for what is faith but the ''evidence of things not seen." It can rejoice in these things obtained, but it does not rest content here. It stands securely and unshaken upon the promise with rejoicing, but from this vantage ground it reaches beyond, and lays hold upon the Promiser and obtains the fulfillment of the promise. These men had the faith for their sight, which brought them into the presence of Jesus, where the object of their faith must now be obtained. Had Jesus manifested any indiflference to their request at this point of this incident, there doubtless would have been a continua- tion of their cries, and even more; since they were now in His presence, there would have been an experience similar to the one of Jacob at Peniel, had their request been delayed. Jesus knew this, and it was impossible for Him to do anything else than what He did. Many of God's afflicted fail in this respect. They are saved and enjoying much spiritual life ; they may be baptized with the Holy Spirit, living continually in the very presence of MIND AND FAITH CURE. 91 Jesus ; but they do not appropriate the promise for heahng. They do not definitely claim a definite experience, even though assured that He is able, willing, and present to heal. They too often are constrained to believe that they could not contain more, or could not glorify God with their healing, or should be satisfied with their lot if it be His will. Others become bewildered if their faith shall not at once obtain the visible result, and they faint by the way. They fall from a state of active faith, into a passive one in which they dismiss the subject from their minds, and live along in some future hope. They even lose their enjoyment in reading the promises for healing, and have no interest in hearing the doctrine taught. No wonder they are not healed. The definite faith of these blind men brought the definite touch of healing from the loving hand of Jesus. "THEN TOUCHED HE THEIR EYES, saying. According to your faith, be it unto you." You see how their faith measured his power to do for them, and their eyes were opened. All this was only according to their faith. It saw in Him the Son of David, it caused them to cry out for mercy, to follow Him even into the house, believed He was able and willing, received His touch, and their sight. IN THE VILLAGES THE SICK WERE BROUGHT UNTO HIM. M IN D AN D FAI T H CU RE . 95 IN THE VILLAGES THE SICK WERE BROUGHT UNTO HIM. (mark 6 :5o-56.) " And ran through that whole region round about, and began to carry about in beds those that were sick, where they heard He was. " And whithersoever He entered, into villages, or cities, or country, they laid the sick in the streets, and besought Him that they might touch, if it were but the border of His garment ; and as many as touched Him, were made whole." God not only heals the sick, but- He heals everything. If you will only take Him into your confidence and walk with Him, He will take you by the hand and walk with you up the steps to eternal happiness, eternal peace, and not only destroy inharmony of health, but inharmony of every conceivable character. He will fill you with love and strew your pathway with flowers ; He will give you sunshine to walk in ; He will bless you and bless you ; He will go with you in the daytime and in the night, and nothing can come near you, around you or about you, but God Almighty's love, if you will only come to Jesus Christ and acknowledge these things. "He healeth all our diseases." He who made man can restore man ; He who was at first the creator of our nature can now re- create it. What a transcendent comfort it is that in the person of Jesus ''dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily" ! Reader, whatever thy disease may be, this great Physician can heal thee. If He be God, there can be no limit to His power. Come, then, with the blind eye of darkened understanding, come with the limping foot of wasted energy, come with the maimed hand of weak faith, the fever of an angry temper, or the ague of shivering despond- ency, come just as thou art, for He who is God can certainly restore thee of thy plague. None shall restrain the healing virtue which proceeds from Jesus our Lord. Legions of devils have been made to own the power of the beloved Physician, and never once has Ha been baffled. All His patients have been cured in the past, and shall be in the future, and thou shalt be one among them, my friend, if thou wilt but rest thyself in Him this night. 96 DIVINEHEALING. HEALTH WITHOUT DRUGS, DIVINE HEALING. Divine healing, mind and faith cure, is a gift granted by God. God heals diseases through many different agencies. God heals diseases through faith. If we want a blessing from God, nothing can fetch it down but faith. Prayer cannot draw down answers from God's throne except it be the earnest prayer of the man who believes. Faith is the angel messenger between the soul and the Lord Jesus in glory. Without faith how can we re- ceive anything of the Lord. Faith is essential, but not all the requisites. Works must be annexed to faith to use God's combination cure. Some divine healers rely entirely on the invisible agencies in- voked by prayer and fail to apply works. That's why they fail to cure. If you have a dislocated limb dangling in the air, a mis- placed spinal column, a twisted vertebra, an impinged nerve and blood vessel obstructed by a misplaced bone shutting off its circu- lation, you might pray a thousand years and not remove it, and your patient suffer all the while. Christ said. ''Works and faith" must go together ; now that's DIVINE HEALING. You must remove the cause if it is physical, the prayer and God will do the rest. When a man has a broken leg, don't falsify, deceive and tell the victim God and prayer alone will straighten it, and make him a cripple all his life, but apply your hands (which is meant by Christ as works), and add your faith and you will set that broken, ill- shaped, distorted leg, and God will knit it up, and the party will have a good-shaped limb again, and bless God for it. THAT'S WHAT DIVINE HEALING DOES. Divine healing recognizes kneading — manipulating and mas- saging in their place ; osteopathy in dislocation and all the various forms of diseases; hydropathy (that is, water) in its place; prayer M I N D A N D F A IT H CUR E . 97 and faith in their places; good foods, fresh air, pure water and blessed sunshine in their places. Divine healing is the administer- ing (properly) of all means of cure. Its one great object is to cure the afflicted. It advocates the recognition of God's spirit in all healing arts, because God puts the healing virtue wherever it exists. DIVINE HEALING, MIND AND FAITH CURE. Divine healing should be free. This is a question frequently asked : Is it right for Christian healers to charge for their ser- vices? People often refer to the fact that Jesus never charged anything for healing; that the gift of God was free. Jesus tells us that the laborer is worthy of his hire. Jesus never charged, yet it is true He had the purse, that . is to say, that His chosen disciples were to look after His finances and one of them carried the purse. When Jesus was asked for money to pay His taxes to Caesar, He did not have any money, but told His disciple to go and cast a net into the sea, and out of the mouth of the first fish he caught to take a piece of money with which to pay for Jesus and himself. I agree with them that no healer should charge for this gift of God, but he has a perfect right to charge for his time. They might just as well say that all professors and teachers in our col- leges and religious institutions should give their services free, and that all ministers of the gospel should work for nothing. They could not preach the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ if it was not a gift of God. They heal sin and I heal disease. We have to pay them for their time or they could not live and support their families. W^hy not be willing to pay me. I cannot live on air alone, as that is about all I get that is free. If I heal the sick and put them in shape to earn money, it is no more than right that they should pay me for my time. To those who apply to me for home treatment, I will furnish special advice and information how to proceed with the treatment, with full directions suitable to each case, as their disease or diseases may require, but the patient must send me a complete history of his case. This he must send at the same time he remits the money. Give all the symptoms and how long the patient has been afflicted, also give name of disease. Let it be distinctly understood that the foregoing is in the form of ad- vice given each individual case after a diagnosis of the case in 98 DIVINE HEALING. question. I charge for my time only, my expended energy in this advice, as it is the result of years of hard toil and research at a big expense. Divine healers are human beings like all other human 6eing, therefore need the same sustenance. I have office rents to pay, employees to pay, and many other expenditures, and conse- quently I must charge for my time so as to have an income to enable me to carry on my business of healing the sick and reclaim- ing the sinner. I charge for home treatment ten dollars per month, in advance. If the afflicted will follow my directions strict- ly to the letter they will receive in return one hundred fold in bene- fits. We prefer that patients come direct to our Institute to take personal treatment. The treatment will have a more speedy effect, and a cure can be secured more quickly, especially with the unbe- lievers ; we can soon heal their unbelief. Distance, lack of means or strength to travel, need keep no one from securing relief as you can be treated at your own home, but it may take longer to effect a cure. I will not promise to cure everybody, for that is more than Christ did Himself, or at least we have no record of Christ healing any of the scribes and Pharisees, owing to their unbelief. Christ's apostles did not cure everybody they treated, owing to their unbe- lief. I do not want to misrepresent or hold out false inducements to get any one to send to me for treatment, and for that reason I will not solicit any one to apply to me for treatment. If they do, they do so by their own free will. THE LAME MAN AT THE BEAUTIFUL GATE. MIND AND FAITH CUBE. 101 THE LAME MAN AT THE BEAUTIFUL GATE. : (acts 3:1-16.) ; In consideration of the acts of the apostles, we have the scrip- tural right to say that the second commission brings them into our present dispensation, and what was true and practical through faith in the name of Jesus in the days of Peter and John, is just as much so to-day. Jesus is absent in body, but He has given His name, and the Holy Spirit to abide forever, as the perpetual legacy of the church, through whose power it is the design of God that His people should be able to overcome every power of the en- emy. All who can go forth in the very name and nature of Jesus (which means to be in perfect union with Him, in every interest in life, and in love, so that His name will be everything to us, and therefore obtain everything for us) may expect Him to fulfill His promise : ''Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world." This is the secret of this miracle of healing. Peter and John had been taught by the personal instruction of Jesus, and by the indwelling Holy Spirit, the value and power of the name of Jesus. By faith they could bring this power to bear upon every obstacle in their way. Nothing could stand before them. They were act- ing as the humble representatives of Jesus of Nazareth, and could be intrusted with the power of His name. Peter was not slow to make this plain to the people as they were amazed and perplexed at this supernatural manifestation among them. The God of Abraham and of Isaac and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, hath glorified His Son Jesus. ''And His name through faith in His name hath made this man strong, whom ye see and know; yea, the faith which is by him hath given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all." — Ver. 16. When asked by the high priest, by what power or by what name they had done this won- derful deed, Peter again disavows any power of their own, saying, " Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by Him doth this man stand here before you whole." — Acts 4 :10. They had no silver nor gold to give this poor man, as he lay begging at the gate of the temple, but they had something of 102 DIVINE HEALING. much greater value than silver or gold — the power, blessing, and glory of the name of Jesus. It has not only healing virtue, but there is none other name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved. Praise God, this name has not lost its virtue during the centuries which have passed since the day of this blessed miracle of healing. The first words addressed to this man after Peter and John fastened their eyes upon him were, "Look on us." The man at once responded, expecting to receive something of them. Then Peter said : " Silver and gold I have none ; but such as I have give I thee." What was it that he had ? It was the power of the name of Jesus. His purse was empty. Like the true ministers and followers of Christ to-day, they had, no doubt, met so many poor and needy, that they had opportunity to distribute all their cash long before this, therefore they had no silver and gold which might have been a blessing to this man, but they were ready to impart unto him something else, which proved to be richer to him than all the world, and that which all the gold of Ophir could not buy. "In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk." As these words were spoken, there must have been a mighty exercise of faith in this blessed name. By divine inspiration Peter saw the necessity of works with faith. And he took him by the right hand and lifted him up, and immediately the power of that mighty name snapped in sunder the awful fetters of bondage that had held this poor cripple down all his life, and his feet and ankle bones received strength. All glory to Jesus and His holy name! Oh, that every one who has become a victim to the oppressor m.ight receive the same precious benefit from this same heavenly source. THE EFFECT UPON THE PEOPLE. They were greatly amazed, and were filled with wonder, at what happened unto this man. The news was rapidly spread and they came running together into Solomon's porch. Peter took ad- vantage of this occasion after explaining the miracle, and preached a searching sermon to them upon repentance, and the resurrection of Christ. The priests, the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees could not endure this, and arrested Peter and MIND AND FAITH CURE. 103 John. But what a glorious effect upon the people through this one sermon ! Acts 4 A tells us, "Howbeit, many of them which heard the word, believed ; and the number of men was about five thousand." We follow on into the next day, when the apostles were brought to trial, and find the healed man standing boldly with them before their persecutors (verses 10, 14) ; and in verse 21 we are told that all the people glorified God for that which was done. This miracle in its soul-saving results is the fulfillment of the promise of Jesus concerning the "greater works" that should be done in His name, by those who believe on Him, after His ascen- sion to the right hand of God. This truly is one of the greater works. Nowhere in the ministry of Christ do we see at one time such an ingathering of souls as this. Praise God ! the resurrection commission is still in force, and Jesus is ready, in every case, to work with the faithful preaching of His word and confirm it with signs following. ATTENDING JESUS' COLLEGE. MIND AND FAITH CURE. 107 ATTENDING JESUS' COLLEGE. Dr. S. A. Richmond attended Jesus' College. Jesus was his tutor and preceptor. By inspiration he was taken up on the mount of transfiguration to get power like the disciples of old ; had to come down again, and at the foot of the mountain he began Lo heal all manner of diseases. Reader, if you want power, you must ascend the mount of communion. Let us not see the face of man today till we have seen Jesus. We, too, shall cast out devils and work wonders if we go down into the world girded with that divine energy which Christ alone can give. It is of no use going to the Lord's battle till we are armed with heavenly weapons. W*^! must see Jesus. This is essential. ' Jesus beats all the doctors diagnosing disease. He never makes mistakes as other doctors do, and furthermore, he never makes any mistakes in prescribing the proper remedies to cure these diseases. His medicine is the elixir of life — an infallible specific for every disease known to man where it is used and ap- plied strictly according to his directions. His cures are speedy. There is life in a look at Him. Our Lord Jesus differs from all other teachers. He teaches at His college heart instructions. Other colleges reach the ear, but He instructs the heart. They deal with the outward letter, but he imparts an inward taste for the truth by which we perceive its savor and spirit. The most unlearned of men become ripe scholars in the school of grace when the Lord Jesus, by His holy spirit, unfolds the mystery of the kingdom to them and grants the divine annointing by which they are enabled to behold the invisible. Had it not been for the love of Jesus, we should have remained to this moment in utter ignorance, for with- out His gracious opening of our understanding, we could no more have attained to spiritual knowledge than an infant can climb the pyramids, or an ostrich fly up to the stars. Jesus' college is the only one in which God's truth can be really learned. Other schools may teach us what is to be believed, but Christ alone can show us how to believe it. Let us sit at the feet of Jesus and by earnest prayer call in His blessed aid that our dull wits may grow brighter, and our feeble understandings may receive heavenly things. The last command that Jesus gave to his disciples was to go forth and preach the gospel to every nation and heal the sick. He 108 DIV l^N E E K ALIN G . bade the seventy disciples as well as the twelve to heal the sick, where they were kindly received. They shall take up serpents, and if they drink any deadly thing it shall not hurt them. They shall lay hands on the sick and they shall recover. Now, the record shows this: that, in the first place, God healed the sick through Jesus Christ ; now, He heals the sick through man in the name of Jesus Christ. If you wish to heal the sick, lay your hands on them and speak the word, through prayer in the name of Jesus Christ, and they will be healed. We are told in the IGth chapter, 18th verse of Saint Mark, Jesus commanded His disciples to lay their hands on the sick in His name and they should recover. That same power was made perpetual to all of Christ's followers or disciples. When the afflicted make up their mind that they will try this divine healing by the rules and regulations as set forth by Dr. S. A. Richmond in his wonderful book on divine healing, they are almost certain and sure to meet with opposition by the Devil, through mortal mind, his agent, to discourage them all he can, when they kneel down and offer up prayer to God for light and faith and healing from all their unbelief. Satan will hinder you, when he sees that you are earnest in prayer. He will check your opportunity and weaken your faith in order that, if possible, he may make you miss the blessing that you are seeking for. Nor is Satan less vigilant in obstructing all Christian effort. There never was a revival of religion without a revival of his opposition. Brothers, sisters, do not get alarmed because Satan hinders you, for it is proof that you are on the Lord's side. Persevere and be more firm than ever in order to conquer and win the battle. Christ is near you with outstretched arms to welcome you into the fold. God, through Christ, will give you strength and power to win the victory and triumph over your adversary. Jesus was tempted as we are, by the very same devil. It is a sharp fight which you are waging, but Jesus has stood foot to foot with the same enemy. Let us be of good cheer. Christ has borne the load before us, and the blood-stained footsteps of the King of Glory may be seen along the road which we traverse at this hour. There is some- thing sweeter yet. Jesus was tempted, but Jesus never sinned. Blessed be any wind that blows us into the port of our Savior's love. Happy wounds which make us seek the beloved physician. Ye tempted ones, come to your tempted Savior, for He can be touched with a feeling of your infirmities and will succor everv tried and tempted one. THli (;OOD SAMARITAN, MIND AND FAITH CURE. Ill THE GOOD SAMARITAN. (LUKE 10:30-34.) **And Jesus answering, said, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. ''And by chance there came down a certain priest that way; and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. "And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side. "But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was : and when he saw him, he had compassion on him, "And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him." The good Samaritan did not say, "Here is the wine, and here is the oil for you ;'' he actually poured in the oil and the wine. So Jesus not only gives you the sweet wine of the promise, but holds the golden chalice to your lips, and pours the life-blood into your mouth. The poor, sick, way-worn pilgrim is not merely strength- ened to walk, but he is borne on eagles' wings. Glorious gospel ! which provides everything for the helpless, which draws nigh to us when we cannot reach after it — ^brings us grace before we seek for grace ! Here is as much glory in the giving as in the gift. Happy people who have the Holy Ghost to bring Jesus to them. Whoever the traveler may be, he has but to knock at the door of St. Cross Hospital, and there is the dole of bread for him. Jesus Christ so loveth sinners that He has built a St. Cross Hos- pital, so that whenever a sinner is hungry, he'has but to knock and have his wants supplied. Nay ; He has done better ; He has attached to this Hospital of the Cross a bath, and whenever a soul is black and filthy, it has but to go there and be washed. The fountain is always full, always efficacious. No sinner ever went into it and found that it could not wash away his stains. Sini» which were scarlet and crimson have all disappeared, and the sinner has become whiter than snow. As if this were not enough, there is attached to this Hospital of the Cross a wardrobe, and a 112 DIVIDE H EALING. sinner, making application simply as a sinner, may be clothed from head to foot; and if he wishes to be a soldier, he may not merely have a garment for ordinary wear, but armor which shall cover him from the sole of his foot to the crown of his head. If iie asks for a sword, he shall have that given to him, and a shield too. Nothing that is good for him shall be denied him. He shall have spending money so long as he lives ; and he shall have an eternal heritage of glorious treasure when he enters into the joy of his Lord. If all these things are to be had by merely knocking at mercy's door, O, my friends, knock hard this morning, and ask large things of thy generous Lord. ABSENT TREATMENT. The science of divine healing can heal the sick who are absent from their healers, as well as those present, since space is no obstacle to mind. This has been fully demonstrated by both God and Christ, also by St. Paul. God sent His word and healed them. — Psalm 107 :20. In Genesis, 20th chapter, 17th verse, we read that Abimelech, the friend of Abraham, was taken sick and nigh unto death, anil Abraham prayed unto God and God healed Abinelech. Jesus could heal at a distance and without seeing the object of His miraculous cure, as He did the nobleman's son — ^John -t :46-o3 ; and the centurion's servant — Luke 7 :1-10. He could heal with a word, without a touch, as He did the ten lepers — Luke 17 :11-19 ; and the two blind men near Jericho — Matthew 20 : 29-34. He could heal without a word or a conscious touch on His part, as in the case of the woman having an issue of blood — Matthew 9 :20-22. He could heal with a touch and a word, a? in the case of Peter's wife's mother — Matthew 8 :14-16 ; and the woman with the spirit of infirmity eighteen years — Luke 13 :11-13. God wrought special miracles by the hands of Paul, so that from his body were brought unto the sick handkerchiefs or aprons, and the diseases departed from them and the evil spirits went out of them.— Acts 19 :11-12. All of these miracles were done by absent treatment. The reader can see at once that there is no such thing as absence. Why? Because God is omnipresent. Dr. S. A. Richmond treats his patients by the rules and regulations adopted by Jesus and Saint Paul. He blesses handkerchiefs and sends to his patients, to- gether with his other treatments. THE PALSIED MAN LET DOWN THROUGH THE ROOF. MIND AND FAITH CUBE. 115 THE PALSIED MAN LET DOWN THROUGH THE ROOF. (mark 2 :l-5.) *'And again He entered into Capernaum after some days ; and it was noised that He was in the house. "And straightway many were gathered together, insomuch that there was no room to receive ihemj no, not so much as about the door ; and He preached the word unto them. **And they come unto Him, bringing one sick of the palsy, which was borne of four. *'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 whereon the sick of the palsy lay. "When Jesus saw their faith, He said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee." Faith is full of inventions. The house was full, a crowd blocked up the door, but faith found a way of getting at the Lord and placing the palsied man before Him. If we cannot get sinners where Jesus is by ordinary methods, we must use extraordinary ones. It seems, according to Luke 5 :19, that a tiling had to be re- moved, which would make dust and cause a measure of danger to those below ; but where the case is very urgent, we must not mind running some risks and shocking some proprieties. Jesus was there to heal, and therefore fall what might, faith ventured all so that her poor paralyzed charge might have his sins forgiven. O that we had more daring faith among us ! Cannot we, dear reader, seek it this morning for ourselves and for our fellow-work- ers, and will we not try today to perform some gallant act for the love of souls and the glory of the Lord ? The world is constantly inventing; genius serves all the pur- poses of human desire; cannot faith invent, too, and reach by some new means the outcasts who lie perishing around us? It was the presence of Jesus which excited victorious courage in the four bearers of the palsied man : is not the Lord among us now ? Have we seen His face for ourselves this morning ? Have we felt His healing power in our own souls? If so, then through door, through window, or through roof, let us, breaking through all im- pediments, labor to bring poor souls to Jesus. All means are good 116 DIVINE HEALING. and decorous when faith and love are truly set on winning souls. If hunger for bread can break through stone walls, surely hunger for souls is not to be hindered in its efforts. O Lord, make us quick to suggest methods of reaching Thy poor sin-sick ones, and bold to carry them out at all hazards. HEALING OF THE CANAANITE'S DAUGHTER. (mark 7:25-29.) ''For a certain woman, whose young daughter had an unclean spirit, heard of Him, and came and fell at His feet. "The woman was a Greek, a Syrophenician by nation ; and she besought Him that He would cast forth the devil out of her daughter. "But Jesus said unto her. Let the children first be filled : for it is not meet to take the children's bread and cast it unto the dogs. "And she answered and said unto Him, Yes, Lord : yet the dogs under the table eat of the children's crumbs. "And He said unto her. For this saying go thy way ; the devil is gone out of thy daughter." This woman gained comfort in her misery by thinking great THOUGHTS OF Christ. The Master had talked about the child- ren's bread : "Now," argued she, "since Thou art the Master of the table of grace, I know that Thou art a generous housekeeper, and there is sure to be abundance of bread on Thy table ; there will be such an abundance for the children that there will be crumbs to throw on the floor for the dogs, and the children will fare none the worse because the dogs are fed." She thought Him one who kept so good a table that all she needed would only be a crumb in comparison ; yet remember, what she wanted was to have the devil cast out of her daughter. It was a very great thing to her, but she had such a high esteem of Christ, that she said, "It is nothing to Him, it is but a crumb for Christ to give." When the Syrophenician woman came to Jesus for the healing of her daughter, Jesus told her that it was not meet to take the children's bread and cast it to dogs. Matt. 15 :2(). Here we see that healing was provided for God's children — was actually their bread. Now we know naturally that bread is considered the staff of life, MIND AND FAITH CURE. 117 and if Jesus called healing the children's bread we would infer that it must be something very necessary in order to maintain life — both natural and spiritual. We see by Christ's life when here, that healing was a great part of His ministry; '*for He went about all the cities and villages, teaching the gospel in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people." And when He sent out His disciples He com- missioned them with the same power, but He told them to go only among the children, or the house of Israel; as much as to say : Carry this bread to the children ; for I have bought it for them with my own blood. How grieved He must be today when His own children will not accept of this precious food, which He purchased and for which He paid such a great price ! I am sure He is moved today with just as much com- passion as He was when here when He saw His children under the galling yoke of disease. He knows the remedy is at hand and that we have the knowledge of it ; for we have it in His written word. Matt. 8 :16 says : ''When the even was come, they brought unto Him many that were possessed with devils : and He cast out the spirits with His word and healed all that were sick : that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying. Himself took our infirmities and bare our sicknesses." It was prophesied before He came that healing was to be a part of His work, and when the Israel of God came to Him for their bread He was compelled to give it to them. Why ? Because God's word had gone out that He would send a deliverer ; and now He was come, and the children naturally came in for their inheritance and Jesus had to give it to them. Not only so, but He loved to give it to them ; for had He not paid dearly enough for it ? Ah ! all the way He had to keep from giving was to hide Himself where they could not find Him for a while. This was His work given to Him by His own Father, and Jesus Himself testified even by prophecy years before He came, that He delighted to do the Father's will. Could He refrain from it when the opportunity came? No, no. Then, too, giving is one of the natural laws of God. Could He refuse His own children when they came in such great need and distress ? No ; it would be impossible for God to do the like. It is give^ give, give, with God. Will you receive? Children of God, let us wake up to our privileges. When these things are provided 118 DIVINE HEALING. for the children, and even the dogs can get crumbs, why are we so far away from Father's graciously provided table, which is loaded with all needed benefits? My children know that their father always has bread in the house — that is what he works for, in order to always have a supply on hand. They feel perfectly free to take of it. They just feel that all that belongs to father, belongs to them. They say, 'This is ours," That is ours." Why? Because it belongs to father, and they are partakers with father. They sit down to father's table and partake of all that father has provided. They are not slow to do it, either. They take no thought for it ; for they think that is father's part to do. Really they do not think much if anything about it until they want it. Then they come and get what they need. When the blind man was healed (Jno. 9:31) he in answering the revilers' questions said : ''Now we know that God heareth not sinners ; but if any man be a worshiper of God, and doeth His will, him He heareth." Here again we see it is for God's children, or those who worship Him and do His will. Those who do not do His will cannot expect to share the children's portion. If they come to Him in a humble attitude and give God His place and they take their place, then He will hear them by making them His children ; for He adopts children into His family and they become full, heirs- Praise God ! We see that when the one came, even taking the dogs' place, she came zvorshiping Him; and how could He refuse, even though He was not ready yet to reach out His blessings to others than the then chosen of God? But we see she came in God's way, and Jesus knew it, and He was compelled to give it to her. Compelled seems like a strong term, but when any one comes in God's way. He is obliged to grant the petition, because of His word, which must be fulfilled. It has gone out, and "He magnifies His word above His name" ; and so when we come on His word. He will grant our requests. Abraham believed God and it was counted to him for righteous- ness. He simply believed that when God made a promise He would fulfill it. Today we are too wise of our own selves to believe God. We want to see and understand how He does it, and not simply like a child just believe He will do for us what we need. Faith is believing God, and if we are walking in perfect obedience we zvill believe God. Many say that they did not have or need faith when Jesus was here, that His faith was sufficient. Look at the leper who met MIND AND FAITH CURE. 119 Jesus when He came down from the mountain — he worshiped Him, saying, ''If Thou wilt, Thou canst make me clean." First, he worshiped God, and again, he knew of Jesus' power and God's will, or he would not have come in such confidence. Jesus simply said, 'T will, be thou clean." It was done. That was Jesus' work, and the leper knew it. They knew what the promise was. Were they not for centuries looking for this same Savior and Healer? And did they not have the knowledge of what He would do when He came? And do you think they would be slow in testing His ability and power ? If my father said he would send his agent, and I should receive of his fortune, would I be slow to receive it when I saw father's agent ? No, I think not. FAITH. Those who brought their friends to Jesus — do we think for a moment that they had no faith? No, they had all faith in His ability and power, or why would they have come? Do you think those who were carried had no faith? Surely they had faith, or would they have consented to the process? Do we suppose the centurion and his servant had no faith when he came to Jesus? Ah, he knew what Jesus was willing and able to do ; for he said, '*I am not worthy for you (the Son of God) to come under my roof . . . Just speak the word, and my servant shall be healed." And it was done. They came in assurance. They came in a humble and worshipful attitude — not in doubts, fears, and unbelief. They gave Jesus a chance to do His will. We seldom do. They were full of faith and obedience and adoration. We come full of doubts and fears and unbelief. We live far away from God until perhaps some calamity overtakes us, then we run quick to God. Will He then hear ? He may hear, but He may see fit first to administer a lesson. Can we expect the blessings of Father's house when we occupy it so little ? It is he that dwelleth there, that has the promise of protection and deliverance ; and those who keep His command- ments, and do those things that are pleasing in His sight, that are to receive what they ask for. 1 Jno. 3 :22. Dear brother and sister in the kingdom, it is our portion ; will we have it? "Surely He hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows. For He was wounded for our transgression. He was bruised for our iniquities. The chastisement of our peace was on 120 DIYiyEHEALING. Him, and with His stripes we are healed." And when He came and finished the work He had to do He could testify, *'It is finished." So His bodily presence is gone, but He sent His Spirit, and pledged His own presence in the Spirit, when He says, "Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world." Again, "And these signs shall follow them that believe : in My name shall they cast out devils ; they shall speak with new tongues ; they shall take up serpents ; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them ; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover." — Mark 16 :i7-20. So we see the work was to be perpetuated. When it ceased through Him, His children were to continue the work. He commissioned them with the same authority and power. The work was not to stop, for He was to be with them even to the end, working in them such things as were pleasing in the Father's sight ; for He is the same yesterday, and today, and forever. THE DEMONIAC BOY AT THE FOOT OF MT. TABOR. ^ O^- THE MIND AND FAITH CURE. 123 THE DEMONIAC BOY AT THE FOOT OF MT. TABOR. (mark 9:14-24.) **And one of the multitude answered and said, Master, I have brought unto Thee my son, which hath a dumb spirit ; **And wheresoever he taketh him, he teareth him ; and he foameth and gnasheth with his teeth, and pineth away; and I spake to thy disciples that they should cast him out, and they could not. *'He answereth him, and sayeth, O faithless generation, how long shall I be with you? "Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are pos- sible to him that believeth. "And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears. Lord, I believe ; help Thou mine unbelief. "When Jesus saw that the people came running together, He rebuked the foul spirit, saying unto him. Thou dumb and deaf spirit, I charge thee, come out of him, and enter no more into him. "And the spirit cried, and rent him sore, and came out of him : and he was as one dead ; insomuch that many said. He is dead. "But Jesus took him by the hand, and lifted him up ; and he arose. "And when He was come into the house, His disciples asked Him privately. Why could not we cast him out? "And He said unto them. This kind can come forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting." This obstinate case was a mystery to the disciples. They asked Jesus, "Why could not we cast him out?" Jesus said it was because of their unbelief, and that this kind could come forth by nothing but prayer and fasting. Space does not permit much to be said here about fasting, but there is much to be gained in its scriptural and prayerful practice. It may be unwisely practiced, however, at times, which will be harmful rather than helpful, but where it is observed in the order of the Holy Spirit, which is always with much prayer, it is a means of great blessing. Prayer is the one hand that takes hold of the invisible things. Fasting is the other hand that lets go of the visible. 124 DIVINE HEALING. This is another instance where one was possessed with a devil who was deaf and dumb. The description given by the father of the child is expressive of Satanic work. It ''teareth him ; and he foameth, and gnasheth with his teeth, and pineth away: and of ttimes it hath cast him into the fire, and into the waters, to de- stroy him." When this helpless child was brought to Jesus, the evil spirit immediately demonstrated his destructive power, as if to utterly destroy him before he should be cast out. He has suc- cessfully withstood the power and faith of the disciples, and now in a bold, daring effort of defiance to the power of Jesus, seeks to take a firmer grasp than ever upon this suffering mortal. The anxious father, half believing and half doubting, entreats Jesus for help. All the faith he had, had doubtless been staggered by the failure of the disciples to help him in his great need. Jesus was both able and willing to grant the desired help, but the barriers of doubt must first be taken away. The one little word, if, in this case as in so many instances of our own experiences, was enough to obstruct the blessing that Jesus was so ready to give, but He quickly instructed the father of the all-importance of believing. Notice the conversation between the father and Jesus. The father said : *Tf thou canst do anything." There certainly was not much faith expressed in this language. Jesus knew the heart of the perplexed man, and helped him to change his prayer by the time he had ended his sentence, ''have compassion on us and help us." Jesus said : "If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth." The father at once saw his position, and cried out with tears, "Lord, I believe, help thou mine unbelief." This is a wonderful conversation. The words of Jesus to the father and the words of the father to Jesus, teach us the very principles of faith. The extreme necessity of the father had prepared him for the desperate grasp with which he laid hold upon the words of Jesus, which told him the possibility of faith. Had he but said, "Lord, I believe," he could not have reached the promise ; and had he but said, "Help thou mine unbelief," he would have only confessed his lack of faith, and could not have reached the promise. He had very clearly expressed his unbelief in saying, "If Thou canst do anything." It took a confession on his part to dislodge it from his heart, and it also took more than this, it took a desperate effort of his will to put his unbelief out of the way. Not that he had the power m himself to put it away, but to yield himself fully to Jesus and use his will against his unbelief, MIND AND FAITH CURE. 125 asking Jesus to help him in the struggle. He did not have sufficient faith, and he was conscious of his lack, but with tears he made use of what he had, laying hold of the words of Jesus with a desperate grasp. Despairingly the poor disappointed father turned away from the disciples to their Master. His son was in the worst possible condition, and all means had failed ; but the miserable child was soon delivered from the evil one when the parent, in faith, obeyed the Lord Jesus' word, "Bring him unto Me." Children are a precious gift from God, but much anxiety comes with them. They may be a great joy or a great bitterness to their parents; they may be filled with the Spirit of God, or possessed with the spirit of evil. In all cases, the Word of God gives us one receipt for the curing of all their ills, ''Bring him unto Me." O for more agonizing prayer on their behalf, while they are yet babes. Sin is there, let our prayers begin to attack it. Our cries for our offspring should precede those cries which betoken their actual advent into a world of sin. In the days of their youth we shall see sad tokens of that dumb and deaf spirit which will neither pray aright nor hear the voice of God in the soul ; but Jesus still commands, ''Bring them unto Me." When they are grown up they may wallow in sin and foam with enmity against God ; then, when our hearts are breaking, we should remember the great Physician's words, "Bring them unto Me." Never must we cease to pray until they cease to breathe. No case is hopeless while Jesus lives. The Lord sometimes suffers His people to be driven into a corner that they may experimentally know how necessary He is to them. Ungodly children, when they show us our own powerless- ness against the depravity of their hearts, drive us to flee to the Strong for strength ; and this is a great blessing to us. Whatever our morning's need may be, let it, like a strong current, bear us to the ocean of divine love. Jesus can soon remove our sorrow. He delights to comfort us. Let us hasten to Him while He waits to meet us. 126 DIVINE HEALING. LORD, I AM NOT WORTHY. (MATTHEW 8:5-8, 13.) ''And when Jesus was entered into Capernaum, there came unto Him a centurion, beseeching Him, ^ "And saying, Lord, my servant Heth at home sick of the palsy, grievously tormented. "And Jesus saith unto him, I will come and heal him. "The centurion answered and said, Lord, I am not worthy Jhat Thou shouldst come under my roof : but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed, "And Jesus said unto the centurion. Go thy way, and as thou hast believed, so be it unto thee. And his servant was healed in the selfsame hour." How many are Thy thoughts of love ! Thy mercies, Lord, how great ! We have not words, nor hours enough Their numbers to repeat. When I'm afflicted, poor and low. And light and peace depart. My God beholds my heavy woe. And bears me on His heart. This was the first miracle of healing in Galilee. The fame of Jesus had already spread abroad because of His miracles at Jerusa- lem. Many believed in His name and were ready to testify to all men of His wonderful deeds of love and compassion. This noble- man heard of Him, and when He came out of Judea into Galilee, he went unto Jesus and besought him that he would come down to Capernaum and heal his son, for he was at the point of death. The child was dying with fever; the father would naturally have reached the end of hope from any earthly source, and knew of no other help until he heard of Jesus. Like the centurion who came to Jesus for the healing of his servant, this man believed that he had power over diseases, and when put to the test believed His spoken word. How much faith the child had, or if he was MIN D AND FAITH CURE , 127 capable of believing at all or not, we are not informed, but there is abundant evidence of the faith of the parent. This instance teaches us the power of intercessory faith. The father came to Jesus with as deep earnestness as though he were the sick one. He sought help, and believed for his dying child. His faith answered for the child, and brought the blessing. The question is frequently asked, How far will the faith of some one else answer for an individual seeking healing? The answer may be given as follows : If the individual is living up to the full con- ditions of obedience and faith so far as he is responsible, and be- cause of the nature of the sickness or the peculiar circumstances of the case, or for any other reason beyond his power to control, he cannot press through the difficulties and obtain the blessing, then the faith of an intercessor will add to the power of his own faith, and overcome the obstacle in his way. The father was intensely in earnest in his appeal for help. This is a true characteristic of faith. It is determined and fixed in its purpose. Every energy must be united in the one aim. Our will must will to obtain the answer. " What wilt thou ?" asked Jesus of the blind man at Jericho, as he cried out the more a great deal for mercy, when the people tried to silence him. '* Be it unto thee as thou wilt," he said to the mother of the demon-possessed daughter, as she persistently clung to him for deliverance. So we must will to have what God has provided for us in Christ. We must assure our hearts that what we need is God's will for us, then we must set ourselves to have it ; not with a will independent of His will, but in harmony with it. This nobleman was in per- fect harmony with God's will, when he asked for the healing of his child. There was no doubt in his mind about this. His whole theme was : " Come down, ere my child die." Would that every seeker were past all doubts about God's will to heal, and could just as determinedly concentrate every desire into the one cry — there would be many more present-day miracles of God's healing power. He was disappointed in the way Jesus answered his petition. He had to be thus disappointed; for he had previously fixed in his own mind how it was to be done. In this respect God always disappoints us. He will answer our prayers in His own way, which is always better for us than our way. This is beautifully taught us in the incident of Acts 12, when the church was praying day and night for the deliverance of Peter from the hand of Herod. 