his chastening rod from us, and to make us his honoured instruments of imparting comfort to our afflicted brethren. This also, though not attended with any ebulHtion of joy, is a very sublime and delightful feeling ; not unlike to that of Joseph, when his bowels yearned upon his brother Benjamin, and a prospect was opened to him of making his own advance- ment an occasion of benefit to his whole family : " He made haste, and sought where to weep ; and entered into his cham- ber, and wept there ^."
A still further reason why his heart is in the house of mourning is, that there he meets, and eyyoys, and honours God. God has said, that " he meeteth those who rejoice in working righteousness^." And, truly, he fulfils this word in a more especial manner to those who abound in works of mercy, be- cause he considers himself as the object of that love, wherever it be exercised, and in whatsoever it be employed '^. I will appeal to those who have frequented the house of mourning, whether they have not often found God more present with them there, than even in their own chamber. In truth, God is honoured there with more than common tributes of ac- knowledgment. There is he referred to as the All-wise Dis- poser of all events, and as the gracious Father that corrects only in love and for his people's good. There, too, is he set forth in all his glorious perfections, and especially in all the wonders of redeeming love : and there is he invariably set forth as the author of the very good which is at that hour dispensed to the troubled soul ; so that the creature, his in- strument, is overlooked, and he alone is glorified.
Say then. Brethren, whether here be not ample reason for the preference shewn to " the house of mourning : " and whe- ther he be not truly wise, whose heart has dictated such a choice as this ?
In contrast with this, we ask,]
2. Where is the heart of the fool ?
[It is " in the house of mirth." And why? One reason is, that there he is enabled to forget himself. Men do not like to reflect upon their own state before God: and they account any thing desirable, which can dispel unwelcome thoughts, and furnish a pleasing occupation for their minds. Hence it is that all places of amusement are so thronged : and even the house of God is made to administer to our satisfaction ; the irksome- ness of prayer being rendered tolerable by the fascinations of music, and the charms of eloquence. Hence, too, every one who can devise a new expedient for preventing time from hanging heavy on our hands, will be sure to gain our patronage, and be welcomed and rewarded as a public benefiicton
^ Gen. xliii. 29, 30. « ig^i. ixiv. 5. f JSIatt. xxv. 35, 3G.