forth in another. Let us therefore entreat the Lord to preserve us from such sinful timidity, and make us of that blessed company "who follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth."

Again let us notice, in this reply of our Lord's, his determined perseverance, and the extent to which he carried his friendship; that as the previous attacks of his enemies deterred him not, so no extent of calamityno, not even death itself-could prevent his succour. The more you examine these features of our Lord's character, the more clearly will you perceive, on the one hand, the display of that leading principle of his religion, the pursuit of active benevolence in defiance of personal danger and, on the other, his inimitable suitableness for us as a Saviour, exposed as we are to so many and so grievous trials. "Lazarus is dead: nevertheless let us go unto him." His spirit is separated from his body; but my love to him abides the same and my love can call in the aid of Almighty power: and this can bring back his spirit; can again reunite it to his dead body;

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and thus reunited, restore him to full life and strength. Let us no longer stay at a distance, but now that the Son of God may be glorified, let us at once go to him. My beloved friends, it delights the heart to ponder upon the words of our Lord; to see him not only bearing with his disciples, but even turning their weakness of faith to so excellent a purpose: causing their miscarriages to serve more strikingly to display the riches of his mercy. Oh may we, in our hearts at least, bow down afresh before him! May we entreat forgiveness of all our past self-pleasing, all our unwillingness, simply to follow him and may we, for the time to come, adopt, not in word, but in truth, the course expressed in one of our hymns.

"Joined in one spirit to our Head,
Where He appoints we go:
And still in Jesu's footsteps tread,

And do his work below.

Oh let us ever walk in Him,

And nothing know beside :

Nothing desire, nothing esteem,

But Jesus crucified!"

But in this reply of our Lord to his disciples

there are still other traits of excellence far too interesting to be overlooked. He says, "I am glad, for your sakes, that I was not there, to the intent ye may believe."

That

Here we may see, in the first place, the tenderness of our Lord's affection. had he been at Bethany when he whom he loved was sick; had he seen his sufferings, and the deep distress into which his sisters were thrown by his sickness; such was his tender love, so strong his sympathy with his friends, that he would have instantly restored Lazarus to health; and thus the opportunity of strengthening the faith of his disciples, by manifesting His power to raise him from the dead, would have been lost. He was glad, therefore, that, whilst in his Divine nature every thing was known to him, these sufferings were not, as man, personally beheld by him. Surely here is ground for strong consolation. The gracious affections which our blessed Lord had when on earth, as the holy child Jesus-or as he is described by the Apostle in his Epistle to the Hebrews, Holy, harmless, undefiled, and separate

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from sinners," so far as his glorified humanity admits, he still possesses in heaven. For, says the Apostle, "We have not an High Priest who cannot be touched with the feelings of our infirmities, but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin." When therefore we see him thus compassionate, surely we may believe he will fulfil that which his word so expressly states, "He will regard the prayer of the destitute; he will not despise their prayer." "He shall deliver the needy when he crieth; the poor also, and him that hath no helper. He shall redeem their soul from violence; and precious shall their blood be in His sight. He will not break the bruised reed, nor quench the smoking flax, till he has brought forth judgment unto victory."

Are we then speaking to any who appear like the sisters of Lazarus, when their brother was taken from them; or to those who are in any other deep or distressing trial? Dwell, my dear friends, upon these words of our Lord, "I was glad for your sakes that I was not there:" for being still the same gracious and sympathizing Saviour, you may depend

upon immediate succour, if His deferring his aid will not eventually prove a greater blessing. For this is another lesson that this part of our Lord's reply affords us, that so deep is the interest he takes in his people, that he permits trials, though severe, to befal them yes, to continue for a season, that their faith may ultimately be strengthened, and thus their blessedness be increased. "I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, to the intent ye may believe." Faith is so excellent a grace, yea, so much the root of all other graces, that he who knows its preciousness is earnest that it should be strong in those he loves. And therefore, my beloved Christian friends, you who are under any painful trial, without obtaining any immediate relief, take this consolation, that the Lord may thus order events from his special love to you;--that he says of you, as he said to his disciples, when he abode two days still where he was, "I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, to the intent that ye may believe;" —that he has in view to raise you to a higher scale in the spiritual life: bring you more into