by sights and sounds of distress. And how peculiarly lamentable are some of these?-But

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tance.

II. Let the afflicted remember that they are not left without resource: let them learn where to flee in the day of trouble. It is to the friend of sinners. Why, is this Saviour any longer on earth that we may apply to him? Unquestionably-how else could he fulfil his promise," where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them?" His bodily presence was not necessary to his assistance in the days of his flesh: he could speak a cure at a disHe is now essentially, and spiritually nearhear enough to hear all your complaints, and to afford you succor. He knows and observes all your distresses, and he has the same tenderness, and the same power as of old. Is your condition very trying and alarming? You have no cause for despair. At even-tide it may be light. Little did this poor woman expect to meet with such a glorious change in her circumstances at the funeral of her last comfort. "When the Lord turned "again her captivity, she was like them that dream!” But he was pleased to bring her thus low before he helped her, to teach us never to think our case desperate, or that his interference can come too late. But he does not deliver me?-The time and the manner of relief are his own; there are cases in which he can do us more good by the continuance, than by the speedy removal of our sorrows-but of this we may be assured, that he will not suffer us to call upon him in vain. Let us apply this to a particular case. You say“I share in this woman's affliction, but not in her joy. My child is dead-but no Jesus says to me, weep not." Yes, Rachael there is-" Thus saith the Lord, refrain thy "voice from weeping, and thine eyes from tears; for thy work shall be rewarded; and they shall come again from the land of the enemy. And there is "hope in thine end saith the Lord that thy children "shall come again to their own border." But he will not raise my child to this fond embrace? Yes he will. He who said to the young man, arise, is " the resurrec

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"tion and the life." Thy child shall rise again, and be delivered unto thee all over glorious, and no fear of separation shall damp the joy of union.

III. What think you of Christ? Does not his character combine every excellency and attraction? And is the relation of all this given us merely to gratify our curiosity? Are we to peruse the life of our Lord and Saviour as we would read the history of a Cyrus or Alexander? No-it is not written for our amusement, but for our profit. And then we peruse it properly— when we admire him-love him above all-depend wholly upon him, and feel the transforming efficacy of every view we take of his character," changing us into "the same image, from glory to glory, as by the spirit "of the Lord."

Let us therefore "be followers of him as dear chil"dren." Let us cultivate benevolence, and do all the good we can, especially to the fatherless and widows. These he has peculiarly recommended to our attention, not only by his example but by his word. "Ye shall "not afflict any widow, or fatherless child. If thou af"flict them in any wise, and they cry at all unto me; I "will surely hear their cry; and my wrath shall wax "hot, and I will kill you with the sword: and your "wives shall be widows, and your children fatherless." I know you cannot work miracles-but you can shew mercy. Go-visit the widow in her affliction. I know you cannot raise her dead son-but you can preserve her living one. Go-and administer healing medicines and wholesome food; go and clothe his naked bo'dy, and inform his ignorant mind; go and endeavor to snatch him from ruin, and render him the staff of his poor widowed-mother's age. Go-go, and enjoy all the luxury of doing good. "When the ear heard me, "then it blessed me; and when the eye saw me, it gave witness to me; because I delivered the poor "that cried, and the fatherless, and him that had none 66 to help him. The blessing of him that was ready to 66 perish came upon me: and I caused the widow's "heart to sing for joy."

DISCOURSE XVII.

FEARS REMOVED.

And Mancah said unto his wife, we shall surely die, because we have seen God. But his wife said unto him, if the Lord were pleased to kill us, he would not have received a burntoffering, and a meat-offering at our hands, neither would he have shewed us all these things, nor would, as at this time, have told us such things as these.—Judges xiii. 22, 23.

SAMSON is the last of the Israelitish deliverers recorded in this book. He differs very much from all his predecessors; for we never find him presiding over the council, or commanding in the army--but a tremendous scourge to the enemies of his country in his own person.

His history is full of wonders. An angel ushers him into the world. This angel first appeared to his mother, and foretold his birth. He soon after discovered himself also to his father, in company with his mother. His father immediately provided an entertainment for him--but the angel commanded him to offer it in sacrifice to the Lord. He did so the angel ascended in the flame, and they saw him no more. By this they knew that he was a divine messenger, and in consequence of this apprehension "Manoah said unto his wife, we shall surely die, because we have seen God. But his wife "said unto him, if the Lord were pleased to kill us, he "would not have received a burnt-offering, and a meat66 offering at our hands, neither would he have shewed "us all these things, nor would, as at this time, have "told us such things as these."

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VOL. I.

And what does this passage teach us? I. What peculiar impressions, divine manifestations make upon the mind. II. The difference there is in the knowledge and experience of the Lord's people. III. The profit that is to be derived from a pious companion. IV. How much there is in the Lord's dealings with his people to encourage them at all times, if they have skill enough to discern it.

I. See the peculiar impressions which divine manifestations make upon the mind. To a certain degree these impressions are proper: such manifestations ought to strike our minds, to humble us, to produce reverence and godly fear. If an earthly king were to call upon us we should be filled with awe as soon as he discovered himself-how much more should this be the case, when he approaches us, who is King of Kings, and Lord of Lords. Hence, Jacob exclaimed, "how dread"ful is this place; this is none other but the house of "God, and this is the gate of heaven." Job said, " I "have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth thee: wherefore I abhor myself, "and repent in dust and ashes." Isaiah also, in like manner cries out, "Woe is me! for I am undone: because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell among a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the "King, the Lord of Hosts." Thus, awfully were these good men impressed as soon as they apprehended the presence and glory of God.

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But impressions, good in themselves, may become excessive; and the cause producing them may be misunderstood, and improperly dreaded. Thus Manoah reasons, we shall surely die, for we have seen God !" This was a common apprehension of old, and it is easy to account for it. Ever since man became a sinner, an enemy to God, every approach of the Deity has awakened in him terror and confusion. Our consciences naturally tell us that we deserve nothing but heavy tidings from the invisible world: we therefore dread every messenger from thence. And, even when God

comes to us in mercy, the same sentiment occurs and sometimes leads us, like Manoah, to mistake his design, and draw a fearful conclusion from it.

Thus, when he comes to convince us of sin and to humble the pride of our hearts-we imagine that we shall now die. But we are mistaken: he is only come to prepare us for the proofs of his love. He impresses us with a sense of our danger, that we may flee for refuge; with a sense of our pollution, that we may wash and be clean. "They that be whole need not a physi<6 cian, but they that are sick."

Thus, when he comes in providence, and destroys our schemes, and visits us with breach upon breachagain, O! we are going to be undone ! But we shall presently see that he came as a friend, though disguised, and only used means to wean us from the world, and bring us more entirely to himself, as our exceeding joy.

Let us, II. Remark the difference there is in the knowledge and experience of the Lord's people. What surprises and terrifies one, is both plain and pleasing to another. What opposite conclusions do Manoah and his wife draw from the same event? He infers wrath; she mercy. The former looks for destruction; the latter for salvation. Thus, there are degrees in grace, there is hope, and the free assurance of hope; some have little faith, others are strong in faith, rich in faith. In the church there are babes, and there are those of full age, who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

And this difference is not always to be judged of by the order of nature, or external advantages. "There 66 are first that shall be last, and there are last that shall "be first." We find here the weaker vessel the

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stronger believer. Nor is this a solitary instance. They were women, yea widows, who ministered to our Lord of their substance. The three Marys approached the foot of the cross when the disciples forsook him and fled; and these also appeared first at the sepulchre. Nothing is said of Timothy's father, but the apostle