made our own : we should " rejoice with them that rejoice, and weep with them that weep."
That this grace may be more cultivated amongst us, we will endeavour to shew,
I. The nature and extent of Christian sympathy —
Sympathy is that feeling of the mind whereby wre enter into the concerns of others as if they were our own. Not that we are to interfere with others as " busy-bodies in other men's matters ;" but we should have such a friendly disposition towards them, as to participate both in their joys and sorrows, and to have corresponding emotions excited by them in our own minds. This is a duty incumbent on every child of man : " Let no man seek his own, but every man another's wealth a :" And again, " Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others V Now,
1. There is scope for the exercise of this grace in reference to men's temporal concerns —
[Are any afflicted in mind, or body, or estate? "We should be ready to act towards them as Job's friends did under his afflictions : " they met by appointment, to mourn with him and to comfort him ; and they were so overwhelmed with his sorrows, that they were incapacitated for any active exertions in his behalf for the space of seven days and seven nights0." This silence of theirs has been misconstrued by many, as if the time so spent had been occupied in uncharitable reflections, to which they dared not give vent. But those who have been conversant with scenes of woe, and have been suitably impressed by them, will be at no loss to account for the effect produced : lighter sorrows would soon have called forth observations of some kind, either from the sufferer or his friends : but sucli overwhelming griefs as his, astonished, stupified, and silenced all : and in proportion as our sympathy is deep, will be the reverential awe with which we shall approach the sufferer, and the tender caution with which we shall address him.
It may be said, that such feelings well became them, as friends of the afflicted saint ; but that it is unreasonable to look for any such emotions towards a stranger, and still more towards an enemy. To this we answer, that, though friendship
a 1 Cor. x. 24. b Phil. ii. 4. See also Heb. xiii. 3.
c Job ii. 11 — 13.