In carrying therefore your thoughts and mine to the contemplation of this subject, let us not attempt the presumptuous task,—presumptuous as it must be futile,—of tracing out in the language of human thought, all the deep mysteries which mark it. For if, as our own experience tells us,—we cannot at all times give utterance to the emotions of our own hearts, how shall we be able to discern or express all those of the Incarnate Word? Yet, let us approach the consideration of His great love, manifested in His tears at the grave of Lazarus, with the conviction that it contains a precious lesson for our instruction and comfort, and with the prayer for God's grace that we may profit thereby.

The time will not permit us to dwell at length upon the many points of interest which crowd the earlier portion of the present chapter; yet the most transient glance will enable us to perceive bright rays of heavenly mercy shed over them. There is, first, the peculiar blessing recorded of the family of Bethany, that the Redeemer's favour rested upon them all. "Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and LazaWhat a blessing was this!-that the Light

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were shed in contemplation of future calamities upon a nation; Jerusalem was to be destroyed. The third in contemplation of sin, and the everlasting punishment due to sin, and to such sinners as would make no benefit of that sacrifice which He offered in offering Himself.' Donne's Serm. xxi. Vol. i. p. 153. ' John xi. 5.

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which was sent "to lighten the Gentiles and to be the glory of Israel '," should thus shine within the precincts of a single household; that the Good Shepherd should here gather His "little flock" together, and encourage them to "fear not," by the assurance that it was their "Father's good pleasure to give" them "the kingdom ";" that He who "knew what was in man 3," should abide in the dwelling of those who were not worthy that He should come under their roof; that, with reproving mercy, He should restrain the anxieties of the one sister, who was "cumbered about much serving," and, with unreserved promise, ensure unto the other who sat meekly at His feet, the possession of "that good part which" should "not be taken away from her1;" that the hand of the Good Husbandman should thus prepare the ground for the reception of the seed of eternal life, which He scattered upon it; that He who was "the way, the truth, and the life "," should thus reveal things that were hidden "from the wise and prudent," unto those who, in child-like simplicity, were "babes ";"-this was indeed an accumulation of blessing far outvying the choicest treasures of the world, because it was the very substance of that happiness of which they are but the dim, imperfect, and fleeting shadows. It was, in fact, the visible accomplishment of that pro

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mise which our Lord Himself has declared to be the privilege of all who trust in Him, saying, “If a man love me, he will keep my words; and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him 1."

Observe, now, for one moment, the other circumstances which mark this part of the sacred narrative. Lazarus, whom Jesus loved, fell sick. His sisters, therefore, sent unto Jesus, who was at that time tarrying on the other side of Jordan 2, tidings of this their trial; and, by the love which He bore to them and to their brother, besought His help. The power and the compassion of His help were, doubtless, known full well by these earnest supplicants. The path of His gracious ministry had been too thickly strewed with miracles of mercy, not to leave traces of them on every side. The eyes of the blind which had been opened, and the ears of the deaf which had been unstopped; the lame man who leaped as an hart, and the dumb who sang in freedom the praises of his Deliverer3; the hungry who had been filled, the weary who had been refreshed, the weak who had been made strong, the sick who had been restored to health, and the mourners who had received their dead to life again, these were the monuments of their Master's goodness, these were the encouragements to plead their Master's

1 John xiv. 23.

3

2 John x. 40.

Compare Isaiah xxxv. 5, 6. and Matt. xi. 5.

aid. And yet, the petition of those whom Jesus loved, was not answered. Their message seemed fruitless; their sorrows unheeded. Lazarus sickened, and died; and "when Jesus came, He found that he had lain in the grave four days already '."

O! my brethren, how often does the thick gloom which then hung over the sisters of Bethany, darken our own horizon! How often are the most faithful servants of the Lord assailed with trials, and compelled to drink the cup of trembling to the dregs! They, like the members of that family whom the Redeemer loved, may have learnt the lessons of His heavenly teaching, and rejoiced to walk in the steps of His holy way; and when the child, or brother, or wife, or husband, or friend, of their affections, are, like Lazarus, brought low through weakness, they may have offered up the very prayer which was urged in his behalf, and have said, with trembling and earnest entreaty, "Lord, behold, he whom Thou lovest is sick." And yet He, who came not to Bethany to stay the hand of the destroyer, grants not their petition. Their cry is loud and urgent; but it returns unto them void. They look on every side for instruments and means of help, and would have them come, if it were possible, with the speed of lightning at their command; but the wheels of His chariot, who alone can bless the issue, appear to

1 John xi. 17.

linger in their course ;-death draws near; and the desire of their eyes is gone. I seek not to draw any picture of imaginary woe; still less would I revive or deepen the anguish of the heart which, by painful reality, "knoweth his own bitterness1;" but let us ask ourselves whether consolation is not to be derived from the present history. Does it not tell us that the bereavement suffered by Martha and by Mary, whilst to the eye of sense, it appeared to be misery, hopeless, and inexplicable, was nevertheless a means ordained to an end; and that end, the glory of God and their own everlasting joy? And may not we learn from the remembrance of this fact a lesson for ourselves? Does it not teach us that the way in which God answers our prayers is not to be determined by our desires?—that, what we may deem a desolation too terrible even to think upon, may nevertheless be the chosen method by which the Author of wisdom and mercy is making "all things work together for good to them that love 2" Him? We know, from the narrative before us, the reasons for which it pleased our Lord to withhold, for a time, the fulfilment of the petition addressed to Him; and is not a sure encouragement herein given unto us to believe, that reasons equally righteous and merciful exist, even in cases where the same knowledge is not revealed? It speaks a message unto

1 Prov. xiv. 10.

2 Rom. viii. 28.