124 HE KNEW THEIR HEARTS.

you, and how long you have been sick? Then he tells
your mother what to do, and says he will come again the
next day, and hopes you will be better then, and that you
will not be sick long.
 This Great Physician did not do so: he did not ask
one question: he saw something that was in the hearts of
the four friends, and he spoke kindly to the sick man:
"Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee." It
was failt that Jesus saw in the four friends, for he knew
they had believed he could cure.
 There were some other hearts there that Jesus looked
into, some who wanted to find fault with him; and they
thought, Who said anything about sin? Who can for-
give sin but God?" Jesus said to them, "Why do you
have evil thoughts in your hearts? But that ye may
know that the Son of God hath power on earth to forgive
sins," (and he turned to the sick man,) "Arise, take up thy
bed, and go unto thy house."
 The man rose up, rolled up his mattress, lifted it
before them, and walked away home, a well, strong,
thankful man; his body cured, his sins forgiven, his
friends rejoicing!
 You do not think it strange that the people won-
dered, and thanked God, and went home, saying, "We
have seen strange things to-day."