"the house of the Lord," say of the worship of God," Behold what a weariness is

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it, and when will the Sabbath be gone?" How many, instead of finding the duties of religion pleasant and delightful, account them an irksome and burdensome task! O that such persons would consider how they could bear to spend an eternity in the service and worship of God, when a few hours spent in these employments are felt so painfully tiresome!

Let a sense then of your manifold sins and imperfections, fellow Christians, keep you ever humble before God, and stir you up in future to the utmost activity and diligence in his work and service, and to a devout, strict, and regular attendance on his house of prayer. Prize, highly prize the ordinances of our holy religion. In the sanctuary below, you prepare yourself for, and anticipate the work of the sanctuary above. You join yourself beforehand to the society of angels and blessed spirits on high; you already enter on the delightful employment of eternity, and begin the song which is heard for ever around the throne of God. And while you meet together in this place, remember that many

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of your dear Christian friends, who worshipped in times past within these walls, are now in the higher house, in the church of the First Born. Rejoice in the prospect of meeting with them never more to part, and of being employed with them in celebrating the praises of Him that sitteth on the throne, and of the Lamb for ever and Amen.

ever.

LECTURE II.

LUKE VII. 11.-16.

11 And it came to pass, the day after, that he went into a city called Nain; and many of his disciples went with him, and much people.

12 Now, when he came nigh to the gate of the city, behold, there was a dead man carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow: and much people of the city was with her.

13 And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her, and said unto her, Weep not.

14 And he came and touched the bier; and they that bare him stood still. And he said, Young man, I say unto thee, Arise.

15 And he that was dead sat up, and began to speak. And he delivered him to his mother.

16 And there came a fear on all: and they glorified God, saying, That a great prophet is risen up among us; and, That God hath visited his people,

In the beginning of this chapter we learn,

that Jesus for the first time had come to

Capernaum, then the capital of Galilee, a city that was afterwards favoured with much of his presence, and with many of his wonderful works. On this occasion he rewarded the strong faith of the Centurion, by healing his servant," who was "dear to him, and who lay sick and rea

dy to die." This miracle excited the admiration of the multitude; for it appears, that when upon the day following he left Capernaum, he was attended by a great concourse of people, who accompanied him to the city Nain, situated also in the land of Galilee, about twelve miles from Capernaum; and here another opportunity occurred for his displaying that almighty power, which marked him out as the true and promised Messiah. He meets, "nigh the gate of the city," the funeral of a young man, "the only "son of his mother, and she was a wi"dow." Jesus, moved with pity, stopt the procession, and desired the afflicted mother not to weep. He commanded the departed spirit to resume its forsaken mansion, by a word restored the son to life," and he delivered him to his "mother." At such an astonishing work,

"there came fear on all, and they glori"fied God, saying, That a great prophet "is risen up among us; and, That God "hath visited his people."

Such is a summary of this beautiful and interesting passage; the import of which may, I think, be comprehended under the four following particulars :

1. The circumstances of the miracle. 2. The power and compassion of our Lord.

3. The character and qualification of its witnesses. And,

4. The effects it produced upon the people.

A short illustration of each of these is, in humble dependence upon divine aid, proposed in the following discourse.

I begin with remarking, first, in regard to the circumstances of the case, that in this as in every other instance, where our Lord displayed his supernatural power, there could be no artifice or collusion. He was known to the inhabitants of Nain. only by report; for this was the first time he had appeared in that place. His disciples did not go before him to pave the