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among the smallest testimonies of those very ❝ mercies of David, that the Lord makes use "of the ministry of affliction to proclaim, that "this is not our rest, because it is polluted. "Had Jesus intended this world for the enjoy"ment of His people, in a state of worldly "prosperity, very different would have been "their accommodations. But they are stran"gers and pilgrims upon earth, and are going "home to their Father's house. And what "does ever make home more desirable to the "traveller, than the ill reception he frequently "meets with on the road?

"Sir! look at the subject again, and see "whether it doth not challenge your highest "admiration and praise, when you discover "that the afflictions of the Lord's people are

amongst His tenderest mercies; in that they "are so admirably contrived, that not a single "trouble shall ultimately do them harm; but, "on the contrary, shall as positively work for "their good? Set down this as an everlasting

maxim; and compare with it either your own "experience, or your observation of others. "Let us suppose now, for example's sake, that "in the great mass of characters in the Lord's "tried family, some are labouring under heavy "afflictions of body, and some under anguish "of mind; some impoverished in worldly cir"cumstances; some smarting under the lash "of false tongues; some groaning under the "pains of sickness in their own persons; some bitterly bewailing the effects of it in others:

yet, be the trial what it may, (and wisely ordered it is, exactly suited to every one's "necessities) look only forward to its final "issue, and you will find, that not a single "individual of the Lord's household is injured

by it. Each affliction becomes to them a messenger of sanctification and wisdom, and "acts medicinally on the mind, as much as "food on the body. And can those things be

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properly called evils which minister good? "Will any man blame the physician of ap"proved judgment, when inducing a state of "convalescence, because the medicine he ad"ministers is found somewhat nauseous to the "taste, and operates roughly?

"But it is not enough to say that afflictions "do no harm; they must also do good. The promise else would be lost-all things work "together for good to them that love GOD. So "that, unless in every single instance good is

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wrought to the lovers of God, the truth of scripture would become questionable. But "of the perpetual occurrences which are going

on through life, in attestation to this precious "assurance, a volume would only give the "merest outlines. And who is competent to "describe them? Generally speaking, all "afflictions which tend to bring the soul to "GOD, keep up a life of communion with the "Redeemer; make us sensible of the gracious "influence of the Holy Spirit; spiritualize our "affections; wean our hearts from a world, "from which we must soon part; and promote

a more intimate acquaintance with that, in "which we are shortly for ever to dwell: what"ever things induce these blessed principles, " are undeserving the name of afflictions: they "are among the sweetest mercies of David. "And when God removes every earthly com"fort, in order to make room for heavenly;

empties the soul of all creature - comforts, "that He may fill it from all the fullness of "Creator-mercies can there remain a ques"tion, but that the believer is a gainer by the "exchange? Nay, I am fully persuaded, that "if grace were in full exercise, we should em"brace our afflictions, as affording the choicest

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proofs of Divine love. And how refreshing "would it be to a by-stander near the bed of "some suffering saint, to hear him say, praise my GoD with me, for the pains I now en"dure! For the dearest friend which I have upon earth, if his affection for me and his "wisdom were equal to those of my heavenly "Father, would inflict every pain and trial, "which I now feel from His gracious appoint"ment.".

THE DEAD CHILD.

My friend was going on in his discourse, when a shriek from a window in the street, accompanied with a loud voice of distress, interrupted him. We heard the lamentable cry,

My child is dead!" We hastened to the door, to seek the cause of this sorrow. Upon

inquiry, we found that it was the only child of an affectionate mother, which had that 'moment breathed its last in her arms. Alas! thought I, Rachael's case is not singular: the same voice which was heard in Ramah, is heard throughout the world. The sorrowful

mother refuseth to be comforted, because the child is not.

"See here, my brother," (cried my companion, taking me by the arm, and leading me, as he said it, involuntarily down the street)

see here an exemplification of our subject. "Let us only suppose, that this afflicted mother "is a gracious woman; and her history, I "will venture to assert, shall sooner or later. 86 prove the truth of all that I have been saying. In the first paroxysm of grief, she is

perhaps insensible of it: for nature is nature, "and is allowed to express, if without mur"muring, her sorrows. But suppose, that you or I were permitted to call in upon her at "some future period; how different should we "find her sentiments. A plain proof this, that

"it is the state of the mind, and not the "affliction itself, which constitutes the dif"ference. And when the appointment comes, "as it must come to every gracious soul, in a "covenant-way; the united wisdom of men "and angels could not have ordered any event "equally suitable, so as to have answered the purpose of GoD in his merciful dispensations "towards her. However painful, it could not "be spared. Let us consider it for a few mo

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"ments, as it concerns herself, and as it refers " to the child.

"As it concerns herself. It is more than "probable, that this beloved, this only child, "stole away her heart from the Lord. Per"haps her visits to the throne of grace were "less frequent than heretofore. Perhaps her "anxiety for the future provision of this babe, "made her to omit or diminish her charities to "the poor; made her question the providences "of God; made her affections more earthly; "her conversation more savouring of the things "of time and sense; and, in short, induced a "train of conduct, all tending to lead the heart "more from GoD, and not bringing it (as "ought to have been the case) to GOD. And "was it not then, think you, among the "choicest mercies of David, to remove the "cause of all this evil? Was it not time for "GOD to recall His gift, when that gift formed "a cloud on the mind to hide the hand of the "Giver?

"And, as it refers to the sweet babe. Sup"posing the most favourable thing which can "be supposed, that it was a child of grace, a "child of many prayers; are the sure mercies "of

of David altered in their property, because "those prayers are answered, and Jesus hath "housed a lamb of His fold beyond the reach "of the prowling lion, or the ranging bear? Say, ye long tried, long exercised soldiers in "the Redeemer's army! are the summer's heat "and winter's cold, the furious assaults of the