as they themselves would desire, if they were commissioned to declare beforehand what they would consider as an adequate ground of consolation. Can any tiling exceed this kindness ?
Let us then entertain worthy conceptions of our gracious God ; and learn never to doubt his love, or to distrust his care. And, instead of distressing ourselves with fears on account of our own weakness, let us look unto our Almighty Saviour to " perfect his own strength by means of itm."]
2. How differently must ministers conduct them- selves towards the different objects of their care !
[That same divine Shepherd who says, " I will strengthen that which was sick," adds, " But I will destroy the fat and the strong ; I will feed them with judgment11." Now there are many who perhaps will bless themselves, that they are strangers to the faintings and fears which are so distressing to others. What message then have we from God to them ? Shall we endeavour to "confirm and strengthen" them? They need not our assistance ; they would despise our proffered help. Shall we say to them, "Be strong, fear not?" Alas! how " shall they be strong in the day that God shall deal with them0?" They rather need to fear and tremble for the judg- ments that are coming upon them. " God is coming ;" but he is not their God ; for they have never chosen him for their God, nor given themselves up to him as his people. He is coming with awful " vengeance," and with a just " recompence" for all their neglect of him. He is coming not to " save," but to destroy them. Let them then hear the message of God to themp, and tremble. They must be sick in order to know the value of a physician ; and must feel themselves lost, if ever they would be interested in the salvation of Christ q.]
m 2 Cor. xii. 9. n Ezek. xxxiv. 16. before cited.
0 Ezek. xxii. 14. and Isai. x. 3. P 2 Thess. i. 7 — 9.
<J Mark ii. 17. Luke xviii. 13, 14.