compassion and benevolence of the blessed Jesus, and the distinguished genius of his religion; as having charity for its declared end, and rising above all other religions, as much in the excellence of its tendency, as it doth in the dignity of its Author. And therefore, without so much as recapitulating what I have said on such occasions, I shall make it the whole of my present work, to suggest such things, as may have a peculiar suitableness to that particular kind of charity which we have now in view: And I think myself exceedingly happy in this opportunity of offering you a set of thoughts, which would never before have been equally seasonable here. Many of them will naturally arise from the words which I at first read, as the foundation of my discourse; blessed is he that considereth the poor, &c.

It would perhaps be too bold a criticism, to pretend to determine the particular distemper, under which David had been labouring, just before he composed this admirable Psalm. But I think it is in general abundantly evident, that it was occasioned by a violent and dangerous fit of sickness; in which he met with most inhuman treatment from some base and wicked men, who had pretended great affection to him. "Mine enemies, says he, speak evil of me, saying, when shall he die and his name perish? They think the distemper, terrible as it is, does its work too slowly, and would gladly, if they durst, aid its victory by murder. And as for him who is the chief of them," by whom some suppose he meant Absalom, whose unnatural rebellion might be ripened by the concurrence of this circumstance, "if he come to see me, as he frequently does under specious pretences of duty and affection, yet in all his most respectful condolences, he speaks vanity and falsehood, and his heart is in the mean time gathering iniquity, is making one malignant remark or another, which, when he goeth away out of my apartment, he proclaims abroad to increase the disaffection he is endeavouring to sow among my subjects. And their mischievous counsels are quickened and emboldened hereby, while they say, an evil disease cleaveth fast unto him, as a peculiar judgment of heaven upon him; and now that he lieth disabled in his bed, he shall arise no more. Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted to have given me the surest assistance in my pressing affairs, while I am thus rendered incapable of attending to them myself, even he who did so long eat of my bread, and had a place at my table, has like an ungrateful brute that strikes at his feeder, lifted up his broad heel against

me," as the original imports *, "and endeavoured to do me all the mischief in his power."

This was king David's unhappy circumstance in his illness, as royal dignity can neither secure the continuance of health, or the fidelity of friendship, nor fortify the heart against the sting of ingratitude; especially in such a concurrence of afflicting circumstances. On his recovery he described it in the most lively colours; and to represent how much it impressed him, he speaks of the scene, as if it were actually present: And that a proper contrast might set it off the more forcibly, he begins the psalm with an affectionate reflection on the beauty of a contrary character, and on the happiness to which the possessor of it was entitled. Blessed is he who considereth the poor. The original is yet more emphatical and extensive: Oh the blessedness, or the various felicities of that man who wisely reflects on the case, and circumstances of him that is brought low +. The margin renders it, him that is weak or sick: And another translation gives it thus, blessed is the man that provideth for the sick and needy; which is a sense undoubtedly comprehended in the words, though I cannot think them limited to it. They speak of a person reduced and brought low, whether by poverty, or oppression, or sickness, or any other calamity, affecting mind, body, or estate: From whence it will clearly follow, that where several

*

הגריל עלי עקב

אשרי משביל אל דל +

They who can consult the original, and will give themselves the trouble of tracing the etymology from 7, and examining the many places in which this word is used, will soon see the justice of this remark. It most frequently signifies poor, and accordingly is often opposed to rich; as, Exod. xxx. 15. Ruth iii. 10. Job xxxiv. 19. Prov. x. 15. xix. 4. xxviii. 11. It is sometimes rendered brought low in our version; as, Psal. Ixxix. 8. cxlii. 6. and exvi. 6. in which last place the connection shews, it relates to sickness. It is sometimes applied to streams emptied and dried up, Job xxviii. 4. Isa. xix. 6. and sometimes it signifies emaciated, Isa. xvii. 4. and is in that sense applied to Pharoah's lean kine, Gen. xli. 19. and to Amnon when pining away for Tamar; 2 Sam. xiii. 4. agreeably to which derived from the same root is rendered pining sickness, Isa. xxxviii. 12. And it is elsewhere used to express a weakness in the eyes and limbs: Compare Isa. xxxviii. 14. where by 157 should be rendered, mine eyes are so weakened, i. e. by languishing illness, that I am not able to look up. And Prov. xxvi. 7. which verse might most naturally be translated, As the legs of the lame sink under him, so doth a parable in the mouth of fools: Solomon thereby beautifully expressing how feeble the sublimest discourses on moral and religious subjects are in the mouth of a vicious man. I know many critics have produced these two last texts, as instances in which signifies to be lifted up; but I believe, if most of the places, in which the same Hebrew word is said to signify contrary things were accurately weighed, they would be found as little to the purpose of proving that very improbable, and in many instances mischievous assertion, as

(דליו שקים מפסח)

these two.

of these causes join, as the circumstance is peculiarly worthy of compassion, the virtue, and therefore the blessedness, of him who is ready to pity and relieve it, must be proportionably great.

The word which we render considereth, is sometimes used for taking an intelligent view of a thing, and sometimes for acting in a prudent and reasonable manner, suitable to such views*. And accordingly it well expresses the character of one, who examines into the circumstances of the afflicted creature of whom David speaks, and upon that takes wise and proper measures for giving him the most convenient and effectual assistance he can. And as on the one hand, it may be intended to recommend the use of discretion in directing and managing our charities; so on the other, it may intimate, that where men overlook those that are brought low, it is an evidence of a narrow inattentive mind, that takes up with short and superficial views of things; whereas if men's sentiments were juster, their affections and actions would be kinder and more beneficent. They would find, that nature, and duty, and interest too, if rightly consider. ed, and justly estimated, would all dictate the same thing on such occasions.

