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Whence comes it that, when assailed by temptation, we so seldom conquer and so often fail? It is because of our unbelief — because we are fools, and slow of heart to believe all that God Himself has told us. We do not go to Him first of all; we do not take His instructions, do not consult His revealed will as our first rule of action. Is it not so as regards that evil spirit whose name is Legion, whose accursed power we meet everywhere — not only in our streets, but in some of its manifold influences in our homes and hearts — the spirit of selfishness and sensuality, lust, intemperance, sarcasm, spite, hypocrisy, cheating, lying, meanness? We do not say, we have not faith to say, "I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out." We dare not say to impotence, "In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk." We have more faith in ourselves; in clever legislation, compulsory education, commercial prosperity, in what we call "progress," in the discoveries of science. We will not read, or we forget, history — how all the great empires of the Nile, the Euphrates, the Tiber, and the Tigris rose and fell as they realized that which was true and right hi the religion they professed; how the golden glory of Babylon, the silver sheen of Cyrus the Persian, the brazen splendour which gleamed on the victorious arms of Alexander, the iron strength of Rome, were ground into powder as the stone fell upon them, the stone which the builders rejected, but which became the head of the corner and the shadow of a great rock in a weary land — the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ; and when in this season of decadence, and in the time of their visitation, they heard the war-cry of their conquerors, and staggered from the wine-cup and the harlot's lap to put on the armour which they could hardly bear, and the sword which they could scarcely wield, it was as they asked in their defeat, "Why could not we cast them out?" that the answer came, "Because of your unbelief; because you have ceased to believe in righteousness, and 'righteousness exalteth a nation.'"

(S. R. Hole, M. A.)Had these disciples been not faithless but believing; had they prayed more frequently and earnestly; had they shown more of that self-denial which He taught and set before them, distrusted themselves and humbled themselves instead of disputing which should be the greatest, they would Lave east out that evil spirit. But he perceived, and prevailed over, their want of faith. He said, "Jesus I know, but who are ye that utter His name, but do not believe in its power?" Perhaps the absence of the Master from those nine apostles made them doubtful and fearing among the unbelieving Jews; just as you and I, when we leave the church, or our place of prayer at home, or the company of those whom we most revere and who influence us most for good, are tempted to forget the omnipresent God, to be of the world worldly, and to set our affections upon the things of the earth. So to lose the power, the only true power over ourselves and others, which we have in exact proportion to our faith, our prayers, our self-denial; for they are inseparable, these three — trinity in unity.

I. It is impossible to believe in our heavenly Father AND NOT TO GO TO HIM ALWAYS AS CHILDREN TO REJOICE IN HIS LOVE, to thank Him for His gifts, to be protected in danger, taught in ignorance, relieved in pain, and forgiven when we have done wrong.

II. WE CANNOT REALLY BELIEVE IN HIS POWER AND LOVE WITHOUT GOING TO HIM AND PRAYING TO HIM OFT AND EARNESTLY; NOT FROM A MERE IMPULSE OF FEAR, in some sudden terror, in the great storm, carried up to heaven and down again to earth, in the valley of the shadow of death; but always out of a pure heart and faith unfeigned. And this true prayer does not begin when we kneel, nor cease when we rise. God has not only given us a voice to pray with, but a mind with which to think about our prayers, and capacities, and means, and time, and money, with which we may fulfil them. True prayer is prayer in action. Duty is prayer, and work is worship.

III. So IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO BELIEVE REALLY IN CHRIST, AND NOT TO PRACTISE SELF-DENIAL. To believe is to love, and to love is to obey.

(S. R. Hole, M. A.)

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KJV: And when they were come to the multitude, there came to him a certain man, kneeling down to him, and saying,

WEB: When they came to the multitude, a man came to him, kneeling down to him, saying,