128 DIVINE HEALING. Their answer came with a great astonishment, not because of the answer, but because of the manner in which it came. Because the answer to our prayer does not come in our own time and way, we should never permit our faith to fail, but on the other hand we should intensify our earnestness and diligence in seeking to know the reason for the delay, which may seem for the time like a denial. Jesus helped this man to get his faith beyond signs and visible manifestations. With many people at that time it was as it is now, " Seeing is believing;" but such believing is but weak and unsatisfactory in its results, and unless quickly outgrown will leave the individual in a helpless condition. In the better under- standing of faith, believing is seeing. " Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." He was ready to exercise real faith in our blessed Healer, even though disappointed in having him come down to Capernaum with him to lay His hands upon the sick child. He had no outward mani- festations to lean upon now, but oh! he had what was infinitely better, the spoken word of Jesus. GO THY way; thy SON LIVETH. '' And the man believed the word that Jesus had spoken unto him, and went his way." How plainly we see the act of faith in this man. He zvent his way. He might have done this in an or- dinary manner, and found his son at home as sick as ever, but there was something unusual in his trip down home this time. In his own heart there was a sweet peace and assurance that all was well with his child, for he believed the words which Jesus had spoken, " Thy son liveth." Could we believe as much if we heard the words of Jesus spoken to us under similar circumstances? It seems reasonable that every one who believes in Jesus could be- lieve everything he should say, especially when assured that His words were personally addressed to him. No seeker should ever stop seeking until some one of the promises becomes as personal to him as the word of Jesus was to the anxious father. This is an example of intercessory faith. How much the servant himself believed we are not informed, but it is evident according to the plan of redemption that if the servant was responsible to exercise faith and obedience to God, his faith was one of the requisites of his healing. In case of an infant child or MIND AND FAITH CURE. 129 any adult whose affliction is of such a nature as to render them irresponsible, then the faith of an intercessor would answer and be acceptable with God. This centurion was a Gentile, and had little opportunity to be instructed in the way of faith, and yet he possessed a faith that eclipsed any one of those in Israel, insomuch that Jesus marveled. How true this is in humanity today ! In many cases those who have the least light and opportunity have the most faith. This man, however, was a God-fearing man. Luke's narrative of this event tells us that he had built a synagogue for the Jews, and loved their nation. In some respects he was like the centurion, Cornelius. He possessed the characteristics of faith ; for HE WAS A VERY HU'MBLE MAN. In the estimation of others he was worthy of the favor he had asked of Jesus, but in his own estimation he was not worthy to have Him come under his roof. As a Roman officer he had every advantage of rank and authority to become proud and self- conceited, but how beautifully his true humility is shown in his words, "I am not worthy." How blessed it is when we can feel this same sense of humility and unworthiness. It is here where we receive the blessings from the hand of God. On the other hand there are instances where the enemy takes advantage of some seeking heart where this unworthiness is so deeply realized, but, thank God, we are not offered these blessings of life and health upon any consideration of our own worthiness. It is all through the merits of Christ. The more unworthy we feel, the more we exalt the worthiness of Him, and the more He loves to bestow upon us His priceless blessings. The secret of the great faith in this man lies in his humility and sense of unworthiness. It was manifested in the recognition of Christ's absolute power over all the forces that exist, and also the power of His word. A word from Jesus was all he asked for — ''Say in a word, and my servant shall be healed." His position as an officer enabled him to know the power of a word by one in command. One word from his own lips demanded implicit obedience from the soldiers and servants under him. One word from his superiors was of great importance to him. The word of the Roman emperor was supreme all over that vast domain, and could not be ignored by any 130 DIVINE HEALING. one ; therefore this centurion was well disciplined in the power of a word by those who are in authority. Now he recognizes Jesus as the Christ whose word is the word of God and cannot be with- stood. Distance could not affect it when once it had gone forth. It must be obeyed. He was waiting for that word to be spoken with the utmost confidence that his servant would be healed. This was a marvel to Jesus. Here was a man who being a Gentile, was putting to shame those who professed to be the children of faithful Abraham. Some of them were persecuting Him and many disbelieved Him who should have been obedient to the preaching of John, and been prepared to receive Jesus as the Son of God. They were the children of the kingdom, and the heirs of the promise, but through unbelief they were forfeiting their blessings, and those whom they despised were entering in. How true this is in these days ! The professing Christian world is turn- ing a deaf ear to the precious truths of full redemption, and through unbelief making the word of God of no effect, while the heathen and non-professing smners are commg in through repent- ance and faith, to the light of salvation and healing. The answer Jesus gave to this man was full of meaning to every seeking soul. His faith was perfect and shines as a bright star in the gospel heavens. We all must marvel as did Jesus. But, dear brother, did you ever think that it is our privilege to exercise the same faith in the same Christ? Indeed, we ought to have greater faith. This centurion had to wait for the word to be spoken, but to us it is spoken already. Jesus said to the centurion. "Go thy way; and AS THOU HAST BELIEVED so be it done unto thee." This was the answer of this great faith. How did he believe ? This is important. We have consid- ered his testimony of how he believed, and what he believed, and see that he had the utmost confidence in the pozver and will of Jesus to heal. He believed He was the Christ the Son of God and had come into the world for this express purpose — to deliver humanity from bondage. He believed it with all his heart, and was ready to render strict obedience to His mandate as he was to Caesar on the throne at Rome. Praise God for this perfect faith This is what honors Christ and enlists all the hosts of heaven, if M IN D AN D FAIT H CUBE . 131 necessary, to bring down a blessing in answer to prayer. Do we not have the same faith in this Jesus ? His answer to the man was simple. It is just so to us. It is the identical answer to us, '*As thou hast believed." We never need expect another answer to be given us than this. We have no promise that God will ever speak one word more to us than has been spoken through His Son. It had to be spoken to the centurion before he could go his way, but to us it is already spoken, and is the glorious answer to every prayer for every need. With this precious Jesus God has promised to give us all things, but it will be given only as we have believed. Our sins, our sorrows, and our sicknesses were all spoken away on Calvary. We must believe it. We must come to Jesus with all our ills, and lay them at His feet and humbly worship Him the omnipotent Sav- ior and Healer. Do you not hear those same words, dear sufferer, as by faith you behold Him? He has spoken them and they are sounding in the heavens and earth. Listen prayerfully as you lie at His feet. Wait on Him ! Be still, and hear His voice, ''Go thy way ; and as thou hast believed, so be it unto thee." ^GOD'^Tlfl/S^ THE SACRED FOUNTAIN. MIND AN D FAITH CURE. I35 THE SACRED FOUNTAIN. The sacred fountain that was opened upon Calvary, to wash therein is health. ''Give me to drink that living water." — John 4 :10, 14, 15. Jesus says, ''Take freely." He wants no payment or prepara- tion. He seeks no recommendation from our various emotions. If you have no good feelings, if you be but willing, you are invited ; therefore, come ! You have no belief and no repentance — come to Him, and He will give them to you. Come just as you are, and take "freely," without money and without price. He gives Him- self to needy ones. The drinking fountains at the corners of our streets are valuable institutions; and we can hardly imagine any one so foolish as to feel for his purse when he stands before one of them, and cry, "I cannot drink because I have no money in my pocket." However poor the man is, there is the fountain, and just as he is he may drink of it. Thirsty passengers, as they go by, whether they are dressed in fustian or in broadcloth, do not look for any warrant for drinking; its being there is their warrant for taking its water freely. The liberality of some good friends has put the refreshing crystal there, and we take it, and ask no ques- tions. Perhaps the only persons who need go thirsty through the street where there is a drinking fountain are the fine ladies and gentlemen who are in their carriages. They are very thirsty, but cannot think of being so vulgar as to get out to drink. It would demean them, they think, to drink at a common drinking fountain : so they ride by with parched lips. Oh, how many there are who are rich in their own good works, and cannot therefore come to Christ ! "I will not be saved," they say, "in the same way as the harlot or the swearer." What ! go to heaven in the same way as a chimneysweep ! Is there no pathway to glory but the path which led the thief there? I will not be saved that way." Such proud boasters must remain without the living water ; but, "Whosoever WILL, LET HIM TAKE THE WATER OF LIFE FREELY." He who is a believer in Jesus finds enough ii^his Lord to satisfy him now, and to content him forever more. The believer is not the man whose days are weary for want of comfort, and whose nights are long from absence of heart-cheering thought, for he finds in religion such a spring of joy, such a fountain of consolation 136 DIVINE HE ALIN G. that he is content and happy. Put him in a dungeon, and he will find good company; place him in a barren wilderness, he will eat the bread of heaven ; drive him away from friendship, he will meet the ''Friend that sticketh closer than a brother." Blast all his gourds, and he will find shadow beneath the Rock of Ages ; sap the foundation of his earthly hopes, but his heart will still be fixed, trusting in the Lord. The heart is as insatiable as the grave till Jesus enters it, and then it is a cup full to overflowing. There is such a fulness in Christ that He alone is the believer's all. The true saint is so completely satisfied with the all-sufificiency of Jesus, that he thirsts no more, except it be for deeper draughts of the living fountain. In that sweet manner, believer, shalt thou thirst : it shall not be the thirst of pain, but of loving desire ; thou wilt find it a sweet thing to be panting after a fuller enjoyment of Jesus' love. One in days of yore said, "I have, been sinking my bucket down into the well full often, but now my thirst after Jesus has be- come so insatiable, that I long to put the well itself to my lips, and drink right on." Is this the feeling of thine heart now, believer ?* Dost thou feel that all thy desires are satisfied in Jesus, and that thou hast no want now but to know more of Him, and to have closer fellowship with Him ? Then come continually to the foun- tain, and take of the water of life freely. Jesus will never think you take too much, but will ever welcome you, saying, "Drink, yea, drink abundantly, O beloved." The sinner must come to Jesus, not to works, ordinances or doctrines, but to a personal Redeemer, who His own self bore our sins in His own body on the tree. The bleeding, dying, rising Savior is the only star of hope to a sinner. O for grace to come now and drink, ere the sun sets upon the year's last day ! No waiting or preparation is so much as hinted at. Drinking represents a reception for which no fitness is required. A fool, a thief, a harlot can drink ; and so sinfulness of character is no bar to the invitation to believe in Jesus. We want no golden cup, no be jeweled chalice, in which to convey the water to the thirsty, the mouth of poverty is welcome to stoop down and quaff the flowing- flood. Blistered, leprous, filthy lips may touch the stream of divine love ; they cannot pollute it, but shall themselves be purified. Jesus is the fount of hope. Dear reader, hear the dear Redeemer's loving voice as He cries to each of us, "If any man thirst, let him COME UNTO ME AND DRINK." MIND AXD FAITH CURE. 137 'Tis when we taste Thy love Our joys divinely grow Unspeakable, like those above, And heaven begins below'. As the reservoir empties itself into the pipes, so hath Christ emptied out His grace for His people. "Of His fullness have all we received, and grace for grace." He seems only to have, in order to dispense to us. He stands like the fountain, always flow- ing, but only running in order to supply the empty pitchers and the thirsty lips which draw nigh unto it. Like a tree. He bears sweet fruit, not to hang on boughs, but to be gathered by those who need. Grace, whether its work be to pardon, to cleanse, to pre- serve, to strengthen, to enlighten, to quicken, or to restore, is ever to be had from Him freely and without price; nor is there one form of the work of grace which He has not bestowed upon His people. As the blood of the body, though flowing from the heart, belongs equally to every member, so the influences of grace are the inheritance of every saint united to the Lamb ; and herein there is a sweet communion between Christ and His church, in- asmuch as they both receive the same grace. Christ is the head upon which the oil is first poured ; but the same oil runs to the very skirts of the garments, so that the meanest saint has an unction of the same costly moisture as that which fell upon the head. This is true communion when the sap of grace flows from the stem to the branch, and when it is perceived that the stem itself is sustained by the very nourishment which feeds the branch. As we day by day receive grace from Jesus, and more constantly recognize it as coming from Him, we shall behold Him in communion with us, and enjoy the felicity of communion with Him. Let us make dailv use of our riches, and ever repair to Him as our own Lord In covenant, taking from Him the supply of all we need with as much boldness as men take money from their own purse. Call'd from above, I rise. And wash away my sin ; The stream to which my spirit flies, Can make the foulest clean. It runs divinely clear, A fountain deep and wide : 'Twas open'd by the soldier's spear. In my Redeemer's side. JESUS WENT ABOUT ALL THE CITIES, HEALING THE SICK. MIND AND FAITH CURE. 141 JESUS WENT ABOUT ALL THE CITIES, HEALING THE SICK. (matt. 9:35.) "And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness, and every disease among the people." Few words, but yet an exquisite miniature of the Lord Jesus Christ. There are not many touches, but they are the strokes of a master's pencil. Of the Savior, and only of the Savior, is it true in the fullest, broadest, and most unqualified sense. 'Tie went about doing good." From this description it is evident that He did good personally. The evangelists constantly tell us that He touched the leper with His own finger, that He anointed the eyes of the blind, and that in cases where He was asked to speak the word only at a distance. He did not usually comply, but went Him- self to the sick bed, and there personally wrought the cure. A lesson to us, if we would do good, to do it ourselves. Give alms with your own hand ; a kind look, or word, will enhance the value of the gift. Speak to a friend about his soul ; your loving appeal will have more influence than a whole library of tracts. Our Lord's mode of doing good sets forth His incessant activity! He did not only the good which came close to hand, but He "went about" on His errands of mercy. Throughout the whole land of Judea there was scarcely a village or a hamlet which was not gladdened by the sight of Him. In every pang that rends the heart, The Man of Sorrows had a part; He sympathizes with our grief. And to the sufferer sends relief. With boldness, therefore, at the throne, Let us make all our sorrows known ; And ask the aid of heavenly power To help us in the evil hour. 142 DIVINE HEALING. THE MAN! BORN BLIND. (JNO. 9.) Here Jesus teaches us that there may be cases of sickness or infirmity upon certain individuals, regardless of any transgression on their part as a direct cause. Neither this man nor his parents were the cause of this blindness. The common guilt of man is the door through which sickness has entered from the beginning, and like death itself, it will assert its power whenever permitted to do so. This blindness from birth was by divine permission. It was not the work of God, but was thus permitted of God, that His works should be made manifest. The gospel teaches us plainly that Jesus came to destroy the works of the Devil. In so doing he was working the works of God. In this marvelous miracle Jesus required a very humiliating- act of obedience of the man. To submit to the anointing of the repulsive clay, made of spittle, and then to go to the pool of Siloam and wash it out of his eyes, were both strong expressions, on the part of the man, of deep earnestness. Like Naaman the leper, he went through the humiliating process and came forth rejoicing. The poor man had but a limited knowledge of Jesus, but his acts proved that he obeyed in faith ; for his testimony was, '' He is a Prophet ;" and as soon as he met Jesus and saw Him, he be- lieved He was the Son of God, and worshipped Him. Many of our modern believers who are weak in faith and plead- ing for remedies, seem to find much consolation in this case of the application of clay spittle and the water of Siloam. A few questions may be suggestive of a careful reflection. If the clay had any curative power, why was the man commanded so imme- diately to go and wash? Why do we never hear of such cures to-day by the use of clay ? Why did not Jesus instruct His disci- ples to anoint with clay? Why do not the advocates of material remedies use clay in a similar manner ? There are many theories upon this subject, but in our con- clusions we should seek to keep within scriptural bounds, believing that every act of Jesus was prompted by the mind of God in him, being designed to inspire faith and obedience on the part of its subject, and demonstrating His power to heal. All remedy the- MIN D Al^D FAITH CURE . 143 ories have a weakening effect upon faith. The more we can com- prehend in Christ the Divine Healer, the less all material remedies will appear ; and when faith reaches the plane where " Christ is all and in all," there will be neither room nor need for anything else. CHRIST RESTORETH TO BARTIMAEUS HIS SIGHT. (LUKE 18:42, 43.) ''And Jesus said unto him, Receive thy sight: thy faith hath saved thee. "And immediately he received his sight, and followed Him, glorifying God : and all the people, when they saw it, gave praise unto God." When the blind suppliant in the way, By friendly hands to Jesus led. Prayed to behold the light of day, "Receive thy sight," the Savior said. At once he saw the pleasant rays That lit the glorious firmament; And, with firm step and words of praise. He followed where the Master went. Look down in pity. Lord, we pray, On eyes oppressed by moral night, And touch the darkened lids, and say The gracious words, "Receive thy sight." Then, in clear daylight, shall we see Where walked the sinless Son of God; And, aided by new strength from Thee, Press onward in the path He trod. WILLIAM C. BRYANT. This man, though he was but a wayside beggar, possessed a living faith which obtained a blessing that the wealth of a king- dom could not obtain. Like the two men already mentioned, he began to cry out for mercy, as soon as he heard that Jesus was passing. He seemed to be unable to follow Him, or to get near 144 DIVINE HEALING. Him in the great throng of people. All he could do was to cry out. This he did in dead earnest. He must make Jesus hear. The people near charged him to keep still, but he gave no heed to his surroundings or to public opinion. His very soul was all absorbed in the one object, his sight, and he was not to be silenced by what men might think or say of him. Instead of holding his peace, he cried out the more a great deal, '' Thoit son of David, have mercy on me/' His cries were not in vain ; neither are ours. Jesus never turned away one seeking and obedient and earnest soul who came to Him in simple faith ; and He never will. The ears of the Lord are open to their prayers. 1 Pet. 3 :12. Dear sufferer, do not be discouraged if you should seem to fail with an ordinary effort to get the attention of our blessed Healer. Examine your heart and see that all is in God's order, then like this beggar repeat your cry until you know He hears. '* Jesus stood still, and commanded him to be called. And they called the blind man, saying unto him, Be of good comfort, rise, He calleth thee." Ah, the cry was heard, the call reached his ear. Behold the change ; it is Jesus calling now. Here again we see the manner of personal contact. This man did not seem to be able, as the other two blind ones were, to come at once into the presence of Jesus. The throng was an insur- mountable obstacle to this helpless man, but when he has reached the proper point of earnestness, doing his required part, Jesus comes to the rescue and bids the very obstacle assist the seeker, by calling him into His presence. This will be just as true in your case as in his. What you need is the living faith in this Healer; which if you put into practice like Bartimaeus did, with the same determined persistence, Jesus will command the very obstacles in your way to assist you into His presence. They will stand aside and you shall have free access to Him. There is no real obstacle that can stand before faith. The towering mountain which obstructs the way must move from its foundation and make way for the seeking soul as it moves onward in its progress to victory. The struggle may seem a long one, the cries and prayers many, but there is certain victory ; for " nothing is impossible to him that believeth." The " be of good comfort '* will be heard, the glorious presence of Jesus and His healing power will be the reward of every faithful soul. As this man came into His presence, Jesus asked .him, MIND AND FAITH CUBE . 145 WHAT WILT THOU THAT I SHOULD DO UNTO THEE? Is it not simply wonderful that this man was asked such a question? He who had been crying with such earnestness for mercy, now has the honored privilege of being called into the presence of Jesus and being asked: "What wilt thou?" This same blessed privilege is likewise extended to every one who comes to Him as this man did. He did not come to Jesus with doubt or uncertainty about His will. This was settled long before he came into the presence of Jesus. He did not come asking, What wilt Thou give me ? but Jesus asks him, What wilt thou have? The Syrophenician woman was granted this same privilege after she had humbly taken her place at Jesus' feet. When faith has brought us into this condition of true obedience, we may have what we will. The man's will was that he might receive his sight. It was granted him as freely as the sunshine is poured out upon the earth. He had come up to the conditions perfectly, and was thereby enabled to diink in the blessings of life. He was now commanded to carry away his blessing and show it to the world. "Go thy way ; thy faith hath made thee whole. "" THE BLIND MAN WASHED IN THE POOL OF SILOAM. "When He had thus spoken, He spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and He anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay, "And said unto him, Go, wash in the pool of Siloam, (which is by interpretation Sent.) He went his way therefore, and washed, and came seeing." the man at bethesda. In this event the blind man had friends to bring him into the presence of Jesus. He had not the obstacles in his way as Bar- timaeus had, and evidently had not so much faith. His friends besought Jesus to touch him. The first that Jesus did was to take 146 DIVINE HEALING. him by the hand and lead him off out of the town, away from his friends, into his presence alone, teaching him and us that we must become forgetful of friends and every surrounding if we would have our faith effectually claim the blessing. This man had be- come so dependent upon human help that his faith in Jesus ap- parently was quite imperfect, and consequently received but an imperfect result from the first touch of his healing hand. Ho looked up and said he saw men as trees walking. There are cases of such healing in these days. Because of an imperfect faith, there are corresponding imperfect results, and m some cases no visible results at all. Many seekers never get into the presence of Jesus. They do not seek until they find. Others come into His presence, but when He begins to lead them away from everything else, they rebel and do not receive the blessing. In many other ways there are serious reasons for the seeming failures which skeptics are so ready to point out. The great rem- edy for all this is a perfect faith. If the healing is not received in the first application, let us get nearer to Him ; or if the result is but partial, let us get nearer to Him, and apply for a second touch. Jesus is just as willing to give it to us as to the blind man. Faith will bring it, and we shall go our way re- joicing. DIVINE HEALING IN PROPHECY. Prophecy. ''Say to them that are of a fearful heart. Be strong, fear not : behold, your God will come with vengeance, even God with a recompense ; He will come and save you. Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped. Then shall the lame man leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb sing." — Isa. 35 :4-6. Prophecy fulMled. "Jesus answered and said unto them, Go and show John again those things which ye do hear and see : The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk ; the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear ; the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached unto them. And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in Me."— Matt. 11 :4-6. Prophecy. "Surely He hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows : yet we did esteem Him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was MIND AND FAITH CURE. 147 bruised for our iniquities : the chastisement of our peace was upon Him, and with His stripes we are healed." — Isa. 53 :4, 5. Prophecy fulfilled. ''When the even was come they brought unto Him many that were possessed with devils : and He cast out the spirits with His Word, and healed all that were sick : that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, say- ing, Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses." — Matt. 8:16, 17. Prophecy. '*To open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, and them that sit in darkness out of the prison- house."— Isa. 42:7. "The spirit of the Lord God is upon me; because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek : He hath sent me to bind up the broken-hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound." — Isa. 61:1. Prophecy fulfilled. *'The spirit of the Lord is upon me, because He hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor ; He hath sent me to heal the broken-hearted, to preach deliv- erance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised. . . . And he began to say unto them, This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears." — Luke 4 :18, 21. Prophecy. "But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings ; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall." — Mai. 4 :2. "Bring forth the blind people that have eyes, and the deaf that have ears. Let all the nations be gathered together, and let the people be assembled : who among them can declare this, and show us former things? Let them bring forth their witnesses, that they may be justified; or let them hear, and say. It is truth."— Isa. 43 :8, 9. Prophecy fulfilled. "The people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up." — Matt. 4:16. "To give light to them that sit in darkness, and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet in the way of peace." — Luke 1 :79. "And great multitudes came unto Him, having with them those that were lame, blind, dumb, maimed, and many others, and cast them down at Jesus' feet and He healed them : insomuch that the 148 DIVINE HEALING. multitude wondered, when they saw the dumb to speak, the maimed to be whole, the lame to walk, and the blind to see ; and they glorified the God of Israel"— Matt. 15 :30, 31. To the mind of every one who loves the truth, the preceding scriptures of prophecy and their fulfillment are so plain as to need no explanation. Indeed it is with regret that the thought is enter- tained for a moment, that it is necessary to make any remarks upon what has been written by holy inspiration, and afterwards so minutely fulfilled. Every infidel who has ever read these prophecies and then read the life of Jesus of Nazareth, must in his heart acknowledge a beautiful fulfillment. Every Christian on earth should bow in reverence before God for this wonderful truth, and give thanks to Him for the office work of the Holy Spirit, who moved upon the hearts of men in the centuries before Pente- cost, and spoke through them of the life and sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow, and who now shines into our hearts and makes us understand that this Jesus is He of whom ''Moses in the law and the prophets did write." Ah, more than this. He enables us to see that to us who have reached the end of the age, and upon whom the ends of the world have come, it is granted that we may apply in faith to this living word and receive healing, and testify to the world that He is Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, and today, and forever. Yet there are many, and it must be said that the number are largely in the majority, professing to be believers in Christ, who through the doctrines and commandments of men, are blind to these precious truths, and the blind leaders of the blind are holding these masses in this gross darkness. God pity them and grant repentance, that they may come to the light. Let us thank God as our Master did, that he has "hid these things from the wise and prudent, and revealed them unto babes," and let us all pray that we may remain simple enough to take God at His word- As we turn to Isaiah, the ''Gospel Prophet," we see him on yonder mountain of inspiration, looking through the telescoj^c of faith down the centuries to the gospel dispensation. Behold, a marvelous sight breaks upon his vision, and he cries out, "O Jerusalem, that bringest good tidings, lift up thy voice with strength; lift it up, be not afraid; say unto the cities of Judah, . . . Behold, the Lord God will come with strong hand, and His arm shall rule for Him. ... He giveth power to the faint ; MIND AN D FAITH CURE. 149 and to them that have no might He increaseth strength." — Isa. 40 :9, 10, 39. "Then the eyes of the bhnd shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped. Then shall the lame man leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb sing." — Isa. 35 :5, 6. He sees many other beautiful sights, but we can only take notice of a few of his wonderful words. ''Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened." When ? Then, he answers. ''Then shall the lame man leap as an hart." It was not known at that time that the eyes of the blind had been opened. This was to take place in the gospel age, which is the then of which the prophet speaks. The blind man who was healed at Siloam testifies, saying, ''Since the world began was it not heard that any man opened the eyes of one that was born blind." Blind eyes may have been opened previous to the life and ministry of Christ, but there is no mention made of it, and it is plainly stated that miracles of this nature, and those mentioned in the text under consideration, were to characterize the gospel age. All who looked for the Messiah, also looked for these signs to accompany him. How wonderful, then, that when He did come so many would not believe Him, in the face of the very works that were prophesied should be manifested. The trouble was they did not believe Moses and the prophets ; "For," said Jesus, "had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed Me, for he wrote of Me." When John the Baptist heard of the works of Jesus, and sent two of his disciples to ask if he was the One that should come, the answer was, "Go and show John again the things that ye do and hear and see. The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk : the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear," etc. This was suffi- cient evidence to the inquiring disciples of John that He was the Christ. Jesus did not answer them directly, but simply referred them to the works that He did. Who but the Christ could do those things? Therefore, they could easily believe in Him. He did the works that no other man did, and all whose hearts were not blinded by sin believed, for He fulfilled the prophecy which testified of Him. Again the prophet speaks of his vision of this glorious redemp- tion, saying, "Surely He hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows." — Isa. 53 :4. What wonderful tidings. Is it possible that every grief and sorrow of our life has been borne by Him? Surely, says the answer. But this seems too wonderful to be true. "Surely He hath borne them," comes the voice of inspira- 150 DIVINE HEALING. tion. But we are not worthy, we all like sheep have gone astray. We have fallen among many sorrows. Yea, they compass us about like clouds, and we are pressed down and languishing beneath their burdens. ''Surely he hath borne them," says God. Well, that is wonderful, but there are so many of us who have griefs and sorrows. He might be able to relieve a few of us, but how about the griefs and sorrows of the whole world? "Surely He hath borne them !" Well, then we will just obey God and receive it. We will believe what He hath done, and ever live in grateful acceptance of His infinite mercy. It will be profitable here to notice a few points in the transla- tion of this text. That the common version fails to bring out the true meaning and mind of the Spirit, is admitted by all who have given due attention to it. It is also very conclusively proved by the reference to this text in Matt. 8 :17, where it is plainly given us in connection with the work of the healing of all manner of sicknesses and diseases, "that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, ''Himself took our infirmities, and hare our sicknesses." This is the true meaning of the text, as will be seen. We can praise God for this divine interpretation of this verse. It so unmistakably tells us that the word "griefs" should be translated sicknesses, and "sorrows" should be trans- lated iniirmities. Truly it is wonderful. There is no shadow of perversion in this. It is true as heaven. The enemies of present-day divine healing fight this position with great persist- ency ; for to admit it, means to admit healing into the atonement, which, of course, opens the gateway and sends the stream of primitive healing down the centuries to our present time, in the same current with salvation. This the Devil will not admit until he must. Let us rejoice and be thankful that he must. It has been strongly argued that God does not heal, since the days of the apostles. But when miracles and testimonies of God's people today overthrow this argument and force the Devil from this position, then another infamous deception is advanced ; namely, that healing is not for all of God's children, that there are only a few special favorites in His family upon whom He sees proper to bestow this blessing, and that healing is not in the atonement. It is also argued that the statement "Himself took our infirmities and bare our sicknesses" was spoken of as in the past tense, and could have no reference to the atonement, which was then yet in the future, and that the works of healing in the ministry of MIND AND FAITH CURE. 151 Christ were all done before the atonement on Calvary was made. From such a standpoint there would indeed be but little to be hoped for in prophecy. When the prophet beheld this wonderful sight there were many centuries between him and Christ, but that he saw the atonement on Calvary, there can be no reasonable ques- tion. Isa. 53 :o helps to make this clear. "But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities ; the: chastisement of our peace was upon Him, and with His stripes we are healed." Who will dare to utter one word against this voice of inspiration ? Ah, rather let daylight blush to own the sun, or evening, a star, than man fail to recognize in this wonderful scripture, the redemption of the cross. Dear reader, take your Bible once more and turn to this precious prophecy. Oh, what does the prophet see? Do you not catch the holy inspiration of glory as it beams from his face and you hear his wonderful words? The world is wrapped in darkness. Sin, disease, and death are dashing their angry billows of destruction upon the ruined race, but with piercing rays of heavenly light, like from a mighty lighthouse flashing over the dark water, he sees the cross, the blessed cross. He turns back with uplifted voice which with heavenly clearness rings out, and is distinctly heard through every decade of history, back to Adam at the fall, and then looks forward to the end of time, when the last son or daughter of the race of Adam shall be born. We hear that voice ringing through the ages, and with outstretched hand pointing to the cross, saying, "Surely Himself took our in- firmities and bare our sicknesses." Our iniquities are all laid upon Him. The stroke of justice which we should have received hath fallen upon Him. Beloved sufferer, let us rejoice and be glad. Let us bow down and worship Him who was nailed to the cross of Calvary, and let us also cry aloud the tidings of redemption, that none may fail to receive the blessed invitation to come and be free. It has been taught by many that redemption from sin is prophesied in this text and it applies to all, down to the end of time, but not so with healing. We would ask but one question here: Who has a right to subtract healing from this text? Beware, lest some one be found guilty of taking from the prophecy of this book. We might as safely subtract salvation from this atonement scripture as to subtract healing from it. If both were to be weighed in the balance of testimony in the personal 152 DIVINE HEALING. ministry of Christ, healing would have the advantage; but it is not our object to thus take advantage, but rather that the light of divine inspiration might be thrown upon the doctrine of healing, which has so long been darkened by the mists and clouds of un- belief. Instead of a biased faith, let us reverently come to the cross, and accept the full redemption purchased there for us. With respect to the thought advanced concerning the personal ministry of Christ not being the atonement on the cross, and the text, ''Himself took our infirmities and bare our sicknesses," conse- quently not applicable to the atonement, we will simply say that it took the whole life and period of His earthly ministry to fulfill His mission of love, mercy, and sacrifice to our fallen race, the earlier part of which was but the beginning, and was to continue until He by the grace of God ''tasted death for every man," and thereby fulfilled what Moses in the law and the prophets wrote concerning Him. Hear His own testimony after He rose from the dead: "Thus it is written, and thus it behooved Christ to suffer." —Luke 24 :46. We cannot refrain from adding the testimony of some of the ablest Hebrew scholars and translators concerning Isa. 53 :4. One of the best gives the following translation : "Surely our sicknesses hath He taken upon Him, and our sorrozvs He hath carried them." Albert Barnes says the word translated griefs in Isaiah and infirmities in Matthew, means properly in the Hebrew and the Greek, diseases of the body. Archbishop Magee assigns the same meaning to these words. In Robert Young's translation of this verse we read, ''Surely our sicknesses He hath home, and our pains He hath carried them." Isaac Leeser translates : ''But only our diseases did He hear Himself , and our pains He carried.^' Other valuable testimony might be added, but certainly it is not needed by any who have a willing and ready mind for the truth of this text. While rejoicing in the tidings of this glorious redemption through the words of the prophet, again we hear him sounding forth in holy exclamation these words : "To open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, and them that sit in darkness out of the prison-house." — Isa. 42 :7. Again he beholds the blessed Redeemer in His ministry and compassion, and says, "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me : because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek ; He hath sent me to bind up the broken-hearted, to proclaim liberty MIND AND FAITH CURE. 153 to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound."