very same occasions as at this time presented themselves to our blessed Lord. There are troubles and calamities all around us: and if we have our souls duly impressed with them, we shall be able to say, with holy Job, " Did not I weep for him that was in trouble ? Was not my soul grieved for the poor0?" But if there are no particular troubles that come under our cognizance, who can open his eyes and not see to what an extent sign reigns in all the world? And should not that move us ? Should not " rivers of waters run down our eyes, because men keep not God's lawp?" Should we not say with the Prophet Jeremiah, " O that mine head were waters, and mine eyes a fountain of tears, that I might weep day and night for the sins and miseries of my people0-! Nor should the defects of those who profess godliness escape our notice. When Paul marked the conduct of some at Philippi, he was quite distressed in his soul because of the delusions by which they were blinded: " Many walk," says he, "of whom I have told you often, and tell you now even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ, and that their end is destruction r." And so tenderly did he enter into the con- cerns of all, that he could say, " Who is weak, and I am not weak? who is offended, and I burn nots?" This is "the mind that was in Christ Jesus ;" and in this every true disciple will resemble him1.]
3. What a Friend we have, before whom to spread all the sins and sorrows wherewith we are oppressed —
[Has any temporal calamity befallen you ? He who wept at the grave of Lazarus invites you to call upon him : " Call upon me in the day of trouble, and I will hear thee ; and thou shalt glorify meu." Are you loaded with a sense of guilt? The same Almighty Friend says to you, " Come unto me, all ye that are weary and heavy-laden ; and I will give you rest*." Very remarkable is that expression of his pity for Ephraim of old: "Surely I have heard Ephraim bemoaning himself thus .... Is not Ephraim my dear son ? is he not a pleasant child ? For, since I spake against him, I do earnestly remem- ber him still : yea, my bowels are troubled for him : I will surely have mercy upon him, saith the Lordy." And do you think that he will exercise less compassion towards you ? O, know for a certainty, that you " have not a High-Priest who cannot be touched with a feeling of your infirmities, but was in all points tempted like as you are, yet without sin z." Be it
-20.
° Job xxx. 25.
p Ps. cxix. 136.
<J Jer. ix. 1.
r Phil. hi. 18, 19.
s 2 Cor. xi. 29.
t Phil. ii. 4, 5
» Ps. 1. 15.
x Matt. xi. 28.
y Jer. xxxi. 18
z Heb. iv. 15.