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the heroes of the age, one of whom had slain a whole garrison, and the other killed Goliath, both wept, till each exceeded. Homer, that exquisite painter of Nature, considers Ulysses as excelling all men in wisdom, yet represents him as weeping three times in six lines. Achilles, too, so extraordinary in courage, he describes as weeping often and plentifully. Let not, therefore, the unfeeling pride themselves, as superior in fortitude and philosophy. Feeling is the noblest distinction and ornament of humanity and in proportion as we lose it, we cease to be men. There is a moral ossification of the heart, as well as a physical; and the one is as pitiable as the other. He who was fairer than the children of men, was often known to weep.

Ás these tears were honourable, so they are exemplary. For whom did he shed them? The inhabitants of Jerusalem, who, after every kind of insult, were going to put him to death. At the grave of Lazarus he wept for friends; here, for adversaries. And does he not, by this, tell us to be tender-hearted? to weep with them that weep? That we should bewail the miseries of others? and not confine our compassion to our own connexions ? but love our enemies, bless them that curse us, and do good to them that persecute us? And does he not enforce this, not only by precept, but example And can we be his disciples, unless we follow him? "He that saith he abideth in Him, ought himself so to walk even as He walked !" "If any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his."

These tears are encouraging. Tears are generally considered proofs of concern. Human tears, indeed, it will be allowed, are not infallible tokens; but the tears of Christ may be safely trusted. They shew his compassion; the sincerity, the greatness of his compassion. They tell us, that his love passeth knowledge and therefore they call upon us to

repair to him-assuring us, that he is not willing that any should perish; that as he lives, he has no pleasure in the death of him that dieth

"Give me thine heart, my son,' he cries,

"And kindly waits to take thee in :

"With love and pity in his eyes,

"He weeps to save thee from thy sin."

Finally, they are awful and foreboding; admonishing us of the dreadfulness of their doom on lwhose behalf they are shed. It is affecting to see a man weep, and especially a great man. You would naturally suppose that something vast and momentous was necessary to move to tears such mighty minds as those of a Bacon or a Newton. And could a trifle move the Son of God to weep? And if the temporal calamities coming on the Jews affected him, how much more would their eternal perdition! What were the Roman eagles, compared with the wrath to come! O, these tears say, plain enough, "There is something divinely, infinitely pitiable in the loss of a soul! It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God! Who knoweth the power of his anger!"

May we not fairly infer from hence, what his feeling is in the recovery of a sinner? If he weeps over those who are ready to perish, surely he will rejoice over those that are saved. "He will rejoice over them with joy; he will rest in his love; he will rejoice over them with singing."

FEB. 27.-"Increasing in the knowledge of God."
Col. i. 10.

Does this mean the knowledge of which God is the author, or the knowledge of which he is the subject?

In reality, this is the same thing. The Gospel contains the knowledge which God has communicated to the children of men; and this principally discovers himself; so that it is at once a revelation from God, and a revelation of him. All his works, the largest and the least, praise him. If we take up the telescope, or the microscope, we alike exclaim, "This is the finger of God"-But we take up the Gospel, and say, "No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him."-Here we look into his very heart, and see that it is the dwelling-place of pity— Here we know the thoughts he thinks towards us, and find that they are thoughts of peace, and not of evil.

With regard to this knowledge, we may make out four classes.

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Some are destitute of this knowledge of God. Some! There are at present more than five hundred millions lying in darkness, and the shadow of death! These have never heard of the Name of Jesus, and know not that there is such a Being in the universe. Yet Christians have it in their power to inform them: and a few are exerting themselves-Prosper, O God, their endeavours-that thy way may be known on earth, thy saving health among all nations.

-Some reject it. This is one of the things we should deem incredible; but we have undeniable, as well as mortifying evidence. How many refuse to hear! How many never read the Word of God! Others even sneer at its inspiration, and ridicule its contents! Whatever difficulties may attend the doom of the former class, justice admits of none with regard to this "How can we escape, if we neglect so great salvation ?"

Some hold it in unrighteousness. They profess to know God; but in works deny him. Some of these have clear views of the way of salvation, and even contend for the faith once delivered to

the saints. The Gospel has taught them every thing -except to deny themselves, and take up their cross, and follow the Saviour in the regeneration. They would be offended to be placed near the former class. "We are not unbelievers." No-you have denied the faith, and are "worse than an Infidel."

-Some receive it in the love and the influence of it. Their faith is more than notion: their worship is not formality: their hope is not delusion-they live in the Spirit and walk in the Spirit. Though these are still comparatively few, yet, blessed be God, their number is daily and greatly enlarging; and the Lord add to his people, how many soever they be, a hundred-fold.

Art thou, my reader, one of them? Remember four things.

First. That thou hast any of this knowledgeshould make thee thankful.

Secondly. That thou hast so little-should make thee humble.

Thirdly. That more is attainable-should make thee hopeful.

Fourthly. That it is attainable only in the use of means-should make thee diligent.

Consider what I say; and the Lord give thee understanding in all things.

FEB. 28.-" Having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end." John xiii. 1.

THESE words refer immediately to the twelve disciples of our Lord. But what said he in his intercessory prayer? "Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me, through their word." And what part of the statement here will not extend beyond his first followers?

Is it the relation? These are called "His own"and they were indeed his own, by extraordinary office; but they were far more importantly his own, by saving grace. And thus he has a propriety in all Christians. If ye are Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed. They that are Christ's have crucified the flesh. He has a peculiar right to them, from covenant donation, and the execution of his trust. They were given him as so many sheep to feed; as so many scholars to teach; as so many patients to heal; as so many captives to redeem. They are therefore not their own, but bought with a price: and the ransom was no less than his own blood. The connexion between Him and them is so intimate and entire, that they are called his heritage, his children, his bride; the members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones: yea, they are joined to the Lord, and of one spirit with him.

Is it the condition? They "were in the world." He was leaving it, and they were to be left in it: and from what it had been to him, they could judge what it would be to them: according to his own intimation, "The servant is not greater than his Lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you." They found themselves, therefore, as lilies among thorns; as sheep among wolves. And he prayed not to have them taken out of the world, but only kept from the evil. And thus it is with his people now. They are in the world; and this is their field of action; and this is their sphere of duty and trial for a season. There they are to serve their generation; there they are to glorify God by doing and suffering his will. "But the world is much improved." It has advanced much in science and civilization; but it retains the same disposition towards real godliness as formerly: and is more perilous in its smiles than in its frowns: in its treacherous embraces than in its avowed hostilities. But if you are "His own," while you are "in the world," you will not

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