grave that the Son of God draws his brightest glory.

"I know that my Redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth, and that though worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God,” was the blessed hope of the patriarch Job, when covered from head to foot with sore boils. This animating prospect cheered his fainting spirit, and supported him under his almost unparalleled afflictions.

This blessed hope of the Patriarch is given to us, with this consolatory addition, that He who will raise the sleeping dust of his people, and who has promised not to leave them comfortless, did, when on earth, accompany the weeping mourners to the grave. For it is to this part of the narrative that we are now arrived.

Let us, my beloved friends, seeking His Divine aid who gives that faith which is the substance of things hoped for, and the evidence of things not seen,-let us now endeavour to realize our blessed Saviour, atended by these many mourners, pursuing

his track to the mournful spot. Oh, may He graciously be with us, and so bless this visit to the tomb, that it may be as "life from the dead" unto many !

The Evangelist thus continues the narrative :

"Jesus therefore, again groaning in himself, cometh to the grave." The word which is translated "groaning," is one that is used to express deep anguish of heart, or that inward perturbation which arises from grievous sorrow. Being mentioned immediately after the slighting expression of those unbelieving Jews, who were turning our Lord's sympathy into a reproach against him, it seems to include more than his sorrow for the mourners. It appears to refer also to the grief which he had at the hardness of their hearts, and at the general unbelief of his disciples. It is important to notice this: that whilst we take comfort from the sympathy of our Lord, we may in seasons of trial be earnest in prayer to be preserved from falling into the sin of unbelief, or by any other act displease the Lord; for the same sins which

caused the compassionate Saviour to groan within himself, still "grieve the Holy Spirit." And it is, my beloved friends, in seasons of sorrow and tribulation, that such sins are most likely to occur. This may be seen by reference to the histories of Job, and David, and Jeremiah, and others of the Lord's tried servants. With this caution let us accompany our Saviour to the grave.

St. John, who does not omit one circumstance that might impress the heart, notices, "It was a cave, and a stone lay upon it."

What a spectacle does this present of the sad effects of man's transgression! That one, who was amongst the most highly favoured of the children of men,-for Jesus had often resorted to his house-Jesus loved him, and called him his "friend,"—that his body was now lying in a dark cave, the prison-house of death; and that this was the only place to which his dearest friends could lead the Saviour. They had said to him, Lord, come and see;" and now he comes to the grave, "It was a cave, and a stone lay it."

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Oh how profitable would it be for each of us to consider that such will be our habitation! We naturally turn from this dark abode. And yet these are the visits which will, by the divine blessing, "so teach us to number our days as to apply our hearts unto wisdom."

During this last week, I accompanied a dear friend to one of our public cemeteries. I was much struck with observing how many, many graves were added to the number since my previous visit; and how many of these, also, were erected to the memory of the young.

As we beheld the monuments thickly placed side by side, the cemetery seemed like one large cave, or rather like one open pit, into which death, day after day, was casting in his victims.

I mention this, my beloved friends, that you may be preparing for this change, and especially that you may more clearly apprehend the blessedness of dying in the Lord. For then death will have lost his power.

When they were arrived at the tomb, Jesus said, "Take ye away the stone."

You will recollect that when the little band of holy women, who went forth to anoint the body of Jesus, approached his tomb, they said among themselves, "Who shall roll us away the stone from the door of the sepulchre?"

And when they looked they saw that the stone was rolled away. But now the Lord gives the command: "Take ye away the stone."

It is thus he acts with his people. He does not require them to perform that for which they have not sufficient strength; but he expects them to use the talents he has bestowed upon them. These delicate females, who were manifesting their love to our blessed Saviour by going forth, whilst it was yet dark, to anoint his body with sweet spices, had not sufficient strength to roll away the stone; for St. Mark notices that "it was very great;" but when they came to the tomb, they found that a superior power had removed it. Now, however, when there was a larger company, and among them, doubtless, many men in their full strength, Jesus