say of one, "I was sick and he visited me," has been the commencement of a friendship which has gone on ripening to the

grave.

There is something too, in the sick one, which makes him loved by those who wait upon him. We dislike to feel that we are throwing away our time and care upon a worthless object, and so we invest the individual for whose comfort we expend time and care to contribute, with a worth and good qualities, which perhaps he does not possess. Leighton observes, "that God hath many sharp cutting instruments and rough files, for the polishing of his jewels; and those he especially esteems, and means to make the most resplendent, he has oftenest his tools upon:"-and when we behold one subjected to the action of these instruments, by the appointment unto him of pain and debility, wearisome days and nights; we also "esteem" him, as a chosen and refined one-a "jewel."

Which child is to the mother most dear? Is it not that delicate, feeble one, that little patient sufferer, whom she has nursed during years of solicitude? Yes, he is the darling of the flock; the lamb whom not the fond parent only, but all the members of the family, commend and delight to cherish.

Nor let it be thought that these benefits of sickness are small,— too unimportant to be mentioned. It is not so. Anything which softens such hearts as ours, and makes keen such blunted sensibilities as ours, and leads us to commiserate and befriend our species, is not unimportant. It is not unimportant to be able to impart consolation by language which goes right to the heart, when others are silent, or speak to no purpose; and administer relief when others know not what to do. It is desirable, very desirable, in a world of trouble,—a world where we are not isolated beings, but parts of a whole whose happiness should be dear to us;-to be able to exclaim with Paul, "Who is weak, and I am not weak." So to do, is not only humane, but Christ-like-divine. For it is one of the most pleasing and striking features in the achievement of redemption, that the eternal Son of God, who wrought out that redemption, became "a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief," -put himself on a level with us in this particular, "took upon him our infirmities, and bore our sicknesses;" that thus he might sympathize with us from having himself suffered. "Forasmuch as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; for it behooved him in all things to be made like to his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. For in that he himself hath suffered, being tempted, He is able to succor them that are tempted." This companionship of Jesus in the woes of suffering humanity, peculiarly fits Him to enter into their trials, and impart all needed consolation.

And he whose breast is easily moved with pity, has something heavenly in it, something which allies its possessor to that Saviour who once trod this vale of sorrow, and who, though now on the throne of the universe, is "touched with the feeling of our infirmities.'

5. Sickness, too, shows us the utter emptiness of the world.

It is natural for man, a wanderer and exile from God, to seek for that happiness which his immortal nature demands in the world; and he is slow to believe that the world is incapable of affording that which is the object of his search. It is, however, utterly inadequate and empty; and this, disease preying upon our bodies, effectually teaches. What to him whose "trembling house of clay, languor and disease invade," what to him is the whole pantheon of idols which the world worships? Can those vain amusements in which he once indulged, tranquilize his mind? Can riches bribe disease to extract its sting? Or can human applause cause him to forget his anguish? Oh no. He now sees pleasures, wealth, and fame, undisguised,-as they are. He sees that they are impotent, unsatisfactory, and perishable; that in the day of adversity, the incursions of illness, they cannot deliver; that miserable comforters then, are they all. How silly, to him who is stretched upon the couch of pain, sinking with debility, and apparently drawing near to death; how silly to him do the multitude appear, who are panting after earthly objects? If in a city, as the hum of business is borne upwards from the street through the windows of his chamber, it falls on his ears as the hum of folly. He regards the eager, anxious crowd, as a collection of children, laying up their toys and treasures with great care upon the margin of the beach at ebb-tide, forgetting that the waters will soon flow again, and sweep their vanities and themselves away.

6. It enables us likewise to appreciate the value of religion.

It is the beauty and glory of the religion of Christ, that it fails not when all things else fail; or rather, that when all things else fail as sources of comfort and support, its abundance and richness are for the first time fully realized. It is in sickness, that he who in health scoffed at religion, feels the want of it. He now needs something which the world could never give, and even what the world could once give, is now gone from him. When human arms fail him, he needs a super-human arm to bear him up. When the skill of human physicians is baffled, he needs the Divine physician. When the earth rolls from under his feet, he needs "the skies on which to fasten his hand." When the storm rages and beats, he needs the revealed hiding-place for a covert and a shelter. When a violent malady suddenly seizes and enfeebles us, the consciousness of being reconciled to God, and having His favor, is a blessing for which nothing can be substituted. To be sick, and know that we are "those whom Christ loveth," is in a sense to be well

It is in dangerous sickness, especially, that He "manifests himself unto His disciples as He doth not unto the world," breaks the natural sympathy between their debilitated suffering bodies and their minds, revives the remembrance of His precious promises and past tokens of His love, and makes celestial visions to throng around their pillows. Then it is, that the Christian feels God's distinguishing kindness towards him, in converting him from the error of his ways, justifying him by His grace, and sealing him by His Spirit. Then he finds" godliness to be indeed profitable for the life which now is," receives the benefit of a close walk with his Creator, and enjoys the luxury of an approving conscience.

