Vol. 2

462 ST. LUKE.word, or to seek a cure. It is a very great comfortto a pastor, when those whom he ought to seek inall places, come on purpose to meet him, and in somemeasure prevent his pastoral care." 38. And, behold, a man of the company criedout, saying. Master, I beseecli thee, look upon myson ; for he is mine only child ;"He who begs one look of mercy, begs every thing.God has already looked upon that person, who, knowingthe absolute necessity of this look, desires andimplores it. To beg it with a loud cry, is to beg itwith a great faith and an ardent prayer. There arebut few among the crowd whose faithcries out afterthis manner. That which it ought above all thingsto believe, is, that Christ is Lord of the heart, andcan with one single look change and cure it. Oursoul, our heart, is, as.it were, our only child. Hewho thinks seriously of this, must conclude, that hehas no other business in the world besides the salvationof this only child, the loss of which is irreparable.*'39. And lo, a spirit taketh him, and he suddenlycrieth out ; and it teareth him that he foamethagain; and, bruising him, hardly departeth from him."How dreadful is that man's condition, whom sinhas possessed from his youth !The devil is absolutemaster of his heart, renders his tongue a world ofiniquity, causes him by continual relapses to cleavemore and more to the earth, and kindles every daynew passions which shake and torment him. Theintervals are very rare and short in a habitual sinner:a lively and ardent passion is always seeking to satisfyitself, and by so doing renders itself more incurable.