WESLEYAN CHURCH.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 7504, 6 July 1903, Page 3

WESLEYAN CHURCH.

The Rev. D. J. Murray gave an Evangelistic address at the usual service in the Wesleyan Church last evening. " Touching Jesus" was the subject, and the preacher said : This narrative brings us to Capernaum, so prolific with tho works of the Saviour. At the call of anxious Jairus, Jesus had left the house of Levi and the feast. As He walks along, the crowd presses upon Him and impedes His progress, which delay proves to be the long-sought aud blessed opportunity of a poor suffering woman. After Mr Murray had described tho event ho said, " 'Touching Jesus ' is my subject," and proceeded to show how that touching Jesus meant touching God, and it means touching overflowing mercy. Taking his illustrations from a glass filled to tho brim, the fullness of the clouds, and the superabundance of snow on the Upper Alps, the preacher said : This fulness and superabundance is like tho measuro of Divine lovo. And so Jesus Christ, overflowing with mercy and healing through the hem of His garment, in the streets of Capernaum beautifully images this God of Love. Why, he asked, will the sinner agonize through years of suffering, striving by terrible self-accusations and long petitions to commend himself to God and almost despairing of mercy when one heart touch of Jesus will fill him with joy. And touching Jesus is believing Jesus. St. Augustine, speaking of this miracle, says " She touches; the crowd presses." To-day, multitudes call upon Him, but never touch him by real faith. To simply press upon tho passing Saviour, or barely call upon the sympathising Jesus, is insufficient. To touch Him is to believe Him. It is to fall at his feet in deep submission and for dear life, in complete faith, in loving mercy, and actually grasp and hold a real Saviour. And touching Jesus means confessing Jesus. That searching question, "Who touched Me?" was not from ignorance, nor yet to rebuko a poor trembling suppliant. It was rather to load the woman into the completest blessing possible to her. Impelled by strong faith, and a belief that in some mysterious way, healing would come to her after any contact with His person. She had touched His garments, and had been cured. Now, she sought retreat, keeping her joy aud blessing to herself, thus refusing Jesus the honour of her cure. This spirit must be rebuked, and the people must know Him as her Healer. Hence that searching gaze and those thrilling words at once revealing His knowledge of her cure, and compelling her grateful confession of her Lord and God. And, said Mr Murray, in conclusion, the real touch of Christ by any soul must always bo accompanied with confession. He will not allow stolen mercy. He loves the soul that is not ashamed of Him. And I appeal to you all to seek the Lord while Ho may be found. Call upon Him while He is near. And, when you have found Him, confess Him, and He will confess ; but, if you deny Him, Ho also will deny you.