application of both to an outwardly holy life. In respect to the woman, it is clear that she ardently desired to be healed of her disease; this desire she at once put into practice, and sought the Lord, whom she believed had both power and will to heal her; for she said within herself, if I may but touch his garment I shall be whole." (Matt. ix. 21.) What unshaken confidence is expressed in her words, "If I may touch but His clothes I shall be whole!" (Mark v. 28.) The touch was made, and no sooner effected than she felt within herself that she was made whole from that hour. (Matt. ix. 22.) Although many were surrounding Jesus at the time, yet this single touch of the woman was perceived by Jesus: indeed, what can be hidden from Him who knows the secret thoughts of the soul? He, therefore, who knew what had been working in the mind of the woman, turned him round in the throng, and said, "Who touched my clothes?" (Mark v. 30.) The disciples, seeing the people thronging around Him, were surprised at the question; but Jesus said, "Somebody hath touched me; for I perceive that virtue is gone out of me." O what a fulness of heavenly teaching is here involved! help us, gracious God, to see its vital importance.
The disease is an issue of blood. Now the blood is the life of the body, and is not designed, by creation, to issue forth out of it, but to circulate within, and thus to impart health and vigour to all its parts. If the blood issue through the skin, the body is diseased and weakened; health is destroyed, and death must finally follow. In a spiritual or religious sense, blood is mentioned in Scripture to signify the Divine Life of love or good, which the Lord imparts to all for the
