his livid forehead these mournful words," the wages of sin is death."

But how weak must have been the faith of the Disciples, that they were thus overcome by fear, when the Prince of Life marched at their head; he who had dominion over death and the grave; he who is the resurrection and the life." What! cannot their ideas be lifted above this earth, when he who guides them is "Him to whom all power is given in heaven and on earth." He who has deprived death of its sting, the grave of its victory, and eternity of its terrors! From the time that Jesus crossed the river Jordan to return into Judea their hearts were filled with fear, perhaps also with sorrow, seeing that Jesus was hastening on to his last sufferings. Till now they had secretly hoped for a glorious termination to his earthly mission, (one that would have astounded mankind) and expected that they might have shared his glory. They are ready to cry out with St. Peter, when he heard his Master foretelling his death-"+ Be it far from thee Lord, this shall not be unto thee" But now their vision of a great terrestrial kingdom, founded by their Master, is vanished, and with it their brightest hopes-their dread of coming events engrossed them, and prevented them from discerning the Lord's meaning-the word of the Lord can only be understood by the assurance of faith, and the calmness of perfect confidence.

Alas! here again we must not blame the Disciples, they are a faithful index of what passes in our own minds. Do we not incessantly find within us the weakness and sin which Jesus fights against in his Disciples? How often does the mere anticipation of trials make us shudder, and unfit us for receiving the infallible consolation of our Lord? This is a most dangerous stumbling block to Christians during their probation—instead of bowing with adoration, and even to the dust, under the hand that strikes the blow, asking with the submission of a dutiful child—“ My God what wilt thou do with me," we are troubled, we are full of labour, man cannot utter it." Our wayward hearts recoil under every fresh trial; distracted by such tumultuous feelings, who can listen to the voice of a kind father saying, "My son despise not the chastening of the Lord, neither be weary of his correction." When unbelief and distrust fill the soul with trouble in the hour of affliction, they will fill it with agony at the approach of death. If an angel from heaven should come to you at this moment, and tell you, as from the Almighty, that this was your last day, that to-morrow your eyes would be closed, your body lifeless, and your soul passed into eternity, what would be your feelings? Would not anguish and terror, regrets and fears alternately torment you? Probably most of you would say that they would. What must we then conclude? Alas! alas! that your faith is weak, that your Saviour God,

Eccles. i. 8. + Prov. iii. 11,

whom you profess to love, and whom you come to worship in these temples, is not the life of your soul; that the world hath a stronger hold on you than he; that you have not yet "passed from death unto life;" that you have not "§ received the spirit of adoption whereby we cry Abba, Father."

Could you but look to eternity (the very name of which makes you tremble) as an everlasting kingdom of love, passed in the presence of him who has so truly loved you, what could you fear? Will the poor exile, who has long been sighing for and looking towards the country which contains all he holds dear on earth, fear the moment which recalls him from banishment, restores him to the home of his fathers, to those dear relations, who, trembling with joy, clasp him to their bosoms, and dry the bitter tears his absence had caused.? And will you, strangers and pilgrims on this earth, will you fear to cross the barrier which divides time from eternity? Will you fear to meet in a better world the heavenly Father who so tenderly loved you, the merciful Saviour who ransomed you with his own blood, and who is willing to be your brother, your friend and comforter? Would you fear to inhabit that place where all the blessed spirits, of those who loved Christ, are assembled together? Would you fear to lay aside the bonds of corruption which you are now dragging after you, and be free

The Disciples did

to enjoy the glorious liberty given to the children of God, where there is no more sorrow, pain, or separation, because there is no more sin. No, no, "* for me to live is Christ, to die is gain." not yet understand our Lord, he must tell them why in spite of their fears he must return to Judea. "Then said Jesus unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead." At these words their hearts were cast down, and filled with sadness; the word dead, pronounced necessarily but reluctantly by their Master, brought before them melancholy ideas of separation, burial, &c. &c. and deeply grieved them. Lazarus, their beloved friend, the friend also of Jesus, no longer lives; they will never again be welcomed with his cordial smile; his house will no longer be an asylum for them and their Master. These sad thoughts crowded before them, and you who have had some dear friend, some Lazarus torn from you by the hands of death, may imagine how painful these reflections were. You know what a void, what a desolation such a loss leaves behind, and that in the misery of such a separation, our spirits would even wish to take flight, and follow to another world the beloved being whom death hath removed.

Beloved Disciples of the Lord! who weep for Lazarus, listen to your master, to the prince of life, when he speaks of death, and rejoice with him, or at any rate take courage. "I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, to the intent that ye may believe."

* Phil. i. 21.

What a strange consolation, my brethren, "I am glad;" and he is speaking of the death of one he loved those who in trials expect relief from the joyless comforters of this world, will consider that word of consolation as cruel almost as ironical. Often does a poor mortal, ignorant of God's intentions towards him, weep and lament over the sorrows of his life, and often does Jesus, from the highest heavens, watch over his child, saying with tenderness, "I am glad for your sake," and the Angels of God "* who have joy over one sinner that repenteth," make the heavens resound with the words, "I am glad."

"And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, to the intent ye may believe." Jesus might have been there he might have gone at once to Bethany with his Disciples, have surrounded the dying couch of Lazarus, and by speaking one word might have restored him to health; but, no! it would not have been sufficient for his Disciples faith, or he might have permitted that in their presence: Lazarus might have suffered death, that they should be eye-witnesses of the afflicting scene, and have the mournful satisfaction of following him to the grave, from whence he might have been recalled by our Lord's power. But, no! Jesus rejoiced that he was not there, that those he loved had been spared such hours of anxiety and distress, he only led them to the grave of Lazarus, to make them eye-witnesses of the most astounding manifestation of his power and divinity-that they

St. Luke xv. 10.