mercies, which the bringing in of a better hope fecured to thy creatures ! The grace of GoD which bringeth falvation hath appeared unto all men. "Whofoever will, let him come and "take of the waters of life freely. In my Father's houfe are many man"fions. Come unto me ALL YE that la"bour and are heavy laden, and I will give you reft." AMONG thefe companions in mifery, our Saviour beholds a wretched man, who for eight and thirty years had fupported life under circumftances which feemed to render it an almost intolerable burden. Alas, what called this unhappy fufferer to the waters of Bethesda? What reasonable ground of expectation could he poffibly entertain, that his endeavours would be crowned with fuccefs, in a trial which depended on perfonal speed and activity? Others, affected in a different manner, must neceffarily have the pre ference. ference. Vain must be the attempts of one bowed down to the earth by painful infirmity to outftrip his fellows. Yet ftill does he perfift-ftill does the energy of hope teach him to remain at that spot, where alone he deemed a poffibility of cure to be expected. He perfifts, and continues his anxious labour-each returning feafon bringing along with it fresh hopes, and fresh difappointment. O Yɛ that are afflicted with spiritual diseases, come to that living fountain which is opened for fin, and for uncleannefs. Approach the well-fpring of lifethofe never-failing ftreams whofe virtues are not temporary, whofe bleffings are not confined to one competitor-where every one that afketh, receiveth, and he that feeketh, findeth, and none who apply with faith are fent empty and defpairing away. Do ye complain of the blindness of your ignorance? Here fhall ye receive clearness of fight-Of the infirmity of your best refolutions? here ye fhall obtain a fresh fupply of graceOf the tumultuous frenzy of paffion? here is peace to the troubled foul-Of the cold and withered languor of your zeal and piety? here is life, and strength, and activity freely offered to your acceptWhatsoever fickness, whatsoever danger, whatsoever forrow there be, come to your Saviour, and be healed. ance. YET even here, as at Bethefda, the GOD of all hope will exercise the patience of his fervants. He will have us fenfible of the value of thofe bleffings we folicit, that when they are imparted to us, we may both enjoy them, and praise his mercy, the more. How enviously did How did these fufferers at the medicinal ftream look on each other as rivals! they watch, and suspect, and fcrutinize, and ftruggle for a preference! How, like the jealous candidates for earthly honours, did they esteem their expecta tion itself to be mifery, and their difappointment, torture! But he who commits his way unto the LORD must hope for thofe gifts which he beftows at his own time, and in fuch a manner as is good in his fight. Here is no virtue, no fuccefs without patience. O that men would thus tarry at the true Bethefda, the house of the Father of mercies and of all comfort-O that men would wait for thy loving-kindness, "O LORD, in the midst of thy tem ple!" Did they diligently attend thine ordinances, did they value their own happiness aright, they could not fail of those bleffings, which thou hast covenanted to beftow. Alas, here and here only, are they faint, remifs and indolent! If their temporal welfare is to be confulted, they tarry long, and endure patiently, and toil, that they may yet longer; fubmitting to certain mifery for the fake of a few uncertain toil days days of happiness. Why is it not thus with the foul? The wretched patient at Bethefda, without even the probable means of fupport or comfort, would yet attempt, yet labour, to attain the object of his wishes. And can we not, blessed LORD, can we not then be equally folicitous to accomplish the work of our falvation? Can we not be as ardent in our endeavours for our fpiritual recovery? What can be more important-what of nearer moment-what better deferving our most animated exertions, than the prize of the high calling of GOD in CHRIST JESUS? OUR Saviour, when he beheld this child of forrow, when in accents of loving-kindness and tender mercy he spoke as one that was touched with the feeling of his infirmity, did not afk the question without effect. He did not kindle the fpark of hope in a fufferer's breast, to check it by fubfequent defpair. CHRIST, the |