ee ee et ee ———————>E> EE CTR IT VeeNrnrrr~ ee ae ae THE LEPER CLEANSED. “There came a leper to him, beseeching him, and kneeling — down to him, and saying unto him, If thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.â€â€”Mark, chap. i., verse 40. AFTER THE BIRTH OF CHRIST 31 YEARS. In consequence of that fame, which has already . been spoken of, which Jesus gained as one who could heal the sick, a leper came to him, and entreated him to make him clean. Among the Jews a leper was regarded with . great horror. We see in the Bible that even a ° king was no more respected when he was afflicted with leprosy. Not only suffering pain, , but despised by his fellow-men, who might have been expected to sooth his distress, the case of the leper was most pitiable. Happily he applied to one who, in a case of real woe, it was not difficult to move. Jesus compassion- ately “‘ put forth his hand and touched him, and saith unto him, I will; be thou clean.†More was not necessary. No sooner had the Saviour uttered these few words, than the leprosy departed from the sufferer, and he was clean. When he was going, Jesus said to him, “See thou say nothing to any man; but go 61 |e ee ee NN SN I SI SE SE SL ne Se ee wo I a Ee ae ete Te