besought God for the child, and fasted; but on the seventh day it died. And the servants of David feared to tell him. But when he saw that they whispered, he perceived that the child was dead. And he came into the house of the Lord and worshipped; and he did eat. Then said his servants; What thing is this that thou hast done? thou didst fast and weep for the child while he was alive; but when he was dead, thou didst rise and eat bread.' And David said, 'While the child was yet alive, I fasted and wept; for I said: Who can tell whether God will be gracious to me, that the child may live? But now he is dead, wherefore should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me.'

12 Sam. xii, 15, 16, 18-23.

Words of comfort for the sorrowful.

1" Thus saith the Lord :-'Refrain thy voice from weeping, and thine eyes from tears. As one whom his mother comforteth, so will I comfort you.-3 Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. I will turn their mourning into joy, and make them rejoice from their sorrow.'

5 "The spirit of the Lord is upon Jesus; because the Lord hath sent him to bind up the broken-hearted, to comfort all that mourn; to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord,

that he might be glorified. Therefore the redeemed of the Lord shall return, and come with singing unto Zion; and everlasting joy shall be upon their head: they shall obtain gladness and joy; and sorrow and mourning shall flee away; 'for the Lord hath comforted his people, and will have mercy upon his afflicted."

1 Jer. xxxi, 16. * Is. lxvi, 13. 3 Matt. v, 4. 4 Jer. xxxi, 13. 5 Is. lxi, 1-3. 6 Is. li, 11. 7 Is. xlix, 13.

ILLUSTRATION. Lazarus raised from the dead. "A certain man was sick, named Lazarus, of Bethany. Therefore his sisters sent unto Jesus, saying, 'Lord, behold, he whom thou lovest is sick.' When Jesus heard that, he said, "This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby.' And he abode two days still in the same place where he was. And after that he saith unto his disciples, 'Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; but I go that I may awake him out of sleep.' Howbeit Jesus spake of his death: but they thought that he had spoken of taking of rest in sleep. Then said he unto them plainly, 'Lazarus is dead.'

"When Jesus came, he found that he had lain in the grave four days already. And many of the Jews came to Martha and Mary, the sisters of Lazarus, to comfort them concerning their brother. Then Martha, as soon as she heard that Jesus was coming, went and met him: but Mary sat still in the house. Then said Martha unto Jesus; 'Lord, if thou hadst been

here, my brother had not died. But I know, that even now, whatsoever thou wilt ask of God, he will give it thee.' Jesus saith unto her, 'Thy brother shall rise again.' Martha saith unto him; 'I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day.' Jesus said unto her, 'I am the resurrection and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live; and whosoever liveth and believeth in me, shall never die. Believest thou this?' She saith unto him, 'Yea, Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world.' And when she had so said, she went her way and called Mary her sister secretly, saying, 'The Master is come, and calleth for thee.' As soon as Mary heard that, she arose quickly and came unto him.

The Jews then which were with her in the house, and comforted her, when they saw Mary, that she rose up hastily and went out, followed her, saying, 'She goeth unto the grave, to weep there.' When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews also weeping which came with her, he groaned in the spirit and was troubled. And said, 'Where have ye laid him?' They said unto him, 'Lord, come and see.'-Jesus wept. Then said the Jews, 'Behold how he loved him!' He cometh to the grave, it was a cave, and a stone lay upon it. Jesus said, 'Take ye away the stone.' And they took away the stone from the place where the dead was laid. And Jesus cried with a loud voice :'Lazarus, come forth.'-And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with grave

clothes. Jesus saith unto them, 'Loose him, and let him go.'-Then many of the Jews which came to Mary and had seen the things which Jesus did, believed on him."

1 John xi, 1, 3, 4, 6, 11, 13, 14, 17, 19-29, 31, 33-36, 38, 39, 41, 43-45.

Exhortation to submission to God's will.

1 "The Lord is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him. "Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved. God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. The Lord raiseth them that are bowed down: the Lord loveth the righteous. And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God.

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"The Lord will wait that he may be gracious unto you, and therefore will he be exalted, that he may have mercy upon you: for the Lord is a God of judgment: blessed are all they that wait for him.-Thou shalt weep no more: he will be very gracious unto thee at the voice of thy cry; when he shall hear it, he will answer thee. Though the Lord give you the bread of adversity, and the water of affliction,"though he cause grief, yet will he have compassion according to the multitude of his mercies: for he doth not afflict willingly nor grieve the children of men; and he healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds. "The righteous cry, and the Lord heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles.

10“ Are the consolations of God small with thee? "Humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. 12 Behold, he taketh away, who can hinder him? who will say unto him, 'What doest thou?'-13 Truly this is a grief, and you must bear it. 14The will of the Lord be done: 15 for he hath done all things well. 16 The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord."

1 Nah. i, 7. 5 Rom. viii, 28. 9 Ps. xxxiv, 17. 13 Jer. x, 19.

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ILLUSTRATION. Raising of the widow's son. 1" Jesus went into a city called Nain; and many of his disciples went with him, and much people. 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. And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her, and said unto her, 'Weep not. And he came and touched the bier: and they that bear it stood still. And he said, 'Young man, I say unto thee, arise.' -And he that was dead, sat up, and began to speak. And Jesus delivered him to his mother. 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.'

1 Luke vii, 11-16.