tence and prayer; affured that he shall come again with Joy, bringing his fheaves with him. Here also the heavenly Scholar acquires the tongue of the learned, that he should know how to Speak a word in feason to 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 in the very valley and fhadow of death. He is here instructed to caft down imaginations, thofe λoysoμos, or reafonings which cry there is no hope;' and taking the shield of faith, and the fword of the Spirit, he wrefiles, not only with flesh and blood, but with principalities and powers': a mighty though fecret conflict which God shall one day declare to the world; and which, when explained, will leave its most celebrated heroes filent in darknessTM.

Go thy way forth by the footsteps of the 'flock" for in this house they all have left the

prints of their feet.-Here ftood Jacob, weeping over his beloved Rachel°; and here Aaron deplored his fons P. Here we trace the steps of David going up to his chamber, and crying with a loud voice would God I had died for thee, O Abfalom my fon! my fon! and those of Ezekiel, who, forbidden to cry, filently refigned the defire of his eyes to the stroke'. But enumeration is vain: hither came all the fons of God, the only begotten not excepted, for here JESUS, himself, ftood and wept at the grave of a friend".

With fuch company, is it not far better to go to the house of mourning than to the house of feafting?-I knew one of these; a man who had feen affliction by a rod" like yours ;—a man who walked, and wept in folitude; but with no expectation of being overheard.-There is fomething facred in grief; and we cannot liften to its effufions with too much candour :

great candour, indeed, is here required, but, if afforded, it may procure you at least a

companion, as you pass through this vale of

tears.

***

* * * * * * * * * * Set thee up way-marks";'

-I defire here to fet them up, and to re'cord the feverest of my visitations in the ⚫ house of my pilgrimage.—Lord, prepare me ⚫ for the next!'

I perceive I could not have properly sympathised with a friend in a fimilar cafe before this ftroke.-I could not have under"Stood it.'

I have, at times, fo felt the importance of 'eternal things, that I thought the lofs of any prefent comfort would be tolerable :-but I had no idea how much depended on being ready, when the Son of man came in such a " providence.'

I feel I now ftand in the right pofition to fee the world and the word :-they both appear under aspects entirely new.'

"When I find "my joys packed up and gone;" my heart flain; the delight of my eyes taken away;-when I recollect who is gone before her, who is following, and what remains for the world to offer; my heart cries, I loathe it; I would not live alway"; I thank God that I am also to go.'

• I perceive I did not know how much my life was bound up in the life of a creature :— when he went, nothing feemed left:-one is not, and the reft feem a few thin and fcattered remains.'

And, yet, how much better for my lamb to be fuddenly houfed,to flip unexpectedly into the fold to which I was conducting

Job vii, 16.

her,

‹ her, than remain exposed here?—perhaps • become a victim ?'

I cried, O Lord, fpare my child!'-he ' did, but not as I meant ;-he snatched it ⚫ from danger, and took it to his own home."

-

I have often prayed, Lord, soften my heart! humble my pride! destroy my levity! I knew enough of his way to fear the means; but he has, in mercy towards me, regarded my foul, more than my

feelings.'

I prayed earnestly for her life :-duty compelled me to fay thy will be done;'but I meant nothing.'

'How long, O my God, haft thou come seek⚫ing fruit on this tree! how much hast thou done to cultivate it!-fhall it ftill remain

fruitless?-fhall it be cut down after all?’

Luke xiii. 7.

• My