SERMON VII.

PREACHED AFTER THE FUNERAL OF AN ONLY DAUGHTER.

JOB Xix. 21.

Have pity upon me, have pity upon me, oh ye, my friends, for the hand of God hath touched me.

WHAT happened to pious Job, in part hath happened to me: My first and only daughter is dead. As many of you had some acquaintance with her, and know that I have no daughter left to help me under the infirmities. of age, I am sure of all the compassion I can reasonably expect. I have friends to comfort me in the hour of trouble. I cannot, I ought not, to expect much from them, nor will it be long that I shall need them. It would pain me much, if I thought that I should outlive the good wishes of all my friends. Job's

situation was infinitely worse than mine. His friends all forsook him, not because they found any real fault in him; but they went on the supposition that the goods of life are proportioned to the piety and goodness of man, and the evils of life, commensurate to his wickedness. This doctrine that was believed by men who had little or no faith in futurity was what led Job's friends to consider him as one of the worst of men, and to impute all his suffering to his hypocrisy and wickedness. Thanks to God, we are better informed, we have faith in another world, where all seeming difficulties with respect to the prosperity of the wicked and adversity of the righteous, will be easily and perfectly reconciled. At present, our faith is, that we are in a state of trial, that afflictions are not marks of anger, but of affection: "whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every one whom he receiveth."

In what manner Job was touched by the hand of God, you may see in the preceding context, and in many other parts of his book, which you will read as you have leisure. The book is well calculated to stop the

mouths of such as are tempted to open them against the good providence of God, in the day of evil. When you are in trouble, think on what Job endured. I believe it may be said with safety, never was there any sorrow like his sorrow. I can hardly name the thing of a grievous nature, of which he had not an uncommon portion to bear. It is rather surprising that his spirit did not sink under his trials, and that he did not speak more unadvisedly with his lips; but he who laid the burden on, knew how to support him. He is held up as an example of patience to all future generations.

We know not the particular thing that distrest him, when he uttered the words of the text, nor is it material; let it be what it might, he was sensible it proceeded from the hand of God. He did not believe what some have pretended, that afflictions come forth of the dust, and troubles spring out of the ground, or in other words, all things come to pass by blind chance, or unaccountable fate. He acknowledges his belief in divine providence, and that events are under the guidance of one, infinite in wisdom and goodness. Job was a man of real piety; at the same time

he was a man of warm charity. He no doubt made application to his great parent, who had touched him in a tender part, for his support. He might see it best, not to afford immediate relief. He then calls upon his friends to compassionate his unhappy state. He might expect immediate relief from them, as far as they could give it. Job had been a friend to the distressed and a helper of the helpless. Such commonly have a right to expect help from others, who have been wont to extend compassion to the afflicted. Nothing appears but that he did good with what he enjoyed. "He was eyes to the blind, and feet to the lame; and the blessing of him that was ready to perish, came upon him." He had good reason to expect that the measure he had meted to others, would be measured to him again. He took no pains that we know of, to convince them of their mistake is supposing him a hypocrite; he rather addressed himself to that innate tenderness planted in the heart of man, which moves him to pity the sad and the sorrowful. Pity, we are thankful for it, is undoubtedly a part of the human make it belongs to man, and in some degree to all living creatures, especially to beasts and birds

of the same species. It is a principle or passion of infinite importance. I do not know that the world or the human race could subsist without it. Reasoning would by no means supply its place. It takes time to reason: besides, we know that reasoning does not always afford conviction. Unless the passions can be engaged, benevolent actions are hardly to be expected. Pity wants no time to reason; it leads directly to action. Frequently there is no time for deliberation; and we are thankful there is often no occasion for it. It is not often that men repent of being too sudden in the exercise of compassion. If a small mistake should be made with regard to the object, it will easily be forgiven. As to - matters of equity, where there is any doubt, it is always best to inquire, and there is commonly time for it; but in matters of benevolence and compassion, there is neither time nor need, ability is all that is wanted. Our Saviour did not take time to consider, whether he should help the poor creatures in their trouble, who constantly applied to him for relief; nor did he send any away, and tell them to come again, when he was more at