Ver. 2.-Sorrow and if'8 Consoler. "This is nothing else but sorrow of heart." I. SORROW OF HEART MAY CO-EXIST WITH EXTERNAL WELL-BEING. Nehemiah was healthy, honoured, rich, yet sad. So are many in similar circumstances. The sorrows of sympathy, pntriotis~, and pi~ty, as. Nehemiah's were; those of penitence or remorse ; of wounded affection or disappointed confidence ; those occasioned by famil:,· troubles, &c., may im·ade the hearts of the most proeperous. And it is well that they should. Prosperity without sorrow tends to moral ruin. II. SORROW OF HEART IS GRACIOUSLY NOTICED AND ASSUAGED DY THE KING OF KINGS. 1. He obsen-es the sorrowful heart. It will commonly reveal itself in the counten- ance ; but if not, God sees it (Ps. mi. 7 ; xxxviii. 9). 2. He delights to comfort the sorrowful heart. "He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds." He sent his Son "to heal the broken-hearted." The Spirit whom he sends is "the Comforter." By his providence, by the revelation he gives of his fatherly pity and the benevolent ends of affliction, by his assurances of favour and love, by his promises, by human sympathy and solace, he comforts now his children; and ultimately he will wipe all their tears away. III. SORROW OF HEART SHOULD RECEIVE TENDER HUMAN SYMPATHY AND SUCCOUR. We should be sensitive to its signs, and prompt to feel with and for it, and to proffer consolation and relief. This course is-1. Prompted by nature. To decline this duty is to do violence to ourselves. It is to "shut up our bowels of compas- sion" (1 John iii. 17), unless, indeed, we are so far below the level of humanity as to have none. 2. Enjoined by religion. The law and the gospel coincide here. 3. Re- qtri.red by our relation to sufferers. The brotherhood of man to man, of Christian to Christian. 4. Enabled by our possession of the gospel. Which is a collection of cordials for all varieties of human sorrow. He who has this, though he has little besides, may be a comforter of many. 5. Illustrated by Divine example (see II.). 6. Enforced by the revelation of the last judgment (see Matt. xxv. 35--45; 1 John iv. 17). Finally, there is sorrow coming on the impenitent which,will receive no comfort from God, angel, or man (see Luke xvi. 24-26).
Yer. 3.-Sadness, when and how far justijuible. "Why should not my counte- nance be sad ? " I. SADNESS IS OFTEN JUSTIFIABLE, OR EVEN COMMENDABLE. 1. Under great troubles. Stoicism is neither natural nor Christian. Troubles are meant to trouble ua. If they do not. they afford no trial to faith and patience, and cannot effect their purpose for discipiine and improvement. 2. Under the consciousness of sin. In view of its essential evil as committed against God, his rights, laws, and goodness; its injurious- ness to ourselves and to others; its final consequences unless forgiven. 3. In sym- pathy with the troubles of others. Which makes them our own. Christian fellow. ship includes community of suffering. "If one member suffer, all the members suffer with it." 4. On account of the sins of others (Ps. cxix. 136, 158; Ezek. ix. 4 1• Phil. iii. 18). 5. On account of the troubles of the Church. Nehemiah's sadness w as hon6urable to him. II. YET SADKESS SHOULD NOT DE INCONSOLABLE. 1. It need not. For a sure remedy is furnished in the truths and promises of the gospel, and the ever-available aid of the Holy Spirit. 2. It ought not. For faith and prayer, opening the heart to tLe Divine consolations, and securing the Divine aid, would turn sadness into peace, if uot joy; Those cases are, howe:ver, to be excep~~d where melancholy sprincrs from physical causes, and needs bodily rather than spmtual treatment. Uf SADNESS SHOULD NEVER BE PREDOMINANT IN THE CHRISTIAN. For hie habitual sadness of spirit, countenance, or speech-I. Dishonours God. 2. Robs himself. Counteracting the design of our religion, everywhere prominent in the New Testll- ment. "That they may have my joy fulfilled in themselves." "In the world ye shall have tribulation, but be of good cheer." "The kingdom of God is . . . joy in the Holy Ghost." "The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy," &c. "These things write OH, II, 1-8. THE BOOK OF NEHEMIAH. 13
we unto you, tlmt your joy may be full.'' 3. Hinders Christian service. "The joy of the Lord is your strength." 4. Retards the progress of religion. Discouraging inciuirer, and giving occasion to adversaries to speak ill of the religious life.