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THE abfence of our Saviour from the death-bed of Lazarus was not accidental, but voluntary. To the pious fifters of the departed Chriftian it afforded nothing but present anguish-but the advantage which their faith would gain by fo divine a miracle as followed, was more than able to counterbalance this momentary distress. The cause of their grief therefore is to our bleffed Lord a fubject of joy. When a father beholds his fon fighting for his country, he fees danger and death on one fide, renown and victory on the other-he grieves at the peril, but he rejoices in the honour. Thus doth the Almighty in all our forrows he hears our groans, he notes our tears, and pities us-but he looks upon our patience, our faith, our hope, our crown, and is glad that we are afflicted.

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"LAZARUS is dead-nevertheless, let us go to him." What should separate,

if

if death cannot? Friendship itself can but difmifs the lifeless remains to their tomb, attending them thither with pious forrow, and committing them to their filent duft. But here is an unfhaken friend, whom the grave itself cannot fever from us-O love, ftronger than death, love triumphant over corruption! LORD, even these our earthly tabernacles shall hereafter be members of that mystical body, whereof thou art the Head. We know that our Redeemer liveth, and that he fhall stand at the latter day upon the earth; and though, after our skin, worms destroy this body, yet in our flesh fhall we fee GOD.

O SAVIOUR, death cannot hinder our approach to thee, or thy return to us. The hour cometh, when all that are in the graves fhall hear thy voice, and fhall go forth to meet their GOD. Awake and fing ye that dwell in duft-for thy dew is as the dew of herbs, and the

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earth fhall caft out her dead. The ranfomed of the LORD fhall return, and come to Sion with fongs, and everlasting joy fhall be on their heads-they fhall obtain gladness and joy-and forrow and mourning shall flee away.

VOL. IV.

K

LXXXIX.

LXXXIX.

§ II.

LAZARUS.

THE news of CHRIST'S approach feems to have awakened fome degree of comfort in the fifters of Lazarus. Had he been present at an earlier period, the enemy would fooner have been vanquifhed. Death would have retired from fo unequal a conteft, and fled before the Lord of life. The words of Martha, when she came forth to meet her Saviour, are not the words of one who forrowed without hope-" LORD, "if thou hadst been here, my brother "had not died-but I know that even

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now, whatsoever thou wilt afk of God, "GOD will give it thee." Joy was wont to poffefs her foul, at the arrival of fo bleffed a guest-she now receives him, as one whofe grief was fanctified by faith and piety. She, as well as her. fifter, had in time past fat at the feet of JESUS, and heard his word-fhe knew that her brother would rife refurrection at the laft day.

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He whom GOD fent fpake the words of GOD, "I am the Refurrection and the "Life-he that believeth in ME, though “he were dead, yet fhall he live," the replied with rapturous fervency, "Yea, "LORD-I believe that thou art the "CHRIST, the Son of GOD, who should

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come into the world." In language worthy of the Holy Ghoft which inspired it, fhe bears teftimony to the power and Godhead of the Meffiah, and

See 1 Corinthians xii. 3.

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