us to weep with them that weep :*--but he admonishes us alfo of a danger oft each hand, My fon, defpife not thou the chafening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him.’†— If we feriously profess Christianity, our very profeffion implies, (not only a fubjection to our Lord's will, but) that we have special refources in our affliction; feveral of which have been already named. That, among other of our privileges, there is a peace from God which paffeth all understanding, to keep our hearts and minds ‡ through life and death and that we have many reafons for not forrowing as others who have no hope.§-Befides which, Chriftians have a poft of honour to maintain an high calling to demonftrate and commend: -we shall (like the pilot in a storm) be brought to our principles: and, as Rom. xii. 15: + Heb. xii. 5. ‡ Phil. iv. 7. § 1 Thef. iv. 13. Phil. iii. 14. forrowful forrowful yet always rejoicing,* should prove that we have them not now to learn. On the contrary, there is such a thing as nurfing and cherishing our grief;— employing a "bufy meddling memory "to mufter up past endearments," and perfonate a vaft variety of tender and heart-rending circumftances.-There is a tearing open the wound afresh by images and remembrances, and thereby multiplying thofe pangs which conftitute the very bitterness of death itself. Our melancholy exceedingly affects this voluntary torture; it feeks expedients, and will liften to the most unjust and aggravated accufations, which can approach a tender confcience refpecting the deceafed. But confcience fhould rather be concerned to reprefs fuch a difpofition. It is a temptation.-It defperately * 2 Cor. vi. 10. ftrives ftrives to retain what God has determined to remove:-in fome cafes, it feeks to penetrate an abyfs he forbids even conjecture to explore: and, while it unfits the mourner for the preffing duties of his ftation, it leads to that forrow of the world which worketh death to his body, foul, and Christian character.-How different and fuperior the fentiments of DAVID!-His fervants faid unto him, 'What thing is this 'that thou haft done? thou didst faft ' and weep for the child while it was alive, but when the child was dead, 'thou didst rife and eat bread.' And *he faid, 'While the child was yet 'alive, I fafted and wept: for I said, who can tell whether God will be gra'cious to me, that the child may live; but now he is dead, wherefore should 'I faft?-can I bring him back again? 2 Cor. vii. 10. -I SHALL GO TO HIM, BUT HE SHALL 'NOT RETURN TO ME.'* Prefent circumftances also admonish you, to KNOW YOUR OPPORTUNITY, and to improve this feafon as peculiarly favourable for fpiritual advancement.→→→ There is a tide in the concerns of religion; the fcripture calls it the day of vifitation, and fends us to the stork and to the fwallow for inftruction respecting it. Your heart is now foft, its fafcinations withdrawn, and the call loud and affecting; endeavour, therefore, to take the benefit of a remedy you feel fo expenfive, If, in a fenfe, "fmitten Friends are "Angels fent on errands full of love," instead of weeping over their tombs, let us liften to the voice which properly 2 Sam. xii. 21-23. + Luke xix. 44. arifes arifes from them; especially if it be our privilege to bury one who, like Abel, being dead yet fpeaketh,* and who would be ready to fay to his mourners, Weep "not for me, but for your felves, and for your children.t-I have fought the good fight, I have finished my course, 'I have kept my faith, and received my crown. I cannot now come to weep with you, but you may afcend ' and rejoice with me, where there is no more death, neither forrow, nor crying, for the former things are passed away.§-If you truly love me, prepare 'to follow me.-If you earneftly with 'to fee me again, feek not the living among the dead, but arise and become a follower of them who through faith ' and patience inherit the promises. Take that heavenly lamp which shineth as a light in a dark place; walk hum Heb. xi. 4. + Luke xxiii. 28. 2 Tim. iv. 7. § Rev. xxi. 4. Heb. vi. 1, 2. 'bly |