a less earnest care for the Lord's sheep, than Jacob for those of Laban. Hear what this holy Patriarch professes of himself: In the day the drought consumed me, and the frost by night; and my sleep departed from mine eyes, Gen. xxxi. 40. Jacob patiently endured all this labour and distress, and the years of his servitude seemed unto him but a few days, for the love he had to Rachel, Gen. xxix. 20. In the same manner, thou wilt joyfully endure all the fatigues of thine office, and bear with patience all the hardships, if thou sincerely lovest the Lord Jesus, and his heavenly Bride; if thou respectest the salvation of souls, for whom Jesus Christ hath suffered death; and if thou hast well weighed the excellency of thine own reward, and the glory prepared for thee, when thou shalt have finished the time of thy painful service and severe trial. For they that turn many to righteousness, shall shine as the stars for ever and ever, Dan xii. 3. Jacob had to do with an unfaithful and deceitful man; but God is not a man that he should lie, neither the son of man that he should repent, Numbers xxiii. 19. Be thou faithful unto death, and he will give thee a crown of life, Rev. ii. 10.

If it be the Lord's pleasure to lessen this task; if, instead of employing thee in his vineyard, he will take thee to drink of the new wine of his kingdom; if, when thou thinkest to sow in tears, he causes thee to reap with songs of joy; if, instead of the contradiction which thou sufferest from sinners, he will grant to thee his eternal consolations, and receive thee into the harmonious society of the church triumphant, adore his goodness and his infinite mercy. Cast thyself into his arms, and resolve cheerfully to will what is pleasing to him.

If, during thy abode in this valley of tears, God hath provided for thee, and thou hast found all thy joy, satisfaction, and comfort, in him, death will be thy advantage; for in this same Saviour thou shalt find thy rest, glory, and eternal happiness. Meditate often upon these excellent words of the Apostle, "The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed: Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock. And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away," 1 Pet. v. 1, 2, 3, 4.

You also, who are afraid to leave behind you an afflicted and desolate widow, come and learn this lesson, to rely upon the goodness and tender compassions of the Father of Mercies, who comforteth us in all our tribubations, 2 Cor. i. 4 ; and is nigh unto all them that call upon him, Psal. cxlv. 18. He favours the widow in such an especial manner, that he calls himself the judge of the widows, Psal. lxviii. 5; that is, the guardian of their innocence, the protector of their right, and the severe revenger of the wrongs that are offered them. Therefore, in another place, he expressly tells us, that he established the border of the widow, Prov. xv. 25. If Job caused the widow's heart to sing for joy, Job xxix. 13; how much more shall God fill her heart with ravishing delights, with the sweet and effectual consolations of his Holy Spirit? I speak not of those foolish widows who mind nothing but worldly pleasures, and carnal pastimes, who run into all the fopperies of the age, and are

dead whilst they live, 1 Tim. v. 6 ; but I speak of those wise widows, who, being left desolate, trust in God, and continue in supplications and prayers night and day.

Our great God and merciful Lord, hath not only declared in general, that he is judge, the protector and comforter of widows, but he hath also been pleased to extend unto some his most signal favours, and extraordinary blessings. In the reign of king Ahab, while a cruel famine prevailed in the land, God sent the prophet Elijah to a poor widow of Zarephath, who was preparing herself to die with her son, as soon as they had eaten up a handful of meal, and a little oil that was left. But the holy prophet comforted her with these words : Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, the barrel of meal shall not waste, neither shall the cruise of oil fail, until the day that the Lord sendeth rain upon the earth, 1 Kings xvii. 14. Many poor widows have experienced the like miracle; for, by a secret benediction, God hath caused their provisions not to fail. Though they have not enjoyed any extraordinary plenty, this all-wise purveyor hath furnished them with the necessaries of life; so that not only they and their children have subsisted in times of the greatest scarcity, but they have also had the honour of assisting God's prophets. Like the poor widow mentioned in the gospel, out of their penury they have given alms, Luke xxi. 4; and their mites have been more pleasing unto God than the treasures of the rich. Moreover, when the Son of God was in the world, he was pleased to manifest the care and tender concern he hath for widows; for when he met nigh the gate of the city of Nain, a poor widow that wept bitterly for her only son, who was carried out to be buried, he had compassion on her, raised the young man to life again, and

delivered him to his mother, Luke vii. It was also at the request of some devout widows that St. Peter raised Dorcas, Acts ix.

I must not forget in this place a most noble providence, proper to comfort every faithful servant of God. The widow of one of the sons of the prophets, in the bitterness of her soul, cried out unto Elisha: Thy servant my husband is dead, and thou knowest that thy servant did fear the Lord; and the creditor is come to take unto him my two sons to be bondmen, 2 Kings iv. 1.— God who hears the cry of the afflicted, had compassion on this poor widow, and by the means of Elisha, miraculously gave her wherewith to pay her debts, and to support her family. By this glorious example, God assures his prophets of the tender care he will take of their widows, provided they walk in his fear, and continue in his holy covenant.

To conclude, both ancient and modern histories are full of illustrious examples of wise and virtuous widows, who have directly governed their families, and upon whom the blessing of God hath visibly rested.

God, who is so wonderful in all his works, not only causeth fathers to provide for their children, but to some he likewise gives in his mercy, such children as become fathers to their fathers, and a blessing to their family, as Joseph was to Jacob and his household. Such wise and virtuous children, knowing how necessary they are to their parents, whom they cherish and honour, may, out of a blind affection for them, tremble at death, and say unto it, in the language of the young man in the gospel, Suffer me first to go and bury my father, Matth. viii. 21. Let me alone a little longer in the world, suffer me to live, and administer to the necessities of my aged parents,

till I have paid them the last duties, and closed their eyes. But bearken what the Lord saith unto thee, Let the dead bury their dead, follow thou me Leave to them that remain behind thee the cares of worldly concerns, but do thou obey God's call. Thy charity to others must not make thee cruel to thyself, and disobedient to God's command. Fear not to leave any earthly friends to go to meet thy heavenly Bridegroom, and to cast thyself into the arms of the Father of spirits. God who hath given, or rather who hath lent thee unto them, who caused them to subsist before thou was born, can feed and bless them without thee. His mercy is not confined to thy person or industry. When our Lord and Saviour was upon the cross, seeing the blessed virgin, and the disciple whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman behold thy son, and to St. John, Behold thy mother. And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home, John xix. 26, 27. In like manner, when God calls unto his eternal rest him who, like Joseph, was the supporter of his family, he provides for them, in his adorable providence some other way. In short, if Elkanah had reason to say to his wife, when she wept because she had no child, Am not I better to thee than ten sons? 1 Sam. i. 8; we may. with much more justice affirm, that the grace of God, his divine assistance, and the consolations of his Holy Spirit, are better to us than ten thousand of the best and most dutiful children.

The strongest passion, and that which seems the most capable to detain a Christian soul. is the affection which fathers and mothers bear to their children, especially if they leave them in an age unable to help themselves. But lest this natural passion should, transport you be yond the bounds of reason and piety, consider well the