The  sacred  writei-s  mention  no  other  act  performed  by  the  Sa-
viour in  that  strange  country.  We  know  that  all  is  not  wi-itten,
and  it  is  veiy  probable  that  he  only  wrought  there  the  miracle  we
have  just  recounted.  Besides  the  excellent  instruction  which  the
entire  Church  derives  from  this  miracle  on  the  efficacy  of  j)rayer,
perhaps  he  also  wished  to  teach  his  ministère  that  the  salvation  of  a
single  soul  was  a  fi-uit  well  worthy  of  a  laborious  mission  ;  and  we
will  not  consider  as  useless  the  pains  he  gave  himself  to  furnish  us
with  this  double  lesson.  Whatever  might  have  been  the  cause,  it  is
certain  that  he  did  not  tarry  in  this  country  :  (a)  "  and  going  out  of
the  coasts  of  Tyre,  he  came  by  Sidon  to  the  sea  of  Galilee,  through
the  midst  of  the  coasts  of  Decapolis."

''  [//e  was  .scarcely  arrived  there.,  wlieii]  they  bring  to  him  one
deaf  and  dumb,  and  they  besought  him,  that  he  would  lay  his  hand
upon  him.  Jesus,  taking  him  from  the  multitude  apart,  put  his
finger  into  his  ears,  and,  spitting,  he  touched  his  tongue  ;  then,  look-
ing up  to  heaven,  he  groaned."     Because  of  the  ardor  of  his  prayer,

(a)  St.  Mark,  vii.  31-37.
that  they  should  be  eloquent.     Studied  discourses  are  of  no  avail  before  him  whose  ear
listens  only  to  the  supplication  of  the  lieart.
218  THE    HISTORY    OF   THE    LEFE  [pART  I.