— Isa. 61 :1. Were there ever any words spoken from heaven that more beautifully portray the life and character of Christ? The most skeptical ought to be convinced of the divinity of prophecy in these few verses. Time and space might be occupied in testimony to prove that this signifies the saving and healing ministry of Christ, but let us go to Him direct, and receive His personal testimony of Himself. As He returned from His temptation in the wilderness He entered in the power of the Spirit into His native town. On the Sabbath day he entered into the synagogue, and by permission of the minister opened the book of the prophet Isaiah to the very words we have just quoted, and read them to the people. He closed the book and said, "This day is this scrip- ture fulfilled in your ears." — Luke 4 :18, 21. The reader will see by a careful perusal of connecting state- ments, that Jesus was fulfilling this prophecy by His mighty works of healing. While He could do but little in His own country because of their unbelief, He speaks to them of the mighty works He had wrought in Capernaum, and tells them why they are not enjoying the same unspeakable blessings. They would not believe the words of the prophet which He had read in their hearing. Why did the widow of Sarepta, and Naaman the Syrian, receive such blessings? Because they believed the words of the prophets. This was the secret, but the people who professed to be the children of Abraham and the prophets, would not believe, and rose up and thrust the Son of God out of their city and tried to take his life. What blessings they missed, and what divine dis- pleasure they incurred, but not more so than many of the professed children of Abraham are doing today. Oh, let us believe the prophets and enjoy the glorious provisions of mercy through faith in Christ. The Holy Spirit does not speak these prophetic truths through Isaiah alone. Just before the close of the Old Testament inspira- tion, we hear the voice of healing again sounding forth to the suffering world. Let us listen and catch every syllable of these words of cheer, **But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall." — Mai. 4:2. This glorious Sun began to shine in fulfillment of these inspiring words when Jesus began to preach repentance in Galilee. The people 154 DIVINE HEALING. were sitting in darkness, and in the region and shadow of death, but Hght sprang up upon those who feared the name of Jehovah. The sunrise Hghted up the heavens with His glorious brightness of heaHng. The gloom of oppression was dispelled from the sad hearts of all who came to him. His fame went abroad throughout the land. The Holy Spirit whispered to every God-fearing suf- ferer the words of the prophet, ''Arise and shine ; for thy light is come and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee." He testifies of Himself, 'T am the light of the world." He gave this 'light of life" to all who would receive it ; His wings of healing stretched out to "whosoever will." How brightly this glorious light shone during his earthly personal ministry! The cross only added bril- liancy to it. His ascension to the right hand of the Majesty in the heavens intensified it still more by the Pentecostal glory which followed, until the whole earth was illuminated by His heavenly brightness. His "saving health" was heralded forth and all who obeyed his voice were healed and grew up in divine strength as "calves of the stall." This Sun of righteousness still shines in the heavens. His primitive glory has not diminished. All who fear His name find His healing wings overspreading them and dispelling every sick- ness and sorrow. The dark ages of superstition and unbelief issu- ing from the bottomless pit, have clouded the sky and darkened the sun for many hundred years, but the piercing rays of the Sun of righteousness have penetrated the darkness as He sinks into the western horizon of this gospel day. The clouds are scattered, and behold the glorious light is shining upon the suffering world as in the morning. We need not wonder that the light was not clear in the past centuries, but now, there is no one without excuse. Prophetic inspiration tells us of this blessed period of light which has followed the gloom of the dark ages. But it shall be one day which shall be known to the Lord, not day, nor night : but it shall come to pass, that at evening time it shall be light." — Zech. 14:7. Thank God, the Sun of righteousness with healing in His wings is shining upon his people. The keen vision of prophecy has beheld all this. The Lord of hosts hath spoken it, that Christ the Savior of men shall be the Healer of his people. Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honor, and power, and might be unto Him for- ever and ever. DR. RICHMOND WRITING HIS BOOK. T^ Rt ^At MIND AND FAITH CUBE. 157 DIVINE HEALING. The picture represents Dr. S. A. Richmond in the act of writing, through inspiration, his wonderful book on-divine heal- ing, entitled ''An Illustrated Pictorial History of the Life of Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, the Author and Founder of Divine Healing" ; also, giving a Biblical history of Christ's life, together with his miracles and healing powers, and giving a full and complete illustrated account of all the cures and miracles He performed while here on earth. This book is illustrated with many beautiful pictures, showing Christ going about on His errands of mercy and doing good, and distributing the leaves of the tree of life. These leaves are for the healing of the nations. This is the first and only book of the kind ever written. It is the key to the scriptures, and unlocks the portals containing the secrets of divine healing and reveals them unto man. It is, indeed, a book of revelations from start to finish. It is a doctor in every home and should be in the hand of every man, woman and child in the land. It teaches them how they can heal all of their diseases. You must not think or even dream that you can grasp these gospel truths by a simple perusal of its contents. It is a book like the Bible — it must be read and re-read and studied before you can understand its spiritual works. Then you will be able to grasp the spiritual facts, which you have never yet obtained, which makes it the best, the most useful and valuable book for man ever written outside of the Bible. It contains Christ's own words. It saves and reclaims the infidel and sinner, and its teaching, when applied by the spirit of God Almighty, will heal every known disease. It teaches what man ought to know, and it teaches him how to believe it. You wonder why there are so many infidels in the world to-day, those who do not believe the Bible. They claim that it contradicts itself. The Bible is all right, but the infidel is all wrong. He reads it literally and interprets its meaning through this material and mortal man, the devil's agent, the old deceiver and liar, and the father of his lies. God is not a ma- terial being. He is a spirit. In the first chapter of Genesis, verses 26 and 37, we read that God created man in his own image. Man being a spirit should read the Bible, God's word, spiritually and not materially. The scribes and Pharisees read Christ's words and works literally and, of course, could not understand. 158 DIVINE HEALING. Saul of Tarsus was the ringleader that stoned Stephen to death. He made havoc of the church, and entered every home of Christ's followers and dragged them to prison. The Lord sent a thunderbolt of spiritual lightning through Saul and struck him blind, and he was three days stone blind. The Lord sent Ananias unto Saul to heal him, and immediately there fell from his eyes, as it had been scales, and he received his sight and could read spiritually instead of materially, as he had been doing. Of course he could not understand, and he did not propose to let any one else understand. Christ's followers read His words spir- itually, and of course understood. When the scales dropped off Saul's eyes he could see spiritually. He became the best worker that Christ ever had and did more for God, Christ and Christianity than any other living man, outside of Christ. To the sick, to the bedridden and forlorn, I say, take cheer and read this book spiritually and not materially, and it will heal you of every ill. Your diseases will gradually disappear and it will seem like a dream to you, and you will wake up out of your Rip Van Winkle sleep into a new being, and you will wonder how it was done. By its timely use, this book will save thousands of lives annually, and millions in money where the book is read carefully, slowly and spiritually, and where its teachings are followed strictly to the letter and used and applied strictly and according to the spirit of God Almighty. It will heal every known disease, which places the value of this book beyond price. Many a millionaire who is sick nigh unto death would give millions for a remedy that would save his life. This remedy is within the reach of all, both rich and poor. This medicine is free to all. The poor street beg- gar can take it and be healed. Dr. S. A. Richmond's celebrated book on divine healing con- tains the formula how to use, take and apply this medicine, which makes this book very valuable and even beyond price. This book is handsomely bound and contains over 500 pages, and is an orna- ment to any library. Price $5.00. I insist that every patient that I treat must secure a copy of this book and read it, as the facts con- tained therein constitute the major part of my treatment. These facts they can only secure by reading the book. Send me $15.00 — $10.00 to pay for one month's treatment and $5.00 to pay for the book. In treating the sick, I follow the rules and methods of treatment adopted by Jesus and Saint Paul. In giving absent treat- ment, I bless handkerchiefs and send to my patients, together with my other treatments. When remitting money to me, always send MIND AND FAITH CURE. 159 either in a post office money order, registered letter, or bank draft. Send no private checks. Also give your name in full, together with your post office, county and state address. GOD ANSWERS PRAYERS. God answers all prayers by reason of fixed law. One law is that if you ask, seek and knock, placing yourself in line where the blessing is to be received when you pray, you will receive it. You can pray till doomsday, and your prayer will not have any effect unless you are in line where you should be when praying. You must come to God with a pure heart, free from malice, envy, hatred, lust, jealousy and vindictiveness. Come with love and a pure heart and your prayer will be heard. Prayer is always the preface to blessing. It goes before the blessing as the blessing's shadow. When the sunlight of God's mercies rises upon our necessities, it casts the shadow of prayer far down upon the plain. Or, to use another illustration, when God piles up a hill of mercies, He Himself shines behind them, and He casts on our spirits the shadow of prayer, so that we may rest certain, if we are much in prayer, our pleadings are the shadows of mercy. Prayer is thus connected with the blessing to show us the value of it. If we had the blessings without asking for them, we should think them common things ; but prayer makes our mercies more precious than diamonds. The things we ask for are precious, but we do not realize their preciousness until we have sought for them earnestly. ''Prayer makes the darkened cloud withdraw ; Prayer climbs the ladder Jacob saw; Gives exercise to faith and love; Brings every blessing from above." Mark the grand characteristic of true prayer — "In the Holy Ghost.'' The seed of acceptable devotion must come from heaven's storehouse. Only the prayer which comes from God can go to God. We must shoot the Lord's arrows back to Him. That desire which He writes upon our heart will move His heart and bring down a blessing, but the desires of the flesh have no power with Him. 160 DIYINEHEALING. Praying in the Holy Ghost is praying in fervency. Cold prayers ask the Lord not to hear them. Those who do not plead with fervency, plead not at all. As well speak of luke-warm fire as luke-warm prayer — it is essential that it be red-hot. It is praying perseveringly. The true suppliant gathers force as he proceeds, and grows more fervent when God delays to answer. The longer the gate is closed, the more vehemently does he use the knocker, and the longer the angel lingers, the more resolved is he that he will never let him go without the blessing. Beautiful in God's sight is tearful, agonizing, unconquerable importunity. It means praying humbly, for the Holy Spirit never puffs us up with pride. It is His office to convince of sin, and so to bow us down in contrition and brokenness of spirit. We shall never sing Gloria in excelsis except we pray to God De profundis : out of the depths must we cry, or we shall never behold glory in the highest. It is loving prayer. Prayer should be prfumed with love, saturated with love — love to our fellow saints, and love to Christ. Moreover, it must be a prayer full of faith. A man prevails only as he beleives. The Holy Spirit is the author of faith, and strengthens it so that we pray believing God's promise. Oh that this blessed combination of excellent graces, priceless, and sweet as the spices of the mer- chant, might be fragrant within us because the Holy Ghost is in our hearts! Most blessed Comforter, exert Thy mighty power within us, helping our infirmities in prayer. THE SYROPHENICIAN WOMAN'S DAUGHTER. (matt. 15 :21.) This case is one of intercessory faith, although doubtless there was much need of individual repentance and faith on the part of the parents. The sad condition of being devil-possessed was very likely due to some sin of the parents, and, unless repented of, there would be no deliverance. This woman came asking for mercy. Although a Gentile, she implored the Son of David to consider her sorrow and grant deliverance from this grievance of her daughter. Jesus had never refused a case when asked for help. This mother perhaps had heard of this and was the more confident that He MIND AND FAITH CURE. 161 would not turn her away. But in this case, although she cried unto Him, He answered her not a word. What an unusual attitude this was for our compassionate Redeemer ! It could not be because she was a Gentile that He should thus treat her, for He had previous to this time shown mercy to the Gentile centurion and his servant. His disciples being surprised at this, requested Him to send her away — "for she crieth after us." Her intense earnestness most certainly had not failed to attract His attention. His answer to the disciples was no encouragement to the woman. "I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel," but she was not to be sent away on this ground. He had helped others outside of the children of Abraham, and she would not be turned away. In- stead of crying after Him any longer, or going away in despair, she now came to Him in the attitude -of worship. Her faith was not to be shaken. At His feet she looks up to Him with pleading tones, saying, ''Lord, help me." This time Jesus could not refuse giving an answer, but it would seem from an ordinary standpoint of reasoning, that this answer was more discouraging than ever. But not so to her faith, it only increased it when He said : "It is not meet to take the children's bread and cast it to dogs." Who would not feel completely disheartened at such an answer from Jesus? It seems He never spoke like this before. But her faith found a blessed opportunity here, although she had no right to expect any of the children's bread. She was no child of Abra- ham, she knew this and hardly knew how to ask for help. But now in these words of Jesus she has found all she wishes for. Is not the little dog permitted to pick up the crumbs that fall from the table, and in this manner after all get some of the children's bread? She had already taken her place at His feet, and asked no greater favor than that shown to the master's little dog, only the crumbs. She answered Jesus and said, "Truth, Lord ; yet the dogs eat the crumbs which fall from the master's table." This was all she asked, and she had now done all that Jesus required. Her faith- proved to be perfect. What an object lesson this was to the disciples. Is it not also to us ? This poor Gentile is suddenly honored with much more than she had asked for. Instead of one little crumb of the children's bread, she comes into the possession of a whole loaf. Jesus looks upon her in astonishment, and says, "O woman, great is thy faith : be it unto thee even as thou wilt." And her daughter was made whole from that very hour. 162 DIVINEHEALING. THE DAMSEL AT PHILIPPI. (acts 16:16.) Jesus commissioned His disciples to go forth preaching tlie gospel, and gave them power over all devils and diseases. This power was possessed both before and after Pentecost. Just before His ascension He had promised that among the signs that should follow them that believe, they should cast out devils in His name. The apostle Paul had this power in his ministry at Philippi. The evil spirit in this damsel was ready to confess God, and the apostles as the servants of God, but no testimony of the Devil is acceptable with God. Jesus suffered not the devils to speak nor confess that He was Christ. As this spirit continued many days to cry out after the apostles, Paul commanded it in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of this damsel. At his word it obeyed. The soothsaying spirit was gone. HEALING THE PARALYTIC. This miracle of healing was wrought by our Savior in His own town where He had been brought up. He met with much unbelief in that place. AA'hen He entered the synagogue on the Sabbath and opened the book of Isaiah and read some of the prophecy concerning Himself, and that ''this day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears," they would not believe Him, and began at once to reason among themselves that they knew Jesus, and that He was the son of Joseph the carpenter, and would not accept His testimony that He was the one who came to heal the sick, to open the eyes of the blind, and to bind up the broken-hearted. He had done these things at Capernaum that had been prophesied of Him, because there the people believed in Him ; but at Nazareth they would not believe on him, and He knew they wanted to see Him perform some of His miracles before accepting His interpretation of prophecy. But Jesus told them that if they would not believe the words of the prophet concerning Him, they would not see any of His works. MIND AND FAITH CURE. 163 The widow of Sarepta had a heart to beUeve what the prophet said to her when he spoke to her of the miraculous manner God would provide for her until the end of the famine. Because she believed the word of the Lord, she received the benefit of God's blessings. Naaman the leper, though greatly mortified, and at first offend- ed by the word of the Lord through the prophet, who told him of God's remedy for his leprosy, after much persuasion, repented and obeyed, and was blessed with the fulfillment of the words of the prophet. Jesus applied this to the people of Nazareth, and clearly inferred that if they would but be as believing and obedient as the widow, or Naaman, concerning what the prophets said of Him, they would also receive the fulfillment of the same, and just such blessings as the people of Capernaum received; but they would not, and were offended at Him and attempted to take His life. He left them and returned to Capernaum, but upon the occasion of healing this paralytic, Jesus had returned to Nazareth and began to preach to the people. Some had opened their hearts to God, and were listening eagerly to the words of life. They began to gather in a throng to hear Him. At this time this palsied man was carried on a bed by four of his friends to be healed of his disease. The crowd was so great that it was impossible for them to get the sick man to Jesus in any ordinary manner. They were so intensely in earnest that they could not wait until the crowd had dispersed. They must get this man to Jesus. They carried him upon the roof of the house, and breaking it open, let the man down at Jesus' feet. Jesus, seeing their faith, said to the man sick with the palsy, "Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee." Let us therefore take courage and simply believe for our heal- ing, if we have not already obtained it, and not think that because we have heretofore failed to properly grasp the promises, they are not for us. We have the same right to be healed that the palsied man had, and if every seeker will but wait upon God, and partake of the promises, it shall be done. One great disadvantage of the present day is that we have been wrongly taught. We are ever ready to believe that God will save all who will come to Him, but our teachings are so different about healing. We must come therefore upon the same plane of faith for healing, and expect it to be done as if we were seeking pardon. Jesus teaches us in this les- son that He is just as willing and able to heal as He is to pardon, for He asks the question : 164 DIVINE HEALING. ""whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee ; or to say, Arise, and walk ?" No one doubts His power to do both, and no one should doubt His willingness. There is a theory advocated by some of the enemies of the truth, that Jesus healed this sick man only to prove to the people that He had power to forgive sins, and thus established His divinity; but no such meaning can scripturally be deducted from this act of our Savior. The old threadbare doctrine of our modern theologians, that Jesus healed the people in the days of His and the apostles' ministry, to establish His divinity, finds no support here. His healing power very likely served its purpose to help con- firm in the minds of those who already believed in Him, the fact that He was indeed the Christ, but He had a much higher object in view in healing than this. It was His great compassion toward suffering humanity, and the fulfillment of prophecy in His redemp- tion work, which reaches the body as well as the soul. (Read Matt. 8:17; 14:14; 20:34; Mark 1:41; 9:22; Luke 7:13.) If divine healing was for the sole purpose of establishing the divinity of Christ in the first century, then it is a present-day neces- sity for the same purpose, and should not have ceased with the first century. Our modern D. D.s affirm that miracles of healing ceased then, for healing was only to prove the divinity of Christ. If this is true, is not healing as necessary to prove His divinity now as it was then ? If healing is but an historical fact, then the divinity of Christ is also but historical. If He healed in the first century to prove that He had power on earth to forgive sins, then healing is just as necessary in the twentieth century to prove that He still has power on earth to forgive sins. This places the D. D.s in an unpleasant position. Their doctrine affords them no place of refuge for self-justification. They would be wiser to acknowledge their unbelief and repent. The gospel declares that Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. History proves it to be true, through the centuries, and thank God, there are thousands of God's people among the kindreds, tongues, and nations of earth who are glad to testify to the fact that Jesus is the Christ and the Healer of His people now. His compassionate heart yearns in mercy toward suffering humanity, and is ever ready to bless and heal. MIND AND FAITH CURE. 165 We boldly declare that Jesus never employed divine healing simply as a credential of His divinity. There was a certain degree of faith required upon the part of every responsible person who was healed by Him. The majority, if not all, the people who received Him at all, were such as had believed the preaching of John, who testified to the near coming of the Christ. They had obedient hearts like this paralytic, and came hungering for the blessings which they believed He was able and willing to bestow. If healing and miracles were his credentials. He would have produced them at Nazareth at the time the people refused His testimony and cast Him out of their city. He could do no mighty work there because of their unbelief, except that he healed a few sick ones ; and these few were certainly those who believed in Him, of whom the subject of our lesson was one. It is not the design of God to gratify th(r curiosity of an unbelieving world, that they should thus be com- pelled to believe, and there is nothing in the word of God to justify such a doctrine. When the dear Man of sorrows was suffering our infirmities and bearing our sicknesses on the cross, those very people who had seen some of His wonderful works wrought upon those who believed, but had themselves rejected Him, said to Him as He was now groaning in death, 'Tf thou be the Son of God, come down from the cross." Even the chief of priests, scribes, and elders said they would believe in Him if He would come down from the cross. The trouble with them was they were disobedient to God. They did not believe Moses nor John, and therefore would not have believed in Jesus, even though he would have come down from the cross. No, dear sufferer, He healed because He had a heart full of mercy and compassion, and now since He has been exalted to the right hand of God, He is still our living High Priest, touched with the feeling of our infirmities, and has, by His redemption, spoken away our diseases, we must believe it, and come boldly unto the throne of grace and obtain the desired blessing. YOUNG MAN, I SAY UNTO THEE, ARISE. MIND AND FAITH CURE. 169 YOUNG MAN, I SAY UNTO THEE, ARISE. (luke 7:11-15.) *'And it came to pass the day after, that He went into a city called Nain; and many of His disciples went with Him, and much people. "Now, when He came nigh to the gate of the city, behold, there was a dead man carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow : and much people of the city was witli her. "And when the Lord saw her. He had compassion on her, and said unto her. Weep not. "And He came and touched the bier: and they that bare him stood still. And he said. Young man, I say unto thee. Arise. "And he that was dead sat up, and began to speak. And He delivered him to his mother." THE DUMB MAN. (LUKE 11 :14.) In this case this man had an evil spirit that held his power of speech under control. This affliction may exist without the indi- vidual being possessed. It may be a case where the person Is bound or oppressed by the Devil, but in this case we see this man was possessed with a dumb Devil, but when the Devil was cast out the dumb spake. In Matt. 12 :83 we have an instance where one was possessed, who was both blind and dumb. As soon as the devil was cast out the man spake and saw. Who could scrip- turally deny that Satan is the author of disease and affliction ? WOMAN WHO HAD AN INFIRMITY EIGHTEEN YEARS. (LUKE 13:10-13.) "And He was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath "And behold, there was a woman which had a spirit of in- firmity eighteen years, and was bowed together, and could in no wise lift up herself. 170 DIVINE HEALING. "And when Jesus saw her, He called her to Him, and said unto her, Woman, thou art loosed from thine infirmity. "And He laid His hands on her: and immediately she was made straight, and glorified God." This was a case of helpless deformity. The poor woman was " bowed together and could in no wise lift up herself." What a sad sight ! How the loving heart of Jesus must have been touched with compassion as He beheld the sufferer. He again shows His deep interest here in our bodies. How can we dare doubt His willingness to heal? This blessed expression of His love should inspire a deeper faith in the heart of every sufferer. This interesting case throws much light on the origin of disease. There is much speculation upon this subject among a certain class of would-be teachers, who are not willing to let Jesus speak and decide the question as to the author of diseases. The New Testament speaks with decided clearness in this re- spect. The case of the affliction of Job agrees thereto. There are a few references, which, if placed in a disconnected position, might lead the mind to the conclusion that God is the author of disease. But such deduction cannot harmonize with the gospel. God permits Satan to bind with disease, which may perhaps serve as a chastisement in certain instances ; but if every one who may be under such chastising, would seek diligently to know the cause of and remedy for it, then in faith meet the conditions for healing, the disease would vanish. God is glorified in sickness only in the same respect that He is glorified in any of the works of the Devil — by destroying it. Jesus has come to work the works of God (Jno. 9 :4), and to destroy the works of the Devil. 1 Jno. 3 :8 ; Acts 10 :38. His work in His earthly ministry Was going " about doing good and healing all that were oppressed of the Devil." He did not undo the works of God, but did undo the works of the Devil, by working the works of God. He said, " I must work the works of Him that sent me." Let us not be so in- consistent as to believe that disease is the work of God. Jesus did not come to work against God, but He came the Prince of Life to overthrow the law of sin, disease and death, and establish the law of the Spirit of Life. Jesus called her to Him. We see here the need of personal contact with Him. We must come within touch of Jesus if we would have His healing life flow into our life. The woman ex- pressed her faith in coming to Him. He said unto her, " Woman, WAS DISEASED 8 AND 30 YEARS. MIND AN D FAITH CURE. 171 thou art loosed from thine infirmity." What gracious words! They were personally addressed to one who had been held with an iron grasp for eighteen long years. What dark and hopeless sea-' sons must have hung over her, as from year to year she groaned under this oppression. In the language of one who has recently been healed, " I was trying to reconcile myself to a life ot weak- ness and suffering." So this woman perhaps had tried to become reconciled to her condition, and, like many to-day, thought it was God's will for her to continue in this awful bondage for life. Thank God, the day of her deliverance came. The Deliverer stands by her side and speaks away the spirit of infirmity and all its work. He smites the fetters and says to the captive, " Go free." The call comes from Him; she gbeys and comes. He speaks the word of healing ; she believes. He lays His hands upon her ; she receives, and immediately she was made straight. This miracle of healing was wrought in the synagogue on the Sabbath. The ruler was at once filled with indignation, and began to plead the sanctity of the fourth commandment in the law, but Jesus proved to him that He had acted in perfect harmony with the spirit of the law, and only did an act of mercy and love to this woman. " She glorified God." This was a natural result of the work of God in her body. With the healing touch comes the glory of God in the entire being, and the blessed result always brings glory to God. Would we see God greatly glorified in these days of unbelief? Let us get in touch with Jesus for our healing. This not only causes the healed to glorify God, but as in this instance the people rejoice; not those who are filled with prejudice, but all those whose hearts are open to God. JESUS ON THE SABBATH DAY CURETH HIM THAT WAS DISEASED EIGHT AND THIRTY YEARS. "After this there was a feast of the Jews ; and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. Now there is at Jerusalem by the sheep market a pool, which is called in the Hebrew tongue Bethesda, having five porches. In these lay a great multitude of impotent folk, of blind, halt, withered, waiting for the moving of the water. For an angel went down at a certain season into the pool, and troubled 172 DIVINE HEALING. the water: whosoever then first after the troubHng of the water stepped in was made whole of whatsoever disease he had. And a certain man was there, which had an infirmity thirty and eight years. When Jesus saw him He, and knew that he had been now a long time in that case, he saith unto him. Wilt thou be made whole? The impotent man answered him. Sir, I have no man, when the water is troubled, to put me into the pool: but while I am coming, another steppeth down before me. Jesus saith unto him, Rise, take up thy bed and walk. And immediately the man was made whole, and took up his bed, and walked ; and on the same day was the Sabbath." — John 5 :l-9. The scene of this miracle was Bethesda, a pool, according to the evangelist, adjoining the sheep market, or near to the sheep gate; the place through which, I suppose the cattle consumed by the inhabitants of Jerusalem would be driven ; and the pool whefe, perhaps, the sheep intended for sale to the offerers in the temple were washed. So common was sickness in the days of the Savior, that the infirmities of men intruded upon the place which had been allotted to cattle, and the place where sheep had been washed, became the spot where sick folk congregated in great multitudes, longing for a cure. We do not hear that any one remonstrated at the intrusion, or that public opinion was shocked. The needs of man must override all considerations of taste. The hospital must have the preference over the sheep market. This day there is by the sheep market a pool, and impotent folk are here in exceeding great multitudes. We might never have heard of Bethesda, if an august visitor had not condescended to honor it with His presence — Jesus, the Son of God, walked in the five porches by the pool. It was the place where we might expect to meet Him, for where should the Physician be found if not in the place where the sick are gathered ? Here was work for Jesus' healing hand and restoring word. It was but natural that the Son of Man, who ''came to seek and to save that which was lost, should make His way to the lazar-house by the side of the pool. That gracious visit is Bethesda's glory. This has lifted up the name of this pool out of the common rank of the springs and waters of the earth. 1. In order to observe the patient, I shall ask you to go with me to the pool with the five porches, around which the sick are lying. Walk tenderly amongst the groups of lame and blind ! Nay, do not close your eyes. It will do you good to see the sor- MIND AND FAITH CURE. 173 rowful sight to mark what sin has done, and to what sorrows our father Adam has made us heirs. Why are they all here ? They are here because sometimes the waters bubble up with a healing virtue. Whether visibly stirred by an angel or not it is not necessary for us here to discuss ; but it was generally believed that an angel descended and touched the water — this rumor attracted the sick from all quarters. As soon as the stir was seen in the waters, the whole mass probably leaped into the pool — those who could not leap themselveswere pushed in by their attendants. Alas ! how small the result ! Many were dis- appointed ; only one was rewarded for the leap ; whosoever first stepped in was healed, but only the first. For the poor and meager chance of winning this cure the sick folk lingered in Bethesda's arches year after year. The impotent man in the narrative had most likely spent the better part of h'is thirty-eight years in wait- ing at this famous pool, buoyed up by the slender hope that he might one day be the first of the throng. On the Sabbath men- tioned, the angel had not come to him, but something better had come, for Jesus Christ, the angel's Master, was there. Note concerning this man, that he zvas fully azvare of his sickness. He did not dispute the failure of his health : he was an impotent man ; he felt it and he owned it. The impotent man thus desiring to be healed, zvaited by the pool, expecting some sign and wonder. He hoped that an angel would suddenly burst open the golden gates and touch the waters which were now calm and stagnant, and that then he might be healed. This, too, my dear readers, is the thought of many of those who feel their sins and who desire salvation. They accept that unscriptural and dangerous advice given to them by a certain class of ministers ; they wait at the pool of Bethesda ; they per- severe in the formal use of means and ordinances, and continue in unbelief, expecting some great thing. They abide in a con- tinued refusal to obey the gospel, and yet expect that on a sudden they will experience some strange emotions, singular feelings, or remarkable impressions ; they hope to see a vision, or hear a super- natural voice, or be alarmed with deliriums of horror. Now, dear readers, we shall not deny that a few persons have been saved by very singular interpositions of God's hand, in a manner alto- gether out of the ordinary modes of divine procedure. When the Lord bids you believe in Jesus, what right have you to de- mand signs and wonders instead? Jesus Himself is the greatest 174 DI VINE H EALING . of all wonders. My dear readers, for you to wait for remarkable experiences is as futile as was the waiting of the multitude who lingered at Bethesda waiting for the long-expected angel, when He who could heal them stood already in their midst, neglected and despised by them. What a piteous spectacle, to see them gazing into the clouds when the Physician who could heal them was present, and they offered Him no petitions, and sought no mercy at His hands. In dealing with the method of waiting to see or feel some great thing, we remark, that it is not the tvay which' God has hidden his servants preach. I challenge the whole world to find any gospel of God in which an unconverted man is told to abide in unbelief. Where is the sinner told to wait upon God in the use of ordinances, that so he may be saved? The gospel of our salvation is this — "Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved." When our Lord gave this commission to his disciples, he said, "Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature." Anl what was that ggspel? Tell them to wait in their unbelief in the use of means and ordinances till they see some great thing? Tell them to be diligent in prayer, and read the word of God, until they feel better? Not an atom of it. Thus saith the Lord, "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved ; but he that be- lieveth not shall be damned." This was the gospel, and the only gospel which Jesus Christ ever bade His ministers preach, and they who say, wait for feelings ! wait for impressions ! wait for wonders ! they preach another gospel which is not another ; but there be some that trouble you. The lifting up of Christ on the cross is the saving work of the gospel ministry, and in the cross of Jesus lies the hope of men. "Look unto me and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth," is God's gospel. "Wait at the pool" is man's gospel, and has destroyed its thousands. "Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts ; and let him return unto the Lord, and He will hav^ mercy upon him." He has not said, "Wait," but He has said, "Seek ye the Lord while He may be found, call ye upon Llim while He is near." "To-day if ye will hear His voice, harden not your hearts." I find Jesus saying nothing to sinners about waiting, but very much about coming. "Come unto Me,all ye that labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest." "If any man thirst, let him come unto me and drink." "The Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say. Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take of the water of life freely." MIND AND FAITH CURE. 175 Why is this way so very popular ? It is because it administers laudamtm to the conscience. When the minister preaches with power, and the hearer's heart is touched, the Devil says, "W^ait for a more convenient season." Thus the arch enemy pours this deadly drug into the soul, and the sinner instead of trusting in Jesus on the spot, or on bended knee with tearful eye, crying for mercy, flatters himself because he is "in the use of the means" : which use of means is well enough as far as it goes, but which is bad as bad can be when it comes into the place of Christ cruci- fied. A child ought to hear its parent's command, but what if the child puts hearing into the place of obeying? God forbid that I should glory in your listening to the gospel, if you are hearers only — my glory is in the cross ; and unless you look to the cross, it were better for you that you had never been born. There lies our poor friend, still waiting at the water's edge. I do not blame him for waiting, for Jesus had not been there be- fore, and it was right for him to seize even the most slender chance of a cure ; but it was sad that Jesus should have been so slighted : there He went, threading His way among the blind, and the halt, and the lame, and looking benignly upon them all, but none looking up to him. Now in other places, as soon as Jesus made His ap- pearance, they brought the sick in their beds and laid them at His feet, and as He went along He healed them all, scattering mercies with both His hands. A blindness had come over these people at the pool ; there they were, and there was Christ, who could heal them, but not a single one of them sought him. Their eyes were fixed on the water, expecting it to be troubled ; they were so taken up with their own chosen way that the true way was neglected. No mercies were distributed, for none were sought. THE MAN AT BETHESDA. Jesus was always ready to take notice of every sufferer. He came to seek and save that which was lost, and his deep interest in the sick, equally testifies that our infirmities and sicknesses were an important part of his redemption interests. He never failed to manifest his care for the physical as well as the spiritual man. To Him the one is equally as precious as the other. Both have cost His precious life, and without the re- demption of both, our salvation is incomplete. How much of the 176 DIVINE HEALING. redemption of the body there is contained in our present salvation can easily be determined by the work of healing in the ministry of Jesus and the apostles. Whatever is yet to be accomplished when Jesus comes, when this mortal shall put on immortality, is yet in the future. Then the power of physical death shall be ut- terly destroyed, but until then, and on this side of the Lord's coming, it is our blessed privilege to possess all that Jesus brought when He established the law of the spirit of life. In this divine law we can unhesitatingly affirm with scriptural authority that God placed as high an estimate upon the physical as upon the spir- itual part of our being. Even though the one returns to dust, that very dust of His sleeping saints is precious in His sight, and shall be brought forth incorruptible. The word of God abounds with light upon this subject, and seeing that not an atom of our being is left out of the redemption plan, let us seek more fully to glorify God in our spirit and body which are God's by coming into full possession of our present in- heritance. WILT THOU BE MADE WHOLE.? Here is one of the most hopeless and helpless cases mentioned in the ministry of Christ. This man was hopeless. 1. He was an incurable. 