under which he labours, and restore him to the tranquillity and comfort of sound health. The symptoms of his moral malady must be honestly admitted, and frankly declared; and the great remedy of the gospel must be clearly exhibited, and freely applied. The sufferer must be told that the cause of all sorrow is sin; that sin is not a mere constitutional weakness an error of the head, and an infirmity of the life, but a principle of deep-rooted enmity to God and holiness, possessing, pervading, and influencing all the faculties of the soul; that the only balm for a wounded spirit is the full and ample provision which has been made by the death of the Saviour, and which is presented to us in the ministry of the word; and that we can only see our need of this provision, and be made the happy participants of its benefits, by the power of the Holy Spirit. If his suspicions have not been awakened, and he is at ease, and content with his state and character; if, instead of condemning himself, he is impeaching the perfections, and revolting against the government, of the Most High; charity should induce us to afford that instruction which, if accompanied by the Divine blessing, may be the means of imparting other views, and creating other feelings. And all this is not only consistent with, but forms an essential part of, Christian sympathy. To permit a man to slumber on the verge of ruin; to offer him a palliative, when the desperate nature of the case requires a severer method of cure; to permit him to wander on in the

road to destruction, rather than disturb the satisfaction which delirium has produced; is false tenderness-it is a species of refined cruelty. And if this is the case with respect to the shadowy concerns of a life which is short and uncertain, how much more in relation to the weighty realities of the soul and eternity!

There is a spirit and manner in which just views should be imparted, and a right state of feeling and acting should be produced, which ought to be cultivated in all our visits of condolence. Instruction should be afforded, and counsel should be given, with all the meekness and gentleness of Christ. Admonition, administered with severity, is not likely to succeed in health and outward prosperity; and, in affliction, it is peculiarly offensive and wounding. It is felt, by a mind of delicate refinement, as a triumph celebrated over the vanquished, and as a mockery of suffering. To render advice acceptable and useful, the law of kindness should rest on the lip. In the mild beaming of the eye, in the soft expression of the countenance, in the subdued tone of the voice, and in the gentleness of the demeanor, will be seen the pure and generous motives by which it is dictated, and the exalted end at which it aims.

There is, indeed, a grief, so deep and overwhelming in its degree, as almost to forbid, for a season, not only the instructions of wisdom, but the expression of feeling. When the mind is so completely

laid prostrate, by the suddenness or weight of the trial, as to be incapacitated for reflection, and unfitted for duty, the assiduities of friendship will be of little avail. Nature must spend itself, the violence of grief must abate, before the offices of Christian love can be received. Who has not admired the discretion and delicate attention of the three friends of Job. "Now when Job's three friends heard of all this evil that was come upon him, they came every one from his own place: Eliphaz the Temanite, and Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite; for they had made appointment together to come to mourn with him and to comfort him. And when they had lifted up their eyes afar off, and knew him not, they lifted up their voices and wept; and they rent every one his mantle, and sprinkled dust upon their heads toward heaven. So they sat down with him upon the ground seven days and seven nights, and none spake a word unto him: for they saw that his grief was very great." Excessive sorrow prefers loneliness to society. There was an hour so bitter in the agony of our Lord, that he separated himself from his disciples, and retired to another part of the garden, until the storm was overpast. A wise sympathy will not obtrude on the sacredness of grief, while it will be prompt to embrace and improve all suitable opportunities of offering counsel and consolation.

Sympathy, when properly directed, is highly beneficial to the sufferer. To know that there is

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a being in the universe who feels for his woe, and would gladly share the burden he sustains, is soothing to a sensitive heart. Kindly attention in distress generally awakens confidence. The mourner soon assures himself that the man who expresses so lively an interest in his welfare, must be his friend. To him his heart is open, and all its secrets are disclosed; and, by their disclosure, it seems to lose half its load. Sorrows," says Lord Bacon, "by being communicated, grow less, and joys greater.” "And indeed," observes another writer, "sorrow, like a stream, loses itself in many channels; while joy, like a ray of the sun, reflects with greater ardour and quickness, when it rebounds upon a man from the breast of his friend." When affection is created, and confidence is secured, the way is open for the communication of divine and saving knowledge. Instruction, advice, and even admonition, may be given; books, calculated to inform, awaken, or console, as the case may require, may be lent; prayer may be offered in the presence of the sufferer; and, if he has neglected the ordinances of religion, he may be disposed to attend on the faithful ministry of the word. And who can calculate the amount of good that may be produced? Saved himself, advised, and relieved, through your instrumentality, he may be the means of saving, advising, and relieving others. The principles of piety instilled into the heart of this man, like the little leaven which a woman took and hid in three

measures of meal, may diffuse and operate in the family and in the neighbourhood, till the whole circle in which he moves feels and exhibits their influence.

There are cases, indeed, so singularly distressing and aggravated, as to be beyond the reach of human sympathy. The malady lies too deep for the successful use even of the best means, and can only give way at the immediate bidding of Him who has all hearts in his hand, and all diseases at his command. Perhaps it is rather natural than moral — rather physical than spiritual; and to all the advice and consolation that is offered, but one reply is received, and it is the reply of despair; "I have heard many such things: miserable comforters are ye all." And, as if their affliction was altogether singular, they retort, "I could speak as you do, if my soul were in your soul's stead." Every thing is seen through a distorted medium; and the trial affects the mind, not according to its real magnitude, but according to its imagined weight. In such circumstances, we can only repeat the language of the King of Israel, when a woman cried unto him, saying, "Help, my lord, O king. He said, If the Lord do not help thee, whence shall I help thee?" And while we direct the sufferer to look for help from God, we should join our own earnest intreaties with his, that help may be sent from his holy habitation. Nor ought we, in any case, to employ the means which he himself has appointed, without