THE RULER’S DAUGHTER.

before Jesus, and confessed all the:

truth. And was Jesus angry with
her? No; He is never angry with
those who come to Him in faith and
humility; He said to her, “ Daugh-
ter, thy faith hath saved thee; go
In peace.” So she went home to
her house well and happy. All
those who come to Jesus will be
saved, and made happy. He is the
good physician; He can cure the
soul of the worst of all diseases—
sin.

Then Jesus went on; but before
He came to the house, a messenger
was sent to the poor father to tell
him some very sad news. What did
the messenger say? He said, “Thy
daughter is dead; trouble not the
Master.” But Jesus could comfort

Jairus still; he said to him, “ Fear

not; only believe, and I will make
her well.” So they all went on, and
came to the ruler’s house. Then
Jesus went into the room where the
little girllay. She was lying on the
bed, quite dead; and her parents
and her friends were standing round
weeping. They all felt very sad;
for they thought that she would
never speak to them again; and
that they should never play with
her, nor teach her any more. But
Jesus said, “Weep not; she is not
dead, but sleepeth.” Jesus meant
that He could bring her to life as
easily as He could wake her if she

 

 

417

was asleep; but the people did not
understand what He meant, nor did
they believe in His power; and they
began to mock Him. Then Jesus
sent them all away; only He let the
father and mother stay, and Peter,
and James, and John; and He went
to the child, and took her by the
hand, and said, “ Maid, arise.” And |
the little girl’s spirit came into her
again, and she arose and walked;
she was quite well and strong; and
He commanded her parents to give
her meat.

This is a very wonderful story.
We often hear of the deaths of chil-
dren as young as this little girl;
but we do not hear that they are
ever raised to life again; for Jesus
is not pleased to go about working
miracles now. But if children die
happily, at peace with God through
Jesus Christ, then we may feel com-
forted in their deaths, though we
cannot hope that they will come
back to us again. For we know
that their souls are gone to God in
Heaven; and there they will be
happier than Jairus’s little daughter
was when she was raised to life again ;
for she came back to a world of sin,
and sorrow, and death; but in the ©
world where holy children go when
they die, “there shall be no more
death, neither sorrow nor crying,
neither shall there be any more
pain.” ev. xxi. 4.