COMMENTS. In this account of the healing of the centurion's servant, we have given us a striking manifestation of faith, which is a necessary condition of our receiving any benefits from Christ, and indispensable to our salvation. 2, 3. A certain Centurion. A centurion was an officer of the Roman army, who had charge of a hundred soldiers. Who was dear unto him. This shows that the centurion was a kind-hearted man. Among the Romans the servants or slaves were often very cruelly treated, and little cared for. They were looked upon as things rather than persons. Was sick, etc. From Matt. viii. 6, we learn that he was afflicted with paralysis. Elders of the Jews. The elders were officers of the synagogue, and were held in high esteem by the people. The centurion, no doubt, sent them to Jesus, because he hoped their intercession in his behalf might have weight in inducing Jesus to come and heal his servant. 4, 5. He was worthy. The elders recommended the centurion to Jesus as well deserving His favor. In proof of this they informed Him that he felt kindly disposed to their nation, that is, the Jewish people, and had manifested this by building for them a synagogue. The centurion himself was of course a Gentile, but probably had become a proselyte of the gate, that is, had renounced heathenism, and conformed in some respects to the Jewish religion. Synagogue. A place or house in which the Jews held stated meetings for social religious services, and for imparting and receiving religious instruction. Synagogues were not built until after the Babylonish captivity. 6-8. The centurion sent friends. St. Matthew writes as if the centurion himself had come to Jesus. The account before us is, no doubt, the fuller. The centurion came to Jesus, through the elders and the friends whom he sent to our Lord. The language which he addresses through his friends to Jesus, shows him to have been a man possessed of true humility, as well as of great faith. These two things, however, always go together. The centurion strengthened his faith by calling to mind that he himself, although only a subordinate, needed but to command those subject to him, to be obeyed. Much more, there fore, he inferred must the commands o Jesus be carried into effect by the invisible, spiritual powers over which He seemed to him, from what he had heard, to have supreme control. 9, 10. When Jesus heard these things He marvelled. The faith of the centurion was marvellous, because he had not possessed the religious advantages of the Jews, and yet had shown himself possessed of more true humility and faith,the proper fruits of the grace of God, than had the great body of the people of Israel. Found the servant whole that had been sick. The centurion's desire was fulfilled. His servant was healed, and fully restored to health. The lesson as a whole shows us not only the power of faith, but also teaches us, that, if in faith we intercede Jesus in behalf of others, He will hear us and bless them. The prayer of faith will never fail to be heard and answered. How my heart has been pained to see the coolness and indifference, which are often manifested for an aged and dependent mother. Age may waste a mother's beauty and dim the lustre of her eye. Her strength may depart, her limbs refuse to support her tottering frame, or she may become as helpless as an infant, but shall we love her less? Is she not our mother still? Has she not toiled and watched over our helpless infancy? And in youth, has she not tried to lead us in the straight and narrow path? And in sickness she was our ministering angel. Who but a mother could be so patient, so kind and affectionate, so gentle and self sacrificing? A LASTING INSCRIPTION.-A missionary of the American Sunday-school Union quoted, in pleading for his work, this sentiment: "If you write for the present generation, use paper; if for the next, use marble; if for the future generations, engrave on pillars of brass; if for the last generation which will inhabit earth, inscribe on the Egyptian pyramids; but if you wish to write for eternity, impress your truths upon the hearts of children." Who shall say he is not justified in magnifying his work and that of "the society that takes care -Church of children," which he serves.Union. THE FOLLOWING POPULAR WORKS, AMONG OTHERS, ARE FOR SALE BY THE Reformed Church Publication Hoard. 907 ARCH STREET, PHILADELPHIA: "COMPANION OF PRAISE." A COLLECTION OF HYMNS SET TO MUSIC, ADAPTED TO SUNDAY SCHOOLS, PRIVATE FAMILIES, AND DEVOTIONAL MEETINGS. By DAVID VAN HORNE. Carefully revised and much improved edition. Whilst unction and spirit are preserved, everything light or frivolous is avoided. A number of choice Hymns rendered into good English, have been transferred from the German, along with the Music. A full and comprehensive Index, adapting it to the Church year, has been appended, making it a suitable adjunct to "Hymns aud Chants." Its general introduction must help to improve the style and add to the permanent force of the music in our Sunday Schools. Sinai and Zion; or, A Pilgrimage through the Wilderness to the Land of Promise. Interesting, instructive, and highly popular notes of travel made by an intelligent observer, containing 543 pages, with illustrations. Price $2.00. Wayside Gleanings in Europe. Whilst the contents are gleanings by the wayside, they are by