shall be gathered to Him in his glory, and in the glory of his Father-the principle of love, should be the reigning principle of all who look to Him for the salvation of his righteousness and the direction of his example. A view of Jesus Christ upon the cross, in that stupendous display of tenderness to sinners, which is the wonder of heaven, and of all the blessed there, and the individual instance of his kindness to His mother, should bring the believers in Him very near to each other, in a similar affection. If we take our part with the soldiers who crucified Him, we shall entertain views, and draw conclusions from the great doctrines of the cross, which will tend to divide the body of Christ, as they parted his garments among them : and we may eagerly contend for victory in opinions, as they cast lots for his vesture: but if we are more graciously standing near the cross, in the broken-heartedness of true believers, looking to Jesus, as the Lamb of God, upon whom our sins were laid,

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and looking with the adoring gratitude, befitting the unspeakable mercy of such a substitution, we shall endeavour to keep the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace. While we must contend earnestly for the faith once delivered to the saints, yet surely if the tender High Priest of the Church could turn away his soul from his own sorrows, to look upon the individual sorrows of those dear to Him, in human, and in gracious bonds, should not we endeavour to bear each others burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ? Love as brethren; for "love is the fulfilling of the law."

(3.) Did the Saviour thus provide for his mother? And shall not they who dwell in the riches of his love, freely, by faith, cast all their care upon Him, seeing that He careth for them? The very least, and lowest, and youngest, in the experience of divine life, as well as the eldest, may be encouraged to cast all their care upon Him -for they were standing in his eye and love, equally with his mother, with the

wife of Cleophas, with her of Magdala, and with John. Yes; He bore your sins, and carried your infirmities, whose case I have described, as well as others, and therefore he careth for you, as truly, and as largely, as for them. He is the Almighty burden-bearer of his people.

He bears all their persons, all their sins, all their troubles, all their exercises, all their trials, all their difficulties: The government of the mediatorial world is upon his shoulders: and shall you be careful about many things, while He saith, "Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and He will sustain thee?" O pray for grace to sit loose to all things below; and to leave all things with Him. He will bear you up when you are falling: He will support you when you are weak: He will uphold you against all your enemies: He will carry you in inviolable safety through the pilgrimage of grace below; and He will finally bring you to his glory, that you may behold him, in its fulness for ever. He has secured the eternal salvation of his

disciples, and having given both grace and glory, He will withhold no good thing from those who love Him. He who provided for the destitution of his mother, and who removes the desolation of every soul, whom faith, his gift of grace, unites with his fulness, will not be forgetful of lesser interests. He may take away some comforts from his brethren in their pilgrimage;

even as Mary's husband was probably some time dead, and she a widow, and now, Himself was about to be separated from her: but He will assuredly give others in their stead;-as he committed his mother to the beloved disciple. Rest then, Christians, on Him with the assurance of faith. If by effectual vocation, through the Spirit, He hath called you to his glory, as Joseph called Jacob to join him in Egypt, He will neither allow you to want wagons nor provision for the journey.

(4.) Mary was strengthened in her trial, and sorrow, by the mediatorial power of Him whose death she witnessed, and which

caused her so much sorrow and grief of heart. Thus also doth Jesus say to each of those who are conformed to Him, in suffering, "My grace is sufficient for thee; my strength is made perfect in weakness."-Fear thou not, for I am with thee; be not dismayed, for I am thy God," If the afflictions of believers

abound for Christ, their consolations also shall abound by Christ, He will stand by them; and he is a very present help in trouble. Live then, ye who thus exercise faith in Him, with a crucified Saviour

in the eye of your hearts; and you shall find the support of an Almighty arm under you. Look to Him, not only for pardon, justification, and the whole of a perfect salvation, but look to Him for that sustaining hand of grace ;-that comforting manifestation of the Spirit; and those communications of the tenderest love, which will give you songs in the night, and enable you to glorify God in the fires.