This will especially appear, when it is considered, in how gracious and condescending a manner the blessed God, the supreme disposer of all events, is pleased to interest himself in the cause of the indigent and distressed, and the kind notice which he takes of the man that appears as a patron of such persons. The Lord will deliver him in time of trouble, or, as it might more literally be rendered, in the day of calamity +: As if it had been said, "There is a revolution in human affairs, as well as in the returning seasons of day and night, of summer and winter. Calamity will have its day, and the time will come, when they, who are now most prosperous, will find themselves surrounded with dark and gloomy schemes. And then may the generous and charitable man hope to receive the compassion he hath extended; or, as we elsewhere read, With the merciful thou, Lord, wilt shew thyself merciful" And indeed one cannot without astonishment, as well as delight, reflect on what is so suitably and so tenderly added in the third verse, to express the divine care of such a person. The Lord, Jehovah himself, in whom is everlasting strength §, and who bears up the pillars of

* has plainly the former signification, Neh. viii. 13. Job xxxiv. 27, 35. Psal. xiv. 2. Jer. ix. 24. Dan i. 4. and the latter, 1 Sam. xviii. 14, 15, 30. Psal. cvi. 7. Amos v. 13.

ביום רעה?

Psal. xviii. 25.

§ Isa. xxvi. 4.

heaven, Will strengthen him upon the bed of languishing, or as it might be rendered, will support him, or hold him up there *: Thou wilt make all his bed in his sickness+: Some would literally render it, thou wilt change his bed, and explain it of turning a bed of pain and distress into a couch of pleasure and delight; supposing it alludes to their custom of lying on couches in their banquets. But I think the image which our translation suggests equally suits the original, and is, on account of its tenderness, greatly to be preferred. The good man is now supposed in his turn to be brought low by illness, so exceeding low, that he is not able so much as to sit up in his bed; and God does not disdain to represent himself under the image of an affectionate friend, or parent, who holds him up in his arms; and himself assists in turning his bed, and making it easy to him, when, being too weak to rise, he is only able to shift the sides.

Amazed and charmed with an expression of so much condescension and endearment, I set myself, with additional pleasure, as in the presence of this compassionate God, to open my mouth, and plead the cause of the poor and the afflicted; and would attempt to cultivate in your minds, and in my own, the temper which the words recommend. That I may do it in the most suitable and useful manner, I shall,

I. Represent the reasonableness of a compassionate temper, towards those in general, who are languishing on beds of sickness.

II. Shew how wise and happy a method of expressing our compassion towards such, that which is now recommended to us is likely to prove: And,

III. Conclude with the mention of some circumstances in the present situation of affairs, by which the design is peculiarly recommended to us at this time.

I. Let me represent in general how reasonable it is, that we should feel compassion in our hearts towards those, who languish under the burden of bodily disorders, and particularly are confined to beds or chambers of sickness.

And this you will not only see, but feel too, if you reflecton the calamity of their state;-on the tender sense they naturally have of the treatment they meet with in it;-and how liable we ourselves are to the same circumstances of distress.

1. Consider the calamity of their state.

Some of you know it by familiar acquaintance, by dear

כל משכבו הפכת כהליו *

יסעדנו

spirits are weakened, and when melancholy humours prevail in the body, little things impress with a very disproportionate weight. Solomon hath observed long ago, that when Heaviness in the heart of a man maketh it stoop, then a good word maketh it peculiarly glad *. And by a parity of reason, then, any thing that looks like unkindness in a friend pierces much deeper, than at another time; when nature is in all its vigour, and the business and amusements of life divert the mind from pausing on such things, and the imagination from dressing them up in colours of its own, which, unnatural as they often are, appear to the distempered mind inherent in the objects themselves. Sick people likewise, conscious to themselves that they cannot but be less agreeable than at other times, easily conclude, that they grow insupportably burdensome to those about them: And if great care be not taken to prevent it, they will be very ready to infer, that their friends are wearied out with them; and perhaps will secretly suspect, they wish them out of the way, that they may be eased of their burden: While they imagine, like Job, that were their friends in such an afflicted state as themselves, they should study all opportunities of softening their sorrows, by every circumstance of the most tender address +: And then they bemoan themselves, and think, surely it is enough to bear all this illness and pain, without having the unkindness of such and such a friend added to it: And so perhaps, the saddest complaints of Job‡, David §, and Heman |, are thought over as applicable to their sorrowful condition.

This is indeed very often their infirmity; but we should bear it, and pity it, and study, as well as we can, to accommodate ourselves to it: For it undoubtedly makes their case much more afflicted, and therefore more compassionable. And it will especially appear so, if we reflect,

3. How liable we ourselves are, to share in these sorrows and these infirmities.

This thought is beautifully touched upon by the apostle, when he says, Remember those that suffer affliction, as being yourselves also in the body¶: As if he should have said, "In necessary consequence of being in the body, you are yourselves obnoxious to the like affliction; and therefore should readily impart to your afflicted brethren such assistances, as you in a change of circumstances would reasonably desire."

And is it not most evidently the case here? What are We

*Prov. xii, 25. xix. 2, 3, 14-22. lxxxviii. 8, 18.

Job vi. 14. xvi. 5.

Job vi. 15. xiii. 4, 13. xvi. 2, 20. § Psal. xxxviii. 11. Iv. 12, 13. Ixix. 8, 20. cxlii. 4. Psal. Heb. xiii. 3.