no means common-place. They embody the observations of a cultivated and discriminating mind, presented in an attractive and forcible style. The work is destined to be useful as well as popular. It contains 462 pages, and sells for $2.00 per copy. REV. DR. G. B. RUSSELL'S WORK, Creed and Customs. A popular Hand Book treating of the chief Doctrines and Practices of the Reformed Church in the U. S. The work is what its title indicates. It contains 467 pages, and sells at $2.00 per copy. The above three works are suitable for canvassing. them for this purpose, a liberal reduction will be made. To such as may wish to procure REV. DR. HARBAUGH'S WORKS. These are Always on Hand, such as "HEAVEN," "HEAVENLY RECOGNITION," "HEAVENLY HOME," "TRUE GLORY OF WOMAN," "UNION WITH THE CHURCH,” “GOLDEN CENSER," "YOUTH IN EARNEST," "CHRISTOLOGICAL THEOLOGY," "HARFE," (Pennsylvania German Poems), &c. &c. ADDITIONAL. The Board Keeps Constantly on Hand the different books used in the Reformed Church in the U. S., besides books for libraries, and other requisites for Sunday Schools, also a GENERAL SUPPLY OF STATIONERY, and other articles in their line. Any work published sent by mail, postage prepaid, on receipt of advertised price. All orders should be addressed to the REFORMED CHURCH PUBLICATION BOARD, as given above. THE GUARDIAN: A MONTHLY MAGAZINE Devoted to the Social, Literary and Religious Interests of Young Men and Ladies, and to the Sunday-School Cause. Rev. B. BAUSMAN, D. D., Editor. THE GUARDIAN enters upon its XXVIIIth volume, on the first of January 1877. It has a suf history to establish its character, and to show its fruits. In its oral spirit, no changes are proposed. The True, nchangeable-error and sin are always the s committed, as heretofore, to the Rev. B. principles, Prof J S Stahr the Beauti same. Its Dec 77 f itself, the publishers regard as the most BAUSMAN, D. D., whose satisfactory guarantee of the hign tone and general interest which should characterize the family magazine. THE GUARDIAN continues to be published by the REFORMED CHURCH PUBLICATION BOARD. It compares favorably with other publications of the kind, and has earned for itself a reputation which may well be coveted. The publishers will continue to use a superior quality of paper; and do all in their power, in co operating with the Editor, to render THE GUARDIAN acceptable to its subscribers. This Magazine will be mainly devoted, as heretofore, to the highest interests of the young, at the most solemn and interesting period of their life. It will offer its friendly counsels to them in an earnest, though free and cheerful way. It will solemnly seek to warn them against the wrong, and affectionately lure them to the right. The Editor will endeavor to make its contents true, pure, fresh, and healthy as the morning of life. It will particularly urge self-culture and early piety as of the highest importance, and cultivate the home feeling as a sacred element in social purity and peace. It will seek to move in the element of its motto:"Life-Light-Love." In addition to its usual variety of reading matter, THE GUARDIAN will hereafter appropriate at least ten pages of each number to the interests of the SundaySchool cause. It will aim to serve as an efficient helper of Sunday-School Teachers, and thus meet a want which has long been felt in the Reformed Church. THE GUARDIAN contains thirty-two pages monthly, making a handsome Volume of three hundred and eighty-four pages at the end of the year. Pastors who receive this Prospectus are requested to hand it to some active member of the Church or of the Sunday-School, who will procure subscribers for THE GUARDIAN. We respectfully ask all Young Men and Ladies to aid us in increasing our circulation. It will be an easy thing for them to raise a club among their companions. Specimen numbers sent when requested. TERMS-ONLY $1.50 A YEAR-IN ADVANCE. The Club-rates for Sunday School Teachers, and the terms for the Lesson Leaves, are as follows: For 5 copies to one address, for one year. "10 "20 "30 66 66 46 66 $7.00 36 00 The Lesson Papers will be sold separately, at 75 cents for 100 copies of a single issue. For any less number, one cen will be charged for each copy. In each case, the money must accompany the orders. Discontinuances.-To insure a discontinuance, written notice must be sent direct to the publishers before the close of the year, and all arrearages paid. If the notice be received after one or more numbers of a new year have been sent, the subscriber will be charged for the full year thus commenced. ADDRESS REFORMED CHURCH PUBLICATION BOARD, Publishers, No. 907 Arch Street, Philadelphia. L. P. G. Fegley, W. S. Miller, J. S. Killinger, T. A. Yearick, J. J. Nissley, Mrs. H. R. Chidsey, L. B. Balliet, M. Roush, J. M. Seller, T. H. Serfas, D. Miller, J. S. Killinger, W. Linn, J. W. Curfmans, A. M. Bieghley, E. Shipe. TO OUR PATRONS. The "Guardian" will hereafter be mailed to subscribers by means of Dick's patent Mailer. Hence the date to which they have paid will invariably accompany the name. Accordingly, the acknowledgment of monies received will hereafter be discontinued. Each subscriber can know exactly how his account stands. Those who are in arrears will please forward the amount due without delay. Address REFORMED CHURCH PUBLICATION BOARD, 907 Arch Street, Philadelphia. |