Vol. 2

—CHAPTER VI. 379great multitude of people out of all Judea and Jerusalem,and from the sea-coast of Tyre and Sidon,which came to hear him, and to be healed of theirdiseases; 18. And they that were vexed with uncleanspirits : and they were healed."We see here a representation of the church sojourningon earth under the conduct of the pastors.All their functions are reduced to two, wliich areto instruct by the ministry of the word,by the sacraments;and to healand all the duties of the faithfulcome within the same compass, namely. To hear theword of God, and to use their utmost endeavours tobe healed of their passions and their sins.Faith isnot wanting to those who follow Christ and his ministerswith so much jseal and fervour; nor prayer,among so many poor and miserable persons. Thewhole life of a Christian consists almost entirely iocontemplating Christ in his gospel, in order to imitatehim, and in praying to obtain the grace to doit. Christ and his apostles come down towards thepeople, ill condescending to their weakness, in compassionatingtheir infirmities, and in labouring toheal them of their diseases. Unhappy is that pastorwho does not imitate them herein !" 19. And the whole multitude sought to touchhim : for there went virtue out of him, and healedthem all."Christ is full of grace and holiness, that he mayreplenish souls therewith ; and it is by prayer thatwe approach him, in order to receive of his fulness.Though, by his ascension, he be removed at a vastdistance from the earth, and be also invisible in theholy sacrament, yet his virtue is neither less present,