says respecting the value of such works in his sight, lest they should appear to countenance a self-righteous spirit: but, if only we carefully exclude the idea of their being meritorious, or availing any thing for our justification before God, it is scarcely possible to state too strongly the delight which God takes in them, or the certainty of their being most richly re- compensed in the eternal world c: every one of them is a loan " lent to the Lordd;" and he would consider himself unjust, if he should forget so much as one of them in the great day of final retribution e: not even a cup of cold water given for his sake, shall pass unnoticed, or lose its reward f.]
Her piety however did not exempt her from the common lot of mortality. We are next called to contemplate,
II. Her death —
Like others, " she fell sick and died." But though disease and death were permitted to cut her off even as the wicked, and thereby to shew that " all things come alike to all," yet there was an immense differ- ence between her and others in the regret experienced for the loss of her —
[A tear or two is all the tribute that is paid to the greater part of mankind, except by those who are their near relatives, or immediate dependents. But at the loss of her, all the Church at Joppa mourned ; and the greatest solicitude was expressed to have her restored to them from the dead. They had heard of Peter healing by a word a man who had been confined to his bed for eight years *; they deputed therefore two persons to wait upon him, (for he was only about six miles off,) to request his interposition with God in their behalf: and, when he came, they expressed their grief in the most affecting manner; shewed him at the same time the fruits of her industry and benevolence, that so they might interest his feelings, and engage his prayers for her restoration to life.
What a blessed testimony was this ! how much better than the fulsome eulogies of panegyrists, or the funeral pomp of kings ! yes, the tears of the godly, and the lamentations of the poor, are the noblest monuments that departed worth can have. 0 that we may all so live, as to be thus regretted by the Lord's people, and to have our memory engraven in the hearts of all who knew us ! And let us take care that the survivors may have substantial proofs of our piety to exhibit. We are not all able to do good in the same way, or to the same extent : but
c 1 Tim. vi. 17—19. a Prov. xix. 17. e Heb. vi 10
f Matt. x. 42. s ver. 3.3, 34.