will of course heighten our feelings, and more exquisite sen- sations will be excited in us by the sight of a suffering saint, who is as a member of Christ's bodyd, than would be called forth towards one who stood in no such relation to Christ, yet our compassion should be deep and tender towards all. The good Samaritan has shewn us how we should act towards any one, even though he should be of a nation that is hostile to use: and David has shewn us how we should conduct our- selves towards him, even though he were our bitterest enemy : " When they were sick," says he, " my clothing was sackcloth; and I humbled my soul with fasting: I behaved myself as though he had been my friend or brother: I bowed down heavily, as one that mourneth for his mother f."
In like manner we should be prepared to rejoice with those who are brought into circumstances of a more pleasing nature. We see an example of this in the friends of Elizabeth. It was reckoned a great affliction to a woman to be barren : and such had Elizabeth been, till she was arrived at an age when she had no reasonable expectation of ever seeing her shame removed. But it pleased God in his mercy to visit her, and to give her a son in her old age : and when she was delivered of the child, her friends and relations came from every quarter to congratulate her on the happy eventg. This was a fruit and evidence of their love : and wherever love is, it will be sure to operate in this manner : we shall not be indifferent to the happiness of others, but shall find our own augmented by every accession of happiness to our neighbour : and, if " a man who has recovered his straying sheep," or " a woman who has found her lost piece of money," call upon us for our congra- tulations'1, we shall feel real delight in the exercise and ex- pression of our most benevolent affections.
Such is the disposition which we should cultivate towards all the sons and daughters of affliction ; for in the exercise of it we perform a most important duty towards them, as members of one common family ; and at the same time we resemble our common Parent, of whom it is said, that " his soul was grieved for the misery of Israel," and, that " he delighteth also in the prosperity of his servants."]
2. But the most urgent calls for it are in reference
to men 's spiritual concerns —
[The joys or sorrows which arise from the things of time and sense are comparatively of little consequence : but those that are connected with the eternal world are of infinite im- portance. Are any of our fellow-creatures mourning by reason
d 1 Cor. xii. 25, 26. c Luke x. 30—37. f Ps. xxxv. 13, It. e Luke i. 57, 58. h Luke xv. 1—6, 8, 9.