In those characters which a thoughtful man would be chiefly desirous of imitating, Resignation is a conspicuous feature; and it has been manifested with the brightest lustre, as we might naturally expect, by persons who have received firmly and practically the Christian doctrine. Yet never was it cherished in such purity or carried to such extent as by the founder of our religion, who was made like unto ourselves, my brethren, as for other reasons so preeminently that he might "leave us an example." Let us look therefore to Jesus Christ, and learn what resignation is, and how it may be acquired. With him, let us say, "Father, Thy will be done!" Let us check every rising murmur, and remember, for our comfort and encouragement, that he "went up to his Father's throne by the steps of sorrow."

Nor let us forget that resignation is not an act, but a habit of the soul. To experience the advantages of it in distress, we must daily cherish it by meditation and prayer, and by the exercise of the humility, benevolence and well-regulated self-constraint which the Christian Law enjoins. By these means we shall prepare ourselves for submission to the Highest will at seasons when submission is more immediately our duty, privilege and interest. Though earthly joys depart, we shall lean upon the

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Rock of Ages. Silent and unrepining, because "Thou, O God, takest away as well as givest," we shall feel the blessedness of those who after mourning have obtained solid consolation.

SERMON III.

THE INCOMMUNICABLE BITTERNESS OF THE HEART.-PART I.

PROVERBS xiv. 10. THE HEART KNOWETH HIS OWN BITTERNESS; AND A STRANGER DOTH NOT INTERMEDDLE WITH HIS JOY.

I SHALL discourse on the incommunicable bitterness of the heart. But ere I enter on my design, I shall make a few observations concerning the structure and general meaning of the proverbial sentences, which I have read.

The book containing them is a very large collection of maxims on Religion and Morals, on Life and Manners. In the form of these maxims there is no small variety. Some of them are clothed in plain and simple, others in figurative language: some take the dress of direct, others of indirect counsel. In some, two parallel clauses give exactly the same meaning, though with a slight diversity of phrase: in others the clauses are mutually opposed, and present a striking contrast. Occasionally, as in the

text, a proposition is laid down either affirmatively or negatively; and within the compass of a few words a most comprehensive and weighty statement claims the reader's notice and diligent study, admits of a wide application, and suggests inferences of considerable moment.

The heart knoweth his own bitterness; and a stranger doth not intermeddle with his joy. This is not the place, nor this the season, for any minutely critical remarks on the verse, as to the reading and the rendering of which commentators are far from being agreed. Its meaning in our English bibles seems to be that the griefs and joys of the human breast can be thoroughly known (so far as respects Man) only by the individual experiencing them; and in a certain degree and sense are incommunicable. Let us proceed to the illustration and the uses of this sentiment, in its bearing upon one division of the sorrows of mortality.

There is a bitterness of the heart arising from afflictions that fall not within our control, and especially from those which strike upon our tenderest domestic and social feelings. Here the pious sufferer's appeal is the appeal of the man of Uz, "Have pity upon me, O ye my friends, have pity upon me, for the hand of God hath touched me:" and we hasten to comply with his request. After all, nevertheless, our

sympathy must be imperfect. There is a difference in the circumstances of different individuals, which prevents them from completely sharing in each others grief. "The heart knoweth its own bitterness." We may advantageously employ the remainder of our time in meditating on the fact itself, on the causes of it, and therefore on the valuable purposes, which, in the order of Providence, it is designed and calculated to answer.

I. The author of the proposition that "the heart knoweth its own bitterness," means simply that every person best knows the nature and the measure of his internal woes. Did this language imply that all men besides are utterly ignorant of the bitterness which the sufferer tastes, the maxim would be incorrect. Proverbial statements are necessarily concise, and often leave something to be supplied by the discernment, good sense and candour of the reader and the hearer. It is happy for mankind that, formed, as they are, of the same materials, travelling the same road, and having the same general destination, they can share, to a certain extent, in each other's joys and sorrows. But this cheering truth is not inconsistent with the doctrine that men's individual griefs are so modified by their individual circumstances as to be, within some limits, incommunicable. In many conceivable and many