feelings may be supposed to be so acute as not to be capable of being transfused into the bosom of one who is not exposed to such perils, conceive of persons immured in dungeons, or racked with pains and destitute of all needful succour ; or contemplate the widow bereaved of all that she held dear in this world, and of all that she relied on for the support of her- self and her helpless offspring ; I say, conceive of sorrows as brought home to your own bosom, and as experienced in your own soul ; and then you will see how you ought to realize in your minds the miseries of others, and to pant for an oppor- tunity to relieve them.]
2. Fervent prayer —
[" Intercession," we are told, " should be made for all men ;" but more especially should it be so in behalf of those, whose troubles render them objects of more than ordinary compassion. St. James says, " Is any sick among you, let him call for the elders of the Church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord : and the prayer of faith shall save the sick : and, if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him^." You well know how a man will plead with God for the wife of his bosom, or for his beloved child, whose dissolution he apprehends to be fast approaching. Thus should we enter into the distresses of others also, and should plead with God in their behalf. David did thus even in behalf of his very enemies : " When they were sick, my clothing was sackcloth, and I humbled my soul with fasting*^:" and in this way should we also make our prayer unto God, in the hope that he will interpose effectually in their behalf, and bestow on them the blessings, which it is not within the power of any finite creature to impart.]
3. Active services —
[We are not to say, " Be ye warmed, and be ye filled, and at the same time withhold" from our brethren the aid which we are able to bestow*^ : such compassion as that is mere hy- pocrisy. Our Lord tells us in what way our sympathy should display itself; " I was an hungered, and ye gave me meat; I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink; I was a stranger, and ye took me in ; naked, and ye clothed me ; I was sick, and ye visited me; I was in prison, and ye came unto me^." AH indeed have it not in their power to exert themselves to the same extent : some have more leisure, and more ability, than others : but all can do something for their poor neighbours : some friendly service they can render ; some word of comfort
^ Jam. v. 14, 15. •= pg, xxxv. 13.
d Jam. ii. 15, IG. ^ Matt, xxv. 35, 36.