world: 1 Cor. xi. 32. Blessed are the poor in spirit; for theirs is the kingdom of heaven: Matt. v. 3. Here, they are educating for it. Here, they sit at the foot of the Cross, and receive lessons of faith and patience, of humility and temperance.

Blessed also are the pure in heart; for they here see God: (Matt. v. 8.) who never so unveils himself as in seasons of distress. In sight of his character and word, they bow before his provi dence, yea trust him in the stroke; for hope is made to arise here, as a light in darkness. Here the spiritual Husbandman is taught to go forth weeping, and bearing the precious seed of faith and love, penitence and prayer! assured that he shall come again with Joy, bringing his sheaves with him: Ps. cxxvi. 6. Here also, the heavenly Scholar acquires the tongue of the learned, that he should know how to speak a word in season to him that is weary: Isa. 1. 4. And here the true Soldier of Jesus Christ is found fighting the good fight of faith, and laying hold of eternal life (1 Tim. vi. 12) in the very valley and shadow of death. He is here instructed to cast down imaginations (2 Cor. x. 5,) those reasonings which peculiarly infest and darken the House of Mourning; and, taking the shield of faith and the sword of the Spirit, he wrestles not only with flesh and blood, but with principalities and powers: (Eph. vi. 12-17) - a mighty though secret conflict, which God shall one day declare to the world;

and which, when explained, will leave its most celebrated heroes silent in darkness: 1 Sam. ii. 9.

Go thy way forth by the footsteps of the flock: (Cant. i. 8.) for in this house they all have left the' prints of their feet. Here stood Jacob weeping over his beloved Rachel: Gen. xxxv. 20) and here Aaron deplored his sons: (Lev. x. 3). 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 Absalom, my son! my son! (2 Sam. xviii. 33.) and those of Ezekiel, who, forbidden to cry, silently resigned the desire of his éyes to the stroke: Ezek. xxiv. 16. But enumeration is vain. Hither came all the sons of God, the only-begotten not excepted; for JESUS himself stood and wept at the grave of a friend: John xi. 35.

With such company, is it not far better to go to the House of Mourning than to the House of Feasting? Eccl. vii. 2.-I knew one of these, a man who had seen affliction by a rod (Lam. iii. 1) like yours: a man who walked and wept in solitude, but with no expectation of being overheard. -There is something sacred in grief, and we cannot listen to its effusions 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: (Jer.

xxxi. 21.)" I desire here to set them up, and to record the severest 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 similar case, before this stroke. 1 could not have understood it.

"I have, at times, so felt the importance of eternal things, that I thought the loss of any present 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 stand in the right position to see the world and the word. They both appear under aspects entirely new.

"When I find my joys pack'd up ' and gone,' my heart slain, 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 loath it: I would not live alway (Job vii. 16): 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 she

went, nothing seemed left. One is not; and the rest seem a few thin and scattered remains.

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And, yet, how much better for my lamb to be suddenly housed :-to slip unexpectedly into the fold to which I was conducting her, than remain exposed here! perhaps become a victim!

"I cried, O Lord, spare 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: and he has, in mercy towards me, regarded my soul more than my feelings.

"I prayed earnestly for her life. Duty compelled me to say, Thy will be done:-but I meant nothing.

"O my God, how long hast thou come seeking fruit on this tree! (Luke xiii. 7.) How much hast thou done to cultivate it! Shall it still remain fruitless? Shall it be cut down after all?

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My passions forged impressions that she would live; but I now plainly perceive I am called to regard God, and not impressions.

"I have been long like one in a fever, attended at times with a strong delirium:-I begged hard that I might not be bled; but he meant a cure, and pierced my heart.

"Oh how slender, how brittle, the thread on which hang all my earthly joys!

"I wish ever to be asking, Am I ready, should he send again, and take ***, or ***, or myself?'-Setting my house in order (Isa. xxxviii. 1) will not make death approach sooner; but, that it will render his coming much easier, I feel by sad experience.

"When, I pass by the blaze of dissipation and intemperance, I feel a moment's relief. I say to my heart, Be still;'-at least she is not left to follow these ignes fatui. How much better is even the grave for my T******, than the end of those things? Rom. vi. 21.

"It is vain for me to wish, as I have done, to leave the world, and go to my father, that I might inquire into the whole of the case; the reasons, the steps, the issue, &c. In a short time I shall; but he says enough now, if I have ears to hear.

"In the mean time, help me, O my God and Father, to recollect that I received this drop of earthly comfort from a spring which still remains! Help me to feel that nothing essential is altered! for with thee is the fountain of life (Ps. xxxvi. 9). Part of myself is already gone to thee: help what remains to follow."

If this humble attempt to improve your affliction has been attended with any success, you will readily admit a few concluding hints with respect

to

Our DUTY in such circumstances.

And one of the first and principal duties of the state is, as hath been expressed, to ACKNOWLEDGE. GOD in it.