that Lazarus slept; and that he would go and awake him, (by which, as he signified his being dead, so he likewise signified that he should not long be so,) and upon their not apprehending his true meaning, said to them plainly, Lazarus is dead; he withal tells them that for their sakes he was glad he was not there, to prevent his dying, to the intent that they might believe; that is, be confirmed beyond all doubt in their faith in him as the true Messias, and in the belief of what he had not long before discoursed to them concerning his own and the general resurrection, by that glorious miracle which he would shortly work upon their deceased friend.

Now this train of providence, in bringing that sickness upon Lazarus, and Jesus, though he had express notice of his danger, and the desire he had to see him, yet regarding it less than he used to do that of mere strangers, and delaying to go to him for the space of two days, though he was two days' journey from him, and this on purpose that he might be dead before he came : all this seeming hardship upon Lazarus, and unkind neglect in Jesus of one he loved so well, (which could not but appear very strange to his two sisters, and made them with tears, when they saw him next, ascribe their brother's death to his not coming when they sent him word that he was sick,) all this being only in order to the great ends but now mentioned, and at last causing greater joy to the good family than ever they felt before, should teach us entirely to acquiesce in all God's disposals, how harsh and unpromising soever they may look at present, in full

assurance that the conclusion will be happy, and oblige us to acknowledge that all things were ordered for the best.

For as God is too wise to do or permit any thing without some ends in doing or permitting it, so all his ends are great and good; and what to us may seem to come by accident, is ordered and disposed by him to excellent purposes; and those very things which in all outward appearance look like an unkind neglect of Providence, do often prove the noblest expressions of God's care and love.

And therefore, though the order and method of his government is concealed from us, and we may wonder at such and such steps of it, and be tempted to complain and expostulate with God about them, and think it hard that he does not grant us this and that reasonable request; yet let us but reflect how extremely ignorant and shortsighted we poor creatures are, how apt to mistake our best interest, and the means of promoting it, and how infinite God's wisdom is, and his goodness and love to us no less, whereby as he must needs know perfectly what is best for us, together with all the various ways of bringing it to pass, so he will not withhold it from us in due season: let us but thus reflect, and we shall see abundant reason to give ourselves up entirely and cheerfully to his disposal. And then, even in the darkest and most uncomfortable passages of our lives, it will mightily keep up our spirits to remember whose hand it is that does support and lead us; even his, under whose guardianship and guidance we cannot but at present be safe, and at last shall not fail of being happy.

Now when Jesus knew that Lazarus was dead, BRAGGE, VOL. I.

T

he said unto his disciples, Let us go into Judæa again. And they, knowing that he but lately withdrew from thence to avoid the malicious fury of the Jewish rulers, who were extremely exasperated against him, and had resolved upon his death, put him in mind of the great danger of returning thither so soon, and said unto him, Master, the Jews of late sought to stone thee; and goest thou thither again? To which Jesus gave this excellent answer, Are there not twelve hours in the day? If any man walk in the day, he stumbleth not, because he seeth the light of this world. But if a man walk in the night, he stumbleth, because there is no light in him. Intimating, that we must not be deterred by difficulty and danger from performing, in its proper season, the duty that God hath laid upon us; and when we walk in the way wherein he hath set us, according to the guidance of his word and blessed Spirit, which are as a lantern to our feet and a light unto our paths", we need not doubt of his protection, so far as is consistent with the wise ends of his Providence, his glory, and our own and the public good.

It is deeds of darkness only that should make men timorous, when they do what they are ashamed of and cannot justify, and what deserves the displeasure and punishment both of God and man; but he that walketh uprightly walketh surelyi ! He treads firmly, and cares not who observes him, and moves on steadily in the paths that he is sure will not deceive him or mislead him, and in which, whatever happens, God will be his defender and support; whereas he that perverteth his ways, and h Psal. cxix. 105.

i Prov. x. 9.

takes vile and unlawful courses, and thinks to conceal and cover them by walking in the dark, under disguises and secret underhand contrivances, must needs be full of frights and fears, and often make false steps, and stumble and fall, and have none to lift him up; and after all, shall be discovered and known, to his utter shame and confusion: For he that walketh in darkness, as our Saviour says, knoweth not whither he goeth, nor to what misery and sorrow his walk will bring him at last.

Our Lord therefore, having the great work of man's salvation to finish, and the time then drawing nigh when he should complete it by his death, though before that time was come he took care to provoke his enemies as little as was possible, and often avoided their rage by a timely retreat, and kept out of their way till he could return with safety, according to his advice to his disciples, when they persecute you in one city, flee unto another; yet now, with a noble resolution, he goes to meet his sufferings, since they could be no longer shunned, if he would be the world's Redeemer.

Upon this, Thomas said to the other disciples, Let us also go, that we may die with him: "And "since our Master is thus resolved upon this "hazardous journey to Jerusalem, let us not basely "desert him, but, as becomes faithful servants, share "in all his fortunes, think nothing too great to "suffer for his sake; and when we can enjoy his

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presence no longer upon earth, be ready to lay "down our lives together with him, and attend him "into his eternal kingdom above, where we shall "meet our late deceased friend, and all the blessed

k John xii. 35.

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company of heaven, and be for ever with our "Lord in glory everlasting."

If this was St. Thomas's meaning, as I believe it was, his words are so far from weak and thoughtless, (as one way of understanding them would make them seem,) that they are worthy the mouth of an apostle, and bespeak him of a truly brave and generous, that is, Christian spirit; and they teach us how we should behave ourselves in confessing Jesus and his truth, when we are called to it in times of danger and difficulty, namely, with courage and fortitude, and such fidelity and love as casts out fear in certain expectation of a never-fading crown of bliss and glory in heaven, as the reward of all our religious sufferings here; for this is a faithful saying, If we die with Christ, we shall also live with him; if we suffer with him, we shall also reign with him, and be glorified together1.

Now by that time Jesus was come nigh to Bethany, he found that Lazarus had lain in the grave four days already; and many of the Jews were come from Jerusalem to perform the friendly office of condoling with the two sisters upon the loss of their brother, and discoursing comfortably to them upon that mournful occasion.

But as soon as Martha had some intimation that Jesus was coming, she hastes to meet him as her best comforter; and her first greeting was a pathetic mixture of joy and grief and love, together with a respectful expostulation with him about his seeming unkindness in not coming sooner to prevent her brother's death; withal, expressing her belief, that, if he pleased, he could even still recover him to life: 1 2 Tim. ii. 11. Rom. viii. 17.