it fhall please him, who commanded the light to fhine out of darkness,* to fhine into your heart, and effectually discover the exceeding riches of his Grace in thefe provifions; then, though you fit weeping over your lofs, we are affured from unquestionable authority, that Angels are rejoicing for your unfpeakable gain. We are certain alfo, that not only every real friend will cry 'this day 'is fabvation come to the house where we lately wept;' but that, drying your tears, you yourself will be compelled to express your grateful fenfe of the correction you now deplore, and fing, with a companion and fellow-proficient in the fchool of affliction,§ Father I blefs thy gentle hand; * 2 Cor. iv. 6. + Luke xv. 10. Luke xix. 9. Pf. cxix. 67-71. Foolish Foolish and vain, I went aftray And here, fuffer me to drop a word or two refpecting these OUR COMPANIONS In the houfe of mourning. Society is peculiarly pleasant when we are benighted on a journey and especially that of a citizen of the place to which we are going.It is encouraging to travel with thofe, who are convinced that if they are chaftened of the Lord, it is, that they fhould not be condemned with the world.* * 1 Cor. xi. 32, -Blessed -Blessed are the poor in fpirit; for theirs is the kingdom of heaven :* and here they are educating for it. Here they fit at the foot of the cross, and receive leffons of faith and patience, of humility and temperance. Blessed alfo are the pure in heart; for they here fee God;† who never fo un veils himself as in feafons of diftrefs. In fight of his character and word, they bow before his providence, yea trust him in the stroke; for hope is made to arise here, as a light in darknefs. Here the fpiritual Hufbandman is taught to go forth weeping, and bearing the precious feed of faith and love, penitence and prayer; affured that he shall come again with Joy, bringing his fheaves with him.‡ Here alfo the heavenly Scholar acquires the tongue of the learned, that he should know how to speak a word in feason to *Matth. v. 3. † Matt. v. 8. ‡ Pf. cxxvi. 6. him him that is weary. And here the true Soldier of Jefus Chrift is found fighting the good fight of faith, and laying hold of eternal life,t in the very valley and fhadow of death. He is here inftructed to caft down imaginations, thofe rea fonings which peculiarly infest and darken the house of mourning; and taking the shield of faith, and the fword of the Spirit, he wrestles not only with flesh and blood, but with principalities and powers;§-a mighty though fecret conflict which God fhall one day declare to the world; and which, when explained, will leave its most celebrated heroes filent in darkness. Go thy way forth by the footsteps of the flock,' for in this houfe they all have left the prints of their feet. - Here Ifa. 1. 4. † 2 Cor. x. 5. 1 Sam. ii. 9. + 1 Tim. vi. 12. ftood ftood Jacob weeping over his beloved Rachel: and here Aaron deplored his fons. Here we trace the fteps of David going up to his chamber, and crying with a loud voice, would to God I had 'died for thee, O Abfalom, my fon! my font and thofe of Ezekiel, who, forbidden to cry, filently refigned the defire of his eyes to the ftroke. But enumeration is vain; hither came all the fons of God, the only begotten not excepted, for JESUS himself stood and wept at the grave of a friend.§ With fuch company, is it not far bet ter to go to the houfe of mourning than to the house of feafting ?¶-I knew one of thefe, a man who had feen affliction by a rod** like yours;-a man who walked and wept in folitude, but with * Gen. xxxv. 20. † Lev. x. 3. Ezek. xxiv.16. § John xi. 35. ** Lam. iii. 1. 2 Sam, xviii. 33, Eccl. vii. 2. no |