save us." "Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me."

Application. What is the object of your pursuit? Is there any resemblance between you and the Psalmist? What is the bent of your desires, the tenor of your exertions? May the Spirit of God enable you, as in a glass, to discover your own character and conduct while I seriously press on you these propositions.

1. "They that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh." Are there not some here who haste to rise up early and eat the bread of carefulness, in hope of saying ere long, "Soul, take thine ease; eat, drink, and be merry?"

Or perhaps, free from care, you are like the thoughtless prodigal rather than the calculating fool; your course is marked not by industry and thrift, but waste and riot. To enjoy the pleasure of sin for a season is the end at which you aim.

But in whatsoever form the world may ensnare your affections, it will elude your grasp, and leave you the experimental knowledge that all is vanity and vexation of spirit. Oh! begin to follow hard after God. * **God will not disappoint your largest expectations. He promises to give you rest. Take hold of his strength and say, "Draw me. we will run after thee."

2. "They that are after the Spirit do mind the things of the Spirit." Are any aiming at a spiritual universal obedience? a more humble, simple, constant, and peaceful dependance? glad to withdraw from the avocations of business and the masquerade of worldly company to cultivate communion with Jesus?" following hard after God?" "Fear not, worm Jacob! His right hand upholdeth thee." Be not discouraged because of the way. "Hast thou not known, hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary?" Whatever the difficulties of thy warfare, "be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus," and thou shalt eventually say, the right hand of the Lord hath the pre-eminence. The right hand of the Lord hath brought wondrous things

to pass.

SERMON XLIII.

CHRISTIAN SYMPATHY.

Galatians, vi., 2.-Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.

THE Constitution of man in his natural state fully proves that he is a being created for social intercourse, and depending for happiness in a great degree on the society of his own species. God himself has also declared this; for no sooner did he produce this exquisite workmanship of the human frame, than he pronounces-" It is not good that man should be alone."

It is only the invention of man which would destroy this arrangement; but, under whatever pretences such persons may hide their plea for a contrary order of things, it is clear they violate the plain intention of God! Man was not made for a cloister; and though the garb of religion may attract his desires to become a recluse and shut himself up from the observation of his fellow-creatures, yet such a vol untary humiliation will not affect the balances in which he will be weighed at that day when God shall render to every man according to his works. If such do possess any light, why not let it shine forth before men, that others may be induced to glorify their Father who is in heaven? Such do actually eclipse that glory within them, if such they really have, and God is not honoured by them in the face of an ungodly world; he receives no glory from such; nor can he say to them, "Ye are my witnesses !"

All society, whether domestic, civil, or religious, has its origin in God; and these bonds which God has joined let no man put asunder!

The benefits which arise to men by this conjunction are great beyond measure; even as it regards this world! for they are linked together by the bonds of the reciprocal relation of their nature and the ties of consanguinity; and however certain distinctions may exist among them, arising from

the various acts and orders of Providence, or from pedigree, education, fortune, talents, different situations and spheres of action, yet the bonds of society are not thereby loosed; we are of the same species, and agree in far more important respects than those in which we differ. We are all the workmanship of the same hands, composed of the same materials, cast into the same form, copied from the same image, descended from the same common stock, inhabitants of the same world, the care of the same Providence, involved in the same calamities of the fall, and experiencing the same nécessities. Herein we all resemble each other by nature; but far more striking are the features which grace imprints upon our minds: as those who belong to Christ, we are the purchase of the Saviour's blood, the objects of the same mercy, the subjects of the same grace, have the same duties to perform, the same enemies to encounter, the same faith to exercise, the same race to run, the same hope to animate us, and if by patient continuance in well doing, seek for the same glory, honour, immortality, and eternal life.

St. Paul improves this union in the text, and brings it into a practical application; for as Christians we stand in so near a relation to each other, that the relative duties thereby laid on us cannot be too impressively enforced.

We speak here only of the burdens of the children of God! for to such the apostle speaks.

1. There may be a burden of poverty; it is often their case; not that this is the consequence of their religion; no, it ameliorates even our temporal condition. But not many rich are called, &c. ; yet God often casts his children upon the richer of the brethren; they are often deprived not only of the comforts, but the necessaries of life. O! want of bread!—and believe me, pinching want is a great aflic

tion.

2. There may be a burden of sickness; bodily afflictionhealth is a blessing incalculably valuable, and a blessing which they could well appreciate to whom nothing is given but the cup of sorrow, almost unmixed with any alleviation. This is not the natural effect of religion, for she sits as a beneficent and bountiful empress, "holding in her right hand length of days, and in her left hand riches and honours:" yet the body may often be "chastened with pain upon his bed, and the multitude of his bones with strong pain."

3. Persecution. This is no new thing; all who will live Godly must suffer it; nay, to some it is given to know how great things they must suffer for his name; "for to them it is given in the behalf of Christ not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake."

The least kind is reproach. The world spends the virulence of its tongue against the children of God; enthusiasm and madness are some of the epithets. *** But a man's greatest foes shall be they of his own household. See the parent who stifles religious impressions in the child; you were pleased with them when going on in all the gayeties of the world!

4. Temptation. This is no new thing. The weak believer is much pressed at by the enemy, and perhaps so much so that there may be,

5. Darkness of mind; he may have given way to the adversary. This is, indeed, the peculiar meaning of the exhortation in the text, as in the first verse: "Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual restore such a one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted." Mildness must be used on these occasions, and not austerity. ** A man must not be forsaken of his brethren because he has slipped. *** But how are we to bear each other's burdens?

1. Sympathize with them. How strangely does sympathy relieve the sufferer! We are to weep with them that weep, for it lessens the affliction; and to rejoice with them that do rejoice, for it increases their joy; joy communicated increases the feeling of joy. Idle compliments may do among the worldly, but the child of God asks not in indifference

M M

concerning his brother's welfare. He enters feelingly into his state, and is himself oppressed with the burden that weighs down his afflicted brother.

2. Counsel them. Faithful advice is often of the greatest use; a good counsellor is a suit half gained.

3. Relieve them. In vain to counsel if not relieve.-Many give counsel because it costs nothing, but withhold relief.How few Dorcases! good Samaritans !

*

4. Pray for them, This is no small part of your duty; the faithful prayer availeth much. If our prayers for each other were not efficacious, we should not be so often required to pray for all men.-Many proofs are given of the efficacy of prayer on these occasions. The Church prayed for Peter, and he was given, in answer to them.—It is on this plan the sick send to be prayed for.-You should be spiritual. priests, bearing on your hearts the names of those for whom you are interested, as the high-priest's ephod!

II. The reasons of it, or motive to it. "This is the law of Christ."

1. It is the law of his precepts; the whole tenor of them is to love one another: "A new commandment I give unto you, that ye love one another: as I have loved you, that ye also love one another." Nay, even to extend it to enemies: "If they hunger, feed them; if they thirst, give them drink."

2. It is the law of his example; he taught nothing but what he practised; as to his enemies, see him doing them good; healing the ear of Malchus, who came to take him; and on the cross-" Father, forgive them." But see his example towards his own, which is the pith of the exhortation; poverty-though he was poor indeed, he never ate his bread alone. *** Sickness-see, in the case of Lazarus, how he sympathized! Persecution-see how he loved his disciples the more as he saw the approach of persecution. How he prayed for them to the last, and "loved them to the end." Temptation-Satan had desired to have some, but he had prayed for them; he counselled them: "Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation."-Darkness-see