that he was the Christ, and stoutly vindicating his honour against the aspersions of the Jews, and persisting to do so till he was reviled and excommunicated by them; this inclined our Lord to fix and secure his faith, by plainly telling him that he was the Son of God, and thereby encouraging him to confess him with still greater resolution, and to bear up under whatever sufferings might hereafter come upon him for his sake.

And whoever will be faithful to his Saviour, in firmly adhering to him and his truth, when opposed by an irreligious and wicked world, may depend upon it that his Saviour will be always ready to support and stand by him, and enable him to undergo the greatest trials that can be laid upon him. He will inspire him with such a noble resolution, as will carry him undauntedly through the greatest discouragements and difficulties; and fill his soul with such Divine refreshments, and give him such an enravishing prospect of those heavenly joys which are ready to crown his constancy, that even death itself, though in its most terrifying shapes, shall not be able to affright him from it.

Thus we read of St. Stephen, the first that lost his life for the testimony of Christ, that being full of the Holy Ghost he looked up steadfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at his right handy, as ready to comfort him in his last agonies, and take him to himself; and when he was just expiring under a shower of stones, with great calmness and serenity and heavenly joy, he recommended his soul to his Redeemer's mercy, saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit!

And with what bravery did the apostles bear up against the united malice both of Jews and Gentiles; rejoicing that they were accounted worthy to suffer for the sake of Christ, and laying down their lives for him as readily and as calmly as we go to sleep!

And in like manner the noble army of confessors and martyrs ever since endured such things as would make us tremble to hear the bare relation of, not only with unshaken patience, but a triumphant cheerfulness and joy.

All which was through the aid of the Holy Spirit of God, who strengthened them mightily in the inner man, and made such strong and lively impressions upon their souls of love to Jesus, and of the transcendant excellency of that recompense of reward which he had prepared for them above; that every thing seemed light and short and easy, which would bring them to the possession of it, and lead them to the everlasting embraces of their Saviour.

Nor is he less present now, nor ever will be, to support with the same supernatural consolations, and inspirit with the same courage and holy magnanimity, those that are sincerely his disciples, and are not ashamed of him and his words, but are true to both, in any adulterous and sinful generation. His care of the church, and every sound member of it, is always the same; and none ever did or shall suffer in his cause, but he is ready to uphold them with his everlasting arms, and carry them through to victory.

Wherefore, let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him b Eph. iii. 16.

a Acts v. 41.
d Mark viii. 38.

c Rom. viii. 35.

in well doing as to a faithful Creator; who will never forsake those that bravely engage themselves in the defence of his honour, and contend earnestly for his holy faith: and those that continue faithful unto death shall certainly receive the crown of life which our Lord hath promised to them that love him.

e Pet. iv. ult.

f Rev. ii. 10.

g James i. 12.

THE THIRTEENTH MIRACLE.

Lazarus raised from the dead after four days' burial.

JOHN xi. I.

Now a certain man was sick, named Lazarus, of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha, &c.

THIS Bethany, where Martha and Mary and Lazarus dwelt, was a village near Jerusalem, to which our Lord used often to go when in those parts, as a convenient retreat from the noise and hurries of the city; and the two sisters and their brother, being of the number of those that believed on him, were always glad to entertain him, that they might enjoy his heavenly conversation with privacy and freedom, and no doubt thought themselves happier in such a guest, than all the world besides could make them. And if his public discourses were so charming, and that even to his enemies, and rough officers that came on purpose to apprehend him, that they had no power to take him, but went away full of his praise and admiration ; what may we think they were in private, when the endearments of friendship were added to them, and those good people had their Saviour to themselves!

Their hospitable treatment of him was abundantly rewarded by every minute of his presence with them, and every word he spake; as still the company of a person of wisdom and goodness, though his outward circumstances are as mean as those of Jesus, makes ample recompense wherever he comes, for whatever kindness and respect is shewn him.

Now when the time of that passover drew near at which Jesus was to be the immaculate Lamb, whose blood should avert God's vengeance, atone for guilty mankind, and take away the sins of the world, his friend Lazarus was sick; and his sisters, seeing the distemper violent upon him, sent messengers to their Divine Friend and never failing Physician, who was then retired into Galilee, to acquaint him with it, and bid them say, Lord, behold, he whom thou lovest is sick. Which moving message they thought would be sufficient to hasten Jesus to them, whose tender and compassionate nature made him very ready to succour all that were in danger and distress; much less therefore would he need great entreaty to come to his sick Lazarus, whom he so dearly loved.

And no doubt but he would immediately have went, had it not been more for the glory of God that his friend's sickness should proceed to death, than that a stop should be put to it, though by a miraculous cure. For indeed, though it was designed that Lazarus should die of this illness, and therefore Jesus did not go to heal him, but stayed where he was, notwithstanding his great love to him, till he knew that he was dead; yet, as Christ told his disciples, this sickness was not unto death, as men commonly die, that is, irrecoverably, to any second life here in this world; but for God's glory, and that the Son of man might be glorified thereby, when he should demonstrate his almighty power in raising him to life again in so amazing a manner, as we find he did in the sequel of this story.

And, therefore, when two days after he told them