with a napkin, is meant a similar imprisonment of the love and affection, for the face is a representative image of those interior principles, and is accordingly applied in the sacred Scriptures.

Q. But it follows, JESUS saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go-how do you understand these words?

A. The BLESSED JESUS is not content with calling forth dead men and dead principles to a resurrection to life and blessedness, but His omnipotent voice further operates to the restoration of their spiritual liberty, by breaking the bonds of those false persuasions in which they had been before imprisoned. The divine words therefore, Loose him, and let him go, apply in this case, not only to the deceased Lazarus, but also to all those who have been at any time, or who are tied and bound with the chain of erroneous doctrines, of heretical tenets, of false imaginations, and of perverse thoughts, calling them to break their bonds, by exercising the liberty which God hath given them of thinking in agreement with His HOLY WORD, and thus of forming their understandings according to the light of the ETERNAL TRUTH, and their lives according to their understandings. It is to be remarked that the words Loose him, have reference to the above liberation of the affections and thoughts, and that the words let him go, relate to the formation of the life according to the truth by which that liberation was effected.

Q. And what instruction do you derive from the concluding words of this history, where it is written, that then many of the Jews which came to Mary, and had seen the things which JESUS did, believed on Him; but some of them went

their way to the Pharisees, and told them what things JESUS had done?

A. I learn from these words how much de pends on the temper and disposition of mind, in which people hear and read the word and meditate on the works of God, because in all ages of the world both the word and the works of GoD have divided the sentiments of mankind, leading some to a full acknowledgment and adoration of the goodness and wisdom of the ALMIGHTY, whilst they have led others to despise and reject both His wisdom and His goodness. This observation is remarkably verified in the present instance, where the resurrection of the dead Lazarus induces many to believe in the GREAT INCARNATE GOD, and some to go and tell it to the Pharisees; thus proving incontestably that no miracle, howsoever well attested, and not even the rising of one from the dead can induce men to believe in a divine agency and operation, unless there be a previous disposition to admit the truth, and to be persuaded by it. So true are those words of the GREAT SAVIOUR on another cecasion, Every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved; but he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God, (John iii. 20, 21.)

Q. What then is the general instruction which you learn from the above miracle?

From the literal sense of this miracle, I am taught again to adore that omnipotent word of my SAVIOUR GOD, which was able to call forth a dead man from his tomb, in which he had laidh

D

during a period of four days; and from the spi ritual sense of the same history, I am further instructed respecting the boundless power of the same DIVINE WORD, in raising up to life both churches, and the individuals who compose them, when they also have been long dead in trespasses and sins. I am yet further instructed, that on the occasion of this spiritual resur◄ rection, the first injunction of the ETERNAL TRUTH is to take away the stone; in other words, to remove from the heart and life all those false principles and persuasions, which, having their origin in infernal loves, tend to alienate the soul from GOD, by rendering it in sensible to the blessing of His mercy and truth; and the second is, to come forth; in other words, to elevate the affections and thoughts to an eternal object, by raising them above the shadowy perishable goods of this lower world, to the possession and enjoyment of a substantial and permanent bliss in the love and favour of the GREAT FATHER OF BEING I am resolved, therefore, from henceforth to attend carefully and continually to this spiri tual resurrection in my own mind and life, that so I may no longer lie dead and buried in the grave of mere earthly attachments, bodily ap petites, and selfish affections, but, listening to the loud voice of my SAVIOUR GOD, may rise to the contemplation and enjoyment of the SuPREME GOOD in the unfeigned love of Him, and of my fellow-creatures. Thus may I humbly hope to hear, in spirit and in effect, the reviving consolatory words, Lazarus, come forth, and in obedience to the divine com

mand, I also, like Lazarus of old, shall come forth from my dark sepulchre, to be a living monument to all eternity of the divine mercy and omnipotence, and to join in the blessed song, 0 death, I will be thy plagues; O grave, I will be thy destruction, (Hosea xiii. 14.) AMEN.