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reason why their Master did not, out of tenderness to them, express himself clearly on the death of Lazarus: it appears so, and it is evident; for when he told them plainly, Lazarus is dead, Thomas exclaimed with pathetic sorrow, Then let us go, that we may die with him. "Alas! is our friend Lazarus dead? "Is he that loved us no more? What is "there in this world that is now worth

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living for? Is there yet another Lazarus? "Another that will love us? None, none ! "then let us go, that we may die with him." These are the natural complaints of surviving friendship, when those, who are dearer to us than life itself, are irrecoverably torn away by the hand of death. Nor does it appear, as Thomas met with no rebuke for his exclamation, that these complaints are disagreeable to Providence. They are considered, no doubt, as the unavoidable effusions of passions that are in themselves blameless; and sorrows of this kind are then only culpable, when they grow into habitual murmuring,

But let us now accompany the mourning disciples and their Master to visit the afflicted sisters, and the tomb of Lazarus. Martha, says the Evangelist, as soon as she heard of the coming of Jesus, went and met him, and said, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother

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had not died. This seems to be a modest and unaffected complaint that Jesus had not visited his friend during his sickness; but it was, at the same time, an acceptable instance of faith, which indeed she proves to be very great, when she adds, I know, that even now, whatsoever thou wilt ask of God, God will give it thee. As a reward for this distinguished faith, Jesus immediately tells her that her brother should rise again; and when she supposed that he alluded to the general resurrection, he takes an opportunity from thence to inform her of his own important appointment, and the superior privileges of those that believe in him. I, says he, am the resurrection, and the life; whosoever believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live; and he that liveth and believeth in me shall never die. This was indeed a glorious declaration, and properly expressive of his divine mission, who brought life and immortality to light.

But Martha was not the only one who made a confession of faith on this occasion ; the Jews, who came from Jerusalem to pay their visits of condolence, made it their question, whether he, who opened the eyes of the blind, could not have caused that even this man should not have died. Strange! that the Jews should admit such a supposition, who were,

in general, remarkable for their infidelity, and from whose persecutions Jesus had so lately been obliged to fly. Nay, it is evident that he now returned to Bethany with caution and secrecy on their account, from the reception he met with, and the private audience he appears to have had of Martha and Mary. Is it not strange then, I say, that these Jews should drop any thing like an expression of faith? Certainly it appears so, but, perhaps, it may be accounted for thus:

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The mind is never so willing to let go prejudices, as at those times when sorrow, or mourning, or the evils of life, take hold of it. Scenes of affliction and distress subdue the pride of the heart, and obtain admission for piety and truth. Now these Jews really condoled with the sisters of Lazarus; for the Evangelist tells us they wept; and this, therefore, was a proper season for faith to gain the ascendant of prejudice.

When Jesus joined this family of mourners, he groaned in the spirit, says the sacred writer, and was troubled; but when he came to the tomb where his departed friend was laid, he wept. He could no longer resist the tender sensations of friendship; and though he knew that the next moment he should see Lazarus restored to life, he could not look on that

body, which contained a heart that once had loved him, without a tear. Jesus wept. The Son of God beheld with tears that body inanimate to which he was now about to restore the faculties of life. Yet as a man and as a friend he wept. Jesus wept-but it was at the grave of friendship; and the tears that fall on such a grave are the tears of virtue. That fortitude, which refuses the tribute of mourning there, differs not from insensibility. It is gratitude to weep over a departed friend; I had almost called it piety; the ancients did give it that name.

Jesus wept. He, who brought eternal life to his creatures, wept that one should die! Who knows what passions might, at that moment, agitate his sacred bosom! Who knows whether, as he looked upon his lifeless friend, he did not revolve in his gracious mind all the miseries to which mankind are subject; all the various evils of life, and death, the last and greatest evil! Who knows whether some of those tears that fell over the grave of Lazarus were not excited by reflecting on the ruin of human nature; that nature which he had taken upon him, and which it was his purpose to restore to the original privilege of life!

Thus the Divine benevolence indulged the

sweetest and most amiable of all human sensations, the tenderness of pity and friendship.

But the time was now come, when he should exert his power; Father, I thank thee, says he, that thou hast heard me: and I knew that thou hearest me always: but because of the people which stand by I said it, that they may believe that thou hast sent me. This was a very solemn introduction to the great miracle he was about to perform; and it must have rendered the effect of it still more striking to the people, when they beheld the immediate power of God obedient to the prayers of this divine man. Accordingly, when he had thus spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, COME FORTH. Let us for a moment imagine ourselves at this solemn scene. Behold! what various degrees of curiosity and expectation are written upon the faces of those who stand by! See, how full of expression is every feature at this critical moment, when the dead is called upon to come forth! Methinks I behold on one countenance the firm confidence of faith, and on another the suspension of doubt, while a third expresses the carelessness and half-concealed scorn of disbelief. One is attending with eager eyes to mark the first symptoms of returning life, while another is smiling at the vain confidence

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