SERMON II. THE RESURRECTION OF LAZARUS. LUKE xi. 44. He that was dead came forth. THE resurrection of Lazarus not only affords a firm proof in favour of Christianity, but exhibits a very pleasing picture of its amiable author. While we read the story, the miracle itself does not so much engage our attention, as the circumstances of tenderness that lead to it: we admire that divine power which could re-animate the dead, but the sensibility of friendship carries away our hearts: and, when we behold that divine Person, who entered into this state of being for the benevolent purpose of our redemption, melting under the tender sensations of friendship, that reverence we owe to the dignity of his character forgets itself in affection. The story of Lazarus is recorded by that beloved disciple who was eminent for his sensibility and affectionate disposition. Hence it is that we find it related with all those tender circumstances that await the event of death, when female softness bewails the loss of a brother, and friendship is the mourner at the grave. The sacred writer opens his story with the sickness of Lazarus, and distinguishes him as the brother of that pious woman, who had anointed the Lord with ointment, and wiped his feet with her hair. These good offices justly entitled her to call upon him for his assistance in a case where he might be eminently serviceable. She, therefore, with her sister, sent unto him, saying, Lord, he whom thou lovest is sick. The historian has not mentioned the purpose of this message, but it was sent most probably with the hope of what some of the Jews present suggested afterward, that he who opened the eyes of the blind, could cause that this man should not die. At the same time it might be hoped that the consolations of friendship would afford some relief to their afflicted brother; for the pity of those we love has power to soothe the heart, even while the body labours under the languor of sickness. But whatever might be the purpose of the message, it had not the effect which was, undoubtedly, expected from it; for Jesus did not immediately go to Bethany, though he whom he loved was sick. Yet why? why were the kind offices of friendship refused, at a time when they were wanted so much? Or why was that healing power, which had been so effectually and so generally exerted, suspended, in a case where affection, and even gratitude, appeared to demand it? Could he, whose benevolence was universal, who could restore the daughter of the Syrophenician woman-could he withhold that aid from a friend which he so liberally gave to strangers? How could he suffer him whom he loved to languish to death? How could he, after he had heard that his friend was sick, abide two days still in the same place where he was? The reason for this he assigns himself, viz. that it was for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby. Yet it was not only for the glory of God, but for the benefit of the sufferer. When by such an astonishing proof he was convinced of the divine nature of his friend, with what joy must he have returned from the regions of death? With what certainty of faith must he have confided in his Redeemer? How inexpressibly delightful must those reflections have been which told him he had an interest with that all powerful Being, who could bring back life from the womb of destruction? who could restore the cold and insensible body to all its faculties and functions, and lighten those eyes, that had slept the sleep of death? Were the sufferings of a transient sickness to be compared with the glory that was thus revealed? The friends of the deceased, moreover, his sorrowing sisters, had not only the joy of beholding their brother restored to life, but received from this event that confirmation of their faith, which would from thenceforth be an unfailing source of happiness. Thus it is that the gracious God dealeth with the children of men. He is in no wise the author of their sufferings. They flow from moral, or, as the sickness of Lazarus did, from natural causes. But how oft does the divine Providence bring good out of evil! And how frequently, through his gracious interposition, is our sorrow turned into joy! Upon these principles did the friend of Lazarus forbear to visit him during his sickness; but when by his divine knowledge he found that he was dead, Our friend Lazarus sleepeth, says he, but I go that I may awake him. It appears that the disciples too had a regard for this amiable man, which was the |