But soon He was again sought for by the multitude. Supposing that He had gone to His usual place of retirement, the people followed Him thither. even one hour of rest was frustrated.

His hope to gain But in the depths of

In a life wholly devoted to the good of others, the Saviour found it necessary to turn aside from ceaseless activity and contact with human needs, to seek retirement and unbroken communion with His Father. As the throng that had followed Him depart, He goes into the mountains, and there, alone with God, pours out His soul in prayer for these suffering, sinful, needy ones.

When Jesus said to His disciples that the harvest was great, and the laborers were few, He did not urge upon them the necessity of ceaseless toil, but bade them, "Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that He would send forth laborers into His harvest.” To His toil-worn workers to-day as really as to His first disciples He speaks these words of compassion, “Come ye yourselves apart . . . and rest awhile.”

All who are under the training of God need the quiet hour for communion with their own hearts, with nature, and with God. In them is to be revealed a life that is not in harmony with the world, its customs, or its practises; and they need to have a personal experience in obtaining a knowledge of the will of God. We must individually hear Him speaking to the heart. When every other voice is hushed, and in quietness we wait before Him, the silence of the soul makes more distinct the voice of God. He bids us, “Be still, and know that I am God." This is the effectual preparation for all labor for God. Amidst the hurrying throng, and the strain of life's intense activities, he who is thus refreshed, will be surrounded with an atmosphere of light and peace. He will receive a new endowment of both physical and mental strength. His life will breathe out a fragrance, and will reveal a divine power that will reach men's hearts.

IF

F I may but touch His garment, I shall be whole." It was a poor woman who spoke these words,-a woman who for twelve years had suffered from a disease that made her life a burden. She had spent all her means upon physicians and remedies, only to be pronounced incurable. But as she heard of the great Healer, her hopes revived. She thought, "If only I could get near enough to speak to Him, I might be healed."

Christ was on His way to the home of Jairus, the Jewish rabbi who had entreated Him to come and heal his daughter. The heart-broken petition, "My little daughter lieth at the point of death: I pray Thee, come and lay Thy hands on her, that she may be healed," had touched the tender, sympathetic heart of Christ, and He at once set out with the ruler for his home.

They advanced but slowly; for the crowd pressed Christ on every side. In making His way through the multitude, the Saviour came near to where the afflicted woman was standing. Again and again she had tried in vain to get near Him. Now her opportunity had come. She could

see no way of speaking to Him. She would not seek to hinder His slow advance. But she had heard that healing came from a touch of His garments; and fearful of losing her one chance for relief, she pressed forward, saying to herself, “If I may but touch His garment, I shall be whole.”

Christ knew every thought of her mind, and He was making His way to where she stood. He realized her great need, and He was helping her to exercise faith.

“She

As He was passing, she reached forward, and succeeded in barely touching the border of His garment. That moment she knew that she was healed. In that one touch was concentrated the faith of her life, and instantly her pain and feebleness disappeared. Instantly she felt the thrill as of an electric current passing through every fibre of her being. There came over her a sensation of perfect health. felt in her body that she was healed of that plague.' The grateful woman desired to express her thanks to the mighty Healer, who had done more for her in one touch than the physicians had done in twelve long years; but she dared not. With a grateful heart she tried to withdraw from the crowd. Suddenly Jesus stopped, and looking round He asked, "Who touched Me?"

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Looking at Him in amazement, Peter answered, “Master, the multitude throng Thee and press Thee, and sayest Thou, Who touched Me?"

"Somebody hath touched Me," Jesus said; "for I perceive that virtue is gone out of Me."5 He could distinguish

the touch of faith from the casual touch of the careless throng. Some one had touched Him with a deep purpose, and had received answer.

Christ did not ask the question for His own information. He had a lesson for the people, for His disciples, and for the He wished to inspire the afflicted with hope.

He

healing power.

wished to show that it was faith which had brought the The woman's trust must not be passed by without comment. God must be glorified by her grateful confession. Christ desired her to understand that

He approved her act of faith. He would conta
not have her depart with a half blessing
only. She was not to remain in igno-ond

rance of His knowledge ofort

her suffering, or of His s
compassionate love and of
His approval of herd of
faith in His
power to

save to the uttermost

all who come to Him. ve

Looking toward

the woman, Christ in-
sisted on knowing who
had touched Him.
Finding concealment
vain, she came forwards
trembling, and cast
herself at His feet. doin
With grateful tears she guid
told Him, before all do
the people, why sheddi
had touched His gar-liv

ment, and how she

had been immediately ambling, and cast herself at His feet." healed. She feared

that her act in touching His garment had been one of presumption; but no word of censure came from Christ's lips. He spoke only words of approval. They came from a heart of love, filled with sympathy for human woe. "Daughter,"