2. He had no one to carry him into the pool. 3. He was depending upon a very questionable, if not an entirely super- stitious means of cure. 4. He had his prospect of healing and all his faith entirely in the future. So according to all earthly prospects this was one of the most discouraging and helpless cases. This perhaps is why Jesus came to him unsolicited. His sym- pathy was drawn out to him in an unusual manner. What an example of tender care for the welfare of the body — this poor mortal with an infirmity of thirty-eight years' standing, being ad- dressed by the Son of God in this manner ! It teaches us that the more helpless we are the more deeply concerned is He for us. There is no other case where Jesus came and almost asked for the privilege to heal. Surely He is touched with the feeling of our infirmities, and no one to-day has reason to get discouraged ; for there is no one any more hopeless than this man was at Bethesda. When Jesus asked him this question he was yet wholly absorbed in the thought of help through the pool, but Jesus quickly turned his mind from all this into auite another direction. How MIND AND FAITH CURE. 177 practical this is in the case of every one to-day who is leaning upon the help of man or human remedies ! The first thing necessary is to get done with everything else which must, and will sooner or later, prove as unsatisfactory as did Bethesda to this poor sufferer. God wants an opportunity to do His own work in His own way in everyone of his suffering children, but we must let Him have a chance. We must let go of our foolish beliefs and superstitions, doubts and fears, and launch out upon the everlasting promises which alone can bring us the desires of our hearts. All the stagnant pools of medical or scientific device will never satisfy. Millions of sufferers have perished while lying helpless upon these porches waiting for some imaginary angel to touch and impart healing virtue to these waters. O afflicted child of God, turn away from all these things, and lift yp thine eyes unto the hills from whence cometh thy help. Behold the throne of grace out of which proceedeth a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, pure as heaven, abundant and perennial with healing virtue and blessing for our spiritual and physical being. No matter how helpless or hopeless you are, there is help in Him who is mighty to deliver. He comes to you by His Holy Spirit just now tenderly asking you, *'Wilt thou be made whole? Wilt thou be made whole? Oh, come, weary sufferer. Oh, come, sin-sick soul. See the life stream is flowing, see the cleansing waves roll ; Step into the current and thou slialt be whole." Others may step down before you and receive life, but the stream continues to flow. All who have gone in before you cannot exhaust its power. It flows on and on as it has ever done through the centuries, " bearing balm for the wounded, healing all who apply." Step in, dear child of God, it is only a step of faith ; you can take it if you but make the effort. If you do not succeed in the first effort, keep looking to God for strength to believe, feed upon his promises until the strength comes. You shall not be disappointed. Step in and be made whole. Jesus teaches us in this case of the impotent man that He alone has the power to heal, saying unto him, " Rise, take up thy bed and walk ;" and also teaches us that notwithstanding the law of Moses, He had the right to command a man to carrv his bed on 178 DIVINE HEALING. the Sabbath. The power of His word was at once felt in this man's body, and immediately he was made whole, and obeyed the command of Jesus. Another important lesson in this for us, is that Jesus instructed him how to keep this divine health. " Sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee." It is evident that his infirmities had come upon him through his own sins. Now, if he would retain this blessing of health, he must live in strict obedience to God. This is of great importance to all. Many are not healed, through lack of obedience, and many who once received the healing have lost it through the same cause, and thereby expose themselves to greater sorrows. Let every seeker cease from sin, and every one who has found Jesus as Savior and Healer, hear His gracious words of warning : "Sin no more." JESUS HEALING THE LAME AND THE BLIND ON THE MOUNTAIN. (MATTHEW 15:30-31.) "And great multitudes came unto Him, having with them those that were lame, blind, dumb, maimed, and many others, and cast them down at Jesus' feet ; and he healed them : "Insomuch that the multitude wondered, when they saw the dumb to speak, the maimed to be whole, the lame to walk, and the blind to see, and they glorified the God of Israel." The child is cheered as he sings, "This my father knows" ; and shall not we be comforted as we discern that our dear Friend and tender-souled husband knows all about us? 1. He is the Physician, and if He knows all, there is no need that the patient should know. Hush, thou silly, fluttering heart, prying, peeping and suspecting! What thou knowest not now thou shalt know hereafter; and meanwhile, Jesus, the beloved Physician, knows thy soul in adversities. Why need the patient analyze all the medicine, or estimate all the symptoms? This is the physician's work, not mine ; it is my business to trust, and his to prescribe. If he shall write his prescription in uncouth characters which I cannot read, I will not be uneasy on that account, but rely upon his unfailing skill to make all plain in the result, however mysterious in the working. MIND AND FAITH CURE. 179 2. He is the Master, and His knowledge is to serve us instead of our own ; we are to obey, not to judge : "The servant knoweth not what his lord doeth." Shall the architect explain his plans to every hodman on the works? If he knows his own intent, is it not enough ? The vessel on the wheel cannot guess to what pat- tern it shall be conformed, but if the potter understands his art, what matters the ignorance of the clay? My Lord must not be cross-questioned any more by one so ignorant as I am. 3. He is the Head. All understanding centers there. What judgment has the arm? What comprehension has the foot? All the power to know lies in the head. Why should the member have a brain of its own when the head fulfils for it every intel- lectual office? Here, then, must the believer rest his comfort in sickness, not that he himself can see the end, but that Jesus knows all. Sweet Lord, be Thou forever eye and soul, and head for us, and let us be content to know only what Thou choosest to reveal. TOUCHED ONLY THE HEM OF HIS GARMENT AND WERE HEALED. ''And when they were gone over, they came into the land of Gennesaret. ''And when the men of that place had knowledge of Him, they sent out into all that country round about, and brought unto Him all that were diseased ; "And besought Him that they might only touch the hem of His garment ; and as many as touched were made perfectly whole." Few words, but yet an exquisite miniature of the Lord Jesus Christ. There are not many touches, but they are the strokes of a master's pencil. Of the Savior, and only of the Savior, is it true in the fullest, broadest and most unqualified sense. "He went about doing good." From this description it is evident that He did good personally. The evangelists constantly tell us that He touched the leper with His own finger, that He anointed the eyes of the blind, and that in cases where He was asked to speak the word only at a distance. He did not usually comply, but went Himself to the sick bed, and there personally wrought the cure. A lesson to us, if we would do good, to do it ourselves. Give alms with your own hand ; a kind look or word will enhance the value 180 BIT IN E HEALING. of the gift. Speak to a friend about his soul ; your loving appeal will have more influence than a whole library of tracts. Our Lord's mode of doing good sets forth His incessant activity! He did not only the good which came close to hand, but He "went about" on His errands of mercy. Throughout the whole land oi Judea there was scarcely a village or a hamlet which was not gladdened by the sight of Him. How this reproves the creeping, loitering manner in which many professors serve the Lord ! Let us gird up the loins of our mind, and be not weary in well doing. Does not the text imply that Jesus Christ went out of His way to do good? ''He went abont doing good." He was never deterred by danger or difficulty. He sought out the objects of His gracious intentions. So must we. If old plans will not answer, we must try new ones, for fresh experiments sometimes achieve more than regular methods. Christ's perseverence, and the unity of His pur- pose, are also hinted at, and the practical application of the sub- ject may be summed up in the words, "He hath left us an example that we should follow in His steps." HE APPEARED FIRST TO MARY MAGDALENE, OUT OF WHOM HE HAD CAST SEVEN DEVILS. (mark 16:9.) Mary of Magdala was the victim of a fearful evil. She was possessed by not one devil only, but seven. These dreadful in- mates caused much pain and pollution to the poor frame in which they had found a lodging. Hers was a hopeless, horrible case. She could not help herself, neither could any human succor avail. But Jesus passed that way, and unsought, and probably even re- sisted by the poor demoniac. He uttered the word of power, and Mary of Magdala became a trophy of the healing pozver of Jesus. All the seven demons left her, left her never to return, forcibly ejected by the Lord of all. What a blessed deliverance ! What a happy change ! From delirium to delight, from despair to peace, from hell to heaven ! Straightway she became a constant follozver of Jesus, catching His every word, following His devious steps, sharing His toilsome life : and withal she became Jlis generous helper, first among that band of healed and grateful women who ministered unto Him of their substance. When Jesus was lifted MIND AND FAITH CURE. 181 Up in crucifixion, Mary remained the sharer of His shame : v^-e tind her first beholding from afar, and then drawing near to the foot of the cross. She could not die on the cross with Jesus, but she stood as near it as she could, and when His blessed body was taken down, she watched to see how and where it was laid. She was the faithful and zvatchful believer, last at the sepulchre where Jesus slept, first at the grave whence He arose. Her holy fidelity made her a favored beholder of her beloved Rabboni, who deigned to call her by name, and to make her His messenger of good news to the trembling disciples and Peter. Thus grace found her a maniac and made her a minister, cast out devils and gave her to behold angels, delivered her from Satan and united her forever to the Lord Jesus. May I also be such a miracle of grace ! THE HEALING OF THE LEPER. (mark 1:40-45.) **And there came a leper to Him, beseeching Him, and kneel- ing down to him, and saying unto him, If thou wilt, thou canst make me clean. "And Jesus, moved with compassion, put forth His hand, and touched him, and saith unto him, I will ; be thou clean. ''And as soon as He had spoken, immediately the leprosy departed from him, and he was cleansed." Primeval darkness heard the Almighty fiat, '' Light be," and straightway light was ; and the word of the Lord Jesus is equal in majesty to that ancient word of power. Redemption, like Cre- ation, has its word of might. Jesus speaks and it is done. Leprosy yielded to no human remedies, but it fled at once at the Lord's " I will." The disease exhibited no hopeful signs or tokens of re- covery; nature contributed nothing to its own healing; but the unaided word effected the entire work on the spot and forever. The sinner is in a plight more miserable than the leper ; let him imitate his example, and go to Jesus, '' beseeching Him, and kneel- ing down to Him." Let him exercise what little faith he has, even though it should go no further than, " Lord, if Thou wilt. Thou canst make me clean" ; and there need be no doubt as to the result of the application. Jesus heals all who come, and casts out none. It is worthy of devout notice that Jesus touched the leper. 182 DIVINE HEALING. This unclean person had broken through the regulations of the ceremonial law, and pressed into the house ; but Jesus, so far from chiding him, broke through the law Himself in order to meet him. He made an interchange with the leper, for while He cleansed him, He contracted by that touch a Levitical defilement. Even so Jesus Christ was made sin for us, although in Himself He knew no sin, that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him. O that poor sinners would go to Jesus, believing in the power of His blessed substitutionary work, and they would soon learn the power of His gracious touch. That hand which multiplied the loaves, which saved sinking Peter, which upholds afflicted saints, which crowns believers, that same hand will touch every seeking sinner, and in a moment make him clean. The love of Jesus is the source of salvation. He loves, He looks, He touches us, we live. THE HEALING POWER OF CHRIST. Though eighteen hundred years are past Since Christ did in the flesh appear. His tender mercies ever last, And still His healing power is here. Would He the body health restore. And not regard the sin-sick soul? The sin-sick soul He loves much more, And surely He will make it whole. All my disease, my every sin. To Thee, O Jesus, I confess. In pardon. Lord, my cure begin, And perfect it in holiness. That token of Thine utmost good. Now, Savior, now, on me bestow ; And purge my conscience with Thy blood. And wash my nature white as snow. ALL THE CITY WAS GATHERED TOGETHER. Miyn A^ D FAITH CURE. 185 ALL THE CITY WAS GATHERED TOGETHER. (mark 1:32-34.) ''And at even, when the sun did set, they brought unto Him all that were diseased, and them that were possessed with devils. "And all the city was gathered together at the door. "And He healed many that were sick of divers diseases, and cast out many devils ; and suffered not the devils to speak, because they knew Him." What a mass of hideous sickness must have thrust itself under the eye of Jesus ! Yet we read not that He was disgusted, but patiently waited on every case. What a singular variety of evils must have met at His feet ! What sickening ulcers and putrefying sores ! Yet He was ready for every new shape of the monster evil, and was victor over it in every form. Let the arrow fly from what quarter it might. He quenched its fiery power. The heat of fever, or the cold of dropsy ; the lethargy of palsy, or the rage of madness; the filth of leprosy, or the darkness of ophthalmia, all knew the power of His word, and fled at His command. JESUS TEACHING IN THE SYNAGOGUES. (matt. 4:31-25.) "And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their syna- gogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people. "And His fame went throughout all Syria : and they brought unto Him all sick people that were taken with divers diseases and torments, and those which were possessed with devils, and those which were lunatic, and those that had the palsy : and He healed them." In every corner of the field. He was triumphant over evil, and received the homage of delivered captives. He came, He saw, He conquered everywhere. It is even so this morning. Whatever my own case may be, the beloved Physician can heal me ; and whatever may be the state of others whom I may remember at 186 DIVINE HEALING. this moment in prayer, I may hope in Jesus that He will be able to heal them of their sins. My child, my friend, my dearest one, I can have hope for each, for all, when I remember the healing power of my Lord ; and on my own account, however severe my struggle with sins and infirmities, I may yet be of good cheer. He who on earth walked the hospitals still dispenses His grace, and works wonders among the sons of man : let me go to Him at once in right earnest. Let me praise Him, this morning, as I remember hozv He wrought His spiritual cures, which bring Him most renown. It was by taking upon Himself our sicknesses. **By His stripes we are healed." The Church on earth is full of souls healed by our beloved Physician; and the inhabitants of heaven itself confess that '*He healed them all." Come, then, and publish abroad the virtue of His grace, and let it be "to the Lord for a name, for an everlasting sign which shall not be cut off." HUMBLE THYSELF. God will deny no blessing to a thoroughly humbled spirit. "Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven," with all its riches and treasures. The whole exchequer of God shall be made over by deed of gift to the soul which is humble enough to be able to receive it without growing proud be- cause of it. God blesses us all up to the full measure and extremity of what it is safe for Him to do. If you do not get a blessing, it is because it is not safe for you to have one. If out- heavenly Father were to let your unhumbled spirit win a victory in His holy war, you would pilfer the crown for yourself, and meeting with a fresh enemy you would fall a victim ; so that you are kept low for your own safety. When a man is sincerely humble, and never ventures to touch so much as a grain of the praise, there is scarcely any limit to what God will do for him. Humility makes us ready to be blessed by the God of all grace, and fits us to deal efficiently with our fellow-men. True humility is a flower which will adorn any garden. This is a sauce with which you may season every dish of life, and you will find an im- provement in every case. Whether it be prayer or praise, whether it be work or suffering, the genuine salt of humility cannot be used in excess. JESUS HEALETH GREAT MULTITUDES. V fB^A«T TH£ Cm of IND AND FAITH CURE. 189 JESUS HEALETH GREAT MULTITUDES OF DISEASED AND SICK PEOPLE. (matt. 4:23-25.) ''And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their syna- gogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people. ''And His fame went throughout all Syria : and they brought unto Him all sick people that were taken with divers diseases and torments, and those which were possessed with devils, and those which were lunatic, and those that had the palsy; and He healed them. "And there followed Him great multitudes of people from Galilee, and from Decapolis, and from Jerusalem, and from Judea, and from beyond Jordan." THE HEALING OF THE LAME IN THE TEMPLE. (matt. 21:14.) "And the blind and the lame came to Him in the temple ; and He healed them." The Lord's people are dear for another's sake. Such is the love which the Father bears to His Only Begotten, that for His sake He raises His lowly brethren from poverty and banishment to courtly companionship, noble rank and royal provision. Their deformity shall not rob them of their privileges. Lameness is no bar to sonship ; the cripple is as much the heir as if he could run like Asahel. Our right does not limp, though our might may. A king's table is a noble hiding-place for lame legs, and at the gospel feast we learn to glory in infirmities, because the power of Christ resteth upon us. Yet grievous disability may mar the per- sons of the best-loved saints. Here is one feasted by David, and yet so lame in both his feet that he could not go up with the king when he fled from the city, and was therefore maligned and in- jured by his servant Ziba. Saints whose faith is weak, and whose knowledge is slender, are great losers ; they are exposed 190 DIYINE HEALING. to many enemies, and cannot follow the King whithersoever He goeth. This disease frequently arises from falls. Bad nursing in their spiritual infancy often causes converts to fall into a des- pondency from which they never recover, and sin in other cases brings broken bones. Lord, help the lame to leap like a hart, and satisfy all Thy people with the bread of Thy table ! O God, to Whom, in flesh reveal'd, The helpless all for succor came : The sick to be relieved and heal'd. And found salvation in Thy name : — Thou seest me helpless and distress'd. Feeble, and faint, and blind, and poor; Weary, I come to Thee for rest; And, sick of sin, implore a cure. My sin's incurable disease, Thou, Jesus, Thou alone canst heal ; Inspire me with Thy power and peace, And pardon on my conscience seal. MIND AND FAITH CURE. 191 PETER HEALETH ENEAS OF THE PALSY. (acts 9:32-34.) ''And it came to pass, as Peter passed throughout all quarters, he came down also to the saints which dwelt at Lydda. "And there he found a certain man named Eneas, which had kept his bed eight years, and was sick of the palsy. "And Peter said unto him, Eneas, Jesus Christ maketh thee whole : arise, and make thy bed. And he arose immediately." . In the first place, then, it was very clear that the man ivas truly sick. Had he not been really sick, the incident before us would have been all a piece of imposture — a feint and a pretense from beginning to end : but he was hopelessly infirm. He had been anxiously watched by his friends for eight years, and was so completely palsied that during all those years he had not left his bed, which had grown hard as a stone beneath him. Now, as there is no room for a great cure unless there is a great sick- ness, so there is no room for God's great grace unless there L^ great sin. Jesus Christ did not come into the world to save sham sinners, but real sinners; neither did he descend from heaven to seek those who are not diseased with sin, for the whole have no need for a physician, but He has come to seek those who are deeply diseased, and to give them real healing. This man's sickness was no imaginary ill, for he could not move ; his hands and feet were quite paralyzed. If in any limb there was a measure of motion, it was only a tremulous quiver, which rather indicated growing weakness than remaining force. He was bereaved of all strength. Are you such by nature, my friend, in a spiritual sense ? Certainly you are so ; but have you found it out ? Has the Spirit of God made you feel that you can do nothing aright apart from Him, and that you are altogether ruined and palsied unless Jesus Christ can save you ? If so, do not despair because you feel how terribly your soul is smitten ; but, on the contrary, say to your- self, "Here is room for mercy in me. If ever a soul wanted healing, I do. Here is space for divine power to operate in me, for if ever a soul was weak and palsied, I am just that soul." Be thou cheered with the hope that God will make of thine infirmity a platform upon which He will display His power. This man had been paralyzed eight years. The length of it< endurance is a terrible element in a disease. Perhaps yours is 192 DIVIN E H EALIN a . no eight years' malady, but twenty-eight, or thirty-eight, or forty- eight, or seventy-eight, perhaps, eighty-eight years you have been in bondage under it. Well, blessed be God, the number of years in which we have lived in sin cannot prevent the mercy of God in Christ Jesus from making us whole. You have a very long bill to discharge, while another friend has but a short one, and owes comparatively little ; but it is just as easy for the creditor to write ''paid" at the bottom of the large bill as the smaller one. And now that our Lord Jesus Christ has made full atonement it is as easy for God to pardon the iniquities of eighty years a« the sins of the child of eight. Be not despairing, then. Jesus Christ can make such as thou art whole, even though thy heart and thine understanding have been long paralyzed with sin. This man's disease was one which was then reckoned to be, and probably is now, entirely incurable. Who can restore a palsied man? Eneas could not restore himself, and no merely human physician had skill to do anything for him. Dear reader, has the Spirit of God made you feel that your soul's wound is incurable? Is your heart sick? Is your understanding darkened? Do you feel your whole nature to have become paralyzed with sin, and there is no physician? Ah, I know there is none among men, for there is no balm in Gilead, there is no physician there. There is no soul physician except in Calvary ; no balm but in the Savior's wounds. 'Tf with thy heart thou wilt believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and with thy mouth make confession of him, thou shalt be saved." There is naught to be done ; there is naught to be felt ; there is naught to be brought. No preparation is wanted. Come just as you are, and trust Christ to save you out and out this night, and you shall be saved. God's honor and Christ's word are pledged to it. This is the last thing. When Eneas was healed he acted in conformity therezvith. "Peter said unto him, Eneas, Jesus Christ maketh thee whole : arise, and make thy bed." He did so. He arose directly and made his bed. Now, if any of you say to-night, 'T have believed in Jesus," remember you are bound to prove it. How prove it? Why, if you have believed in Jesus, you are made whole, and you are to go home and show people how whole you are. This man was palsied, and had been lying there prostrate eight years, and could never make his bed, but he proved he was healed by making iiis bed for himself. Perhaps here is a man who when he has en- M IN D AND FAIT H CURE . 193 terecl his house has generally opened the door with an oath. If there is such a person here, and Christ saves you — he will wash your mouth out for you. You will have done with profane lan- guage forever. Your wife will be surprised when you go home to hear how differently you talk. Perhaps you have been used to mix with rough companions in your work, and you have talked as they have done ; if Jesus Christ has made you whole, there is an end to all filthy speaking. Now you will talk graciously, sweetly, cleanly, profitably. In years gone by you were angry and passionate; if Jesus Christ has made you whole, you will be as tender as a lamb. You will find the old lion lifting his head and giving an occasional roar and a shake of his mane, but then he will be claimed by the restraints of grace, while the meek and gentle lamb of the new nature will feed in pastures wide and green. Ah, if the Lord has saved you, the drunkard's ale- bench will have no more of you, for you will want better com- pany than the seats of scoflfers can aflford you. If the Lord saves you, you will want to do something for Him, to show your grate- ful love. I know this very night you will long to tell your chil- dren, and tell your friends, that Jesus Christ has made you whole. John Bunyan says that when he was made whole he wanted to tell the crows on the ploughed land about it. I do not wonder that he did. Tell anybody, tell everybody, "Jesus Christ has saved me." It is a sensation the like of which no man can imagine, if he has not felt it, to be made a new creature right away, in a moment. That surprises all who see it, and as people like to tell news — strange news — so does a new-born man long to go and tell others, *T have been born again ; I have found the Savior." Now, mark you will have to prove that this is so by an honest, upright, consistent, holy life, — not, however, by being merelv sternly honest. If Christ has saved you. He will save you from being selfish. You will love your fellow men ; you will desire lo do them good. You will endeavor to help the poor ; you will try to instruct the ignorant. He who truly becomes a Christian be- comes in that very same day a practical philanthropist. No man is a true Christian who is un-Christlike — who can live for himself alone, to hoard money to make himself great. The true Christian lives for others; in a word, he lives for Christ. If Christ has healed you, gentle compassion will saturate your soul from this time forth and forever. O Master, thou who didst heal men's bodies in the days of thy flesh, heal men's hearts to-night, we pray thee. 194 DIVINE HEALING. Still this word more. Somebody says, "Oh, I wish I had Christ !" Soul, why not have Him at once ? "Oh, but I am not fit." You never will be fit; you cannot be fit, except in the sense in which you are fit even now. What is fitness for washing ? Why, being dirty. What is fitness for alms? Why, being !n distress. What is fitness for a doctor? Why, being ill. This is all the fitness that a man wants for trusting in Christ to save him. Christ's mercy is to be had for nothing, bribe or purchase is out of the question. I have heard of a woman whose child was in a fever and needed grapes; and there was a prince who lived near, in whose hothouse there were some of the rarest grapes that had ever been grown. She scraped together the little money she could earn, and went to the gardener and offered to buy a bunch of the royal fruit. Of course he repulsed her, and said they were not to be sold. Did she imagine that the prince grew grapes to sell like a market gardener? And he sent her on her way, much grieved. She came again; she came several times, for a mother's importunity is great; but no offer of hers would be accepted. At last the princess heard of it and wished to see the woman; and when she came the princess said, "The prince does not sell the fruit of his garden :" but, snipping off a bunch of grapes and dropping them into a little bag, she said, "He is always ready to give it away to the poor." Now, here is the rich cluster of gospel salvation for the true vine. My Lord will not sell it, but He is always ready to give it away to all who humbly ask for it ; and if you want it come and take it, and take it now by believing in Jesus. HAVE FAITH. It is the will of God that each of His people reach a plane of faith where victory can be claimed in the face of the most severe trial. The faith that knows no give up, give down, give in, nor give out. DO NOT FAINT. The word faint in Luke 18 :1 is taken from the Greek ekkakeo and signifies to turn out badly, to cave in. Jesus teaches us the lesson here that to faint means to be defeated. We must pray, ana not faint. During the fainting spells, the Devil has his own way. MIND AND FAITH CURE . 195 A soldier in battle, just in the fiercest part of the engagement, when every step and action weighs heavily against the foe, knows that there is no time to go into a fainting spell. If he does, he is sure to be defeated if not killed outright. To faint under such circumstances means to lie limp at the feet of the enemy, to be put to death, or to be dragged into prison. Nothing is so fatal to the victory of a child of God as fainting. The hardest struggle always precedes victory. The most trying time to our faith is just before the victory comes. This is the very point where we are the most liable to faint. We must pray and not faint. AN INCREASE OF FAITH. will be preceded by a decrease of .unbelief. The filling of the Spirit, by an emptying of self. An ascent to the plane of aspos- tolic faith and power, by a descent into apostolic humility. THE STRONGEST ARGUMENT. All the arguments of men to prove God's word to be true may be defeated, but when the church puts the promises to the test and the answer comes by iire, the unbeliever will fall upon his face and confess that ''the Lord He is the God." BOUNDLESS LIFE. The gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Life for spirit, soul, and body, as illimitable as the pure air out upon the mountain. We can open our lungs and breathe to the full without the slightest fear that the air will be exhausted. The little fish in the depths of the great Pacific can drink and drink, and there is not the least possibility that it will ever exhaust the mighty deep. So the child of God can freely breathe in the bound- less grace and life of God. He can freely drink of the water of life, until he becomes filled with God. Whosoever will may do the same, and yet the supply remains undiminished. OBEDIENCE. In the health covenant with Israel we see the conditions for health were very simple. If thou wilt diligently harken. If thou 196 DIVINE HEALING. wilt do. If thou wilt give ear. If thou wiU keep. God could not be expected to heal if these conditions were not met. The new covenant has not repealed these conditions. Obedience Is the key to the blessings. TEN QUESTIONS. Why do we not have a single instance in the Word of God of some one of His people being engaged in Israel as a physician ? Why is it that we read nothing good of physicians anywhere in the history of God's people? Why do we not read of one case of healing by physicians—- just one, somewhere in the Word of God? Why does Job speak of '^physicians of no value"? Why do we have it so definitely stated in sacred history con- cerning King Asa, that he "sought not to the Lord, but to the physicians" ? Why did not God appoint and provide physicians among His people in the days of Israel, when He made the health covenant with them ? Why is the account so plainly given in the New Testament con- cerning the woman who "suffered many things of many physicians, and was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse"? Why did not Jesus select some of these physicians for His medical staff, when He "went about doing good and healing all that were oppressed of the Devil" ? Why did not the apostle James instruct the church, "Is any sick among you ? let him send for a physician" ? Why is it that during the first two and one-half centuries of the church there was no other than divine healing known in the church? The answer — "I am the Lord that healeth thee;" and, "Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses." — Matt. 8 :17. FAITH. Faith is believing God. Doubt is believing the Devil. "Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." "Without faith it is impossible to please God." But do not say you have no faith. If you know you are God's child, you know it MIND AND FAIT H CURE . , 197 is because you have obeyed Him and believed. You did not feel you were saved until you first obeyed and believed. We must receive the witness of the word, before we may expect to receive the witness of the Spirit. We must believe before we feel. Feel- ing is but the result of believing. It is the visible effect of the power of the invisible reality — faith. If we want God to put faith into us, we must put faith into His word. Some promises of men are too good to be true, but this is not the case with the promises of God. Jesus said to the centurion, "Go thy way, and as thou hast believed, so be it done unto thee." Could not we have believed, had we been there ? This man had an extraordinary faith for that day, but it was no more than every one might have had. It is no more than we may have. How much did he have? Here is the answer — "Speak the word only," and it shall be done. Have not we as much ? If we could see Jesus face to face today, could we not say, "Speak the word only, and my disease shall be healed" .^ Dear sufferer, there is a nearness to Jesus in the power of the Holy Spirit, where we can speak with Him face to face. There is a secret dwelling-place within the second veil, where only He is seen and heard. Here and here only can we hear Him say to us in the depth of our inmost soul, "As thou hast believed, so be it done unto thee." Seek this nearness in Him. Here His very presence dispels every power of disease, infirmity, and sorrow. CONVERSION AND HEALING. Conversion. "Strengthen ye the weak hands and confirm the feeble knees. Say to them that are of a fearful heart. Be strong, fear not : behold, your God will come with vengeance, even God with a recompense ; He will come and save you. Healing. "Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped. Then shall the lame man leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb sing." — Isa. 35 :3-6. Conversion. "But He was wounded for our transgressions. He was bruised for our iniquities : the chastisement of our peace was upon Him. Healing. "Surely, He hath borne our griefs and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem Him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. With His stripes we are healed." — Isa. 53 :4, 5. 198 . DIVINE HE ALINO. Conversion. **Who his own self bare our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteous- ness. Healing. "By whose stripes ye were healed." — 1 Pet. 2 :24. "And behold they brought a man sick of the palsy, lying on a bed. Conversion. "And Jesus, seeing their faith, said to the sick of the palsy. Son, be of good cheer: thy sins be forgiven thee. And, behold, certain of the scribes said within themselves. This man blasphemeth. And Jesus knowing their thoughts, said, Wherefore think ye evil in your hearts? For whether is easier to say. Thy sins be forgiven thee, or to say. Arise and walk? But that ye may know that the Son of Man hath power on earth to forgive sins (then saith He to the sick of the palsy). Healing. "Arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thine house. And he arose and departed to his house." — Matt. 9 :2-7. "For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes have they closed ; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them."— Matt. 13 :15. "And He sent them to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick. And they departed, and went through the towns, preach- ing the gospel, and healing everywhere." — Luke 9 :2-6. Conversion and healing are here presented to us upon an equal basis in the redemption plan, and we are enabled to see that God was not forgetful of the physical needs of the fallen race when He anointed Jesus of Nazareth to preach deliverance to the captives and to set at liberty them that are bruised. There are three im- portant scriptural truths made plain in these texts. 1. Healing is in the redemption plan. 2. It stands in this plan upon an equal basis with conversion. 3. God is as able and willing to heal as He is to save. Human logic argues to the contrary, but this does not change the word of God. As truly as the prophet saw, by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, that the life and ministry of Jesus and the apostles and the whole gospel dispensation, should be marked by the grace of God to save from sin, so he saw this same grace of healing. It is a most glorious and soul-cheering prophecy indeed. It inspires hope and comfort to every soul who is weary and heavv laden with sin. MIND AND FAITH CURE. 199 God has promised to come with a recompense. What is this recompense? It is salvation to every one who seeks God. *'He will come and save you." He will come with vengeance against your sins, but with a recompense of salvation to every seeking soul, even to him who has a fearful heart. ''Be strong, fear not,'' says the voice of inspiration. Every doubt and fear may be cast aside, and the guilty soul may come with confidence and assur- ance in the promises. God will save. But can we not hear that voice in the same breath proclaiming the glorious gospel of healing? And can we not see in the fulfillment of this prophecy, when the gospel day began to shine, that the blind eyes were opened, the deaf ears were unstopped, the lame leaped, and the tongues of the dumb were made to speak ? These prophecies are predictions of the glorious redemption of the gospel, and they are fulfilled to the very letter in this gospel day. ''Surely He hath borne our griefs and carried our sorrows,' which in its fulfillment is translated, "Himself took our infirm- ities and bare our sicknesses." This is so plain to every honest and willing mind, as to need no comment. He himself has brought this deliverance, which He has so dearly purchased by taking all our sins and sicknesses upon Himself; for by His vicarious suf- ferings on the cross He paid the redemption price, and was en- abled to offer to this sin and disease cursed world this perfect redemption liberty. This, He had the power to bestow upon all who believed on Him, even before the work of His atonement was consummated upon the cross. His whole life was the divine expression of redemption, but it all centered in the cross. In view of this fact He granted salvation and healing to all who came to Him, previous to the cross ; and through the apostles and all be- lievers since then, the same blessings have been realized — not to those who believe not, but to those who believe. The words and deeds of Christ are the divine interpretation of the redemption plan. No one, therefore, from this standpoint can fail to see that healing is a redemption blessing and an important part in the redemption plan. The life and ministry of Christ also prove beyond doubt that divine healing stands on an equal with conversion in this great plan. No case can be cited in the records of His life where He ever turned a suffering mortal away. The blessed "I will" was the universal response either in word or deed to every request. His interest in the body was everyv/here manifest with equal 200 DI VI N E HEALI xY G . tenderness with that in the soul. How could it be otherwise ? The body is a necessary part of our being-, and has most certainly partaken of the deadly effects of the fall — sickness and physical death — which must necessarily be removed through redemption. The question may be asked, How much of the effect of the fall is to be removed by redemption? The scriptural answer is: All of it. But how much of it is to be removed in this life ? The answer is given in the quoted text : "Himself took our infirmities and bare our sicknesses." This we believe is the scriptural limit to divine healing to be possessed in this life. The boundary to the gift of miracles and faith may reach much further into the illimitable, but the life and ministry of Christ in His dealings with sickness and disease is certainly a correct demonstration of this text quoted above. He manifested His power over death by raising a few from the dead, and completely conquered mortality for Himself by putting on immortality, but this is not to be obtained by His saints until the time comes, which is yet in the future, when the last enemy (death) shall be destroyed, and all, both the sleeping and living saints, shall put on immortality, at His second coming. 1 Cor. 15 :20-2(). Physical death is therefore a part of the effects of the fall that shall not be removed on this side of the resurrec- tion. But now as to sickness, we see that this characteristic of the fall comes within the redemption limit on this side of the resur- rection. Sickness is an abnormal condition of the body the same as sin is an abnormal condition of the soul. Both have entered through the fall, both can be removed through redemption in this life. This truth is most substantially sustained in the life and ministry of Christ and the apostles, and the testimony of increasing multitudes of saints in these last days. God is as able and willing to heal as He is to save. When the paralytic was lying at Jesus' feet and the comforting words of pardon were spoken to Him, Jesus asked of the people around him, " Whether is easier to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee, or to say, Arise and walk?" His power to do both was here plainly shown, and speaks out to all the world that His power and willing- ness as Savior and as Healer are equal, and all may come to Him and partake of these blessings. MIND AND FAITH CURE. 201 THE DIVINE LAW OF REDEMPTION. . It has been said that Jesus healed arbitrarily. This is a serious mistake. There was nothing- arbitrary about His work on earth. He came to redeem the fallen race from the power of oppression. This was according to divine law — "the law of the Spirit of life." He was the Life, the Truth, and the Way. All who found Him found satisfaction from every bondage. This was in fulfillment of prophecy. It was in the mind of God from the beginning, and every word and act of Jesus was according to this plan. "That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet saying, Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses." Jesus Himself bears testimony of this glorious fact of deliverance in Luke 4:21. Let no one therefore ever dispute what the mouth of the Lord himself hath spoken. We are too much inclined to doubt these blessed truths by look- ing around us to find some one who has seemingly failed to appropriate them. "Some have sought for healing and have no*, found it, therefore it is not for all." Now, such an argument might as consistently be brought against the doctrine of salvation, for many have sought for it and seemingly have not found it. Unless the conditions are fully met for any gospel blessing, we need not expect to receive it. Many fail to meet these conditions through lack of understanding or constant application until the proper understanding has been given, while others may be un- willing to pay the price of a perfect consecration, and for various other reasons many may come short of the promises. This by no means weakens the doctrine of healing. We must not get our eyes upon the discouraging objects about us, as Peter did upon the boisterous winds, and began to sink. It is only Christ who can de- liver us. His word is the only ground upon which we can stand. Upon this we may rest secure, and through it His blessings will flow into our souls and bodies. Every child of God should be diligent in seeking out and claiming his inheritance. Let us not be slack to go over and possess the land. There are great walls to be thrown down and fenced cities to be taken, and great giants to be destroyed, but our God will "thrust out" the enemy from before us and give us full possession of the land. The inhabitants are too strong for us. but not for our God. He is the Lord our Healer. Dear sufferer. 