the Babylonish monarch, agreeably to the predictions re- specting him*^ And similar exultation was felt at the
destruction of Jerusalem; as it is said: " All that pass by clap their hands at thee; they hiss and wag their head at the daughter of Jerusalem, saying, Is this the city that men call the perfection of beauty, the joy of the whole earth '^?" But though these gloryings were permitted by God for the punish- ment of his enemies, they are not recorded for our imitation. We, like our blessed Lord, should weep over the desolations even of our bitterest enemies^. We should " bear one another's burthens, and so fulfil the law of Christ^." The sight of misery, wheresoever it is found, should call forth our tenderest sympathy, and cause us to " weep with them that weep s." This is particularly suggested by the conduct of the people at Bethlehem : " The whole city was moved" at the sight of this poor widow, whom they had not seen for the space of ten years; and one sentiment of compassion filled all ranks of people, saying, " Is this Naomi?" So let it be with us, whether we be able to relieve the sufferer, or not. The very feeling of compassion w ill be pleasing to our God ; and will assimilate us to that blessed Saviour, who pitied us in oui* low estate, and " who, though he was rich, yet for our sakes became poor, that we, through his poverty, might be rich^."]
2. Contentment —
[In such a changeable world as this, what is there for us to covet? Shall we desire riches? How socm do " they make themselves wings, and fly away"." Shall we affect honour? How soon may our Hosannahs be turned into, " Crucify him, crucify him ! " As for pleasure, of whatever kind, so vain is it all, that " even in laughter the heart is sorrowful, and the end of that mirth is heaviness''." Indeed, the whole world, even if we could possess it all, is but " vanity and vexation of spirit." If we " have wives, our true wisdom is to be as though we had none; if we weep, to be as though we wept not; or, if we rejoice, as though we rejoiced not : if we buy, to be as though we possessed not; and, if we use this world, as not abusing it: because the fashion of this world passeth away^."" If changes of the most calamitous nature occur, we should remember, that " nothing has happened to us but what is common to man," and nothing but what may issue either in our tem- poral or eternal good. There are not wanting instances of the deepest reverses being themselves reversed: for Job's
Almost this whole passage should be cited. ^ I.uke xix. 41, 42. f Gal. vi. 2.
•> 2 Cor. viii. 9. > Prov. xxiii. 5.
1 1 Cur. vii. 29—31.
c
Isai, xiv. 4—11.
d
Lam. ii. 15.