7. In sickness also, Christians often glorify God, and are made the instruments of much good.

Many careless, unbelieving ones have received their first serious impressions from viewing the deportment of devoted Christians in the season of illness. In the humility and cheerful submission of these pious ones, in their spirituality, strong confidence, and lively joy; the impenitent have seen something which they had not, and which they were sensible that they wanted and must have. Thus have multitudes been "chosen in the furnace of" others' " afflictions," there had their attention arrested, their hearts touched and changed, and their "affections set on things above." Many trembling timid believers too, have been cheered and animated in their heavenly course, by the sight of their brethren sustained under severe bodily pains by the truths of their common religion. "They know" anew "in whom they have believed," -are convinced that their foundation is sure, and that the same grace, the signal triumphs of which they now witness, will not be withheld from them, when placed in similar circumstances. Thus in the sickness of Christians, as in that of Lazarus, is "the Son of Man glorified," truth established, and religion honored. Thus does sickness "yield the peaceable fruits of righteousness," to other than "those who are exercised thereby."

8. Nor must we fail to mention another advantage of sickness; viz.: that it makes us more highly to prize health.

"Blessings brighten as they take their flight;" and it is not till sickness is experienced that health is valued. Our common mercies too often cease to be considered mercies, because they are common. He whose teeth are sound thinks not of his teeth, and he whose eye-sight is perfect thinks not of his eyes. The absence of all trouble respecting them, and all sensations except that of constant pleasure, makes them unheeded. So with health. It is he who has been an invalid, alone, who properly appreciates it. A short respite from pain awakens in his breast emotions of gratitude; and it is to him that nature is decked with charms, by others unseen, who for weeks and months has been shut out from beholding them by the walls of a sick-room. With what feelings does

such an one walk abroad for the first time after his illness! All nature is music to the ear, and fragrance to the sense. The smiling sun makes him smile. "The arched sky, expanding his soul into sublimity, lifts it up to the great Spirit; and his heart leaps with impulses wild and glad, as he looks over the swelling hills and sloping vales of the earth, sees the trees waving their foliage, and inhales the balm with which the cool wind comes charged. It is the convalescent one; whose bosom a glow of thankfulness pervades; and it is he who when well once more, carefully avoids those excesses and exposures which would bring on sickness again. 9. And to mention but one other advantage of sickness,-it endears unto the Christian, heaven.

There, we are told, "the inhabitants shall not say I am sick." This, the Christian believes; and, as he lies upon his couch of distress, "faith brings that better world to view," and makes it more desirable and delightful from contrast. Here, there may be darkness, but there, light; here, restlessness, but there, ease; here, distraction, but there, peace; here, tears, but there, sorrow and sighing flee away" here, clouds and storms, but there, the genial rays of the Sun of Righteousness shine constantly and always.

To return to the volume which has suggested these remarks; it has two divisions; thoughts in sickness, and during convalescence. We know not the author, but he wields a graceful pen, has been comforted in sickness, and now would "comfort others with the comfort wherewith he himself hath been comforted of God." With an extract from the second division of the book, which will give some idea of its style and matter, we close our article.

"The Master having raised thee up, calleth thee to return to that little flock, the Sunday-School, from which sickness has separaied you so long, and, there, as an evidence of your love to Him, to feed his lambs, and though thou dost but follow in "the footsteps of the flock," far behind most of thy companions, yet, if thou art diligently and faithfully following, the kind Shepherd will often pass that way," and grant thee an approving smile. Delightful work to sow the good seed in so susceptible a soil-to devise in genious plans to arrest and fix attention, and to study the best forms of presenting divine truth to the tender mind. Yet, even here, there are discouragements, and these must be sustained by the promise, that "they that sow in tears shall reap in joy," and that though a Paul plant and an Apollos water, it is God that giveth the increase.

Indeed, obey quickly the summons to any new duty; and not only engage in in it with alacrity, but endeavor to economize time, in order to have more to spend in the immediate service of thy Saviour. Not merely giving what thou canst conveniently spare of any of the talents committed to thee, but with an ardent gratitude consecrating ALL to Christ. Continually looking for

opportunities of doing good, many will be thereby found which would be otherwise overlooked.

Go, and endeavor to deserve the appellation which Christ gave His disciples when he said, "Ye are the light of the world." Reflect how much is comprehended in this metaphor, and feel how great a responsibility resteth upon thee. Go, and "be faithful unto death," that thou mayest receive "a crown of life."

pp. 85, 90. Kind and wise counsel to one, brought up by Divine grace from a bed of sickness. And did our limits permit, we would gladly make other quotations from a book, whose contents are the natural gushings of a smitten heart.

ARTICLE VIII.

AN ANALYSIS OF ECCLESIASTES.

By REV. JAMES M. MACDONALD, Jamaica, L. I.

Subject.

THE vanity, on the supposition that there is no hereafter, of life and the present world; or the insufficiency of the world to afford happiness, if men are without religion. The Preacher proposes this subject at the outset, as a sort of text, repeats it and refers to it, in every part, and formally re-announces it at the close.

Management of the Discourse.

As to the management of the discourse, there are two things worthy of distinct notice as giving it its peculiar character. 1. The Preacher constantly refers to his own experience. Solomon was not a misanthrope, disappointed in his attempts to obtain worldly happiness, but a rich and powerful king, who had made trial of the most costly pleasures. The Book was undoubtedly written late in life, after he had been drawn from his allegiance to God, by idolatrous women (I. Kings 11: 1-14 and 23-40), and may be regarded, like the fifty-first Psalm of David, as his standing confession, which, in consideration of his eminent position and grievous fall, it is the will of God should be read in the church over the whole world and to the latest ages. Let those who would find some license or apology for their sins in the sad defections of Solomon, and his more illustrious father, behold these royal transgressors, as they stand daily in the church, penitently confessing and deploring their folly. 2. It is in the main what THIRD SERIES, VOL. V., No. 1.

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