miracle through all future ages. Though he did no miracle, while so many far less distinguished saints accomplished many, yet no saint exists in whose person, and for whose sake, so many miracles were vouchsafed.— M. Singlin.

V. 42. Thus did the seed, though long buried, spring up; and the faithful preacher of repentance, while dead, yet spoke for the honour of his Master, and the gathering unto Him of such, as should be saved. S. Mark v. 19, 20; vii. 31.-Bp. C. Sumner.

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CHAPTER XI.

V. 1. With this miracle of raising Lazarus, S. John concludes all that he had to say of our Saviour's miraculous works; there being nothing, that could be thought of, beyond it.. Our Lord plainly designed

this, as the last thing He could do for the satisfaction of their minds, while He was on earth, to prove that He was "the Son of God;" else, Lazarus had not died; but He would have gone and prevented it, as He did in many other cases (iv. 50; S. Luke vii. 10; viii. 51). He waited that Lazarus might be dead, before He got to Bethany; and that He might get more glory (ver. 4, 40; xii. 28) by his resurrection, than He had done by healing so many sicknesses, and casting out such a number of devils. For this proved, that He had power, not only to break, but utterly to "destroy the works of the devil," and to tread him quite under foot, who had "the power of death" (Heb. ii. 14, 15).-Bp. Patrick.

V. 3. Whereas men usually give freeliest, where they have not given before, and make it both the motive and the excuse of their desistance from giving any more, that they have given already, God's bounty hath a very different method for He uses to give, because He hath given, and that He may give.

When sick Lazarus's

sister implored His rescue for their expiring brother, the motive they employ, and which prospered their addresses,

was Lord, Behold (not he, who loveth Thee, but), he whom Thou lovest, is sick. And, as He takes the first inducements of His bounty from Himself, so do His former favours both invite and give rates to His succeeding blessings. And there is reason for it; for, His pure love being all the merit, by which man can pretend to the effects of His bounty, it is but just, that the degree of His love should proportion those favours, which 'tis our only title to; and that God's liberality should as well afford measures, as motives, to itself. Ps. cxix. 68.—Hon. R. Boyle.

Behold, &c. This was a very short letter; and their grief perhaps would not allow them to write a longer. Oh, how great power was there in these few words! They say no more to move Him. He could not choose but go, when He heard this charming word, He, whom Thou lovest, is sick.-Bp. Patrick.

V. 4.-Not unto death. "The inhabitants shall not say, I am sick; the people, that dwell therein, shall be pardoned their iniquity" (Isa. xxxii). Observe, he doth not say, "they shall not be sick :" Gospel grace doth not exempt from afflictions; but they shall not say, "I am sick." They shall be so ravished with the joys of God's pardoning mercy, that they shall not complain. Phil. iv. 12, 13.-Gurnall.

Taught of God we should view our losses, sickness, pain, and death, as the several trying stages, by which a good man, like Joseph, is conducted from a tent to a court; sin his disorder, Christ his physician, pain his medicine, the Bible his support, the grave his bed, and

death itself an Angel, expressly sent to release the worn out traveller, or crown the faithful soldier. Ps. lxxi. 18; cxviii. 18.-R. Cecil.

Every sickness is a little death. I will be content to die oft, that I may die once well.—Bp. Hall.

V. 5. They were wont to receive Him at their house; and therefore He loved them. God is well pleased, when the doors of hospitality are freely opened to the poor and needy, for His Name's sake; when we entertain strangers, and welcome the persecuted for righteousness' sake. He graciously notices, and will bountifully reward, such acts of Christian love. It was for this, that the holy family at Bethany was so highly honoured of the Lord. And when did Jesus make Himself known to the two disciples at Emmaus? At supper, in the breaking of bread; that bread, of which we may well suppose, that they had "constrained" Him to partake, saying, "Abide with us, for it is towards evening, and the day is far spent." He, who loves Christ, will love His poor members; and Christ will "love him, and will manifest Himself unto him." Gen. xviii. ; 1 Kings xvii. 9; 2 Kings iv. 8; S. Matt. x. 41; Acts xvi. 15.-J. Ford.

V. 6. "What I do, thou knowest not now, but thou shalt know hereafter," is the unvaried language of God in His Providence. He will have credit every step. He will not assign reasons, because He will exercise faith. xiii. 7; S. James v. 7.—R. Cecil.

Behold us, O gracious Lord, even the souls Thou lovest, for whom Thou sheddest Thine own dear Blood.

When we are sick, and sick to death, to the worst of deaths, the death of sin, stay not too long, Thou heavenly Physician, lest we die in our sins, and perish without recovery. Then, Lord, hear the prayers of those, who serve Thee more faithfully, than we; and let not our sickness be unto death, but for Thy own glory hasten to raise us up. Stay not, Oh, stay not too long, Thou heavenly Physician, lest we putrefy in our corruptions, and become unfit even for a miracle of Thy grace to restore us.-Austin.

V. 9.—He, that hopes to look back hereafter with satisfaction upon past years, must learn to know the present value of single minutes, and endeavour to let no particle of time fall useless to the ground. S. Luke xix. 13.-Dr. Johnson.

A chief part of David's arithmetic in "numbering our days," lies in that, which we call Division, to cast the account of this our short life, so as to divide the whole little sum thereof into the several portions of time, due for the performing of every duty in. Gen. xlvii. 9 ; xc. 12.-Gurnall.

Ps.

V. 9, 10.-Let us remember, that, whether we improve the day or not, it goes on; our opportunity is passing away. The day is a picture of life; consisting of a morning, noon, and evening. We put off what we should do in the morning, till noon; and what at noon, till the evening; and so on. "Woe unto us! for the day goeth away," saith the prophet. Should we not pray, that we may be enabled to "work, while it is day?" Prov. i. 24; -R. Cecil.