202 DIVINE HEALING. take courage. Be strong, fear not, strengthen thine heart. The land of salvation and healing is yours. Go in and possess it in Jesus' name. All your diseases will flee before you as you put Jesus up against them. Behold thy Healer. CASTING OUT DEVILS. This work of our Savior in His ministry on earth is scripturally classified with divine healing. It is spoken of as such in Luke 8 :2, 6 :18 ; and 8 :36. This subject has reference to actual devil- possession. This class of affliction was common in the days of Christ. Satan could not keep himself hid in those days. All his hidden works of darkness were exposed and made manifest. Devils were cast out wherever such cases were met. The thought has doubtless occurred to every Bible reader, as a wonder why there were so many cases of devil-possession in those days, and none in our modern times. Some think the Devil has not so much power now as he had then. Others foolishly think he has lost all his power, and others still more foolishly think there is no Devil at all. The stubborn fact is, he is the same Devil today as he ever has been, without the least change or improvement in his character. He has many times reversed his tactics, and changed his colors, but this has been only to more thoroughly con- ceal himself and his works, and deceive the world. He has new forms of affliction and diseases which he imposes upon humanity, but there is one unfailing remedy for them all — Jesus Christ of Nazareth. Satan was met and conquered on every point, on the plane of Christ's humanity, but he yet has power in the world over all who yield to him, and choose to remain in his service and under his dominion. Christ only can deliver from his grasp. He not only conquered Satan for himself, but for every one on earth who will come to Him. The apostle speaks with words of comfort in Col. 1 :13, of God, "Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of His dear Son." Satan has many evil spirits at his command to carry on his destructive work in the realm of humanity. Because he has in many respects transformed himself to be the better adapted to the times, does not change the fact that there are many cases of MIND AND FAITH CURE. 203 devil-possession in the world today, of the same character as those in Bible times. Many cases of insanity are of this class. Devil-possession is a term applied to cases where individuals are overpowered or controlled, soul and body, by evil spirits, mani- festing at times, if not continually, the very incarnation of Satan, which may frequently assume a religious and devotional aspect. It is hardly possible to determine the extent to which this form of devil-power may be manifested in different cases. There are varied cases mentioned in scripture which are suggestive of these manifestations. Since the beginning of the apostasy these mys- terious operations have not been so clearly discerned, until within the last few centuries. As the pure gospel has been preached and souls have reached a Bible experience in sanctification and healing through the power of the Holy Spirit, the works of the Devil in all his subtile forms are made manifest. There are many cases of devil-possession where the individual is utterly helpless, and unable to exercise faith for deliverance. In such instances the power of intercessory faith is necessary. Some remarkable cases of this class have come under our observ- ation. Through faith in the living Christ and the power of His word, there have been blessed deliverances wrought, which adds more and more to the unanswerable testimony that the plan of salvation Some remarkable cases of this class have come under our obser- vation. DIVINE HEALING IN THE LIFE AND MINISTRY OF CHRIST. "God, who at sundry times and in divers manners, spake in time past to the fathers by the prophets, hath in these last days spoken unto us by His Son." — Heb. 1 :1, 2. In the beginning, God gave man a law. That law was the divine will. It was very easy to understand. Obedience to it meant all the blessings of Eden, with a life of sweet communion and harmony with God. Disobedience meant banishment and death. Adam did not fall because he did not know the will and law of God, but because he disbelieved and disobeyed it. The fall came. Death followed. The law of sin and death was enacted by the Devil, and its power has ever since, to a greater or less extent, affected the human race. But as time passed and the sons 204 DIVINE HEALING. of Adam began to multiply, God did not leave them without an expression of His law and will. He spoke in divers manners through holy men, the prophets, who voiced forth His will. They were His mouthpiece, who shunned not to declare all the counsels of God in the face of sinful men. Their words could not be ignored without the sad results of divine wrath. That spoken word was inexorable. "Believe in the Lord your God, so shall ye be established," says the Word. "Believe His prophets, so shall ye prosper." But all that was spoken by the prophets, was the foreshadowing of a time to come. It was life for the time then present, but a more perfect law was to be given. Moses said : "A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me ; him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you, and it shall come to pass that every soul that shall not hear the prophet shall be destroyed from among the people. Yea, and all the prophets from Samuel, and those that follow after, as many as have spoken, have likewise foretold of these days." — Acts 3 :22-24. What days? Let us see. "The law and the prophets were until John : since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth into it." — Luke 16 :16. John was more than a prophet, and yet when interrogated by the priests and Levites he said he was not "that prophet." He was only preparing the way for the coming of Christ. When John's mission was fulfilled, Jesus Christ began to preach the gospel of the kingdom of God. He was "that prophet." He is the cornerstone in the foundation of the prophets and apostles. He is the voice of God which sounds back through all the prophets and forward through every tone of inspiration since the days of his earthly ministry. He is the voice of God to the world. Every word and deed of His life is a divine expression to suffer- ing humanity, never to be revoked in the gospel age. Oh, what words of comfort He speaks to every obedient heart, and what deeds of mercy He performs to every one who comes to Him ! See Him as He goes forth in His ministry of compassion and power. Compassion, in that He "went about doing good and heal- ing all that were oppressed of the Devil" ; power, in that He was "mighty in deed and word before God and all the people." He was the incarnate word of God. The many expressions of His will through the blessed Redeemer should most certainly en- courage every suffering mortal to come to God through Him and MIND AND FAITH CURE. 205 be healed of every infirmity of soul, spirit and body. He took them all upon Himself, and forever disposed of them by nailing them to the cross. Not a cry nor prayer was turned away. Multitudes came to Him for deliverance, and he healed them all. What more could He do than this to establish the nature of His mission on earth ? Each case of healing is the voice of God to us. It is His spoken word. As we read of these individual cases of His marvelous work, we find in each of them a practical lesson. Let us ever remember that what was expressed through Jesus in each of these instances was just the same as though He spoke directly to us today. No one can consistently and scripturally deny this. It is a shame that professing Christianity has ever admitted the falsehood that divine healing was only intended for primitive days. It is simply because of the low standard of spirituality held up by an hireling ministry, who are afraid to speak the truth of the gospel. Jesus is the same today, just as much our Healer as our Savior from sin. The same voice of God that spoke in the beginning of this gospel dispensation speaks to us now. Praise God ! The experiences of thousands of living witnesses establish this fact, and prove the power of this living word of God to all who believe. It is with heavenly delight that we open the precious Book and read the expressions of our heavenly Father to us through these words and deeds of His Son. Come, suffering brother and sister, let us sit at His feet and listen to those wonderful words of life. Let us not imagine a great chasm of nineteen centuries be- tween us. That is not true. He is with us today in mighty living power. By faith we can hear His voice in tender words of compassion. We see to our blessed satisfaction that He is able and willing to heal us. We see by the different recorded cases of His healing, how to come to Him. This opens the way, and we therefore come boldly to Him and receive His blessings upon us. HIS POWER TO HEAL. Let us notice the power of this compassionate Redeemer to heal. There was not one case of deformity nor disease that could baffle his skill. The record of individual cases brings before us this truth. The deaf and dumb, the deformed, the leprous, the palsied, those stricken with fevers, with dropsy, an issue of blood. 206 DIVINE HEALING. the blind, a withered hand — unnumbered and unmentioned, and all diseases were equally dispelled by the power of His word. Infirmities of twelve, eighteen, and thirty-eight years, were equally unable to exist in the power of his presence. Everywhere they vanished and fled like mists before the blazing sun of a summer morning, and indeed they were mists of the power of darkness, sin, and death, but the piercing beams of the Sun of righteousness broke this power, and imparted life and liberty to all who were bound. The power of sin and death held the world in its icy bondage. The chilling blasts of destruction had been blowing upon mankind for thousands of years. The streams of life had ceased their flowing and were frozen to the depths. Mountains of arctic snows had buried every hope of life, but the Sun of righteousness arose with healing in His wings. The chains of bondage are broken. The life streams are flowing, bringing blessings and comfort to the spiritual, moral, and physical nature of man, so that under these healing wings his entire being is filled with heavenly music and harmony of life. Praise God ! nothing has been able to stand before the Savior. He was sent to destroy the works of the Devil, and He accom- plished His end. Why should it not be so ? It is impossible for the eternal God to fail, or His word to be broken. Oh, let us never doubt His power. The whole universe bows in humble recog- nition to it. The devils believe and tremble, and why should foolish man for a moment let the deceptions of Satan enter his mind and heart? He who created the worlds and all that is in them, has also the power to speak away every disease. HIS WILL TO HEAL. Many a suflferer today is kept in bondage through a lack of faith in God's will to heal. A common expression is this : "I do not doubt His power, but I am not sure about His will to heal me, and I always want to pray, Thy will be done.' " Let us keep our eyes upon Him as we see Him going about in His ministry. We will not forget that He is the voice of God to us. There is the instance of the leper who came to Him, saying, "If thou wilt, thou canst make me clean." He was not sure as to the will of Jesus, but how quickly that was settled. "I will," said the Master, and immediately his leprosy was gone. How encouraging this is to us ! MIND AND FAITH CURE. 207 What He said to the leper He is saying to us. This is His will. His whole will of redemption is the very will of God to us. Every deed of His life is but that spoken will. He did it perfectly. He finished the work the Father gave Him to do. It is useless as well as dangerous to seek the will of God outside of what was thus spoken through Christ. He of Himself could do nothing. It was the Father who wrought the deeds of mercy through Him, all in accordance with His own plan. The blind men crying with loud voice, "Thou son of David, have mercy on us" ; the centurion asking for the healing of his palsied servant ; the nobleman pleading for his sick and fevered child ; the woman pleading for her helpless demoniac daughter ; the father for his son in similar affliction ; the woman weak and faint with an issue of blood ; the man at the pool of Bethesda ; the man born blind, and all the sick and infirm who were brought in great multitudes on beds and couches, who besought Him that they might but touch the hem of His garment — all received the manifestations of the will of God towards them and us. Even the vilest of repentant sinners were mercifully dealt with. To one who was guilty of death because of her criminal life, He said, "Go, and sin no more." Every cry of humanity from obedient hearts was quickly heard, and that hand of compassion and power was stretched forth in blessed deliverance, or the word only was spoken and the work was done. Had you and I been there, dear brother, our needs would have been met as much as all others. Truly they are just as fully met in that spoken word today for time has not changed it. Therefore, we must not doubt His will to heal us. How can we ? If we let His word decide it, there can be no room to doubt. Let us not permit human reasoning, nor any of the traditions of men to come between us and the definite expression of God's own word. Believe Him, dear sufferer, and receive the benefits of His boundless provisions for full salvation and health. To doubt His will in this matter is but to rob you of your inheritance in Jesus. Great grace is our portion, but it can only be obtained through faith. It is right to pray, "Thy will be done in earth as it is in heaven." God grant that this may be answered in every heart and life of His people. Surely then every disease must be healed ; for there is no such dreadful thing in heaven. There, nothing can enter but righteousness and purity. Sin and sickness, pain and sorrow cannot exist there. God reigns supreme. So it must be in 208 DIV I x\ t] H E A L 1 \ (J . US here on earth, if we want this prayer to be answered. There- fore let lis ever beHeve that it is God's will to forgive all our iniquities, and to heal all our diseases ; and by faith enjoy all the blessings of "Thy will be done." HOW TO COME TO HIM FOR HEALING. We not only have the instructions of His power and will expressed through the many instances of healing in His ministry, but we can see very clearly how to come to Him and be made whole. Believing all that He has said in His word and deed con- cerning His part, we can take the example of those who came to Him, and do likewise. How then must we come ? Answer : By faith. Out of nineteen of the most prominent individual cases of healing mentioned in the ministry of Christ, and the apostles, there are twelve of these where their faith is spoken of. The rest are mentioned sufficiently plain to show us that faith brought the healing in every case. In His own town where He had been brought up Jesus could heal but few, because of their unbelief. "Without faith it is impossible to please Him ; for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him.'' — Heb. 11 :(>. This can also be seen in the examples of the healing of the multitudes. They came to him from all quarters and besought Him that they might only touch the hem of Tlis garment, and as many as touched were made perfectly whole. Others came to Him having with them those that were lame, blind, dumb, maimed, and many others, and cast them down at Jesus' feet ; and He healed them. All these statements teach us that these people had great faith in Jesus, and they came to Him expecting to receive healing. They diligently sought for it, and God did not disappoint them. Obedience, earnestness, and confidence are the necessary fruits of faith. These are all very prominent in these different cases, No one came to Him to be healed without an obedient heart. In many of these instances this is very plain : "Go thy way, thy son liveth," said Jesus to the nobleman. "The man believed the word and went his way." "Stretch forth thy hand," was the command to the man whose hand hung palsied by his side. He obeyed. "Go wash in the pool." The obedient blind man came seeing. "Take up thy bed and walk." The paralytic went forth healed. These MIND AN D FAITH CURE. 209 and many more instances teach us how to obey the word of God, without which there can be no hope of heaUh. Then we see how earnestly these sufferers came to him. Bhnd Bartimaeus cried aloud for mercy. When some of the people charged him to hold his peace, "he cried the more a great deal." The Syrophenician woman was so earnest that she could not be stood back by anything that was said to her. Her importunity was rewarded. The woman who had an issue of blood showed her dead earnestness in press- ing through the throng of strong men, weak and fainting as she was, that she might but touch the border of Jesus' garment. Unless we are earnest enough to face every difficulty and never give up, the enemy will take advantage of us and in some way rob us of the blessings provided. See also with what confidence these afflicted ones come to the Master. The woman said, 'Tf I may but touch Him, I shall be whole." ''Speak the word only," said the centurion, ''and my servant shall be healed." What marvelous confidence! And so, dear reader, we have abundant evidence in the glorious work of Christ to encourage us to come to him with all our ills, and find that He is able, willing and ready to heal all who come to Him in faith. "All that Jesus began to do and teach," as he appeared on the plane of humanity, and continued "until the day in which He was taken up," gives the revelation of the will of God, that He met and conquered the enemy at every point, both in His life work and in His death. This was His redemption work. He came to work the works of God. If we but follow Him and behold the works that He did and the words that He spoke, we shall have no diffi- culty in seeing what were the works of God, and what were tho works of the Devil. It is just as true that Jesus came to put away sickness, as sin, because both are the works of the Devil. ''For this purpose, the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the Devil." — 1 Jno. 3 :8. Let us follow this dear Savior and Redeemer as He goes from city to city and meets the suffering ones as they come to him. Let us notice some of the in- dividual cases. We have made mention of some of them already, but now we want to consider them more carefully with respect to their application to us. 210 DIVINE HEALING. THE MAN OF GADARA. (LUKE 8:26-33.') ''And they arrived at the country of the Gadarenes, which is over against GaHlee. "And v^hen He went forth to land, there met him out of the city a certain man, which had devils a long time, and ware no clothes, neither abode in any house, but in the tombs. ''When he saw Jesus, he cried out, and fell down before Him, and with a loud voice said. What have I to do with Thee, Jesus tho2i Son of God most high? I beseech Thee torment me not. "(For He had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. For oftentimes it had caught him : and he was kept bound with chains, and in fetters; and he brake the bands, and was driven of the devil into the wilderness.) "And Jesus asked him, saying. What is thy name? And he said. Legion : because many devils were entered into him. "And they besought Him, that He would not command them to go out into the deep. "And there was there a herd of many swine feeding on the mountain : and they besought Him that He would suffer them to enter into them. And He suffered them. "Then went the devils out of the man, and entered into the swine : and the herd ran violently down a steep place into the lake and were choked." This afflicted man was possessed with many devils. He frequently manifested supernatural strength in breaking the fetters and chains with which he had been bound. Had this been in modern times, it would have been pronounced a case of violent insanity. He could not be kept clothed, nor in a house, and often was exceeding iierce, crying and cutting himself with stones. He was driven by the spirits into the desolate places in the mountains and among the tombs to dwell. As Jesus landed in that country this demoniac met Him. He seemed disposed to worship Jesus, but the devils had control of his mind and voice, and began at once to plead for mercy that Jesus would not torment them. They knew they were powerless in His presence. They had for a long time tormented this poor man in this unmerciful manner ; now they plead for mercy for themselves. MIND AND FAITH CUBE. 211 Luke 8:31 reads: " They besought Him (Jesus) that He would not command them to go out into the deep." This word deep is from the Greek abussos, and signifies very deep place. A number of translators have rendered it abyss. It is the same in the original text that is translated "bottomless pit" in Rev. 9 :1 ; 20 :3. Therefore it is no surprise that these demons should entreat Jesus that He would not send them into this place of banishment. Their time for this had not yet come. They knew very well that they could no longer torment this poor man ; for Jesus had come on His mission of mercy to deliver humanity from the power of devils, whether possession, oppression, or depression. By their request they were permitted to enter a large herd of swine near by, but this was no benefit to them ; for they no sooner had entered them than the swine ran violently down into the sea. But, thank God, this poor captive was set free; and when the people found him he was sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed and in his right mind. Now he desires to go with Jesus, who had done so much for him ; but Jesus said to him, "Go home to thy friends and tell them what great things the Lord hath done for thee." This lesson teaches us the utter helplessness of humanity to resist and overcome the power of the Devil, but it also proves the words of Jesus concerning Himself : "All power is given unto Me in heaven and in earth." In Him we need not fear. There is nothing that can harm us. By faith in Him through obedience to His word, we have power over the Devil in every respect. He gave this to His disciples as He sent them out to preach the gospel of the kingdom of God. He gave them power over all the power of the enemy. Luke 10 :19 : "And they went out, and preached that men should repent. And they cast out many devils, and anointed with oil many that were sick, and healed them." — Mark 6 :12, 13. "In My name shall they cast out devils." — Mark 16 :17. "There came also a multitude out of the cities round about unto Jerusalem, bringing sick folks, and them which were vexed with unclean spirits ; and they were healed every one." — Acts 5 :16. "And God wrought special miracles by the hands of Paul, so that from his body were brought unto the sick, handkerchiefs or aprons, and the diseases departed from them, and the evil spirits went out of them." — Acts 19 :11, 12. "For unclean spirits, crying with loud voice, came out of many that were possessed with them." — Acts 8 :7. The kingdom of the Devil consists of sin, disease, and every form of devil-possession and devil-power. 212 DIVINE HEALING . The kingdom of God consists of righteousness, joy, and peace in the Holy Spirit. As it was in apostoHc times, so it is now, the preaching of the gospel of the kingdom of God in the power of the Holy Spirit expels the Devil and all his evil spirits, and breaks his power over the souls and bodies of humanity, for all who will repent and believe. CHRIST CLEANSETH THE LEPER. (matt. 8:1-3.) "When He was come down from the mountain, great multi- tudes followed Him. ''And behold, there came a leper and worshiped Him, saying. Lord, if Thou wilt. Thou canst make me clean. "And Jesus put forth His hand, and touched him, saying, 1 will ; be thou clean. And immediately his leprosy was cleansed." This blessed miracle took place just as Jesus had come down from the mountain where He preached those wonderful words of life. The leper came and zvorshiped Him. This is the only proper attitude for any seeker. This is the only condition of the heart where faith can lay hold upon God. He seeks to be worshiped. Oh, that every seeker for healing, today, were willing to fall at the feet of Jesus and honor Him as the Christ of God in true humble worship. Divine honor and reverence is the signification of this term. It recognizes God as the only object of affection and love. Nothing else can be retained in the heart. God demands un- divided supremacy. So many want Christ and everything else, but the demand of God is Christ only. With Him the Father freely gives us all things pertaining to life and godliness, but we can have nothing until we take Him first. This principle is divine. It applies to every blessing in the atonement. No sinner can obtain pardon, no believer can obtain the Holy Spirit or healing until Christ only is honored. How inconsistently many come to Him for healing. They want Christ and medicines. This is not rendering due honor to Christ. A Christian may, perhaps, under certain circumstances take medicines, but in so doing he does not worship Christ the Healer. As light upon this divine truth continues to shine, the time will come in each individual case where it would be a dis- MIND AND FAITH CURE. 213 honor to Christ for a child of God to take medicine. Let us worship Him, who "Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses." Himself, not Himself and medicines, not Himself and doctors, but Himself. We worship Him our Savior, why not worship Him our Healer, and bow to no other shrine for healing ? He seeks such to worship Him. Should we bow to the gods of superstition and medical science ? This would have been an insult to the God of Israel in the Old Testament times. Can it be any the less in this dispensation ? It is true the heathen rage and the people imagine vain things, The kings of earth stand up and the rulers gather together against a child of God who worships Christ only as the Physician. They have set up a golden image of medical superstition ; the decree has gone forth throughout the land that every man, woman and child must bow down to this image. God has His people here who bow only to Him and His Christ. Shall we be loyal to Him despite the threats of the burning fiery furnace ? Can we say like the three Hebrews, we will not worship this image, even though our Christ whom we worship only, should not deliver us from the burning fiery furnace ? Dear reader, this is the true principle of worship, which no doubt will in the experience of every child of God bring us into the fiery furnace of persecution and trial. Our physical life must be sacrificed on the altar of Christ our Healer, but the precious words, ''He that loseth his life for My sake, shall find it," are just as true in this respect as in any other. "Our God whom we serve is able to deliver us, and He will deliver, but if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up." Christ seeks those who are willing to face the results of eternal loyalty to Himself. The fiery furnace, the lion's den, the stake, the rack, all should serve as incentives to true worship at the throne of the Great Physician. Thus we learn an indispensable lesson from the loathsome dying leper as he came to Jesus. He came and "worshiped Him." We have a decided advantage over the leper. He said, "if thou wilt.^"* He had no doubt as to His power, but was not certain as to His will. We have as much assurance of His will as of His power to heal. Christ's answer to the leper settles the question of His will once for all, to every obedient and trusting sufferer. This poor out- 214 DIVINE HEALING. cast had no human hope of Hfe. He was doomed to banishment from society all his earthly days. It was not lawful for him to come within touch of any one. He was considered unclean and had to put his hand to his mouth and cry ''unclean" to all who came near him. His disease was considered the most loathsome of any ill that humanity is subject to, How sad his poor heart must have been ! Little by little his life was to ebb away until death put an end to his wretched sufferings. But one day he heard of Jesus of Nazareth who had recently been passing through Galilee preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God and healing all manner of diseases among the people. Some of his friends tell him this good news. At once the question arises in his heart, ''Can He heal leprosy?" "Oh, yes," his friends say. "This is the One of whom Moses and the prophets did write and whom John the Baptist told us should come. He is the Messiah. He is healing all manner of diseases. A ray of hope flashes into this despondent and sorrowful heart. He believed in the "coming One." He heard John preach, and had repented at the preaching of John and was now ready to believe in Jesus. All he could do now was to patiently wait for the day when this Jesus should come near enough so he could come within sight of Him. Where is He, and when will He be in our town ? He is up in the mountain preaching as never man preached, and multitudes are sitting at His feet. He will be down soon and will be this way no doubt. The leper's hopes were not disappointed. One day he beholds in the distance a large moving crowd of people. He is told that Jesus is coming. He springs to his feet with a new impulse of life, and runs towards Jesus almost forgetting that he is not allowed to come near any one ; he comes near to Him and casts himself down at His feet and humbly worships Him, saying, "If Thou wilt, Thou canst make me clean." And ^'^JESUS PUT FORTH HIS HAND AND TOUCHED HIM.'''' What a blessed expression of compassion and unbounded con- descension this is. It would seem to us that nothing could more beautifully portray the supreme love that overflowed from the heart of the Son of God. It was not necessary to touch Him ; for the power of His word was sufficient, as we see in other cases of healing, but there was this expression of love that Jesus MIND AND FAITH CURE. 215 saw proper to bestow upon this poor man. No one else dared to do this, even his dearest friends. But the dear Savior touched him. What a thrill of love must have gone through that poor discour- aged heart from the heart of Jesus as His touch was given. Perhaps for years he had not had a human touch. Now there is one, more than human, a touch of life, one that thrills not only his heart but his entire being. The leper did not dare touch him. Others could, but he could not. Many besought that they might but touch His garment, and as many as touched Him were made whole, but here we have the healing life imparted by the hand of Christ as it was laid upon the diseased body of the leper. He knows the extent of our helplessness. Dear reader, your case is nowhere in helplessness in comparison with this man's, but the hand of healing reached him. It reached right through every difficulty upon the part of the sufferer and touched him, and uttered words that ring into the ears of every disease- stricken mortal on earth, who will but come as this man did and worship Him. "I will, be thou clean; and immediately his leprosy was cleansed." With the suddenness of a lightning flash the fetters of disease were snapped in sunder and the man who had been doomed to life banishment as an outcast, and a miserable death, was instantly filled with divine life, and sent to bear testimony to the priests of what God had wrought. It has been said that this man had no faith to be healed, that Jesus healed him unconditionally, but if we enter into a careful study of the work of Jesus in His ministry we have no difficulty in seeing the manifestations of faith upon the part of all who were responsible as they came for healing. Indeed we see a perfect faith here in this respect, that he came and worshiped Jesus Whatever deficiency there may have been, he received the healing to the glory of God. CHRIST HEALING THE WITHERED HAND. (mark 3 :l-5.) ''And He entered again into the synagogue; and there was a man there which had a withered hand. "And they watched Him, whether He would heal him on the Sabbath day; that they might accuse Him. 216 DIVINE HEALING. "And He saith unto the man which had the withered hand, Stand forth. "And He saith unto them, Is it lawful to do good on the Sab- bath days, or to do evil? to save life, or to kill? but they held their peace. "And when He had looked round about on them with anger, being grieved for the hardness of their hearts. He saith unto the man. Stretch forth thine hand. And he stretched it out : and his hand was restored whole as the other." THE WITHERED HAND RESTORED. " And when he was departed thence, he went into their syna- gogue. And, behold, there was a man which had his hand withered. And they asked him, saying: Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath days? that they might accuse him. And he said unto them, What man shall there be among you that shall have one sheep, and if it fall into a pit on the Sabbath day, will he not lay hold on it, and lift it out? How much, then, is a man better than a sheep? Wherefore it is lawful to do well on the Sabbath days. Then saith He to the man. Stretch forth thine hand. And he stretched it forth ; and it was restored whole, like as the other."— Matt 12 :9-13. The prejudiced Pharisees were ever on the alert to find an accusation against our blessed Lord. They were anxious to get this man with the withered hand before him on the Sabbath day, knowing full well that Jesus would not pass him by without heal- ing him. Their depraved condition of heart held them in sucli blindness as to even think it was a violation of God's law to do an act of mercy to a poor suffering man on the Sabbath. Poor, deluded souls, they themselves would think it an act of cruelty to neglect a suffering animal on that day, but were ready to accuse Jesus of a criminal act if He healed any one. He proves to them that it is lawful to do well on the Sabbath days. " How much then is a man better than a sheep?" One of the prominent truths taught in the life of Christ is the great care He always manifested for the body. As a man would spare no pains to lift a sheep out of a pit, or protect it from the prowling wolf, or to deliver it if possible, if it might have been captured, so Jesus would, as a man is worth more than a sheep, set every man free from all his pains and diseases, or where he in any respect may be MIND AND FAITH CURE. 217. oppressed of the Devil. This is certainly true with respect to the physical as well as the spiritual oppressions, as the multitudes of healed ones testify. Every need of humanity is provided through Qirist. By faith all may come and obtain a full supply. He could not let this opportunity for showing His compassion pass by. That helpless hand hanging by the side of this poor man was no longer to be held under the power of oppression. As the man stood be- fore him Jesus commanded him to stretch forth his hand. This was a command to both obedience and faith. Some one has said of the majority of professing Christians, that they seem to have no hands to stretch out and take hold on God. HAVE FAITH IN GOD. (mARK 11:22.) If we want blessings from God, nothing can fetch them down but faith. Prayer cannot draw down answers from God's throne except it be the earnest prayer of the man who believes. Faith is the angelic messenger between the soul and the Lord Jesus in glory. Let that angel be withdrawn, we can neither send up prayer, nor receive the answers. Faith is the telegraphic wire which links earth and heaven — on which God's messages of love fly so fast, that before we call He answers, and while we are yet speaking He hears us. But if that telegraphic wire of faith be snapped, how can we receive the promise? If I am sick I can obtain immediate help for my trouble by faith in God's power to heal me. Faith clothes me with the power of God. Faith engages on my side the omnipotence of Jehovah. Faith insures every attribute of God in my defense. It helps rne defy tlie hosts of hell. It makes me march triumphant over the necks of my enemies. But without faith how can I receive anything of the Lord ? Let not him that wavereth — who is like a wave of the sea — expect that he will receive anything of God. Faith is the foot of the soul by which it can march along the road of the commandments. Love can make the feet move more swiftly; but faith is the foot which carries the soul. Faith is the oil enabling the wheels of holy devotion and of earnest piety to move well, and without faith the wheels are taken from the chariot, and we drag heavily. With faith I can do all things ; without faith I shall neither have the inclination nor the power to do anything in the service of God. If you would find the men who serve God the best, you must look for the men of the most 218 DIVINE HEALING. faith. Little faith will save a man, but little faith cannot do great things for God. Poor little faith could not have fought "Apollyon"; it needed ''Christian" to do that. Poor little faith could not have slain "Giant Despair" ; it required "Great- heart's" arm to knock that monster down. Little faith will go to heaven most certainly, but it often has to hide itself in a nut-shell, and it frequently loses all but its jewels. Little faith says, "It is a rough road, beset with sharp thorns, and full of dangers ; I am afraid to go" ; but great faith remembers the promise, "Thy shoes shall be iron and brass ; as thy days, so shall thy strength be" ; and so she boldly ventures. Little faith stands desponding, mingling her tears with the flood ; but great faith sings, "When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee" : and she fords the stream at once. Would you be comfortable and happy? Would you enjoy religion ? Would you have the religion of cheerfulness, and not that of gloom? Then "have faith in God." If you love darkness, and are satisfied to dwell in gloom and misery, then be content with little faith ; but if you love sunshine, and would sing songs of re- joicing, covet earnestly this best gift, "great faith." Our heavenly Father often draws us with the cords of love; but ah ! how backward we are to run towards Him ! How slowl}' we respond to His gentle impulses ! He draws us to exercise a more simple faith in Him; but we have not yet attained to Abraham's confidence; we do not leave our worldly cares with God, but, like Martha, we cumber ourselves with much serving. Our meagre faith brings leanness into our souls ; we do not open our mouths wide, though God has promised to fill them. Does He not this evening draw us to trust Him? Can we not hear Him say, "Come, My child, and trust Me. The veil is rent ; enter into My presence, and approach boldly to the throne of My grace. I am worthy of thy fullest confidence ; cast thy cares on Me. Shake thyself from the dust of thy cares, and put on thy beautiful garments of joy." But, alas ! though called with tones of love to the blessed exercise of this comforting grace, we will not come. At another time He drazvs us to closer communion with Himself. We have been sitting on the doorstep of God's house, and He bids us advance into the banqueting hall and sup with Him, but we decline the honor. There are secret rooms not yet opened to us ; Jesus invites us to enter them, but we hold back. Shame on our cold hearts ! We are but poor lovers of our MIND AND FAITH CURE. 219 sweet Lord Jesus, not fit to be His servants, much less to be His brides, and yet He hath exalted us to be bone of His bone, and flesh of His flesh, married to Him by a glorious marriage- covenant. Herein is love ! But it is love which takes no denial. If we obey not the gentle drawings of His love. He will send affliction to drive us into closer intimacy with Himself. Have us nearer He will. What foolish children we are to refuse those bands of love, and so bring upon our backs that scourge of small cords, which Jesus knows how to use ! THE lord's prayer, (luke 11:1-13.) "And it came to pass, that, as He was praying in a certain place, when He ceased, one of His disciples said unto Him, Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples. "After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven. Hallowed be Thy name. "Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. "Give us this day our daily bread. "And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. "And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen." This prayer begins where all true prayer must commence — with the spirit of adoption, "Our Father." There is no acceptable prayer until we can say, "I will arise and go to my Father." This child-like spirit soon perceives the grandeur of the Father "in heaven," and ascends to devout adoration — "Hallowed be Thy name." The child lisping, "Abba, Father," grows into the cherub crying, "Holy, Holy, Holy." There is but a step from rapturous worship to the glowing missionary spirit, which is a sure out- growth of filial love and reverent adoration — "Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven." Next fol- lows the heartfelt expression of dependence upon God — "Give us this day our daily bread." Being further illuminated by the Spirit, he discovers that he is not only dependent, but sinful; hence he entreats for mercy — "Forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors" : and being pardoned, having the righteousness of Christ imputed, and knowing his acceptance with God, he humbly supplicates for holy perseverance — "Lead us not into temptation." 220 DIVINE HEALING. The man who is really forgiven, is anxious not to offend agaui ; the possession of justification leads to an anxious desire for sanctification. 'Torgive us our debts"; that is justification. ''Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from "evil"; that is sanctification in its negative and positive forms. As the result of all this, there follows a triumphant ascription of praise — "Thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory forever and ever. Amen." We rejoice that our King reigns in providence and shall reign in grace, from the river even to the ends of liit earth, and of His dominion there shall be no end. Thus from a sense of adoption, up to fellowship with our reigning Lord, this short model of prayer conducts the soul. Lord, teach us thus to pray. Prayer sometimes tarrieth like a petitioner at the gate, until the King cometh forth to fill her bosom with the blessings which she seeketh. Beggars must not be choosers either as to time, place, or form. But we must be careful not to take delays in prayer for denials ; God's long-dated bills will be punctually honored ; we must not suffer Satan to shake our confidence in the God of truth by pointing to our unanswered prayers. Unanswered petitions are not unheard. God keeps a file for our prayers — they are not blown away by the wind ; they are treasured in the King's archives. There is a registry in the court of heaven wherein every prayer is recorded. Tried believer, thy Lord hath a tear- bottle in which the costly drops of sacred grief are put away, and a book in which thy holy groanings are numbered. Prayer is the never-failing resort of the Christian in any case, in every plight. When you cannot use your sword you may take to the weapon of all-prayer. Your powder may be damp, your bow-string may be relaxed, but the weapon of all-prayer need never be out of order. Leviathan laughs at the javelin, but he trembles at prayer. Sword and spear need furbishing, but prayer never rusts, and when we think it most blunt it cuts the best. Prayer is an open door which none can shut. Devils may surround you on all sides, but the way upward is always open, and as long as that road is unobstructed, you will not fall into the enemy's hand. We can never be taken by blockade, escalade, mine, or storm, so long as heavenly succors can come down to us by Jacob's ladder to relieve us in the time of our necessities. Prayer is never out of season ; in summer and in winter its mer- MIND AND FAITH CUBE. 221 chandise is precious. Prayer gains audience with heaven in the dead of night, in the midst of business, in the heat of noonday, in the shades of evening. In every condition, whether of poverty, or sickness, or obscurity, or slander, or doubt, your covenant God will welcome your prayer and answer it from His holy place. Nor is prayer ever futile. True prayer is evermore true power. You may not always get what you ask, but you shall always have your real wants supplied. When God does not answer His children according to the letter. He does so according to the spirit. If thou askest for coarse meal, wilt thou be angered because He gives thee the finest flour? If thou seekest bodily health, shouldst thou complain if instead thereof He makes thy sickness turn to the healing of spiritual maladies ? Is it not better to have the cross sanctified than removed? Dear reader, take courage — you that prayerfully work and toil for Christ with success of the very smallest kind, it shall not be so always ; better times are before you. Your eyes cannot see the bHssful future: borrow the telescope of faith; wipe the misty breath of your doubts from the glass ; look through it and behold the coming glory. Reader, let us ask, do you make this your constant prayer ? Remember that the same Christ who tells us to say, '* Give us this day our daily bread," had first given us this petition, " Hallowed be Thy name ; Thy kingdom come ; Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven." Let not your prayers be all concerning your own sins, your own wants, your own imperfec- tions, your own trials, but let them climb the starry ladder, and get up to the Christ Himself, and then, as you draw nigh to the blood-besprinkled mercy-seat, offer this prayer continually, ''Lord, extend the kingdom of Thy dear Son." Such a petition, fer- vently presented, will elevate the spirit of all your devotions. Mind that you prove the sincerity of your prayer by laboring to promote the Lord's glory. DIVINE HEALING IN THE DEATH OF CHRIST. Every Bible reader who has light upon the plan of redemption knows the divine remedy for sin — " the precious blood of Christ.'' He has appeared in the world to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. This sacrifice was made on the cross. The language of the prophet tells us what this sacrifice includes : '' Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows : . . . .he was 222 DIVINE HE ALI2^ G. wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities : the chastisement of our peace was upon Him ; and with His stripes we are healed." — Isa. 53 :4, 5. In Matt. 8 :17 we have an indis- putable proof of the fulfillment of verse 4 of this prophecy — 'That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, say- ing, Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses." The apostle Peter writes of the same, saying, ''Who his own self bare our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness ; by Whose stripes ye were healed." — 1 Pet. 2 :24. This has reference to the cross, and all the redemption blessings purchased there, yet it is stated before Jesus was nailed to the cross, that it was being fulfilled already in his personal life and ministry, as he healed all who came to him. The whole plan of redemption finds its center in the cross. Hence we see the fulfillment of these scriptures began before the death of Christ, but nothing less than this could complete their fulfill- ment. These scriptures associate healing with salvation — Christ the sin-bearer and sickness-bearer. " He bare our sins in His own body on the tree." This tells where he bare them, and what act it was on His part that fully took them away. Now it is evident that the great cause of sickness is found in sin, which entered into the world through the fall of man. Had sin never entered, sickness would have had no place. As both are specified in these atonement scriptures, it is evident that the blood of Christ is the only remedy for both. The cause for both is found in the fall ; the remedy for both is found in redemption. Oh, let us stop here at the cross and behold the only remedy that God provides for us. Shall we become discouraged and feel that a great portion of our hopes are fled, when we find that human remedies have no place in this divine plan ? No ; but we see more in God's redemption than before. We see healing in the atone- ment. We see healing as our blood-bought inheritance, and re- demption right. We see healing offered to all who are weary and sad under the tyrant hand of the oppressor. We see it equally as free for all as salvation from sin. We see it begun in Jesus as he " went about doing good and healing all that were oppressed of the Devil." We see it perfected in Him on the cross, where His precious blood was shed for us, where the life stream was fully opened and sent flowing freely in the world for both soul and body. Praise God ! we see new beauties in Him, our Savior and Healer. He is mindful of our bodies, with equally as much in- MIND AND FAITH CURE. 223 terest as of our souls, and since He has not spared His own blood to purchase this redemption for both, it becomes our blessed privi- lege to possess our right. Not only so, but we should look upon it as more than our privilege. We are under solemn obligations to honor and recognize His gracious plan, by a sacred consecration of soul and body to Him. He gave His all to us, and we should give our all to Him. We see also that this is not a special pro- vision for only a few chosen ones among the children of men, but it is a universal blessing offered to all. The " whosoever will " stands in this plan with equal prominence for soul and body ; hence no child of God can treat this subject with indifference. It ap- peals to our faith with a divine claim which cannot be safely ig- nored. Indeed the time is at hand when every true believer in the redemption of Christ must fully acce'pt Him for healing. He has bought it for us at highest cost, and we must in return render Him His highest claim upon us. Ah, dear reader, this may seem rather binding upon you, but if you take but one more look at the Son of God upon the cross, through these atonement scriptures, and then open your heart to Him for the true interpretation of the same, you will see so much more in Him that all sense of obligation will vanish away, and your heart will overflow with reverence and gratitude for the sacred privilege of placing your body into His hands for healing and health. It is His exclusive right. As the husband and wife have exclusive claims to each other's affections, so Christ has the same claim on our soul and body. " We are members of His body, of His flesh, and of His bones." — Eph. 5 :30. Our entire being is included in the price of His own purchase. Praise His holy name ! We also see that this is the only divinely authorized remedy for sickness. He needs no earthly means to assist Him in His redemption. Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses ; not himself and doctors, nor himself and materia medica, but positively and emphatically himself. Oh, let us give honor to Him ! Let us bow down and worship Him, and let us give glory to none other. The M. D.s have set up images of drugs and medicines and made decrees that all must bow down before them, but let us ignore every such decree and like the three Hebrews before the heathen king, declare that we will not serve their medicine gods, nor worship the images they have set up. 224 DIVINEHEALINa. LIFE IN THE DEATH OF CHRIST. " For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death." — Rom. 8 :2. Nothing- but His precious blood could atone for sin. The law of sin and death could be broken by no other power than Himself. It was on the cross He received the sting, but by the same act He also bruised the serpent's head, and broke the power of the law of sin and death. Sickness belongs to that law. It was disannulled by the establishment of the law of life, under which we are now permitted to rejoice in deliverance from all the powers of that law of bondage. The apostle describes this in Hebrews 2 :14, 15 — "Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood. He also Himself likewise took part of the same, that through death He might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the Devil; and deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. Through the death of Christ the kingdom of Satan was shattered, and he himself was made powerless. The word destroy, as used here, fails to convey the sublime truth in this verse. It is better rendered in other translations : Revised Version, " bring to naught ;" German, **take away his might or strength ;" Em- phatic, '' vanquish ;" Word for Word, " make powerless," which all literally signify that through death Jesus made powerless the Devil and took away his dominion. " For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the Devil."—! Jno. 3 :8. From Jordan to Calvary he left a path of destruction to the works and strongholds of the enemy. In order to completely undo his power it was necessary that Jesus should enter the gloomy regions of darkness, and taste death for every man. He met and conquered the enemy upon the plane of humanity, then went into the regions of death and hell and conquered him there. Now He offers abundant life for soul and body to every one who will come to Him. Thank God for the atonement which has been made through His precious blood, without which there is no re- mission of sins, nor access to God. MIND AND FAITH CURE. 225 (matt. 12:22-28.) " Then was brought unto Him one possessed with a devil, bhnd and dumb ; and he healed him, insomuch that the blind and dumb both spake and saw. " And all the people were amazed, and said. Is not this the Son of David? *' But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, This fellow doth not cast out devils, but by Beelzebub the prince of the devils. " And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said unto them. Every kingdom divided against itself, is brought to desolation ; and every city or house divided against itself, shall not stand. '' And if Satan cast out Satan, \\e is divided against him- self ; how shall then his kingdom stand ? " And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your children cast them out? therefore they shall be your judges. '' But if I cast out devils by the spirit of God, then the king- dom of God is come unto you." DIVINE HEALING IN THE RESURRECTION OF CHRIST. We have seen how the death of Christ purchased life for us, how the atonement has provided for our infirmities and sick- nesses, and how the life-stream was fully opened and flowing from Calvary. But we need not tarry long at the cross ; the precious blood was shed, and the sacred body which bore the stroke of our sins and weaknesses, was soon taken down and laid in the tomb. Thank God, it was ''finished." With holy reverence we look up to God and accept the testimony of the sun, the earth, the rent veil of the temple, the Roman soldiers, and a number of resurrected saints : " Truly this was the Son of God." We see the place where our loving Savior and Healer is buried. The solemn hours pass into the third day and we are surprised with startling news from two heavenly messengers as they address the women who had come to the sepulchre very early in the morn- ing to embalm the body of Jesus. " Why seek ye the living among the dead? He is not here, but is risen." In the evening of the same day a company of believers were gathered together with the eleven disciples. Suddenly Jesus stood in their midst and said, " Peace be unto you." They were terrified and could not believe 226 DIVINE HEALING. that it was the very same Jesus who had been crucified, and thought they had seen a spirit. But Jesus said, " Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself, handle me and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones as ye see me have." And when He had thus spoken He showed them His hands and feet. And while they yet believed not for joy and wondered, he said unto them, ''Have ye any meat?" And they gave Him a piece of broiled fish and of an honeycomb. And He took it and did eat before them. Praise God ! we see that this same Jesus of Nazareth is risen from the dead. Much testimony of eye-witnesses can be produced of this won- derful fact, but we will give only a little here, simply to assist in the study of this glorious doctrine of the RESURRECTION OF CHRIST, without which there can be no salvation or healing to-day. '' For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised : and if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain ; ye are yet in your sins. Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished. . . . But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the first-fruits of them that slept."— 1 Cor. 1.5 :16-20. " Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and fore- knowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain; whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death ; because it was not possible that He should be holden of it. . . . . This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we are all witnesses." — Acts 2 :23, 24, 32. *' But ye denied the Holy One, and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you, and killed the Prince of Life, whom God hath raised from the dead ; whereof we are witnesses." —Acts 2 :14, 15. "How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power; who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the Devil; for God was with him. And we are witnesses of all things which He did both in the land of the Jews, and in Jerulasem; whom they slew and hanged on a tree; Him God raised up the third day and showed Him openly. Not unto all the people, but unto witnesses chosen before of God, even to us, who did eat and drink with Him after He rose from the dead."— Acts 10 :38-41. MIND AND FAITH CURE. 227 We have had abundant evidence of the power and will of God through Christ, to save and heal, in His life and ministry, before His death; but now since He has risen from the dead to live forever, it is necessary that we should have some assurance of the continuation of His will toward man. Can we find suffi- cient foundation for our faith in this same Jesus of Nazareth for our healing, since His resurrection? Let us turn again to the word of God and read a few scriptures to prove His power and authority, His will and His presence. HIS RESURRECTION POWER AND AUTHORITY. ** And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth." — Matt. 28 :18. " Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made this same Jesus, whom ve have crucified, both Lord and Christ."— Acts 2 :36. ** For to this end Christ both died and rose, and revived, that He might be Lord both of the dead and living." — Rom. 14 :9. ** And what is the exceeding greatness of His power to us- ward who believe, according to the working of His mighty power, which he wrought in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead, and set Him at His own right hand in heavenly places, far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but in that which is to come; and hath put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be the head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him that filleth all in all."— Eph. 1 :19-23. "To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God, according to the eternal purpose which he pur- posed in Christ Jesus our Lord." — Eph. 3 :10, 11. ''And being found in fashion as a man. He humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted Him, and given Him a name which is above every name." — Phil. 2 :8, 9. " Who is gone into heaven, and is at the right hand of God , angels, and authorities, and powers being made subject unto him."— 1 Pet. 3:22. Oh, let us rejoice in our risen and all-powerful Redeemer! He lacked no power over all principalities, diseases, or devils 228 DIVINE HEALING. while in His earthly walk among men, but He had not met and conquered them all, nor tested His strength to save to the utter- most, until he had, through death, compassed the entire realm of the enemy's ground, and gone to the deepest depths of the fall, and " led captivity captive, and gave gifts to men." Now, we see Him risen to the highest heights of all power anil authority of worlds upon worlds, with the same loving and compassionate heart toward all men that He had when in His humble ministry here among the suffering and helpless. This is verily true, as the following scriptures will make manifest. HTS RESURRECTION, WILL AND PROMISE. " Go ye, therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you, and lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen."— Matt. 28 :19, 20. It was His will that His disciples should go out and make disciples everywhere, teaching them to observe all things that He had commanded them. This signifies that His resurrection will to all the world, was just what it had been before His death, to those to whom He had ministered. They were now to go, not only to the Jewish nation, but to all the world, preaching the gospel and healing the sick. In the gospel by Mark, we read of this resurrection message and commission : " Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved ; but he that believeth not shall be damned. And these signs shall follow them that believe : In My name shall they cast out devils ; they shall speak with new tongues ; they shall take up serpents ; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them ; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover. So then after the Lord had spoken unto them. He was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God. And they went forth, and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen." — Mark 16 :15-20. No language could express the will of the resurrected Christ to all the world more plainly than this. In it we find healing MIND AND FAITH CURE. 229 clearly specified. *' They shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover." Who shall do this in His name? Answer: *' These signs shall follow them that believe." If there were no other scriptural evidences of His will to us to heal than this, the doctrine of healing would have sufficient foundation, and all who are called of God to go forth to preach the gospel could also with perfect assurance lay hands on the sick, and through faith in the name of Jesus they would recover. This commission was given personally to the eleven apostles. They were commanded to go and preach and baptize, then were given the precious promises that follow. How strange that the attempt should be made to preach the gospel without preaching it all! Healing is a very important part of the gospel. History proves the fact that wherever the full. gospel has been carried into the world, there the accompanying signs of healing have been manifested — from the time the disciples first went out under this commission and were successful. "And they departed, and went ing is not fn this commission; that casting out devils, healing, etc., were only promises to them that believe. But we see that healing was in the commission, prior to the resurrection of Christ. '' And He sent them to preach the kingdom of God, and to heal the sick." — Luke 9 :2. We also see that they went out under this commission and were successful. "And they departed, and went through the towns, preaching the gospel, and healing every- where." — Luke 9 :6. '' And they went out, and preached that men should repent, and they cast out many devils, and anointed with oil many that were sick, and healed them." — Mark 6 :12, 13. No Bible reader should dare to say that the second commission was less than the first. Admitting that casting out demons, heal- ing, etc., were specified as promises in this language in Mark 16, only adds to the fact that the doctrine of healing is part of the gospel, and was understood so, by the apostles, the promises being given to prove the power of the same, to all who should be- lieve it. It is very difficult to find a professing minister of the gospel of Christ who is willing to admit that he is rejecting an im- portant part of it, but it is certainly true that the majority of such ministers are guilty, and will be compelled to repent of their sin if they would stand justified before God. 230 DIVINE HEALING. THE RESURRECTION PRESENCE OF CHRIST. We have seen that the power and will of Christ to heal all our diseases since His resurrection, is established by the word of God, and how can He heal us in His absence? If our eyes could but see Him, and His loving hand could be laid upon us, we could surely believe for healing. Ah, but dear reader, there are blessed promises to us who cannot see Him. The apostle Thomas could not believe in the resurrection presence of Jesus without seeing Him. When he did see Him, Jesus said to him : " Thomas because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet believe." — Jno. 20 :29. When He ascended to the right hand of God He left His name on earth and sent the Holy Spirit to dwell in the hearts of, and among, all who obey Him. In the presence of the Holy Spirit we have all the power and blessings of Jesus. When he promised to send the spirit, He said, " At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me. and I in you. ... If a man love me, he will keep my words ; and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him and make our abode with him." — Jno. 14 :20, 23. " That He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might by His Spirit in the inner man; that Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith." — Eph. 3 :16, 17. The Holy Spirit is in the representative and executive power of Christ upon earth to perpetuate His redemption work in sal- vation and healing, in the ministry of the pure gospel. His pen- tecostal endowment alone can qualify men to go forth with this gospel, which when faithfully preached will be blessed as it was through the apostles, *' The Lord working with them and con- firming with signs following." We can see, therefore, how that in the Holy Spirit we may have the resurrection power, will and presence of Christ in us. This is how He can be absent from us in body, and yet fulfill His promise to us : '' Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world." DIVINE HEALING IN THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES. Eleven of the apostles preached the gospel under two dif- ferent commissions ; the first before, the second, after the death and resurrection of Christ. In a previous chapter we considered MIND AND FAITH CURE. 231 briefly the effect of Christ's resurrection upon the doctrine of healing, and how it has been incorporated in the second^ or, resurrection commission, the same as it was in the first. In a few respects the two commissions are very much unHke, but these points of difference only add to the saving and healing power of the second commission. One point of difference between the two is that, under the second, they were not to go forth until they had received the baptism of the Holy Ghost and enduement of power from on high. This pentecostal enduement was certainly an advantage, which we cannot here stop to fully consider, but it is safe to state that the second commission was, as the disciples went forth under it, far superior to the first in its spiritual effects upon the hearts of men, and must necessarily, therefore, be greater in every other respect. Another point of difference, which is but in favor of the second, they were to go forth " into all the world" ; where, in the first place, they were to go only among the Jews. The comparative points in which these two commis- sions were alike may all be summed up in the words of Jesus in Matt. 28 :20 — " Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you." They were already possessed under the first commission with power and authority over all devils, and to cure diseases." — Luke 9 :1. They had gone forth into the towns, ** preaching the gospel, and healing everywhere." — Luke 9 :6. Now under the second, they were to carry this gospel to all nations with the added authority of this pentecostal power. 232 DIVINE HEALING. AN INVALID FOR OVER THIRTY YEARS. The author of this work was an invaHd for over thirty years. In the spring of 18GG 1 was struck by hghtning and knocked head over heels, and during the month of August in the same year I was prostrated by a sunstroke which paralyzed the nerves of my bowels, causing constipation of a very obstinate character, succeeded by first one and then another disease which trammeled upon my constitution until I knew myself only as one inseparable from disease. At times I suffered untold agony. Among the different diseases I became afflicted with was one known as insomnia. I have walked the floor every night successive- ly for months. In connection with this, the most dreaded of all dis- eases, I had liver and kidney disease, dyspepsia, gall stones, nephritic colic, cramp colic, constipation of the bowels. In fact, my bowels would not move at all Avithout the use of medicines or injections of some sort or other. I had a stroke of paralysis, and for a time lost the use of my legs, so that I could not walk for three months without crutches. I also had La Grippe, heart trouble, disease of the brain, ul- cerated stomach and vomited a great deal of blood ; had rheu- matism, asthma and felt at times that I was wholly incarcerated in disease and that incineration would be my only relief. I was lanced, leeched, blistered, purged and salivated. I used emetics, sudarifics, diaphoretics, diuretics, anodynes, antizymotics, antipyretics, etc. I doctored with Allopathic, Osteopathic, Homeopathic, Eclec- tics, Hydropathics, Hygienics, Electrics, Suggestionists, Mag- netists. Magnetic Healers, Christian and Allied Scientists, without avail. I have used and tried every system ever invented by man's ingenuity, including the whole range of so-called curatives, such as massage, rubbing, Swedish manipulations, the multiple kind of baths, the various methods of physical culture; but each and every one failed to cure me or even approach a cure, many falling short of even temporary relief. I then began to travel, and for several years I spent much time and money in the search of health at all the noted health resorts all the way from Maine to California, from the sun-scorched plains of Panama to the icelands of Canada and sterile Mexico. Every climate disagreed with me. MIXD AND FAITH CURE. 233 111 the tropical countries, when it got too hot for me, I became restless, uneasy, and disease troubled, and would pack my grip to sojourn north in search of the North Pole to cool of¥. After all this search for relief and cure of my ailments I finally began to despair, and this prolonged siege of ill-health began to tell on me; and I began to get disgusted with everything and everybody and at last myself. In this state I began to ponder over my condition seriously, and came to the conclusion that something- was wrong. The Bible says that when God made man he pronounced him good and perfect. He made man in His image and likeness. God is a spirit, and man is a spirit made in His image and like- ness, then man is a spiritual being; if that is the truth, can a spirit get sick? Then if a spirit cannot get sick and I am a spirit, how can I be sick? I began to see deafly. I saw a faint glimmer of the dawn of new hope. My star of health was just appearing visibly in the great firmament of God's universe. When I was made, God made me a perfect child, therefore I came to the conclusion that my sickness, as well as everybodv else's sickness was and is the workings of Old Nick, the Devil, and he uses the mortal mind as his agent. After baffling the skill of the most noted physicians in tht United States, I received only temporary relief, until I finally bo- came disgusted with doctors and their medicines, and, as a last resort, I turned my case over to God Almighty through Jesus Christ, and they healed me. Now, let the scribes and the Phar- isees and the infidels croak — and let the theologians cavil about the last seven verses of Mark 16. Translators may reject them if they will, the infidel may say that the days of miracles are past, the multitude of professing Christians may persecute and falsify, say all manner of evil against those who believe in Christ, our resurrected and living healer ; but here is a living witness, a bright and healthy child of God, to testify against this wicked and un- believing generation to the power of Christ to heal all our in- firmities and sickness. O, that the Lord may turn His eye upon the multitude of skeptics who are in this case to-day! May He forgive the slights which they put upon His divine power, and call them by the sweet constraining voice to rise from the bed of despair and, in the energy of faith, take up their bed and walk. I will be pleased to impart such information to the afflicted as they may wish to know, in their respective cases. Consultation free, whether by letter or personal interview. For further par- ticulars, call on or address. Dr. S. A. Richmond, Hot Springs, Ark. 234 DIVINE HEALING. THE RAISING OF JAIRUS' DAUGHTER. (mark 5:22-23.) ''And behold, there cometh one of the rulers of the synagogue, Jairus by name ; and when he saw Him, he fell at His feet, "And besought Him greatly, saying. My little daughter lieth It the point of death ; / pray thee, come and lay thy hands on her, that she may be healed ; and she shall live." Jesus is passing through the throng to the house of Jairus, to raise the ruler's dead daughter ; but He is so profuse in goodness that He works another miracle while upon the road. While yet this rod of Aaron bears the blossom of an unaccomplished wonder, it yields the ripe almonds of a perfect work of mercy. If our Lord is so ready to heal the sick and bless the needy, then, my soul, be not thou slow to put thyself in His way, that He may smile on thee. Be not slack in asking, if He is so abun- dant in bestowing. Give earnest heed to His word now, and at all times, that Jesus may speak through it to thy heart. Where He is to be found, there make thy resort, that thou mayst obtain His blessing. When He is present to heal, may He not heal thee ? But surely He is present even now, for He always comes to hearts which need Him. And dost not thou need Him ? Ah, He knows how much ! Thou Son of David, turn Thine eye and look upon the distress which is now before Thee, and make thy suppliant whole. HE HEALETH THE BROKEN IN HEART AND BIND- ETH UP THEIR WOUNDS. (psalm 147:3.) There are many sorts of broken hearts, and Christ is good at healing them all. The patients of the great Physician are those whose hearts are broken through sorrozv. Hearts are broken through disappointment. Hearts are broken by bereavement. Hearts are broken in ten thousand ways, for this is a heart-break- ing world; and Christ is good at healing all manner of heart- breaks. I would encourage every person here, even though his heart-break may not be of a spiritual kind, to make an application MIND AND FAITH CUKE. 235 to Him who healeth the broken in heart. The text does not say, "the spiritually broken in heart," therefore I will not insert an adverb where there is none in the passage. Come hither, ye that are burdened, all ye that labor and are heavy laden; come hither, all ye that sorrow, be your sorrow what it may; come hither, all ye whose hearts are broken, be the heart-break what it may, for He healeth the broken in heart. Still, there is a special brokenness of heart to which Christ gives the very earliest and tenderest attention. He heals those hearts which are broken for sin. Christ heals the heart that is broken because of its sin ; so that it grieves, laments, regrets, and bemoans itself, saying, "Woe is me that I have done this ex- ceeding great evil, and brought ruin upon myself ! Woe is me that I have dishonored ^od, that i have cast myself away from His presence, that I have made myself liable to His everlasting wrath, and that even now His wrath abideth upon me !" If there is a man here whose heart is broken about his past life, he is the man to whom my text refers. Are you heart-broken because you have wasted forty, fifty, sixty years ? Are you heart-broken at the remembrance that you have cursed the God who has blessed you, that you have denied the existence of Him without whom you never would have been in existence yourself, that you have lived to train your family without godliness, without any respect to the Most High God of all? Has the Lord brought this home to you ? Has He made you feel what a hideous thing it is to be blind to Christ, to refuse His love, to reject His blood, to live an enemy to your best Friend ? ''He healeth the broken in heart." Christ also heals hearts that are broken from sin. When you and sin have quarreled, never let the quarrel be made up again. You and sin were friends at one time ; but now you hate sin, and you would be wholly rid of it if you could. You wish never to sin. You are anxious to be clear of the most darling sin that you ever indulged in, and you desire to be made pure as God is pure. Your heart is broken away from its old moorings. That which you once loved you now hate. That which you once hated you now at least desire to love. "He healeth the broken in heart." If there is a broken-hearted person anywhere about, many people despise him. "Oh," they say, "he is melancholy, he is mad, he is out of his mind through religion !" Yes, men despise the broken in heart, but such, oh God, Thou wilt not despise ! The Lord looks after such, and heals them. 286 JJ I y I A A' H E ALI N G . Those who do not despise them, at any rate avoid them. I know some few friends who have long been of a broken heart; and when I feel rather dull, I must confess that I do not always go their way, for they are apt to make me feel more depressed. Yet would I not get out of their way if I felt that I could help them. Still, it is the nature of men to seek the cheerful and the happy, and to avoid the broken-hearted. God does not do so; He heals the broken in heart. He goes where thy are, and He reveals Himself to them as the Comforter and the Healer. In a great many cases people despair of the broken-hearted ones. "It's no use," says one, 'T have tried to comfort her, but I cannot do it." 'T have wasted a great many words," says another, ''on such and such a friend, and I cannot help him. I despair of his ever getting out of the dark." Not so is it with God ; He healeth the broken in heart. He despairs of none. He shows the greatness of His power, and the wonders of His wis- dom by fetching men and women out of the lowest dungeon wherein despair has shut them. As for the heart-broken ones themselves, they do not think that they ever can be converted. Some of them are sure that they never can ; they wish that they were dead, though I do not see what they would gain by that. Others of them wish that they had never been born, though that is a useless wish now. Some are ready to rush after any new thing to try to find a little com- fort; while others, getting worse and worse, are sitting down in sullen despair. I wish that I knew who these are; I should like to come around, and just say to them, "Come, brother, there must be no doubting and no despair to-night, for my text is glori- ously complete, and is meant for you. 'He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds.' " Notice that fifth verse, ''Great is our Lord, and of great power; His understanding is infinite." Consequently, He can heal the broken in heart. God is glorious at a dead lift. When a soul cannot stir, or help itself, God delights to come in with His omnipotence, and lift the great load, and set the burdened one free. It takes great wisdom to comfort a broken heart. If any of you have ever tried it, I am sure that you have not found it an easy task. I have given much of my life to this work; and I always come away from a desponding one with a consciousness of my own inability to comfort the heart-broken and cast down. Only God can do it. Blessed be His name, that He has arranged that one person of the Sacred Trinity should undertake this office MIND AND FAITH CURE. 237 of Comforter, for no man could ever perform its duties. We might as well hope to be the Savior as to be the comforter of the heart-broken. Efficiently and completely to save or to comfort must be a work divine. That is why the Holy Spirit has under- taken to be the comforter ; and Christ, through the Divine Spirit, healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds with infinite power and unfailing skill. 11. Now, secondly, we are going to consider the Physician AND HIS MEDICINE. ''He hcalcth the broken in heart, and , bindeth up their wounds." Who is this that healeth the broken in heart ? I answer, that Jestts was anointed of God for this work: He said, ''The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because He hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor ; He hath sent me to heal the broken-hearted." Was the Holy Spirit given to Christ in vain ? That cannot be. He was given for a purpose which must be answered, and that purpose is the healing of the broken- hearted. By the very anointing of Christ by the Holy Spirit, you may be sure that our Physician will heal the broken in heart. Further, Jesus was sent of God on purpose to do this work: "He hath sent me to heal the broken-hearted." If Christ docs not heal the broken-hearted. He will not fulfill the mission for which He came from heaven. If the broken-hearted are not cheered by His glorious life and the blessings that flow out of His death, then He will have come to earth for nothing. This is the very errand on which the Lord of Glory left the bosom of the Father to be veiled in human clay, that He might heal the broken in heart ; and He will do it. Our Lord was also educated for this work. He was not only anointed and sent; but He was trained for it. "How?" say you. Why, He had a broken heart Himself ; and there is no education for the office of Comforter like being placed where you yourself have need of comfort, so that you may be able to comfort others with the comfort wherewith you yourself have been comforted of God. Is your heart broken? Christ's heart was broken. He said, "Reproach hath broken my heart; and I am full of heavi- ness." He went as low as you have even been, and deeper than you can ever go. "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?" was His bitter cry. If that be your agonized utterance. He can interpret it by His own sufifering. He can measure your grief by His own grief. Broken hearts, there is no heahng for you except through Him who had a broken heart Himself. Ye 238 DIVINE HEALING. disconsolate, come to him ! He can make your heart happy and joyous, by the very fact of His own sorrow, and the brokenness of His own heart. "In all our afflictions He was afflicted." He was 'tempted in all points like as we are," "a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief." For a broken heart, there is no physician like Him. Once more, I can strongly recommend my Lord Jesus Christ as the Healer of broken hearts, because He is so experienced in the work. Some people are afraid that the doctor will try experi- ments upon them; but our Physician will only do for us what He has done many times before. It is no matter of experiment with Him; it is a matter of experience. If you knock to-night at my great Doctor's door, you will, perhaps say to Him, ''Here is the strangest patient, my Lord, that ever came to see Thee." He will smile as he looks at you, and He will think, "I have saved hundreds like you." Here comes one who says, "That first man's case was nothing compared with mine; I am about the worst sinner who ever lived." And the Lord Jesus Christ will say, "Yes, I saved the worst man that ever lived long ago, and I keep on saving such as he. I delight to do it." But here comes one who has a curious odd way of broken-heartedness. He is an out- of-the-way fretter. Yes, but my Lord is able to "have compassion on the ignorant, and on them that are out of the way." He can lay hold of this out-of-the-way one ; for He has always been saving out-of-the-way sinners. My Lord has been healing broken hearts well nigh nineteen hundred years. Can you find a brass plate anywhere telling of a physician of that age? He has been at the work longer than that ; for it is not far off six thousand years since He went into this business, and He has been healing the broken in heart ever since that time. I will tell you one thing about Him that I have on good authority, that is. He never lost a case yet. There never was one who came to Him with a broken heart, but He healed him. He never said to one, "You are too bad for me to heal ;" but He did say,"Him that cometh to me, I will in no wise cast out." My dear reader. He will not cast you out ; and you have come here to-night, and you hardly know why you are here ; only you are very low and very sad. The Lord Jesus Christ loves just such as you are, you poor, desponding, doubting, desolate, discon- solate one. Daughters of sorrow, sons of grief, look ye here ! Jesus Christ has gone on healing broken hearts for thousands of years, and He is still in the business. He understands it by ex- MIND AN D FAITH CURE . 239 perienc€, as well as by education. He is "mighty to save." Con- sider Him ; consider Him, and the Lord grant you grace to come and trust Him even now ! Thus I have talked to you about the Physician for broken hearts; shall I tell you what His chief medicine is? It is His own flesh and blood. There is no cure like it. When a sinner is bleeding with sin, Jesus pours His own blood into the wound ; and when that wound is slow in healing, He binds His own sacrifice about it. Healing for broken hearts comes by the atonement, atonement by substitution, Christ suffering in our stead. He suf- fered for every one who believeth in Him, and he that belie verb in Him is not condemned, and never can be condemned, for the condemnation due to him was laid upon Christ. CHRIST CLEANSETH THE LEPER. "Behold, there came a leper and worshipped Him, saying, Lord, if Thou wilt. Thou canst make me clean. And Jesus put forth His hand, and touched him, saying, I will ; be thou clean. And immediately his leprosy was cleansed." — Matthew 8 :2-3. Matthew has placed this miracle immediately after the sermon on the mount. In all probability some little time intervened, in which our Lord had preached at Capernaum, and had also healed the people in the street, as we read just now in the first chapter of Mark. It was not the object of Matthew to arrange his facts precisely in the order of time ; He had another end in view. After the sermon on the mount. He gives us remarkable miracles, as if to teach us that our Lord's words were coniirmed by His works. Our Lord was mighty both in word and deed. His kingdom comes not only with truth, but with power. He wrought miracles that men might see with their eyes that the power of God was upon Him, and might know that He spake with divine authority. At this day, beloved, it is even so. Power goes forth with the preaching of the gospel. The words of the Lord Jesus are spirit and life ; they are in themselves full of authority, and we ought to accept them with ready faith ; but since we are slow to believe, the Lord continues to work as well as speak ; the "signs following" are still to be perceived — ^blind eyes are opened, deaf ears are un- stopped, hearts of stone are turned to flesh, and the dead in sin are quickened. Conversion by grace follows the proclamation of the doctrines of grace ; for the word is with power. Beloved, we have 240 DI V I A i: H H A L I S U . beheld wonders of regenerating power in our own midst, and therefore we are bound to beheve in Jesus more and more. Blessed be the divine power wh)cli confirms the word ! Jesus is never known in the full authority of His word until the Holy Spirit makes us feel the glory of His work within our hearts. We have the word, and we pray for more of the work. The Lord speaks to us graciously in the gospel ministry. Oh, that He would now work with us also in His own glory ! When our Lord spake. His words were winged in such a zvay that they flezv far afield. He was heard, not only by the nearer company of His disciples, and by a great multitude who gathered about Him, but His words were carried home by the people as they returned to their cottages among the hills, or to their dwell- ings by the sea. They flew abroad as doves whose wings were covered with silver, and they lighted in strange places. His words had so much pungency about them that they could not be forgotten ; they had so much of force in them that they wrought mightily on the minds of men, and were repeated by those who heard them. Among the rest, the words of the Lord Jesus came to a poor leper, who dwelt alone outside a city wall. We know little about him ; even his name is not mentioned, but to him also the glad tidings of a Savior came. He spent much of his time in solitude, or in begging; for he could not follow the pursuits of men, nor earn his bread like other men. The disease of despair was upon him, and none could help him in his trouble. He had heard of Jesus, and, perhaps, on the edge of the crowd, had heard Him speak. He felt that there was something divix'.e about the preacher who spake as never man spake : this aroused hope within him : he came to Jesus, and was healed. Wliar was his name, or his descent, or previous history, we do not know. He ranks among the notable annonymous of earth, whose names are written in heaven. No one among you knows where God's word will fly this day : it may be blessed to some outcast in the bush, who will read it, and find mercy of the Lord. Read in scripture concerning the miracles of Christ, and you will be struck with the way in which many were led to Him. A friendly hand conducted the blind, or conducted the little children. Some were bodily brought to Christ. We read of a paralyzed n.an who was ''borne of four," and they let him down by ropes through the ceiling to the place where Jesus stood. Others could not come or be brought, but the Lord went to them where they were, on ',heir beds, or waiting at the pool. But here is a case of a man MIND AND FAITH CURE. 241 who came by himself, on his own account ; and I want you to note this, because I am persuaded that we have around us those who have nobody to lead them to Christ, nobody to pray for them, no- body to persuade, exhort, or entreat them ; but these may come through the direct operations of the Spirit upon their souis. These are left outside the pale, dwelling on the other side of the line of Christian effort ; but they are not beyond the grace of God. This leper did come of himself; though none called him, he plucked up courage, and it is written as a wonder, "Behold, there came a leper and worshipped Him." Note well that this man kneiv in himself that his case zvas a terrible one. I do not intend to describe the dreadful disease of leprosy ; we have, on other occasions, viewed it as God's ap- pointed picture of sin. It was a living death, a source of misery, a centre of defilement : and such is sin. Medical meji are not clear as to whether the leprosy was ordinarily infectious. It is now believed that it is contagious to a certain degree ; but there was no pressing sanitary reason why lepers should have been shut out from all society. The Lord, who intended leprosy, under the old theocracy, to be the picture of sin, ordained that, when once a man was a leper, he should be regarded as unclean in him- self, and so polluting that every person and thing he touched be- came unclean. Hence the leper was dreaded in his every approach to his fellows. He was looked upon as dead while he lived, and his case was viewed as beyond human help. Remember how the king of Israel cried out, "Am I God, to kill and make alive, that this man doth send unto me to recover a man of his leprosy?" If a leper did recover it was regarded as a making alive, a resurrec- tion from death. This man knew, even better than anybody else, in what a wretched and loathsome state he was. His disease was ever before him. Leprosy is awful to look upon : what must it be to feel ? Leprosy is terrible in description ; what must it be in actual endurance? He knew that now at length he had come to the last stage of his malady; for Luke describes him as "full of leprosy" ; he had come to the final stage, and the disease was conspicuous upon him. His skin was foul, and his joints were rotting. V^ery likely his fingers, his teeth, and hair were gone, and soon he must die. Such was the mass of moving death of which we read, "Behold, there came a leper to Him." He was not kept back by the fact that he was hopelessly and loathsomely diseased. Let us learn the lesson well. I earnestly pray that some poor guilty one, conscious of sin, horrified at himself, may now venture 242 DIVINE HEALING. to come to Jesus. Though he feels the foul disease within him, and fears that it has come to its worst, yet may he be emboldened to approach to Him who can at once make him clean. If you feel yourself to be a mass of loathsomeness and corruption, or, worse still, hardened and insensible in conscience, yet come to Jesus for healing. Even though you are truly described in our hymn as "self-abhorred," yet come to Him, who will not abhor you. Come at once, saying, "Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean." Let desperate cases come : let hopeless cases come. I am imploring the Lord to let it be so. O my brethren in the Lord, I entreat you, plead with me! Next, note with regard to this man, that others gave him up as hopeless. Persons hurried past him if he stood near the city gate. He was bound himself