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Now she that is a Widow indeed, and desolate, trusteth in ' God and continueth in supplications and prayers night and day.*

TIMOTHY was ordained a bishop of the church at Ephesus; and this epistle was written to him by St. Paul, his spiritual father, to teach him "how to behave himself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God."

THE former part of the context contains directions respecting the treatment of widows; and ef pecially poor widows who belonged to the church, and were supported at their expense. He is first directed to "honor widows who were widows in. deed." Here the apostle explains his meaning, by designating the character intended. Now "she that is a widow indeed, and defolate, trusteth in God,

* Preached at the house of one made a widow by her husband's desertion: who left her in straitened circumstances to provide for a young family.

and continueth in fupplications and prayers night and day."

Every widow did not answer to this descrip. tion. There were some who answered to no part of it, as he shews below. These Timothy was not required to honor-not directed to provide for them, or employ them in the business of the church; though certain poor and pious women were then used to minister to the sick, of their own sex, and discharge other charitable labors among them.

In discoursing on our subject, we shall make a few obfervations on the forrows of widowhood; then glance at the duties of it; and the fupports which God hath provided for widows indeed.

A widowed state is naturally defolate. Most widows pass many folitary hours-a lonefome and melancholy situation; - especially after having known and enjoyed the social intercourse of connubial life. The value of all our comforts is best known by experience; more especially by their loss, after a temporary possession.

But the conjugal connexion is sometimes un. happy. In such cases a widowed state is a release from the trials and difficulties which attended it, which may be severe and distressing. The miscon. duct, or unkindness of those in the nearest relation, wounds in the tenderest part, and occafions the most pungent grief. True. Yet a state of widowhood, after such a connexion, is commonly more unhappy than after a happy marriage. Ma. my difagreeables are generally left to afflict the def.

olate. Reflections on fuch connexions and the trying scenes passed while they continued, are difagreeable; and many cares peculiar to their situ. ation often distress the widows. The care of off

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spring, where there are offspring, devolves wholly on them; which, if left in straitened circumces, is often a burden they are unable to bear. And where aid is kindly afforded, still the concern which lies on them, is oft times distressing. "Pangs and forrows take hold upon them-their couch is wet with tears; their eyes confumed with grief." If those thus tried are widows indeed, they follow the line drawn in the text-trust in God, and continue in prayers and fupplications night and day.

As it is the duty, it is also the comfort and support of the defolate to trust in God. When streams dry up, we go to the fountain: So when creature comforts fail, interest unites with duty, in point ing us to the Creator. He is the source of com fort-that which comes by means of the creature comes from him. The creature is only the medium of conveyance.

WHEN the faints become defolate-when their worldly comforts fail and their hopes decay, they are directed to return to God and put their trust in him; and also to bring with them, those for whom they feel interested-their helpless dear ones, and he hath promised them protection. " Leave thy fatherless children, and I will preserve them alive, and let thy widows trust in me."

FALLEN creatures are exceedingly prone to lean to the world-to promise themselves comfort in it,

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and support from it. They generally look elfewhere before they look to God. Disappointed in one worldly object they often run to another, and another. They never come to the Creator, and make him their hope, till convinced that what they seek is not to be found in the creature. God fometimes brings his people into straits, and strips them of their earthly dependencies, that having no where else to trust they may come to him and caft their care upon him.

EVEN the Christian may need the rod of adverfity to keep him mindful of his dependence on God, and prevent his resting on the creature for support. For after union with Christ, worldly objects retain too large a share of his affection, and he is too much inclined to lean upon them. His attachment to these things is often too strong; draws away his heart from God, and renders him too little mindful of him who is his portion and rest. Therefore is it often necessary to deprive him of his earthly dependencies, that being desolate, he may return to God and renew his reliance on him.

Ir becomes the desolate, not only to trust in God, but to be thankful that they may trust in him. Those who have God for their portion, have an abiding fatisfying portion. God will be more and better to them than earthly friends, or earthly treasures. Friends often forsake them; or cease to be friends, and become enemies" Riches take to themselves wings and fly away." But God abides;

he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee."*

Now she that is a widow indeed, and defolate, while The trusteth in God continueth in fupplications and prayers night and day.

THOSE of this character when they find themselves destitute of worldly comforts and supports, go to God and pour out their fouls into his bofom. Like the Pfalmist they stir up themselves to truft in him. We find that faint expostulating with himself in a time of trouble and darkness, and chiding his despondent temper. "Why art thou cast down, O my foul? And why art thou disquieted within me? Hope thou in God; for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my counte nance, and my God."

WHILE thus stirring up themselves to trust in God, the faints pour out their fouls before him in fervent prayer. This the apostle declares to be the manner of those, whom he terms widows indeed-they trust in God, and continue in fupplications and prayers night and day.

SUCH was the aged Anna, who met the infant Savior, "when he was brought into the temple, to do for him after the custom of the law. " She departed not from the temple, but served God, with fastings and prayers night and day."

THE child, when in affliction, is wont to run to its parents and tell them the sad tale of its forrows, So the child of God, stripped of other supports, spreads its grief before him who possesses all pow.

* Hebrews xiii. 5.

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