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LORD followed the dictates of his humanity, he would, without doubt, have hastened to save his friend from the agonies of death, and restore the afflicted sisters to peace and tranquillity; but knowing that the glory of Go would be more fully displayed if he deferred his visit, he resolved to do so; and give the mourners, in the mean time, an opportunity of testifying their faith in him, and their patience and resignation to the Divine will, that they might be the better prepared to rejoice in God's mercy afterwards.

The answer our LORD made to him who brought the message concerning the sickness of Lazarus, though ambiguous, was calculated to afford consolation. We must recollect, that on our SAVIOUR's declaring himself publicly as the MESSIAH, at the Feast of the Dedication, the Jews sought to stone him, on which he retired from Judea: when, therefore, he proposed to return thither again, without mentioning the particular purpose he had in view, his disciples were greatly alarmed for his safety, and began to expostulate with him on the danger of such an undertaking; but our LORD intimated that he was, by his fore-knowledge of events, thoroughly prepared for every obstacle he should meet with; and, as the FATHER had given him an appointed time for his ministry, he was determined to perform all that was re. quired of him; since he might as safely continue his work, as a man could walk about his usual business in the open day-light. Without this Divine knowledge indeed, he would have been liable to error; but thus enlightened, they might assure themselves he should take no improper measure. In this manner our LORD prepared the minds of the Apostles for what he yet thought proper to conceal.

Though our LORD was so many miles distant from VOL. V.

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Bethany,

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Bethany, he perfectly knew what passed there; and, tơ convince his disciples that he did so, he informed them * of the death of Lazarus. His reasons for representing it as a sleep from which he would soon awaken him areobvious but it is wonderful to observe, that his Apos tles, who were so accustomed to his manner of speaking, should be perpetually mistaking his meaning. He certainly could have enlightened their minds, but," by leaving them to themselves in this manner, he had an opportunity of conveying, in his answers to their ques tions, instructions suited to the comprehension of the meanest capacities. »

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It was undoubtedly more conducive to theby faüb of his disciples, for JESUS to be absent from Bethany when: Lazarus died, as it would have been a great discourage-ment to them, had he refused to exert his miraculous power to save the life of a person so tenderly beloved; not could he, consistently with his usual kindness, have resisted the entreaties of his sorrowing friend to restore him immediately. Our LORD knew the strength of every mind, and never put any one to a greater trial than he was able to bear.

When Thomas found that his dear Master was deter. mined to expose himself again to the malice of his foes, he affectionately exhorted his fellow disciples to attend him in all dangers, resolving himself rather to die than desart him.. As Bethany was within two miles of Jeru=· salem, Lazarus was well known in that city, and had many friends there; these, according to the usual cusz”, tom of the Jews, came to comfort his sisters, but Martha and Mary still expected with impatience the only friend who could afford them real consolarion when therefore Martha was informed of our LORD's approach, she, with that impetuosity which was natural to her temper, 4 hastened

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hastened to meet him, not waiting to inform her sister of it: her tender expostulations with our LORD for his delay, were the natural effusions of a heart over whelmed with grief for the loss of a dear brother; he therefore excused the abruptness of them, since her faith was not shaken, and she trusted to him for comfort and relief in her present distress. As Lazarus had been buried so long, Martha was apprehensive that she mistook our LORD's meaning, and that his promise of raising her brother referred to the general resurrection; but he informed her, that he had in himself a principle of life, and through him the resurrection of the dead: would be effected: that he could communicate eternal life to every soul which believed on him, so that it should be preserved even in a state of separation from the body; and, during this mortal life, should enjoy a comfortable assurance of remaining safe from destruc tion to endless ages. To this declaration of our LORD'S Martha gave a ready assent; and we may conclude, inferred from it, that he who, as the Son of God, possessed an unlimited power of communicating and preserving life, could at any time raise her brother; she therefore went to call her sister. When Mary heard that JESUS was come, her sorrow was instantly sus. pended; she suppressed her rising sobs, she wiped away the falling tears, and gave up her mind to enlivening hope, which whispered to her heart that he was come to bring a blessing. With affectionate haste she flew to meet him, and, as soon as she came to the place where he waited for her, she threw herself at his feet with the utmost respect and veneration; intending, as it seems, to implore his benediction; but the idea of her brother, which every fresh object, from some circumstance or other, awakened, returned to her mind; and Mary, like her sister Martha, pathetically lamented that his honoured

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honoured friend had not been present to save him. When JESUS beheld the overflowing grief of this truly amiable woman, and the sorrow of her surrounding friends, his heart melted with tender pity; and, though he had every passion at command, he willingly made himself a partner in their affliction: nor did THE FATHER disapprove his sympathizing kindness, but graciously received his groans as intercessions in behalf of the mourners and JESUS, knowing his blessed will, with amiable impatience to execute it, demanded, Where they had lain Lazarus? As he approached the sepulchre (it seems) a variety of reflections on the calamities of human life, and the obstinacy of those who refused salvation, occupied his benevolent mind; nor did THE FATHER check these emotions, but permitted his beloved SoN to feel such pungent sorrow for the human race, as tears only could express, The Jews who attended attributed this distress entirely to his affection for Lazarus; and some, who had a secret aversion to CHRIST, drew an invidious inference, from his not preventing the death of Lazarus, that he had not really given sight to the man born blind. Instead of confuting their malicious insinuations, our LORD lamented their obduracy, and again groaned with heartrending anguish, for the sins and follies of mankind: then resuming the dignity of the Son of GOD, he ordered preparations for the miracle he was about to perform. That all the company might be convinced Lazarus was actually dead, JESUS caused the stone to be rolled away from the mouth of the cave, in order to exhibit the body; which, it is likely, was in such a state of putrefaction as usually takes place in a very short time after death. Martha, whose mind seems to have been in great emotion at the sight of the grave,inconsiderately objected to the removal of the stone;

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till JESUS reminded her of his late promise. As soon as his commands were executed, our LORD addressed himself to THE FATHER in a thanksgiving, by which he expressed a firm assurance of effecting the miracle not that he had occasion to pray for the aid of Divine power on every occasion, but he chose to point out to the people that there was a real and constant communication between him and THE FATHER. Our LORD could have raised Lazarus by a silent exertion of Divine power: but it seems to have been the original institution of Gon, that the dead should hear the voice of his only beloved SoN: for we may remark, that when CHRIST restored the daughter of Jairus, and the widow's son, he called them back to life. In the case of Lazarus, our LORD proceeded with unusual majesty and solemnity; every action was caculated to excite attention: at length, when expectation was at the height, he cried with a loud voice, that all might hear, "LAZARUS, COME FORTH!" In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, the wonderful change took place; the body was restored to health and soundness, the soul resumed its former seat, the grave clothes loosened as far as was requisite, and LAZARUS CAME FORTH! Without doubt every spectator was struck with astonishment at beholding him; in order, therefore, to convince them that it was no delusion of fancy, our LORD commanded them to free Lazarus from the incumbrance of the linen, in which his limbs, according to the custom of the Jews, were wrapped, that they might satisfy themselves it was really he; and that he might be at liberty to walk home. Let us imagine to ourselves the joy which now filled this happy family, so lately the scene of sorrow and lamentation. Martha, we may conceive, expressed her thankfulness in exclamations of

joy,

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