to warn them off by crying, "Un- clean, unclean." To him the sweets of friendship and all the comforts of domestic life were unknown : he was a cast-off and a castaway. The rulers of his people looked upon him, and pro- nounced him unclean, and therefore he was banished from among men. Do your relatives shun you ? Do people in decent society avoid you? Oh, that you had grace and faith, to come to Jesus just as you are, and fall at His feet and worship Him; for, rest assured. He can make you clean, and give you a name and a plac^ among His people. The hopeless are the very people that Jesus loves to save. No one could or zvoiild take him to Jesus. He was too foul to be touched, too far gone to be the subject of hope. Here and there we meet with persons who have so often disappointed their friends, that it is small wonder that they now keep them at a distance. Even an affectionate mother has said, "We have tried him many times, sir, but it is of no use. We cannot help him any more, for he has drained the family." The father almost prays to forget the prodigal, and the elder brother wishes never to see him again. It is a hard case when it comes to that : but such hard cases there are. The world has in it men of whom society is sick. The profligate has been to this charitable person, and to the other benevolent individual, until everyone is weary of the ne'er-do-well, and no one feels that he could associate with him without becom- ing himself suspected of vice. By common consent he is judged to be unfit for a reformatory, but well worthy of a prison. No one reasons with him, entreats him, or prays for him. He floats over the ocean of life as an abandoned wreck. He has turned infidel lately, and even his loving sister, who used to plead with him MIND AN D FAITH CURE. 243 with tears in her eyes, now shudders when he comes near, because his language has grown so sarcastic and blasphemous that the dear girl cannot bear it. Now that no man careth for your soul, how earnestly I wish that you would care for it yourself ! Oh, that you would form the singular and saving resolve that you will go to the Lord Jesus on your own account, and so frustrate all the evil prophecies which have been uttered toncerning you ! Why will you perish ? Poor soul ! why will you die ? I pray from the bottom of my soul that he or she may now, with fixed determina- tion, come to Jesus. O ye angels, may ye now have cause to cry out again, "Behold, there came a leper and worshipped Him!" There is one hand which would lead you to Jesus — I stretch it out to you this morning. There is yet one heart that would plead with you to seek salvation ; and if^ there be not another in the world, yet come along with you, come just as you are, and show your misery to the Lord of mercy. Men have written out your death-warrant ; but the Lord Jesus has not signed it, and therefore it cannot be executed. They call you a castaway; but the Lord gathereth together the outcasts of Israel. His long-suffering in sparing your life means your salvation. "While the lamp holds out to burn. The vilest sinner may return." Come, then, with all your sin about you, repent of your trans- gressions, and believe in Jesus, and thou shalt be clean. Again, this man had no invitation. Our Lord had not called him; he had never said, "Come, ye lepers; come, and be healed." There was nobody to command or persuade him to come, nobody to cheer him in coming, much less any to compel him to come in. Of himself, constrained by a divine impulse unknown to anybody else, this leper resolved to come, and found himself welcome, though he had not been expressly bidden. To you, my dear readers, I cannot say that you have no invitation ; for we are always crying to you, Come, ye weary and heavy laden. Come, for Jesus calls. "The Spirit and the Bride say. Come. Whosoever will, let him come, and take of the water of life freely." I implore you to come to Jesus even as this leper came, and I pray the Holy Spirit to make my entreaties effectual with you. This leper was bold in coming to Jesus, because, having nobody to encourage him, he must have felt himself abashed as a lone man in the midst of the multitude. Well he might, for he had no right 244 DIVINE HEALING. to be there. "Here am I, a stranger to everybody ; nobody knows me, and if they did, they would not associate with me ! I am out of place among the people of God." Are you laboring under an awful sense of sin? Are you bowed down under your own unworthiness ? Do you feel as one lost in a crowd? The crowd being there was nothing very remarkable ; but the leper's coming to Jesus was a very notable fact, a scene worth looking at. Hence we see the word, "Behold !" He is coming ! Yes, he dares to come. The crowd make way, and the leper falls at Jesus' feet and worships Him, saying, "Lord, if Thou wilt. Thou canst make me clean," Glory be to God, the leper is at the feet of Jesus, where infinite love and power are bending over him ! As a reivard to the man's faith, our Lord gave a cure ; and, to increase the wonder, an immediate cure. "Immediately his leprosy was cleansed." How so great a change could be wrought we cannot tell. To dissect a miracle is absurd. Every part of the body had been long out of order, certain secretions had been poisoned, and certain vessels destroyed ; and yet that one com- mand, "Be thou clean," restored the leper's ruined frame, there and then. He that created can restore. Can God turn a sinner into a saint in a moment ? He can. Niagara comes crashing down from the precipice of rock ; could omnipotence reverse those floods, and make them leap upwards? God can do all things. In the moral world He is as mighty as in the outer universe. The heart is hard as adamant, or as the lower millstone ; can He make it soft? Yes, in a moment He can make it tender as bleeding flesh. Believest thou this ? If so, submit thyself to the divine energy, and ask that this be done unto thee. Only believe, without any sort of doubt, that Jesus is the incarnate God, and therefore has all power over human nature to pardon and to cleanse. Jesus can save thee, though thou stand between the open jaws of hell. Jesus can save thee, though thou be foulness itself, though lying asoak so long in the filthy lye of lust and unbelief. He can with a word make thee whiter than snow. Believest thou this ? If thou believest this, I say, test it by submitting thyself to Jesus, that He may be a Savior to thee. He will say, "I will : be thou clean." THE POWER OF HEALING IN JESUS. The mighty power by which Jesus did all His works in His earthly life and ministry, healing the sick, and casting out devils. was by the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit. Without this MIXD AND FAITH CUKE. 245 power He of Himself could have done nothing in His great work of redemption. The Word of God gives us abundant light upon this subject. It teaches us the utter dependence upon God for all power to accomplish His holy will and work. "And Jesus, when He was baptized, went up straightway out of the water ; and lo! the heavens were opened unto Him, and He saw the spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon Him." — Matt. 3 :16. "And Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost returned from Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness. And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee ; and there went out a fame of Him through all the region round about." — Luke 4:1, 14. " And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their syna- gogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people. And His fame went throughout all Syria ; and they brought unto Him all sick people that were taken with divers diseases and tor- ments, and those which were possessed with devils, and those which were lunatic, and those that had the palsy ; and He healed them." — Matt. 4 :23, 24. " And He came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up : and, as His custom was, he went into the synagogue on. the Sabbath day, and stood up for to read. And there was delivered unto Him the book of the prophet Esaias. And when He had opened the book. He found the place where it was written, The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He hath anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor ; He hath sent Me to heal the broken hearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, to preach the acceptable year of the Lord. And He began to say unto them. This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears." — Luke 4:16-19, 21. "But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you." — Matt. 12 :28. "The word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ: (He is Lord of all:) that word, I say, ye know ; which was published throughout all Judea, and began from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached ; how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power. Who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the Devil; for God was with Him." — Acts 10:36-38. It is as necessarily spiritual as the divine birth. Jesus said to Nicodemus, "That which is born of the Spirit is spirit. The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but 246 DI VI y E HEALING. canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth ; so is every one that is born of the Spirit." A visible and physical effect is pro- duced by the invisible and spiritual power of God. To be "born again" is the divine touch of the Holy Spirit to the soul who meets the simple conditions of repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ, quickening into, divine life the spirit that was dead in trespasses and sins. This, with the subsequent ex- perience of sanctification, may be scripturally termed divine heal- ing of the soul. Divine healing of the body is also the work of the Holy Spirit ; which, by a definite act of faith on our part, operates through the spiritual life, reaching out into the physical, affecting every fibre and tissue, and quickening into life and health that part which has been held under the cruel power of disease. No experience of this kind can be realized in the physical, without a corresponding touch of the spiritual life. The touch to the body is the overflow of the inwrought power of the Spirit in the soul. The eft'ects arc realized in the natural or material body, but the great cause is invested in the supernatural and divine, practically demonstrating in the physical realm, the same as in the spiritual, the application of the law of life, in the glorious deliverance from the bondage of the law of sin and death. "For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death." — Rom. 8 :2. These two laws are diametrically opposite and both spiritual. The one has been enacted by God through our Savior and Healer Jesus Christ ; the other by Satan. The executive of the law of life is the Holy Spirit. The executive of the law of sin and death is Satan and his spirits. The word of God teaches us that Satan is the afflicter and author of disease ; therefore disease is the effect of a spiritual cause, either directly or indirectly. "So went forth Satan from the presence of the Lord, and smote Job with sore boils from the sole of his foot unto his crown." — Job 2 :7. "Then was brought unto Him one possessed with a devil, blind, and dumb : and He healed him, insomuch that the blind and dumb both spake and saw." — Matt. 12 :22. "And certain women, which had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities, Mary, called Magdalene, out of whom went seven devils." — Luke 8:2. "And, behold, there was a woman which had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and was bowed together, and could in no wise life up herself. And when Jesus saw her. He called her to Him, and said unto her, Woman, MIND AND FAITH CURE. 247 thou art loosed from thine infirmity. . . . And ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan hath bound, lo, these eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the Sabbath day?" — Luke 13:11, 12, 16. "Healing all that were oppressed of the Devil ; for God was with Him."— Acts 10 :38. Satan is the author and source of sin and disease. God is the author and source of salvation and healing. It is therefore both scriptural and logical that divine healing is spiritual and super- natural, and effected only by the power of God according to the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus. THE POWER OF HEALING IN GOD's PEOPLE. The Holy Spirit being the power of healing in Jesus, we can plainly see that this same source is the power of healing in the people of God through His Holy Spirit dispensation. In the res- urrection commission Jesus commanded His disciples to go to Jerusalem and wait for the endowment of power which He had promised should be their possession, comforter, and guide, after He himself should be personally taken away from them. This is the Holy Spirit who was to work in them and through them, that which was wrought through Jesus in His ministry. *'And I will pray the Father, and He shall give you another Comforter, that He may abide with you forever ; even the Spirit of truth ; whom the woVld cannot receive, because it seeth Him not, neither knoweth Him ; but ye know Him ; for He dwelleth with you and shall be with you." — Jno. 14:16, 17. "Howbeit, when He, the Spirit of Truth, is come. He will guide you into all truth : for He shall not speak of Himself; but whatsoever He shall hear, that shall He speak : and He will show you things to come. He shall glorify Me : for He shall receive of Mine, and shall show it unto you." — Jno. 16 :13, 14. "But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you : and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the utter- most parts of the earth." — Acts 1 :8. "And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost. — Acts 2:4 "And we are His witnesses of these things ; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey Him." — Acts 5 :32. "And by the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people. Insomuch that they brought forth the sick into the streets and laid them on beds and couches, that 248 DIVINE HEALING. at least the shadow of Peter passing by might overshadow some of them. There came also a multitude out of the cities round about unto Jerusalem, bringing sick folks and them which were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed every one." — Acts 5 :12, 15, 16. "And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders, and miracles among the. people." — Acts (5:8. God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to His own will." — Heb. 2 :4. "For I will not dare to speak of any of those things which Christ hath not wrought by me, to make the Gentiles obedient, by word and deed, through mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God." — Rom. 15 :18, 19. These and other references of scripture teach us that it was the Holy Spirit that wrought all the miracles and healings in the l;fe and ministry of the apostles, both individually and intercessory. It was God in them. All their efforts would have been fuiitless of these glorious manifestations without this heaveni) endowment of power. They were the empty and clean channels through whom the Holy Ghost was conveyed to all about them, v/ho carne into the requirements of God. Nothing can be found in the word of God where these conditions were to be altered in the ministration of these blessings throughout the Holy Spirit dispensation. It is the blessed privilege of every true and humble minister of the gospel of Christ to possess this same power. Yea, more ; no one should dare undertake to preach the gospel v/ithout the endowment *of this power. The command to the disciples is equally as binding upon every disciple of Jesus today, whether a professed minister or not. "Tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high." — Luke 24:49. With this heavenly endowment of the Holy Spirit, each one of the members of the body of Christ shall be able to be a blessing and a minister of comfort and joy to those who are in sorrow, suffering and affliction. "Who com- forteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God." — 2 Cor. 1 :4. THE GIFTS OF HEALING. Among the nine gifts of the Holy Spirit mentioned in 1 Cor. 12 :8 :10, we find the gifts of healing. All these spiritual gifts are spoken of as a permanent endowment of the Spirit in the church. M I \ D A X D FAITH V V K E . 249 Some would refer to 1 Cor.l3 :8 to sustain an argument against this permanent endowment for the duration of the gospel dispensation. We will quote this verse and see that it is no foundation whatever for such an argument. "Charity never faileth : but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away." The apostle simply teaches us here that charity (love) is to continue not only through this life, but forever ; while these gifts referred to in the previous chapter are only for this life, and shall cease when their necessity shall have an end ; namely, when this gospel day, and the ministry of the gospel shall have reached its close, and the church shall have been translated to be forever with the Lord. So long as the church of God is. here upon earth and in her normal condition, she will be in possession of the Holy Spirit, and wherever the Holy Spirit exists, He will manifest Himself in the church to the edification of the same. This is all very sim- ple, and easily comprehended by all who are filled with the Spirit. All who are living in this blessed state know that these gifts are manifest, and God is glorified thereby. The church, which is the body of Christ, does not yet as fully demonstrate these things as she will in the future, by advancing into greater spiritual power, but we do not thank and praise God for what He is now do - ing among His obedient people. The Holy Spirit is Himself a gift. Luke 11:13; Jno. 7:39; 14 :1G, 2G ; 15 -26 ; 16 :18 ; Acts 2 :28 and 5 :32. He is Christ's en- dowment to His church, and ever seeks to honor Him. He gives gifts to the church, "dividing to every man severally as He will." It is evident that it is not the design of the Spirit that one mem- ber of the body of Christ should possess all of these gifts. They are distributed among the various members, who are able thereby to glorify God and edify the church, and yet it is the privilege of every member of Christ to be so filled with the Spirit that where these manifestations are a necessity for the glory of God, he can use any one as a channel of blessing in this respect. Now every child of God should feel it a sacred privilege to always be ready to lay hands on the sick and pray for them. Jesus said, " These signs shall follow them that believe ; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover." They that believe have a right to do this whenever the emergency may re- quire, regardless of any permanent endowment of the gifts of 250 DIV I N E UEALl N G . healing. Every divinely ordained elder should, and does, live m the constant position with God, where he can at any moment, day or night, be ready in faith to respond to the request of any sick one who may be led to '* call for the elders " according to James 5:14. The power and faith that bring the healing, or through which the healing may be wrought, will be given to the individual or intercessor, or both, where the conditions are fully met. This will be given for the time then present, to meet the demand of the hour, while the permanent endowment of the gifts of healing would seem to be possessed by certain ones whom the Holy Spirit chooses and qualifies to minister to the sick and suffering, impart- ing through the chosen instrumentality, to those in need, the various helps necessary to their healing. These gifts, like all of the rest spoken of in this chapter, are a great means of blessing to all who come within the scope of their power ; and when the church again reaches the apostolic plane, we shall see the true primitive type of divine healing, and its accompanying blessings and results. May God hasten the day, which is near, when the church will be clothed with all her pentecostal power and authority. THE GRACE OF HEALING. What we mean by this term is the universal and equal privi- lege of every child of God, through the redemption of Christ, to be healed, manifested to us by divine favor when He "Himself took our infirmities and bare our sicknesses." The gifts of heal- ing are designed for intercessory use in the church; and are not to be possessed by all, but the grace of healing is our individual inheritance and redemption right. Every afflicted child of God should not cease waiting upon Him in the constant exercise of faith, seeking day and night until perfect healing is found. Where the individual faith fails to reach the desired blessing, there should be the call for help, enlisting every intercessory means provided by the Holp Spirit in the church. This is what the gifts are for, They are a means to an end, the gifts to secure the grace. The indwelling Holy Spirit is ever ready to take exclusive control of every portion of this earthly temple. Our bodies arc His dwelling place. He is the very Christ-life which dwells within His people. Christ the vine, we the branches. The vine- MIND AND FAITH C IR E . 251 life must flow through the branches ; so the Hfe of Christ must flow through us. '' Know ye not that your bodies are the mem- bers of Christ ? What ? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you?" — 1 Cor. 6:15, 19. " For we which live are always delivered unto death for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh."— 2 Cor. 4:11. *'But if the spirit of Him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, He that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by His Spirit that dwelleth in you." — Rom. 8 :11. This verse is generally interpreted to have reference to the resurrection of our bodies from the grave, but we believe there is a present tense experience in the Holy Spirit explained here, the experience of quickening into health our mortal and perishable bodies, when the natural forces have given way under the power of disease. It is upon the condition of the Spirit dwelling in us, that our bodies are to be quickened. It is the power of the law of life which the apostle mentions in verse two, which makes us free from the law of sin and death. The resurrection is explained further on in the chapter. The in- dwelling possession of the Holy Spirit with all His blessed com- fort to spirit, soul and body is but the earnest of the resurrection life which shall be realized when this mortal shall put on im- mortality; but while we are clothed with this mortal body, let us ever abide in Christ where the Holy Spirit may abide in us, and by an unwavering faith in the living promises of the living Christ, keep within the quickening touch of His living power. THE MYSTERY OF INIQUITY. As the light of the gospel increases there will consequently be a corresponding increase of the transformed light of the Devil, that the true light might be kept hid from those who believe not the gospel of Christ. On the authority of the word of God we do not hesitate to say that Satan is transformed into an angel of light. 2 Cor. 11 :14. No matter what light God shines forth in His church, there will first be a mustering out of all the com.- bined powers of darkness to oppose and hinder it. When this attempt has failed, then there is a great change in the execution of the deception. The enemy transforms himself into the very light he has been trying to destroy. His opposition to the truth is 252 D I T I A E H E A L I X G. just as great, but it must now appear to have ceased altogether, that the deception may be successful. To those who are en- lightened by the Holy Spirit and the word of God, the cunning craftiness of the Devil is not concealed. All through the past centuries in the history of the church of God the workings of this mystery of iniquity have been plainly discernible. From Eden to this present time he has been at his business of deception, and will continue to be nothing but the deceiver until his final doom. Never in the history of mankind has there been so much deception as at the present time. While the light of the pure gospel is increasing, the world is flooded with multiplied doctrines of error running parallel with the truth, to such an extent that only the willing and obedient of the people of God can keep clear from the deceptions. How true in these last days are the words of Jesus : " For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders ; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect." — Matt. 24 :2L This was never more true than it is at the present time. There is nothing in this world that strikes more effectual death blows to the kingdom of darkness than the doctrine of divine healing. It means a life of faith in the church of God that otherwise could not exist, which is an irresistable power against the Devil, which, if every child of God possessed, it would soon put an eternal quietus to much of his infernal deception. The counterfeits of divine healing are numerous. From the very first, in these modern times, that God began to show to His people that Jesus Christ is the Healer, there has been born from the regions of darkness^ one after another, a variety of doctrines of healing, all of which may be clearly discerned, if weighed in the balance of God's holy word and spirit. Not only has the enemy invented new doctrines, but to more securely hold his victims, and have a deception to suit every class of humanity, he has cunningly adopted deceptions of ancient date and brought them down to the present time. It is thought by some that idolatry and superstition are decreasing, but this is a mistake. There is as much of it to-day as there ever has been, only the form of it has gone through many changes in order that the deception may continue. A recent account in the Globe-Dem- ocrat, under the title, " Cured by Faith,'' publishes a case of a Catholic boy in New York who had been paralyzed for three years MIND AND FAITH CURE. 253 and was instantly healed while looking upon a piece of the (sup- posed) wrist bone of St. Anne, the grandmother of Jesus, while the mother of the boy was praying to this departed saint. The relic was sent to this country a few years ago by Pope Leo XIII, and is kept in one of the Catholic churches in New York. The old superstition of "relic worship" is still in existence. While praying to the departed saints is in itself a Christ-dis- honoring and unscriptural practice, the abominable and heathen- ish relic-worship is also a deception of the Devil. Imagine the credulity of that mother and child standing before a piece of bone, in this so-called enlightened land, and invoking healing. What an easy prey to the deceptions of the Devil ! It may be question- able that the child was healed, but admitting that the healing was a fact but proves the truthfulness of the miraculous power of Satan ; for all who are in the light of the gospel can readily see that such gross superstition can only originate in the Devil himself. We do not hesitate to say that, to be consistent with His holy word and the plan of redemption through Jesus Christ, God cannot heal through such channels of superstition. In the name of Jesus, through faith in His name, is the only promise of the benefits of divine healing. Satan would have us pray to any- thing and anybody but God, in the name of anything and anybody but Jesus Christ ; but all such prayers are but in vain, and but open up the avenues of the soul to be filled with the awful decep- tions of darkness. While the superstitions of Rome would impose the belief in more than the divinity of Jesus Christ, the more subtle forms of error in Spiritualism, Christian and mental science, etc., ignore His divinity. This may be denied, but in order to prove the state- ment, it will only be necessary to touch upon the redemption through the blood of Christ, and all these last named advocates of healing will be up in arms. Now it matters not how souls are deceived, only so they accept something else, more or less than Christ. This gives the enemv all the opportunity he needs to introduce any form of error best adapted to the case. Humanity to-day is famishing under the power of deception. The father of lies has not spared his resources to keep himself concealed in his transformed light, but the bright- ness of the glorious gospel of the Son of God reveals the mystery of iniquity to every obedient soul. God has given us His word, which is the lamp to our feet and the light to our path. If we 254 D I y I \ E H E ALI N . but earnestly seek the way of salvation and healing, we shall find it to the joy of our hearts. Jesus says, '* I am the way, the truth, and the life," and while deceptions are great, we have a blessed security of life and health in Him. As the people of God learn more and more of the Christ-life, God will the more mani- festly stretch forth His hand to heal, and signs and wonders will be done by the name of His holy child Jesus, and the "signs and lying wonders'' of the Devil exposed. It is a question in the minds of some how it is possible that Satan can heal. There is abundant scriptural evidence that he has power to perform many wonders, and work miracles. Exo- dus, chapters 7 and 8 ; Matt. 24 :24 ; 2 Thess. 2 :9, 10 ; Rev. 13 :13, 14; Rev. 16:14. Also, that he is the author of disease and sick- ness. Job 2 :7 ; Mark 9 :25 ; 2 Cor. 12 :7. It is therefore both scriptural and logical, that the hand that has power to afflict has also the power to withdraw his affliction, which he certainly will do if he can thereby deceive, and make believe that it is God that has healed. It cannot properly be called healing, but yet it is a removal of the sickness or disease. It is very evident that there is much of this deceptive work carried on today among those who have not received the love of the truth, but have had pleasure in unrighteousness. Let us all keep very near to our blessed Re- deemer, and with an obedient heart follow Him where He leads. Thus His very life will be manifest in our mortal bodies, and we shall also know the truth, which He has promised shall make us, not only free, but free indeed. Jno. 8 :32-36. QUESTIONS ANSWERED. If healing is in the atonement, how is it that diseases were healed before the atonement was made? Just the same as sins were forgiven before the atonement was made. Jesus was foreordained before the foundation of the world to be the Redeemer. 1 Pet. 1 :20 ; Rev. 13 :8. Faith in Him se- cured the benefits of His redemption, to the extent indicated in His life and ministry. He had the power to forgive sins and heal diseases, and also had authority over all the works of the enemy ; but in all this He was only fulfilling His redemption office, and did not complete it, was not made a perfect Redeemer, until He was "delivered for our offenses, and was raised again for our justification." MIND AND FAITH CUKE. 255 Do you understand that when we are sanctified, the cause of sickness is removed? In the beginning, if there had been no sin, there would have been no sickness. Sin (transgression) opened the door to every work of the Devil. " Sin entered into the world and death by sin." Death, "dying thou shalt die," came with sin. Dying (sickness). Die (death). Individually we, by a definite act of faith in the atonement of the Redeemer, received deliverance from all the works of the Devil; but not all in one single application. A sinner repents and believes and becomes justified. The believer consecrates and believes and becomes sanctified. We may be sanctified and not have known that healing is for us, and therefore be sanctified and be sick and bound by the chains of disease, just as a person may be a child of God and not have known that he could be sanctified. As soon as he receives the fight he meets the conditions and appropriates the gifts either for sanctification or healing or both. Individually we may be sick without having committed sin. Sickness entered into the world be- cause of sin (the transgression of Adam), and because it is in the world it may fasten upon our bodies, even upon those ''that have not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression" ; but, thank God, as with sin, we can be made free through faith in the Redeemer. There are many instances of sickness caused directly by sin, and in such cases repentance precedes healing. There is no reason why those out in the light of sanctification and divine healing should not be able to be kept from sickness caused by sin ; and may God grant the faith to claim perfect health under all circumstances, so that the " inhabitant shall no more say, I am sick." We may transgress the laws of health, which are not an imputed sin against us, and yet through that, there may be an attack of sickness, but in any case we have the precious promise of the healing through the prayer of faith ; ''and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him." It is the work of Satan to lead into sin, and to bind with disease. If he cannot do both, he will be ready to do either ; all he wants is the opportunity. It is the work of Jesus to undo the works of the Devil. "He went about doing good, and heal- ing all that were oppressed of the Devil" ; and in the Holy Spirit He is doing the same today. Hallelujah ! All He wants is the opportunity. "For the law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made us free from the law of sin and death." — Rom. 8 :2. 256 Din y e h e a l i a g . Why is there provision made for sickness (Jas. 5:14, 15) for God's children, after they are saved from sin ? For the same reason that there is a provision made for sin; viz., we are hable to an attack of sickness for reasons already mentioned, and God has mercifully provided for us in such cases. How could Epaphroditus be sick after he had received the full benefit of the atonement ? For reasons already mentioned. He, like many of God's people today, may have also unwisely overtaxed his physical strength in his zeal for the cause of Christ, but whatever was the reason directly, he was nigh unto death ; but the record tells us that he did receive the benefit of the atonement and was raised up. When a person has been healed of one thing and has not faith to take the Lord for the rest, what shall be done ? Keep believing with all your heart, and like the father of the afflicted child, say," Lord I believe, help Thou mine unbelief." If we were to persevere in believing God for our healing as people do who doctor sometimes for months and years, there would be greater results in healing. There would be mighty developments of faith, and God would be glorified. We may be very thankful that modern theology cannot change the glorious gospel, or surely we would have such perver- sions of the word of God. The Great Physician has undertaken the work of redemption from sin and disease, and our part in the plan is to implicitly follow His directions. He will be re- sponsible for the results. To take medicine when trusting Him for healing, at once expresses a lack of perfect faith. Let us take His prescription and we shall never be confounded. If physicians and medicines are to be discarded, what place do you assign to Luke, "the beloved physician ?" We do not read anywhere in the history of the church that Luke practiced medicine after his calling into the gospel work. He was with Paul in much of his missionary work, but we do not have any example that he or Paul or any of the apostles ever administered medicine to the heathen in order to win them to the gospel. Luke was evidently with Paul at Troas, where the young man fell from the third story window during that all-night meet ing; also on the island of Melita, where many of the barbarous people were healed. Luke did not have his medicine chest along. Were missionaries today to go out in the power of the Hol\' Ghost and faith, there would be glorious results in winning souls. M I X D A K D FAITH CUR E . 2bl The healing power of Christ instead of materia medica, would have the same attraction today as it had in primitive times. . A missionary to the Hebrides Islands once administered medicine to a suffering native. The medicine failed to cure, and soon a plague broke out among the people. The superstitious heathen believed it came through the missionary's medicine, and concluded they must make his life pay the penalty. The poor missionary tried to explain, but to no avail. The angry mob surrounded him and clubbed him to death. How much better the God-designed plan, to go among the heathen as Paul did to the father of Pub- lius. Speaking of Luke as " the beloved physician," evidently originated from his occupation before his calling to the gospel. Is it wrong to give medicine when you believe in divine healing? There may be instances in which a person is justifiable in administering medicines, if it is known that the medicine will be helpful in removing pain or suffering, when the one to whom it is administered is not a Christian or cannot accept divine healing. Is not God sometimes glorified in sickness as in health? From a human standpoint this may seem true, but scripturally, sickness cannot glorify God any more than can sin. God is glor- ified in saving us from sin, and so also is He glorified in healing our diseases. When Lazarus was sick, Jesus said, "This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby." He was glorified in raising up Lazarus from the dead. He said to Martha that if she believed, she would see the glory of God. It was indeed a miracle that brought much glory to God. Immediately following we read that the people took branches of palm trees and went forth to meet Jesus upon His entrance into Jerusalem, and cried, "Hosanna, blessed is the King of Israel, that cometh in the name of the Lord," and the jealous Pharisees said among themselves, ''Be- hold, the world is gone after Him." In the case of the man who was born blind, we have another illustration of the glory of God in his restoration to sight. It was supposed by the disciples that either this man or his parents had sinned, because he had been born blind, but Jesus taught them that it had been permitted of God "that the works of God should be made manifest in him." He also shows by this blessed miracle what the works of God are. He said, " I must work the works of Him that sent me." All can see by His life and glorious 258 DIVINE HEALING. ministry that God's works through Him were not to destroy men's lives, but to save them ; not to afflict with disease and sickness ; for He was anointed 'Svith the Holy Ghost and with power, who went about doing good and healing all that were oppressed of the Devil, for God was with Him." — Acts 10:38. It is the works of the Devil to bind with sin and sickness, and God is never glorified in them. It is the works of God to deliver from the bondage of the Devil's power, which deliverance is al- ways to the glory of God. 'Tor this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the Devil." — 1 Jno. 3 :8. If we can live in the enjoyment of good health all the time, how can we ever die? It is supposed, generally, that we must be sick in order to die, but there is nothing in the word of God to justify such a doctrine. There is nothing to prove that any of the apostles died with disease. When God was through with Moses on earth. He kissed his life away, and although a hundred and twenty years old, *'his eye was not dim, nor his natural force abated." Of the two and one- half millions of Israel whom God brought out of Egypt, ''there was not one feeble person among their tribes." These facts sig- nify much more perhaps than many of us have paused to consider. It being the will of God that His people be kept from the power of disease, and end the days of their earthly pilgrimage in a mature age, let us live up to our privilege in the life of perfect obedience and faith, and glorify Him as did those who have gone before us. This truth by no means casts a reflection upon those of our fathers who passed away under the power of disease. Many had not known the will of God to heal. Many do not know of it today, and are yet held in the bondage of oppression. Man has sought out many inventions, and for thousands of years tried to discover natural means by which to heal diseases; yet in the face of all his boasted remedies there never was so much sorrow and suffering under the hand of disease as there is today. If there is any earthly help by which suffering and pain can be alleviated and the poor groaning world benefited in the least, every heart in which there is any sympathy would re- joice and thank God. If such be the case and man has really discovered any such natural means, it has been but the discovery of God's laws, which He in His providence has permitted for MIND AND FAITH CURE. 259 the good of fallen man. But from a logical position the inventions of man along these lines are questionable. It is a lamentable fact that where there is one person helped by human skill, there are two sent to their graves by human ignorance. Thousands of in- telligent people to-day have ignored the use of medicines and drugs from a scientific standpoint; but if there is any virtue in any of them, and sinners and poor doubting professors will take their chances of being hurried to their graves by swallowing the deadly poisons called medicines, let them have them. But God has provided a remedy for sickness, and His people have a right to accept it ; and they dishonor Him if they reject it. All other ground is sinking sand. Christ the Redeemer is the God-given remedy, and from the scriptural standpoint it is not within the power of man to heal diseases. DOES SICKNESS COME FROM GOD? It may be said that it matters not what or who it is that sends disease and sickness upon us, so long as there is a remedy pre- scribed for it in the word of God. This would be a logical manner of reasoning, were it not profitable, and in many cases necessary, for us to have some degree of knowledge of this subject for the perfect and successful exercise of faith for healing. There are many instances, doubtless, where healing has been obtained with- out such knowledge ; but as we grow in grace and in the knowledge of Christ and His great redemption plan, we will necessarily obtain a more perfect knowledge of the true law of cause and effect in the realm of the principalities and powers, with which we have to do in this life of salvation. The word and the spirit of God are the only sources of this knowledge. We are not left in darkness with reference to who or what is the source of sin, and with the same light there is revealed to us much knowledge of the source of sickness. It would be a reasonable conclusion from a human standpoint, that every good thing that can be a blessing to us comes from God, and every evil thing comes from Satan. This conclusion is also well sustained by the word of God ; but there is a truth with which every true believer becomes acquainted — that God can and does cause every evil thing from Satan, that would bring disaster and destruction upon us, to work out for our good (Rom. 8 :28), provided that we love God and constantly keep in the proper 260 f^ I y I^E HEALING. attitude toward Him. This explains how and why some of the followers of Christ say that sickness has been a blessing to them. It is only in the sense that the circumstance of trial and helpless- ness, and the exercise of faith for deliverance, have enabled the believer to become more humble and dependent upon God, and thereby obtain more grace. In this manner every trial and temp- tation can be turned into a blessing, and the purpose and design of the Devil thwarted. But it is unscriptural to conclude, because we find a blessing in such experiences, that God is the source of the temptation or sickness. There may be some difficulty on the part of some of the people of God to understand a few of the Old Testament texts, from this standpoint, but it is evident that when the whole word of God is brought to bear upon the subject, there is a beautiful harmony in the testimony of both the Old Testament and the New Testament, and that Satan is the very cause and author of sickness and disease, can be very clearly determined. In the health covenant that God made with Israel (Ex. 15:26) He says that upon the conditions of implicit obedience to all His com- mandments and statutes, and a diligent barkening to His voice, He will put none of the diseases upon them which He brought upon the Egyptians. In the description of the curses of the law (Deut. 28), God plainly instructs His people again of the fact that if they will not obey His voice He will make their plagues wonderful and great, and will bring all the diseases of Egypt upon them. Also every sickness and plague that was not written in the law, them He would bring upon them until they were de- stroyed. These scriptures are the principal ones relative to this subject that might by themselves be interpreted to teach that God is the author of disease ; but the one referred to, in which it said that He will cause the disease to ascend, plainly infers that the source of disease is from beneath. They shall ascend (not de- scend) upon them. It is perfectly in keeping with the whole word of God on this subject, to state that the only manner in which God afflicts with disease is by permitting Satan to do it. The statement of the experience of Job (Job 2 :G, 7) teaches this truth plainly. " And the Lord said unto Satan, Behold, he is in thine hand: but save his life. So Satan went forth from the presence of the Lord, and smote Job with sore boils from the sole MIND A^D FAITH CUBE. 261 of his foot to his crown." It was by divine permission that Satan was allowed to place this loathsome disease upon Job from the sole of his feet to his crown. It ascended upon him. The New Testament affords abundant evidences that Satan is the direct author of disease, and that Jesus in His redemption work on earth operated in direct opposition to all the works of the Devil, of which sickness and disease were a very prominent part. In a number of these references evil spirits and diseases are in- timately associated, while others plainly state that Satan is the afflicter. '' And His fame went throughout all Syria ; and they brought unto Him all sick people that were taken with divers diseases and torments, and those which were possessed with devils, and those which were lunatic, and those that had the palsy : and He healed them."