GOD'S BOTTLE FOR BELIEVERS' TEARS. BY ONE WHO HAS A TEAR FOR OTHERS, AS WELL AS HIMSELF. "God counts the sorrows of his saints, Their groans affect his ears; He has a book for their complaints, EDINBURGH: THOMAS GRANT, 21 GEORGE STREET. MDCCCLIV. 141.6.17. Believers' Tears for their own Sins, Believers' Tears for their own Backslidings, Believers' Tears for their own Imperfections, Believers' Tears for the World's Wickedness, Believers' Tears (as Parents) for their Children's Follies, Believers' Tears (as Pastors) for their People's Falls, Believers' Tears for their own Afflictions, Believers' Tears for the Afflictions of Others, Believers' Tears for their own Reproaches, Believers' Tears for the Church's Distresses, Believers' Tears for their own Oppression, Believers' Tears for the Oppression of Others, Believers' Tears for Private Bereavements, Believers' Tears for Public Bereavements, Believers' Tears of Joy for Themselves, Page INTRODUCTION. THIS world, even at the best, may well be styled a "Baca," or a "Bochim;" a valley of tears, or a place of weeping. So it was not originally, but so it has become through sin; so it has been in all ages in the experience of the people of God, as well as of the men of the world, and so it will continue till the consummation of all things. Even now, indeed, God, in the exercise of his almighty power, could easily so arrange everything connected with his people as completely to dry up their tears, or to exempt them from every occasion of weeping. But for the best of reasons he is pleased, in his sovereignty, often to order it altogether otherwise. For it frequently happens, in his all-wise providence, that their troubles are not less, but more numerous than those of others; and that their tears |