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nation of the Jews, to whom the promise of Christ's kingdom was first given, shall be for their unbelief rejected; shall be sentenced to a condition of endless anguish, "there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth."

If then with this centurion we have through God's mercy been invited to sit down in the kingdom of heaven, let us take heed lest, like the former children of the kingdom, we also be cast out. Of the millions whose spiritual darkness we are accustomed to regard with pity, we know not how many are, according to their means, more ready to come to Christ for his light, than we who dwell in its full radiance are willing to profit by its use. We think not how, whilst we neglect our Christian calling, many from the east and west are striving to enter in at the strait gate, and must hereafter rise up in the judgment and condemn us! Better will it be found then to have been a centurion of Rome, believing in Christ, than a descendant of Abraham, rejecting his word; better to have been bred in heathen

error, with a heart desirous to do God's will, than to have known the Gospel of Christ without obeying it, to have assumed his name only to disgrace it. No pride we may now take in being called Christians, no profession of belief we may utter, with hearts engrossed by the things of sense, will avail before the all seeing eye of Him with whom we shall have to do. The faith which will then commend us to his mercy, is that which has already received his praise; is that which, though confirmed by reason, is founded on his word, and exercised in humility, in reverence, and in love. The proof of it remains to be hereafter considered; and let us in the mean time pray, that where it is yet wanting, He may graciously impart it, where feeble strengthen it, where wavering stablish it, where flourishing preserve it stedfast, where finally triumphant crown it with glory.

SERMON VIII.

THE CENTURION'S FAITH PROVED.

MATT. 8. 13.

And Jesus said unto the centurion, Go thy way, and as thou hast believed, so be it done unto thee. And his servant was healed in the self-same hour.

IN the history of this miracle, it appears that the centurion's faith was adorned by humility, and charity; that it consisted in trusting to the word of Christ, without requiring his presence; and that it was praised by our Lord's declaration, "I have not found so great faith, no not in Israel." We are now to consider further, to what proof it was put by our Lord, by what plain and undeniable test it was shewn to be sincere, lively, and effectual. "And Jesus said unto the centurion, Go

thy way, and as thou hast believed, so be it done unto thee."

"Go thy way;" that is, I take thee at thy word, thou hast bid me not come under thy roof, but speak the word only, and thy servant should be healed. To prove whether thou believest this in reality, I will even stay apart from thy sick servant, and I undertake that according to thy faith so shall be his recovery. If thou dost not believe in earnest, expect not to find him whole; but if thy faith be true, so truly also shall he be healed. "And his servant was healed in the self-same hour." Thus was most plainly shewn the divine power of our Lord, thus most fully justified his praise of the centurion's faith. Had that servant not been healed, had he not recovered the self-same hour, little would his master have deserved so high commendation, vain would have been proved his profession of belief, false his assumption of humility. All was to be exposed or all to be made good by this single test. They who heard his words would witness

also the manner in which they were put to the proof, would know whether his servant was healed or not, and would judge accordingly of how he had believed.

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Nor was this method useful as a testimony only to others; but also for the self-examination of the centurion. For the heart is deceitful above all things;" (Jer. 17. 9.) and even he who supposed himself most in earnest in professing a faith so excellent, might yet tremble to have it tried by that exact measure," as thou hast believed, so be it done unto thee." And in this view of the text as a test and proof of faith we may be confirmed by a corresponding expression of our Lord's, when He healed the two blind men. First He asked them, "Believe ye that I am able to do this?" And on their answering Yea, Lord;" He replied, "According to your faith be it unto you." (Matt. 9. 29.)

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Observe then how this proposal was calculated to try the earnestness of his faith, its intensity, whether it were sincere, whether it were real, in short, whether it

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