— Matt. 4 :24. " Then was brought unto Him one possessed with a devil, blind and dumb : and he healed him, insomuch that the blind and dumb both spake and saw." — Matt 12 :22. The circumstance with which this reference is connected and the answer that Jesus made to the Pharisees (verses 22-28) enables us to see that this case of healing was spoken of as casting out a devil. From the explanation which Jesus gave in verse 29 we can see from the whole transaction that Satan and his spirits are the strong man, and that sickness and disease are his goods. He cast out the evil spirit, and healed the man of his diseases. Evil spirits and diseases bear the same relation to each other as the strong man and his goods. Jesus the stronger man binds the strong man, casts him out, and spoils his goods. " When the even was come they brought unto Him many that were possessed with devils : and He cast out the spirits with His word, and healed all that were sick." — Matt. 8 :16. In Luke we read of certain women who were healed of evil spirits. The case of the lunatic child (Mark 9:14-27), which in our time would be called epilepsy, is a plain proof that Satan is the author of disease. '' Master, I have brought unto thee my son, which hath a dumb spirit If Thou canst do any- thing, have compassion on us, and help us. When Jesus saw that the people came running together. He rebuked the foul spirit, saying unto him. Thou deaf and dumb spirit, I charge thee, come out of him. And the spirit cried and rent him sore, and came 262 DIVINE HEALING. out of him, and he was as one dead, insomuch that many said, He is dead. But Jesus took him by the hand, and Hfted him up, and he arose." In the acts of the apostles we also see that it was recognized that evil spirits and diseases were of the same nature. "There came also a multitude out of the cities round about unto Jerusa- lem, bringing sick folks, and them which were vexed with un- clean spirits : and they were healed every one." — Acts 5 :16. 'Tor unclean spirits, crying with loud voice, came out of many that \vere possessed with them : and many were taken with palsies, and that were lame, were healed." — Acts 8 :7. " And God wrought special miracles by the hands of Paul : so that from his body were brought unto the sick handkerchiefs or aprons, and the diseases departed from them, and the evil spirits went out of them." — Acts 19 :11, 12. When Peter introduced the gospel to the gentiles, he expressed the fact that diseases are the oppressions of the Devil : *' How God annointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power : who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the Devil." — Acts 10:38. The statement of Jesus Himself upon this subject should be conclusive to every Bible reader. " And, behold, there was a woman which had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and was bowed together, and could in no wise lift up herself. And when Jesus saw her. He called her to Him, and said unto her. Woman, thou art loosed from thine infirmity. And He laid His hands on her ; and immediately she was made straight, and glorified God. And the ruler of the synagogue answered with indignation, be- cause that Jesus had healed on the Sabbath day, and said unto the people, There are six days in which men ought to work : in them therefore come and be healed, and not on the Sabbath day. The Lord then answered him and said. Thou hypocrite, doth not each one of you on the Sabbath day loose his ox or his ass from the stall, and lead him away to watering? And ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan hath bound, lo, these eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the Sabbath day?"— Luke 13:11-16. A true knowledge of this scriptural doctrine is of great profit to us, who are subject to approaches of the enemy while in this life. We have found the Redeemer and His perfect remedy for sin and sickness. He is more than conqueror over all the power MIND AND FAITH CURE. 263 of the Devil. It was His work on earth to undo the work of the enemy. He came to work the works of God. His work of re- demption has not ceased. It was continued by the apostles in their ministry of the gospel. Healing was as prominent in their work as it was in the work of Jesus. The testimony of the saints through every century since then establishes the fact that healing belongs to the right of every one who believes in Jesus. None of us should willingly and submissively yield to sick- ness, except in the sense that it might be permitted of God for our temporary chastisement. In every case of sickness we should first examine our hearts before God to find out if we have dis- obeyed God and thereby made it necessary for Him to chastise us in this manner. If so, then the cause should at once be re- moved. Then we should not hold our peace day or night until the grasp of the enemy is relinquished and our healing effected. We should hate sickness with a holy hatred, and resist it stead- fast in the faith, as we would resist the Devil himself. Where our faith would prove insufficient for deliverance, we should be prompt to obey the injunction of the apostle : 'Ts any sick among you ? let him call for the elders of the church ; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord ; and the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up ; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him. Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for an- other, that ye may be healed." — Jas. 5 :14-16. SUMMARIZED QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ON DIVINE HEALING. Question. What is divine healing? Answer. Divine healing is the act of God's grace by the direct power of the Holy Spirit, by which the physical body is delivered from sickness and disease and restored to soundness and health. Qnes. Have we any promises in the Bible that divine heal- ing was ever intended to be an attainable blessing to the people of God? Ans. Yes. There are many such promises. We find it given to the children of Israel in a special covenant promise. "If thou wilt diligently harken to the voice of the Lord thy God, and wilt do that which is right in His sight, and wilt give ear to His com- mandments, and keep all His statutes, I will put none of these 264 DI V I A' E HEALl N G . diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egpytians ; for I am the Lord that healeth thee." — Ex. 15 :26. "And ye shall serve the Lord your God, and He shall bless thy bread and thy water ; and I will take sickness away from the midst of thee." — Ex. 23:25. Ques, Does the Bible prove that any of the people of God ever enjoyed this blessing? Ans. Yes. We read that even before this covenant blessing was promised, the physical condition of the people was perfect, which indicates plainly that God had a special interest in their health. See Ps. .105 :37. There were at least two and one-half million people in the exodus from Egypt, "and there was not one feeble person among their tribes." Moses enjoyed this blessing in a special manner. Deut. 34 :7. So did Caleb in an unusual experience of preservation of health to an old age. Josh. ]4:10, 11. David personally knew the benefits and blessings of healing. Ps. 6 :2 ; 30 :2 ; 103 :l-4. Whenever Israel lived up to the covenant conditions, they all had the benefits of healing and health. Ps. 107 :20 ; 2 Chron. 30 :20. Hezekiah had a personal experience of the same. 2 Kings 20 :l-5. Ques. Was this blessing ever promised to any one else than the Jews ? Ans. Yes. It is given in prophecy as a redemption blessing, which, with all other gospel blessings through Christ, is offered to both Jew and Gentile. Gal. 3 :27-29. Ques. What does prophecy say about divine healing? Ans. There is more said about it in prophecy than we have time at present to read, but I will just quote a few verses, and the rest can be read at your leisure. "Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped. Then shall the lame man leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb sing." — Isa. 35 :5, 6. This very prophecy is referred to by Jesus himself in Matt. 11 :5, 6. where it was daily being fulfilled — "The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached unto them." Another very plain prophecy is found in Isa. 53 :4 — "Surely He hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows." The fulfillment of this wonderful voice of inspiration is found in Matt. 8 :17 — "Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses." It is admitted by all reliable translators and the most eminent Hebrew scholars, such as Barnes, Magee, Young, and Leeser, Miyn AND FAITH CURE. 265 that Isa. 53 A in its literal rendering corresponds exactly with Matt. 8 :17. We see, therefore, that the latter is a direct reference to the former. Then the beautiful prophecy of salvation and healing is found in the following verse, viz. : Isa. 53 :5 — -"But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities : the chastisement of o^r peace was upon Him ; and with His stripes we are healed." These prophecies all point to the redemption work of Jesus, which finds its center in the cross. The apostle Peter refers to this verse just quoted in the following language : "Who His own self bare our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteous- ness : by Whose stripes ye were healed," — 1 Pet. 2 :24. The fol- lowing references will enable you to see that more is said in prophecy about healing: Isa. 42:7; Isa. 61:1. Fulfilled in Luke 4:18-21.' Prophecy in Mai. 4:2. Fulfilled in Matt. 4:10; Luke 1 :78, 79. These are all fulfilled in redemption. Ques. Do you believe that the Bible teaches divine healing as a redemption blessing? Ails. Yes. Do you not see how plain this is made in the prophecies just quoted and in their fulfillment? Jesus worked in every respect, in His life, ministry, death, and resurrection, just according to the redemption plan. His words and deeds are thtt divine expression of this redemption plan, and we can clearly see that healing for the body is placed upon an equal with healing for the soul. Both are obtained upon the same grounds — obedience and faith. Ques. Can a person possess salvation without healing? Ans. Yes ; he may. While both are obtained by faith, yet they may not both be obtained by the same act of faith. Jesus will be to us just what our faith takes Him for. Ques. Did Jesus heal everybody? Ans. Yes ; all who came to Him in faith. Read Matt. 4 :23, 24 and Matt. 12 :15. Ques. But they did not seem to have faith, did they? Ans. Yes. If you read the references just mentioned, you will notice the people "came to Him" for healing, and "followed Him." At Nazareth, His own town where He had been brought up. He could do no great work among them, because of their unbelief. At Capernaum, where some of the most remarkable healings were wrought, the people were a believing people. Out of nineteen of the most prominent individual cases of healing in the ministry 266 DIVINE HEALING. of Christ and the apostles, there are twelve of these where their faith is spoken of. The rest are mentioned sufficiently plain to show that faith brought the healing in every case. Ques. Did not Jesus heal arbitrarily, for the sole purpose of establishing His divinity ? Ans. No. He healed according to the law of redemption, and because of His great compassion to suffering humanity. Matt. 14:14. Ques. Did not healing cease when Jesus finished His earthly ministry ? Ans. No. It was more wonderfully manifested in the min- istry of the apostles, after the day of Pentecost. Acts. 5 :12-16 ; 3:1-16; 14:8-10; 9:17, 18; 8:6-8; 19:11, 12; 14:19, 20; 9:33-35; 36 :42 ; 20 :8-12 ; 28 :3-6, 8. This proves clearly that divine healing is a redemption blessing for the entire Holy Spirit dispensation. Ques. But we are taught that it was only for the beginning of the gospel dispensation. How about that? Ans. The Bible does not teach any such doctrine. Ques. But does it not teach that ''when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away"? — 1. Cor. 13 :10. How about this ? Ans. This scripture has no reference to divine healing or any other of the redemption blessings, that they shall be done away in this dispensation. If there ever has been a time in this dispensation when it could have been said with reference to the full possession and manifestation of the gospel blessings, that "that which is perfect is come," it was when the Holy Ghost came at Pentecost: but we see that after that these mighty works of salvation were in no sense "done away," but were greatly increased. So you see the "done away" argument has no scrip- tural basis whatever. As long as the dispensation of grace shall last, so long shall the benefits of grace be extended to "whosoever will." Ques. Well, then, when was divine healing done away with ? Ans. In the design of God it was never done away. Ques. Do you mean to say that it was perpetuated in the primitive church? Ans. Certainly it was. History shows that for several cen- turies there was no other means of healing practiced in the church. Ques. But what after that ? Ans. Just what crowded out all the gospel truths — the super- MIND AND FAITH CURE. 267 stition and unbelief of the apostasy. But, thank God, the dark- ness is past and the Sun of Righteousness with heaHng in His wings is shining salvation and health to all who will forsake all their old doctrines, creeds, and superstitions, and get back upon the old apostolic foundation, the Word of God. Qties. But how may I know that it is still God's will to heal ? Ans. Just as you may know that it is His will to save — ^by His word. His word is His will. Qiies. But it may be His will not to heal me. Ans. You must go outside of God's word to find standmg ground for such a conclusion ; for there is nothing inside of the Bible about healing, but what corresponds with the blessed text: ''Himself took our infirmities and bare our sicknesses." Most people who argue that it might not be God's will to heal them, are at the same time taking medicine and employing every possible human agency to get well. Why be so inconsistent ? Why fight God's will ? If it is His will for us not to get well, then die. Stop fighting against God. Ques. But does not sickness come from God as a blessing? Ans. No. It never comes from God only in a permissive sense, the same as a temptation comes to us ; and sickness is never a blessing to us only as any other temptation or trial may be con - sidered a blessing. The blessing is in the deliverance and healing. Every person who has ever experienced the healing touch of God knows what a blessing to the soul comes with it. Sickness is an abnormal condition of the body and can not be a blessing from God. Ques. If it does not come from God, then where does it come from? Ans. It comes from the Devil, and was always dealt with by Jesus in His earthly ministry as a work of the Devil. The word of God plainly teaches us that the Devil is the author of disease. Read Job. 2 :7 ; Luke 3 :16 ; Acts 1 :38. Ques. But are there not some other scriptures that teach us that sickness comes from God? Ans. Only in a permissive sense. Ques. Does the Bible teach that God intends to be the healer of His people without the use of medicine ? Ans. Yes. It nowhere commands the use of medicine with prayer and faith. Ques. But how about Hezekiah's figs, the blind man's clay, and Timothy's wine? 268 DIVINE HEALI N G . Alls. It is true Isaiah told Hezekiah to take a lutnp of figs, but this has nothing to do with the New Testament means of heahng. Also it is very evident that the figs did not heal him; but God said, "I will heal thee." Jesus did not use the day on the eyes of the blind man for any curative power ; for He com- manded the man at once to go and wash it off. No one has heard of born blindness being healed by the use of clay as a medicine since then, or ever before. It is evident that the spittle and clay were used by Jesus as a requirement of submission and obedience from the blind man. The thought must have been repulsive and humiliating to him as the clay was applied to his eyes, but like Naaman he submitted and obeyed and received the blessing un- speakable, of healing. The juice of the grape was recommended to Timothy as an article of diet, and would not be objectionable today, in its proper use, under similar circumstances. Qiics. Are not medicines recognized in the word of God? A]is. Yes. Let us read how it recognizes them. "Thou hast no healing medicines." — Jer. 30 :13. *Tn vain shalt thou use many medicines." — Jer. 4() :11. "A merry heart doth good like a medi- cine." (margin, to a medicine, showing that the merry heart is better than the medicine.) — Prov. 17:22. "And the fruit thereof shall be for meat, and the leaf thereof for medicine." — Ezek. 4() :12. This latter reference does not mean any material remedy, but is prophetical of the tree of life and divine healing. See also Rev. 22 :2. Thus we see the word of God places no intrinsic value upon medicine. Qiies. Is not the ministry of physicians for the body designed by God, the same as the ministry of the gospel for the soul ^ Ans. No. The greater portion of the physicians of the land are ungodly people, many of them professed infidels, and were never designed of God to administer drugs and poisons to any one ; much less to the people of God, whose bodies are the sacred temples of the Holy Spirit. The true ministers of the gospel are ministers for soul and body. "And they departed and went through the towns, preaching the gospel, and healing everywhere. — Luke 9 :6. "And they went forth, and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them, and confirming His word with signs following."— Mark 16 :20. Ques. But is not the ministry of physicians recognized in the Bible? Ans. Yes. Let us read how it recognizes them. "But ye are MIND AND FAITH C IR E . 269 forgers of lies, ye are all physicians of no value." — Job 13 :4. "And Asa in the thirty and ninth year of his reign was diseased in his feet, until his disease was exceeding great : yet in his disease he sought not to the Lord, but to the physicians." — 2 Chron. 16 :12. ''And had suffered many things of many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse." — Mark 5 :26. These scriptures show that the Bible gives no very favorable recognition of physicians. Ques. Was not anointing with oil the mode of doctoring in Bible times ? Ans. No. While some kinds of oil may have some medical value for some kinds of disease, it was not at all designed for any such use in connection with the prayer of faith in healing the sick. If anointing was the mode of doctoring, the church Avould have had no need of instruction in this respect ; for it would have been a common practice everywhere by the doctors, and had this been the mind of the apostle, then he would have assigned the work of anointing to the doctors, and his instructions would have been given something after the following ridiculous manner, which ought to make every divine-healing-fighter hide his face with shame : Is any sick among you ? let him send for the doctor and let him anoint him, and the anointing shall save the sick. The effectual fervent use of such anointing availeth much. It would be wisdom for professed ministers of the gospel to take an attitude toward God's word which would harmonize with it. It would be more honest to declare outright that they do not believe the Jiible than to try to cover up their unbelief by perverting it, God has assigned this sacred ministry of anointing and praying the prayer of faith for healing the sick to the elders of His church. Ques. But do you not think that we ought to employ a physician and then ask God to bless the medicine ? Ans. No. That is not God's way of healing, and furthermore it is a question to many intelligent and scientific people about the use of poisonous drugs and medicines which are so generally rsed today. Ques. What! Do you mean to say that there is no healing virtue in medicines and drugs? Ans. According to many of the medical authorities there is not. Whatever benefit there may be in them, there is evidently much more harm done by their use than there is good. Dr. Jas. B. Bell of Boston, an eminent physician and believer in divine heal- 270 DIVIDE HEALING. ing, in writing about the blind faith of people in the use of patent medicines, says: "But to be faithful, I must also warn you against the use of drugs by physicians. Narcotics, sedatives, stimulants, tonics, quinine, antipyrine, and hundreds of others, are injiu'ing brains and nerves, stomachs and livers, bringing on heart failure, and doing far more harm than good." Dr. Oliver Wendell Holmes said that if all the drugs were cast into the sea, it would be better for humanity, but worse for the fishes. Dr. Bell said : "I believe that if the advice of Dr. Holmes were followed, and physicians would confine themselves to giving good advice and mechanical and surgical aid when needed, the mortality would improve four or five per cent., or, in other words, there would be a saving of about 3,000 lives (annually) in New England alone, and probably much more than that." In speaking of the belief of some who would take medicine and then ask God to bless it, he says, "If what Dr. Holmes says is true, it would require a miracle to save the fishes, and how much more to save the people ; how much more divine power, so to speak, to overcome both the disease and the ill effect of the drugs? Many testimonies of noted and honored men who have spent their lives in the study and practice of medicine can be given, which show the danger and uncertainty of drugs. Qiies. What attitude do physicians generally take toward divine healing? Ans. We will let Dr. Bell answer. He says: "I would say first, There can be no antagonism between the medical profession and divine healing. (Of course, he must have reference to good conscientious people of the profession.) First, because of the vast number of incurable cases for which medical or surgical treatment can do little or nothing. New England has 4,600,000 inhabitants, of whom 1,500 die every year of cancer, 15,000 of consumption, and about 80,000 from all causes. Can you believe that the medical profession would not welcome the incoming of a measure of divine power which would save all this suffering, and prolong all these lives, or, at least, of the useful and saved ones, till three score years and ten? Or, if only a few should have the faith to grasp this blessing, what physician can there be found who would not rejoice? It is not the M. D.'s but the D. D.'s who oppose this teaching." Qitcs. Why do the D. D.'s oppose it? Alls. Because of their shameful cowardice. Many of them, if MIND AND FAITH CURE. 271 not all, can not but see this precious doctrine in the Bible: but there are a very few if any of these men, who are preaching for salary who have the moral or Christian courage to preach the full gospel. Their salary and reputation are at stake, and they are very careful to preach nothing that will offend their vv^orldly supporters. This is a great wrong, and every man who thus keeps back the truth from the people will have to answer for ' t at the great day of reckoning. Because they are afraid to preach the truth they try to make themselves disbelieve it, and to justify themselves they must oppose it. Ques. Was not Luke spoken of as the beloved physician ? Ans. Yes (in Col. 4 :14) ; but this does not signify that he was practicing after he went into the gospel work. There is no record, nor the slightest intimation, that -he did. It was evident that he was present with Paul at Troas where the young man Eutychus was restored to life. However, there is nothing said about Luke interfering with any medical suggestions. He was called the physician in this reference, very likely because of his former pro- fession. Ques. If healing is for us all, how can we ever die? Ans. The same as the patriarchs, prophets, apostles, the saints of the first three centuries, and many of them in the nineteentli century — without disease, ''like as a shock of corn cometh in in his season." There were many also whose lives were cut short by martyrdom. There is not the slightest shadow of intimation in the Bible that we must die of disease. Ques. Why is it then that so many of our fathers and mothers have died of disease? Ans. Because divine healing has been so little taught. Manv never heard about it, only that it could not be obtained in this life. Ques. Why are there some who believe in healing, and seem- ingly fail to obtain it ? Ans. There are many reasons why. Many people do not give God a fair chance to heal them, because they will not meet all the conditions of His Word. There are thousands of secret sins, each one of them enough to hinder their faith from laying hold upon God. The apostle says : ''Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God. And whatsoever we ask, we receive of Him, because we keep His commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in His sight." — 1 Jno. 3 :21, 22. It means much to live in God's sight where our hearts condemn us 272 DIVINE HEALING. not. Some also who come to God for healing, come only to "try healing," as they would try some new doctor. They would be glad to buy it with money, but when they find that it costs every sin and requires a holy walk with God, they become offended and get nothing from God. Jesus said in connection with healing (Matt 11:6) : "Blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in Me." Others whose faith is not sufficient at the time to grasp the promises and get the blessing, become discouraged and give up ; whereas, they should keep upon believing ground until the bless- ing comes. Qncs. But are there not a few who seem to have met every condition and still fail to get the blessing? Alts. Yes, apparently so. Yet it is evident that some of the conditions have not been met. It may be no fault on the part of the individual, only that it may be the lack of determined faith : but whatever it may be, there is a lack on the part of the indi- vidual somewhere; for God's part is complete, and when ours is the work must be done. As the church advances in spiritual light and power, there will be a better understanding of some of these cases. Qiies. Should a person who can not seem to get the blessing, then go to taking medicine ? Ans. No. He should get nearer to God, and wait upon Him in importunity until his faith brings the blessing. Qnes. But suppose he does not get it then ? Ans. Faith does not suppose. Qnes. But have not some died while thus waiting on God ? Ans. If they have, they have honored God by dying in the faith. If some unknown cause hindered their faith from getting hold on God, and God would not heal, then no human remedy could help them. In such a case what God would not do, man conid not do. Qnes. How about innocent children, and persons whose af- flictions render them incapable of exercising faith ? Ans. In such cases intercessory faith will bring the blessing for them. Ques. What is intercessory faith ? Ans. It is the exercise of faith by one person for another. Parents can exercise faith for the healing of their children, or any child of God can help another. Qnes. Can intercessory faith bring healing to another person who is responsible to obey and believe for himself? MIND AND FAITH CURE. 273 Ans. Yes. There may be cases where this is done for the time, but in every case, each responsible person must sooner or later come to the place where his individual responsibility must be acted upon, and perfect obedience rendered to God. Ques. What steps must be taken to obtain healing? Ans. Obedience and faith. Ques. What means must be used? Ans. There are different scriptural means. 1. Anointing with oil and the prayer of faith. James 5 :14:. 2. Laying on of hands of them that believe. Mark 16 :18. 3. The praver of faith individuallv. John 15 :7 ; 2 Kings 20:1-5. 4. The prayer of faith through one or more intercessors. John 4:49, 50; Matt. 8:5, 13; 9:2, 8. Qfies. Is it not possible that people may be healed through Satanic power? Ans. Yes. The Devil has power to work miracles (Rev. 16 :13, 14), and when souls can be the easier deceived by them, he will give the deception. He is the author of disease, and has power to remove it, if by so doing he can more easily hold his subjects in darkness. Every professed healer, or teacher of heal- ing, and every one who claims healing, who denies the blood of Christ as the sacrifice for sin, is Antichrist and of the Devil ; no matter what miraculous manifestations of healing, or otherwise, they may claim to produce. Gal 1 :8, 9. Ques. How may we know the difference between these coun- terfeits and the teachers of divine healing? Ans. Every true minister of the gospel preaches divine healing to a greater or less extent, depending upon the light received, and always demands the Bible requirements of every sinner — "repent- ance towards God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ" — and never claims to heal any one, but simply prays the prayer of faith, and attributes all healing power to God through Jesus Christ, and never takes any fees for such service. Ques. Does not God give the "gifts of healing" to some? Ans. Yes. This is one of the gifts of the Holy Spirit (1 Cor. 12:9, 30.), which is given to such persons in the church of God as can glorify Him therewith. The gifts of healing are the various scriptural means designed of God to be used in cases of emergency by every true minister and child of God, but, as an individual endowment, to certain ones who are called and qualified by the Holy Spirit to the ministry of healing. 274 DIVINE HEALING. Ques. What is the grace of healing ? Ans. It is our redemption right to heaHng, the same as justifi- cation and sanctification, purchased for us through the atonement and offered to all who will meet the Bible conditions. Ques. Is it right then for us always to pray for each other's healing and health ? Ans. Yes. "Beloved, I wish (pray) above all things, that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.'' — 3 Jno. 2. "Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed." — Jas. 5 :16. PART II. An Illustrated Graphic History of the Life of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Biographical Sketch and Biblical History of His Teachings and Wonderful Miracles Performed While Here on Earth. THE NATIVITY OF OUR LORD AND SAVIOR, JESUS CHRIST. MIND AND FAITH CURE. 279 THE NATIVITY OF OUR LORD AND SAVIOR,. JESUS CHRIST. (LUKE 2:6-11.) ''And it came to pass in those days that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed. ''(And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) ''And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. "And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, unto the city of David, which is called Beth- lehem, (because he was of the house and lineage of David). "To be taxed, with Mary, his espoused wife, being great with child. "And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were ac- complished that she should be delivered. "And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger ; because there was no room for them in the inn. "And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. "And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them ; and they were sore afraid. "And the angel said unto them, Fear not : for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. "For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ, the Lord. Let us today go down to Bethlehem, and, in company with wondering shepherds and adoring Magi, let us see Him who was born King of the Jews, for we, by faith, can claim, an interest in Him, and sing, "Unto us a child is born; unto us a son is given." Jesus is Jehovah incarnate, our Lord and our God, and yet our bro- ther and friend ; let us adore and admire. Let us notice at the very first glance His miraculous conception. It was a thing unheard of before, and unparalleled since, that a virgin should conceive and bear a son. "The Lord hath created a new thing in earth ; a wo- man shall compass a man." The first promise ran thus : "The seed of the woman/' not the offspring of the man. Since venturous woman led the way in the sin which brought forth Paradise lost, 280 D IV IN E H EALING . she, and she alone, ushers in the Regainer of Paradise. Our Savior, although truly man, was, as to His human nature, the Holy One of God. By the power of the Holy Spirit, He was born of the virgin without the taint of original sin which apper- tains to all those who are born of the flesh. Let us reverently bow before the Holy Child whose innocence restores to manhood its ancient glory ; and let us pray that He may be formed in us, the hope of glory. Fail not to note His humble parentage. His mother, our morning's portion describes simply as "a virgin," not a princess or prophetess, nor a matron of large estate. True, her lineage was not to be despised, for the blood of kings ran in her veins ; nor was her mind a weak and untaught one, for she could sing most sweetly a song of praise; but yet how humble her po- sition, how poor the man to whom she stood affianced, and how miserable the accommodation afforded to the new-born King! Thus has poverty become consecrated, and men of low estate are exalted to honor. Every believer is a portarit of Christ, but a poor saint is the same well-drawn picture hung in the selfsame frame of poverty which surrounds the Master's image. We esteem every day alike, but still, as the season and the gen- eral custom suggest thoughts of Jesus, let us joyfully remember our dear Redeemer's glorious birth. Every day should be the birthday of the Savior to a renewed soul. Amid all that is humili- ating, there is much that is honorable in the circumstances of the birth of our Immanuel. Whose birth was ever ushered in by a long train of prophecy, or longed for by such a multitude of hearts ? Who but He can boast of a forerunner who marked Him as the coming Man ? When did angels indulge in midnight songs, or did God ever hang a new star in the sky before ? To whose cradle did rich and poor make so willing a pilgrimage, and offer such hearty and unsought oblations? Well may earth rejoice; well may all men cease their labor to celebrate "the great birthday" of Jesus. O Bethlehem, house of bread, we see in thee our hopes forever gratified. 'Tis He, the Savior, long foretold, to usher in the age of gold. Let gladness rule the hour ; let holy song and sweet heart- music accompany our soul in its raptures of delight. The golden name, Immanuel, is inexpressibly delightful. It is a word fit for the lips of cherubim for its majesty, but because of its marvellous condescension, none but men can utter it. He is not so with seraphs as He is zvith us. God with us in our nature, in our sorrow, in our lifework, in our punishment, in our grave, and M I N D A N D FAI T H C U R E . 281 now with us, or rather we with Him, in resurrection, ascension, triumph, and second advent splendor. The Babe of Bethlehem appears to be manifestly with us in weakness and in poverty ; let us not forget that He is equally near us in His glory and honor. Faith clasps the child, and love kisses Him with the kisses of her lips. O for true spiritual fellowship with Immanuel all this day ! When a person is dear, everything connected with him becomes dear for His sake. Thus, so precious is the person of the Lord Jesus in the estimation of all true believers that everything about Him they consider to be inestimable beyond all price. "All thy garments smell of myrrh, and aloes, and cassia," said David, as if the very vestments of the Savior were so sweetened by His per- son that he could not but love them. Certain it is, that there is not a spot where that hallowed foot hath trodden — there is not a word which those blessed lips have uttered — nor a thought which His loving Word has revealed — which is not to us precious beyond all price. And this is true of the names of Christ — they are all sweet in the believer's ear. Whether He be called the Husband of the Church, her Bridegroom, her Friend ; whether He be styled the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world — the King, the Prophet, or the Priest — every title of our Master — Shiloh, Im- manuel, Wonderful, the Mighty Counsellor — every name is like the honeycomb dropping with honey, and luscious are the drops that distill from it. But if there be one name sweeter than another in the believer's ear, it is the name of Jcsns. Jesus ! It is the name which moves the harps of heaven to melody. Jesus ! the life of all our joys. If there be one name more charming, more precious than another, it is this name. It is woven into the ver}) warp and woof of our psalmody. Many of our hymns begin with it, and scarcely any, that are good for anything, end without it. It is the sum total of all delights. It is the music with which the bells of heaven ring ; a song in a word ; an ocean for comprehension, al- though a drop for brevity ; a matchless oratorio in two syllables ; a gathering up of the hallelujahs of eternity in five letters. ''Jesus, I love Thy charming name ; 'Tis music to mine ear." 282 DIVINE U IJ ALI N U . GOD INCARNATE. Hark ! the herald-angels sing, ''Glory to the newborn King; Peace on earth, and mercy mild ; God and sinners reconciled." Joyful, all ye nations, rise. Join the triumphs of the skies ; With angelic hosts proclaim, "Christ is born in Bethlehem." Christ, by highest heaven adored, Christ, the everlasting Lord ; Veiled in flesh the Godhead see ; Hail, incarnate Deity ! Hail the heaven-born Prince of peace! Hail the Sun of Righteousness ! Light and life to all He brings. Risen with healing in His wings. Charles Wesley. THE MAGI ON THEIR JOURNEY ^,;.^^^' C.ALlFO 9.^ MIND AND FAITH CURE. 285 THE MAGI ON THEIR JOURNEY. (matt. 2:1, 2.) ''Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the East to Jerusalem, "Saying, Where is He that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen His star in the east, and are come to worship Him." What was the subject of their praise? They praised God for what they had heard — for the good tidings of great joy that a Savior was born unto them. Let us copy them ; let us also raise a song of thanksgiving that we have heard of Jesus and His salva- tion. They also praised God for what they had seen. There is the sweetest music — what we have experienced, what we have felt within, what we have made our own — "the things which we have made touching the King." It is not enough to hear about Jesus: mere hearing may tune the harp, but the fingers of living faith must create the music. If you have seen Jesus with the God- given sight of faith, suffer no cobwebs to linger among the harpstrings, but loud to the praise of sovereign grace, awake your psaltery and harp. Paschal Lamb, by God appointed. All our sins were on Thee laid ; By Almighty Love anointed, Thou hast full atonement made. All Thy people are forgiven Through the virtue of Thy blood ; Opened is the gate of heaven : Peace is made 'twixt man and God. PRESENTATION OF JESUS IN THE TEMPLE. (LUKE 2:22-34.) "And when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were accomplished, they brought Him to Jerusalem, to pre- sent Him to the Lord ; 286 DIVINE HEALING. ''And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon ; and the same man zvas just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel : and the Holy Ghost was upon him. ''And it was revealed tmto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ. "And he came by the Spirit into the temple : and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for Him after the custom of the law, "Then he took Him up in his arms, and blessed God, and said, Lord, now lettest Thou thy servant depart in peace, according to Thy word, for mine eyes have seen Thy salvation." "Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people ; "A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of Thy people Israel. "And Joseph and His mother marvelled at those things which were spoken of Him. "And Simeon blessed them, and said unto Mary, his mother. Behold this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel ; and for a sign which shall be spoken against." My soul doth magnify the Lord, My spirit doth rejoice; To Thee my Savior and my God I lift my joyful voice. I need not go abroad for joys, I have a feast at home; My sighs are turned into songs, My heart has ceased to roam. Down from above the blessed Dove Is come into my breast. To witness Thine eternal love. And give my spirit rest. My God, I'll praise Thee while I live, And praise Thee when I die. And praise Thee when I rise again. And to eternity. THE FLIGHT INTO EGYPT. MIX D AX D FAIT H CURE . 289 THE FLIGHT INTO EGYPT. (matt. 2:13, 14.) "And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying. Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word : for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him. "When he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night and departed into Egypt." Bitter mourning and woe were brought upon Bethlehem by Herod, but his purpose to slay Jesus was baffled, for when the wise men had departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, ''Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word, for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him." When he arose, he took the young child and his mother, by night, and departed into Egypt, and was there until the death of Herod, that it might be fulfilled which .was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, "Out of Egypt have I called My Son." The artist has here presented a very sweet and tender scene. The little group of father, mother and child, with their plodding, patient beast, have just mounted some rising ground, from which Joseph throws a backward glance of troubled watchfulness, while Mary's countenance, raised to heaven, seems to rest in the help she so divinely seeks ; the child, alone unconscious, dreams in its mother's arms a wakeful dream under the deep, calm skies. THE RETURN FROM EGYPT. (matt. 2:19-21.) "But when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord ap- peareth in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, "Saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and go into the land of Israel : for they are dead which sought the young child's life. "And he arose, and took the young child and his mother, and came into the land of Israel." 290 DIVINE HE\A LING. THE FATHER SENT THE SON TO BE THE SAVIOR OF THE WORLD. (1 JOHN 4:14.) It is a sweet thought that Jesus Christ did not come forth with- out His Father's permission, authority, consent, and assistance. He was sent of the Father, that He might be the Savior of men. We are too apt to forget, that while there are distinctions as to the persons in the Trinity, there are no distinctions of honor. We too frequently ascribe the honor of our salvation, or at least the depths of its benevolence, more to Jesus Christ than we do to the Father. This is a very great mistake. What if Jesus came ? Did not His Father send Him? If He spake wondrously, did not His Father pour grace into His lips, that He might be an able minister of the new covenant ? He who knoweth the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Ghost as he should know them, never setteth one before another in his love; he sees them at Bethlehem, .at Gethsemane, and on Calvary, all equally engaged in the work of salvation. O Christian, hast thou put thy confidence in the Man Christ Jesus? Hast thou placed thy reliance solely on Him? And art united with Him? Then believe that thou art united unto the God of heaven. Since to the Man Christ Jesus thou art a brother, and boldest closest fellowship, thou art linked thereby with God the Eternal, and "the Ancient of days" is thy Father and thy Friend. Didst thou ever consider the depth of lo\e in the heart of Jehovah, when God the Father equipped His Son for the great enterprise of mercy ? If not, be this thy day's medita- tion. The Father sent Him ! Contemplate that subject. Think how Jesus works what the Father wills. In the wounds of the dying Savior see the love of the great I ±\M. Let every thought of Jesus be also connected with the Eternal, ever blessed God, for "it pleased the Lord to bruise Him ; He hath put Him to grief." 11 ILmm ^ K \ m i 1 w U ^F^m^M m k mM^ 1 •4< .-K^Wf B ■' 4 ' Hi^ 2a ^^^ i ^/ ./%^-" ^i: r^^ •»-'*;, ; J^ ^P q ,S B ^ '■ > r »'y I J -'?*■,<•■"' m^^m .\ i. aM '^f' ^mi |H|HH||PP^