Methinks I see some of you affected at this part of my discourse. What say you? Are there not some ready to complain, alas! we have some relations present, who are so notoriously wicked, that they not only hug their chains, but make a mock of sin, and stink not only in the sight of GOD, but man. Dear souls! you are ready to urge this, as a reason why JESUS will not raise them; and think it hard, perhaps, that JESUS does not come, in answer to your repeated groans and prayers, to convert and save them. But what JESUS said unto _Martha_, I say unto you, “Believe, and you shall see the glory of GOD.” Think it not a thing incredible, that GOD should raise their dead souls. Think not hard of JESUS for delaying an answer to your prayers: assure yourselves he heareth you always. And who knows, but this day JESUS may visit some of your dear relations hearts, upon whose account you have ♦travailed in birth till CHRIST be formed in them? You have already sympathized with _Martha_ and _Mary_, in their doubts and fears; who knows but you may also be partakers of that joy which their souls experienced, when they received their risen brother into their longing arms.
♦ “travelled” replaced with “travailed”
O Christless souls, you do not know what grief your continuance in sin occasions to your godly relations! You do not know how you grieve the heart of JESUS. I beseech you give him no fresh cause to weep over you upon account of your unbelief: let him not again groan in his spirit and be troubled. Behold how he has loved you, even so as to lay down his life for you. What could he do more? I pray you, therefore, dead sinners, come forth; arise and sup with JESUS. This was an honour conferred on _Lazarus_, and the same honour awaits you: Not that you shall sit down with him personally in this life, as _Lazarus_ did; but you shall sit down with him at the table of his ordinances, especially at the table of the Lord’s-supper, and ere long sit down with him in the kingdom of heaven.
Happy, thrice happy ye, who are already raised from spiritual death, and have an earnest of an infinitely better and more glorious resurrection in your hearts. You know a little, how delightful it must have been to _Martha_ and _Mary_ and _Lazarus_, to sit down with the blessed JESUS here below; but how infinitely more delightful will it be, to sit down, not only with _Mary_ and _Martha_, but with _Abraham_, _Isaac_, and _Jacob_, and all your other dear brethren and sisters, in the kingdom of heaven. Do you not long for that time, when JESUS shall say unto you, “Come up hither?” Well! blessed be GOD, yet a little while, and that same JESUS, who cried with a loud voice, “_Lazarus_, come forth;” shall with the same voice, and with the same power, speak unto all that are in their graves, and they shall come forth. That all who hear me this day may be then enabled to lift up their heads and rejoice, that the day of their compleat redemption is indeed fully come, may JESUS CHRIST grant, for his infinite mercy’s sake. _Amen_, and _Amen_.