no stranger; he is one that we have been long acquainted with; he hath been a friend to the family as far back as we can remember, and farther too. "We have heard with our ears, and our fathers have told us," how kind he was to them; and we have had a thousand proofs of his kindness to us: and shall we distrust him now? No. Though my present trial is very heavy, and such as I never experienced before, I can trust Him, who hath so often relieved me before now. "I remember the days of old, the years of the right hand of the Most High;" and have not the least doubt that he, who hath been my father's friend, and my own friend, for so many years, will continue to be a friend to me and mine as often and as long as we shall need him.

II. He is an affectionate Friend.

We often meet with persons who make great professions of kindness and respect; nothing but 'my dear friend,' and my dear friend,' at every word; and how glad they should be to serve us!' While, at the same time, we have reason to think they have not merely no real regard, but an actual dislike, and would, under-hand, rather do us a diskindness. But Christ is not one of these: never was guile found in his mouth: wherever he makes professions of love, his heart goes along with them. Try him, in those things which are the usual expressions of regard between one friend and another, and you will see how in all things Christ has the pre-eminence. For example:---Hearty friends mutually sympathize with one another, and take part in one another's joys and grief. Christ does so. When the mysteries of divine wisdom and grace

were revealed to the world, it is said, "In that hour Jesus rejoiced in spirit, and said, I thank thees O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes." And if they be at any time in affliction, never was there a friend more compassionate and kind. What a remarkable expression is that, "The Lord will strengthen him on the bed of languishing; he will make all his bed in his sickness." (Psal. xli. 3.)-O Christians! to have such a friend at our bed-side watching every motion, and smoothing what our restlessness had disordered!-I had almost said, it is a privilege to be sick. Let all be calm within, and let my outward sufferings be as sharp as they will. Well did the Apostle say, "For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities." (Heb. iv. 15.)

"With joy we meditate the grace

Of our High Priest above:

His heart is made of tenderness,

His bowels melt with love.”

Again: Hearty friends love one another's company -take every opportunity of being together; and when obliged to separate, contrive to meet again as soon as possible, and are impatient till the time comes. Christ does so. He "walks among the golden candlesticks;" and "loveth the gates of Zion more than all the dwellings of Jacob." We sometimes are able to adopt the language of the Psalmist, and say, "As the hart panteth after the water-brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God;" and it is a happy frame, too, when we can say it: and yet never were any so desirous of meet

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ing Christ as he is of meeting them? two or three are gathered together in my name," says he, "there am I in the midst of them: 919dw 3ds

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Again: Hearty friends seek one another's interest. Do a kindness to one, and the other esteems it as done to himself; do an injury to one, and the other resents it as done to himself. Christ felt the rag rage of Saul against the church: "Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?" And it is the same as to any kindness shown to his poor disciples: "Forasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me." (Matt. xxv. 40.)

Again: Hearty friends freely unbosom themselves to one another: and trust those secrets with their friend, which they would not on any account communicate to another. Christ does so; "Henceforth I call you not servants, for the servant knoweth not what his Lord doeth; but I have called you friends, for every thing which I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you." (John xv. 15.)

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15.) W I shall only add, Hearty friends are mindful of one another, though absent. They y will b often writing to one another: and if they cannot de that, they will be often thinking of one another, and anticipating the pleasure of their next meeting. doth Christ: Nevertheless," says he, it is expedient for you that I go away, for if I g for if I go not the Comforter will not come untos not away,

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but go, I will send him unto you," and by this blessed conveyance he is perpetually sending th some token of his love, something or other to let them know that he remembers them in his kingdom. He ever liveth to make intercession for 9361 them." He is preparing a place for them; and

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will come again, and receive them to himself, that where he is, there they may be also. these, and many other ways; doth Christ show hir self a most tender and affectionate friend —I can but just hint at things; your own thoughts will easily enlarge upon these, and suggest others. III. He is a faithful Friend. parms wel to There are some who would be thought mighty good friends; they do nothing but flatter us; and usbau commend every thing we say and do, though it be never so wrong; and humour us in all our follies and vices. But there is no friendship in this. They like our company, or they need our countenance, or they are some way the better for us; and therefore, rather than run the risk of losing our favour, they will see us plunge into any guilt and mischief, without endeavouring to prevent it: whereas if they had been real and faithful friends, they would have aimed at our good, rather than our favour; and would not have been afraid to have advised us, and reproved us when necessary, even when, through ignorance or prejudice, we might have been foolish enough to have resented it. Indeed, it is sometimes very hard to act the faithful part, on the one side, or to bear the faithful part, on the other; and we have most of us need to ask forgiveness of God and man, for our frequent failures in both respects. But Christ is a truer friend than this; As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten." (Rev. iii. 15.) He faithfully tells them beforehand, what they must do, and what they must expect, if they would 10e his disciples that they must deny themselves, take up their cross, and. follow him: and if he

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see them going wrong, he faithfully warns them of it; and if warning will not do, he rebukes them, and corrects them, till he hath made them sensible of their sin and duty. When Peter had denied his Lord, Christ "turned and looked upon Peter." It was all that he could do then, being in the hands of his enemies; but it was such a look as effectually answered his purpose; for Peter immediately remembered the caution of his divine Master, and he

went out, and wept bitterly." And so he continues to look on his falling disciples: and if a look will not do, he will send a rod. Think of this, Christians, when you are under some rebukes of Providence;" I was probably, in some respect or other, going wrong; there is something amiss in my temper or conduct; and now Christ is reproving me for it, and by seasonable and salutary correction, restoring my soul, and preventing the ill effects of my sinful wanderings. What would have become of me, whither might I have wandered, if I had not had such a faithful Friend to watch over me !"

IV. He is a powerful Friend.

We may have many sincere friends, and yet be "never the better for them; they may wish us well, but that may be all they can do; they may be poor and feeble, and rather want help themselves than be able to afford any assistance to us. But if we have á friend as rich as he is kind, then we think ourselves well off; and if ever we come to be in straits, we know where to go for a supply. And who is so rich as Christ? He is appoint

ed heir of all things. What of that?" perhaps say: what signifies it how rich Christ is?

you will say: