mitted himself to him that judgeth righteously, say-ed; that I might learn thy statutes." Luther says, ing, "Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from "I never knew the meaning of the word, til. I was me; nevertheless, not my will, but thine be done." afflicted." "We fear," says Bishop Hall, our best When the prince of this world came, even in his friends; for my part, I have learned more of God hour and power of darkness, he found nothing in and myself in one week's extremity, than the proshim: no guilt to accuse him of; no corruption to perity of a whole life had taught me before." operate upon. Agitate pure water, and no defile- Lastly, Usefulness. Affliction gives a man the ment will appear; but let the sea that has filthiness tongue of the learned, that he may know how to at the bottom be troubled, and however clean and speak a word in season to him that is weary. I clear it looks above, its waves will cast up mire and produces that sympathy which arises most powerdirt. Afflictions are to the soul, like the rains to the fully from experience; and which indeed can hardhouse; we suspected no apertures in the roof, till ly be found without it. In vain you repair in the the droppings through told the tale. The effects of hour of trouble to those who never knew what an these trials, therefore, are always humbling to the anguish meant. They will not listen to your tale Christian. He is convinced by them that he has of wo.-It does not interest them-they do not unmuch less grace than he imagined: he is often ren- derstand it-they are unacquainted with grief. But dered a wonder as well as a grief to himself. "I lit- he who has borne the smart himself, will not, cantle thought I was so proud, till I was required to not, with a careless mein and an unfeeling heart, stoop; or so impatient, till I was required to wait; listen to a sufferer who cries, "Pity me, pity me, O or so easily provoked, till I met with such an ofye, my friends, for the hand of God hath touched fence; or was so rooted to earth, till so much force me." "Be kind," said Moses to the Jews, be kind was exerted to detach me from it," Such must be to strangers, for ye know the heart of a stranger; the language of every attentive and faithful self- for ye were strangers in a strange land." In this observer, when he reviews the trying scenes through way, the Redeemer himself is not an high-priest which he has passed. We resemble the birds; they who cannot be touched with the feeling of our inbuild in the lovely and inviting part of the year; firmities; he was in all points tempted like as we and the foliage hides their nests; but in the winter, are: and in that he himself hath suffered being when the leaves have dropped off, their nests ap- tempted, he is able also to succor them that are pear. Our retreats and delights in prosperity are tempted. discovered in adversity: and many a passenger can see where we rested when we made not God our trust. When we have, with the Lord, health, and honor, and affluence, and friends; it is not easy to determine whether we are making him or these our dependance and our portion. But when these are removed, the case is decided. If we were relying upon them, we sink; but if while we were using them, we were cleaving to him, our support will remain; and embracing him firmer than before, we shall break through every despondence and say-erfully affects me, as what I recollect to have met "Although the fig-tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labor of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls; yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation."

But nothing strikes like a fact. The oak scathed with lightning attracts the notice of passengers, more than all the other trees of the forest. Trouble awakens attention, and draws forth inquiry.. The Christian is never so well circumstanced, to "glorify the Lord, as in the fires." There he can display the tenderness of his care, the truth of his promise, the excellency of the gospel, the supports of divine grace. In the review of my own varied intercourse with society, I confess nothing so vividly and pow

with from pious individuals exemplifying the spirit and resources of Christianity under bodily disease, and the losses, and bereavements, and disappointments of life. O when I have visited such a martyr

such a witness for God; when I have found him standing in the evil day like a rock in a raging curFourthly, Instruction. By long usage affliction rent with sunshine on his brow; when I have obhas been spoken of as a school. It is indeed a dear served him, full of tribulation in the world, and of one; but there is none like it. In this lecture-room peace in Christ-mourning more for his sins than the lessons are accompanied with experiments; and his sorrows-afraid of dishonoring his profession by the great Teacher, by facts as well as words, says-impatience and unbelief-more concerned to have "There There-See what an evil and bitter thing his crosses sanctified, than to have them removedsin is. See what a poor and vain thing the world is. turning a fearful eye towards the Inflictor, and saySee how it attracts its votaries to show its empti-ing, "I know, O Lord, that thy judgments are right, ness, and elevates only to depress. See what a precarious thing friendship is. See what human helpers can do for you. Men of low degree are vanity, and men of high degree are a lie. Cease from man, whose breath is in his nostrils; for wherein is he to be accounted of? Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the Lord his God; which made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that therein is; which keepeth truth for ever."

These instances appeal to the conscience as well as the understanding. They serve not only to explain the subjects, but to quicken our attention.They produce a silence in the mind; à solemnity of soul; a softness of heart, that prepares us to receive divine truth. "Then he openeth the ears of men and sealeth their instruction. These are the lessons that make the deepest impression; that are the most easily and firmly remembered; that are the most useful and profitable in their effects.

and that thou in faithfulness hast inflicted me; just and true are all thy ways, O thou King of saintsHe hath done all things well"-when I have witnessed religion-and I have witnessed it-accomplishing achievements like these, I have said to it as I withdrew, "I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear, but now mine eye seeth thee."

As the sky is only decked with stars in the night, so the Christian shines most in the darkness of affliction; and by nothing is he so impressive as by the exercise of the passive graces. And this should reconcile you to the will of God in your sufferings. You are not to be selfish. You are not detached individuals; but parts of a community, civil and religious. And you should think yourselves honored and happy in serving your generation; and the manner in which you are to serve it, you are to leave to God. People sometimes express a wish to be useful; but it must be in their own way. "Blessed," says David, "is the man whom thou They wish to do something, but their meaning is, chastenest and teachest out of thy law." Nor did he to do something that is public and striking; origispeak from reasoning or faith only, but from expe- nating, perhaps, some institution, or heading some rience: "It is good for me that I have been afflict-new party-doing something that excites notice and

noise. Here the motive may be good, but it should be peculiarly examined; for exertions of this kind fall in with the principles of our nature, the love of action and the desire of fame. "But they also serve that wait." And they also serve that suffer. You may be called to retire rather than to act. You may be usefully employed in the quiet duties of domestic life, or in the soberness and sameness of business. Yea, you may be detached from your callings, and be confined by accident or sickness, and have not only wearisome nights, but months of vanity appointed you. So you may deem them and suppose that you are going to be laid aside, when you are perhaps approaching the most profitable portion of your lives. For there, in the house of affliction, and on the bed of languishing; there, the minister who visits you shall be taught how to preach; your fellow-christians shall be edified; the young convert shall be encouraged and confirmed; the careless neighbor shall be impressed-or, even in the want of human observers, who can tell but other witnesses may look down and adore the displays of divine grace in your sufferings, and glorify God in you. For we are "a spectacle to the world, to angels, and to men.

II. In the day of adversity consider your RE

LIEF.

flicted? Are you sure they are not afflicted even
now? The rod is not always composed of the same
twigs. There are griefs relative as well as per-
sonal; mental as well as corporeal; imaginary as
well as real; invisible as well as apparent.
"The
heart knoweth his own bitterness." There are crosses
which cannot be displayed. There are groanings
which cannot be uttered-He sitteth alone and keep-
eth silence, because he hath borne it upon him—
"The path of sorrow, and that path alone,
Leads to the land where sorrow is unknown.
No traveller e'er reached that blest abode, -
Who found not thorns and briers in his road.
The world may dance along the flowery plain,
Cheered as they go by many a sprightly strain;
Where Nature has her mossy velvet spread
With unshod feet they yet securely tread:
Admonished, scorn the caution and the friend;
Bent upon pleasure, heedless of its end.

But He who knew what human hearts would
prove,

How slow to learn the dictates of his love;
That, hard by nature, and of stubborn will,
A life of ease would make them harder still;
In pity to the sinners he designed

To rescue from the ruins of mankind,
Called for a cloud to darken all their years,
And said, 'Go, spend them in the vale of tears.'"

Secondly, Consider that they are not casual. Do our fellow-creatures oppose and injure us? They always act freely, and often criminally; yet we are not left to the vices and passions of men. They could have no power at all against us except it were given them from above. Nothing in any of our sufferings occurs by chance-there is no such divinity in the universe. Occurrences may be accidental and contingent with regard to us, who are not acquainted with the plan to be executed and develop

This is necessary to support your hope, and to keep you from being swallowed up of over-much sorrow. You may feel. You must feel. "No chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous.' It does not depend upon us to be unaffected with certain events. We are made susceptible of pain, and of sorrow: religion cannot require us to attempt to throw off our nature, and to say to our Maker, "Why hast thou made me thus ?" There is no giving up what we do not prize; no bearing what we do not feel; no enduring what we do not suffer. Correction is founded on our aver-ed: but they are not so with regard to him who sees sion to misery; and without the sensibility, the discipline cannot answer any of the moral purposes for which it is designed; all of which are included in our being made perfect through suffering.

Yet there is an extreme on the right hand, as well as on the left. As we are not apt to "despise the chastening of the Lord," so neither are we to "faint when we are rebuked of him." To the upright there ariseth light in the darkness: and he has resources which are not only sufficient to moderate his sorrow, but even to turn his sorrow into joy. This is the high ground we take for a suffering Christian; to "glorify also in tribulation;" and to count it all joy when" he falls "into divers temptations," We are far from saying that he always can do this actually: but we are not to take his duty from his experience; but to endeavor to bring his experience to his duty. What is not invariably his attainment, should be constantly his aim. To aid you in aspiring after this distinction,

the end from the beginning, and worketh all things after the counsel of his own will. What takes place without him? "I form the light, and create darkness; I make peace and create evil. I the Lord do all these things." And he strikes no random blows. "He performeth the thing that is appointed for us:" and the appointment is made by one who has not only a right to ordain, but who cannot pervert justice; who is too wise to err; and who loved us so as not to spare his own Son, but delivered him up for us all. We are allowed, we are required to cast all our care on him, with the assurance that he careth for us. And is not his attention, his solicitude-how condescending is God in his languagesufficient to relieve our minds? How delightful is it to sit at the feet of the great Teacher, and hear him discourse on the doctrine of Providence. Here we have nothing of the language of infidel philosophy. He does not represent the Supreme Being as occupied with worlds and whole systems, but overConsider, First, That your afflictions are not pe-looking individuals, and minute concerns-he did culiar. "The same afflictions are accomplished in not suppose the Supreme Being capable of perplexyour brethren who are in the world." And will you ity and fatigue-he did not think any thing too hard refuse to drink of the cup they drink of, and to be for infinite wisdom and power-he did not think it baptized with the baptism they are baptized with? beneath God to govern what was not beneath him Is Providence in your case to deviate from the to create. Among men, an attention to little things treatment of all the other branches of the house- prevents an attention to great things; and an athold of faith? "Whom the Lord loveth he chasten- tention to great things prevents an attention to little eth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth." ones; and no one can equally regard all the claims To which of the saints in Scripture or in history of the province of government he fills, however will you turn, in refutation of this decision? "What limited it may be. But, says Jesus, "He maketh son is he whom the Father chasteneth not?" In his sun to rise; and, he "sends forth his angels;" vain you allege that you are acquainted with per- and "a sparrow falls not to the ground without sons truly godly who are not afflicted. It is no easy your heavenly Father; and the hairs of your head thing to determine who are truly godly. Besides are all numbered." "Are ye not of more value Have they not been afflicted? Will they not be af- than many sparrows?" "Behold the fowls of the

air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? And why take ye thought for raiment ? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they toil not, neither do they spin: and yet I say unto you, that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to-day is, and to-morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith ?"

Fourthly, Consider that they are not unalloyed. The apostle seems to enjoin too much, when he says, 'In every thing give thanks." But there is a reason for it. Take your condition, however trying. Has it no alleviations? Let candor, let gratitude, let truth examine the circumstances of the case. Is there nothing in the time? nothing in the place? nothing in the manner? nothing in the subject of affliction, that serves to soften its pressure? Do you believe that it might not have been worse? Hath he smitten him, as he smote those that smote Exclude this doctrine, and God is a God afar off; him? or is he slain according to the slaughter of there is no foundation for confidence; there is no them that are slain by him? In measure, when it excitement to devotion: in the darkness of my per-shooteth forth, thou wilt debate with it. He stayeth plexities and difficulties, I grope around, and can feel nothing to support me. But by realizing his superintending agency, I bring him near; and by his presence fill what otherwise would be an awful and irksome void. He hears prayer. His interposition is attainable. By being connected with God, every place is rendered holy, every object interesting; every comfort is enriched, and every trial is softened. This principle I take with me into every allotment, every circumstance; and say, "the cup which my Father giveth me, shall I not drink it? It is the Lord, let him do what seemeth him good. I will cry unto God most high, unto God who performeth all things for me."

Thirdly, Consider that they are not penal. When the Israelites came to Marah, they could not drink "And Moses of the waters, for they were bitter. cried unto the Lord; and the Lord showed him a tree, which when he had cast into the waters, the waters were made sweet." If this was not designed to be a type, it yields us a striking allusion.

"Bitter indeed the waters are

Which in this desert flow;
Though to the eye they promise fair,
They taste of sin and wo."

What is the cure? The Cross

"The Cross on which the Saviour hung,
And conquered for his saints,-
This is the tree, by faith applied,
That sweetens all complaints.
Thousands have found the blest effect,
Nor longer mourn their lot:
While on his sorrows they reflect,
Their own are all forgot."

his rough wind in the day of the east wind." Take
your case and lay it by the side of your desert.
What would you have suffered had he dealt with
you after your sins, or rewarded you according to
your iniquities? Place it by the side of the condi-
You have
tion of others. You have lost much of your sub-
stance: but they have nothing left.
buried one of your children; the grave has written
them childless in the earth. You walk upon crutch-
es; they are bed-ridden. You have months of va-
nity; but they have wearisome nights, and the mul-
Think of his dignity: or
titude of their bones is filled with strong pain. But
O think of the Saviour.

his preceding state; of his innocency. We suffer
justly, for we suffer the due reward of our deeds;
but this Man has done nothing amiss. Yet see him.
You suffer partially; he suffered in every part that
was capable of passion. You suffer occasionally;
and, for hours and days of pain, you have weeks
and months of ease and pleasure; his sufferings
reached from the manger to the cross: "He was a
man of sorrows and acquainted with grief." Your
sufferings are unforeseen; his were known from the
beginning; and he bore them in prospect before he
endured them in reality. And whose tongue can
express, whose imagination can conceive, what he
endured when he began to be sore amazed and very
heavy? when his soul was exceeding sorrowful
even unto death? when his sweat was as it were
great drops of blood, falling to the ground? when
he exclaimed, "My God, my God, why hast thou
forsaken me?"

"Now let our pains be all forgot,

Our hearts no more repine:
Our sufferings are not worth a thought,
When, Lord, compared with thine."

Fifthly, Consider that you are not to bear them If the burden of sin be removed, whatever else is laid on us will be felt to be light. And surely he alone. For he hath said, "I will never leave thee, But hath borne our griefs and carried our sorrows. nor forsake thee." This is a general promise, and The chastisement of our peace was upon him, and necessarily includes every particular case. by his stripes we are healed. Hence though his knowing the anxieties and forebodings of the heart, sufferings do not secure us from suffering, they he has been pleased to issue particular assurances "When thou passest through change the nature and design of our afflictions; so with regard to the hour of suffering. "I will be that, instead of their being punishments, they are with thee in trouble." corrections; and are inflicted not by the sword of the waters, I will be with thee; and through the the Judge, but by the rod of a Father. The be- rivers, they shall not overflow thee; when thou liever may sometimes misapprehend them, and fear- walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burnt; ful of their being the messengers of justice, may neither shall the flame kindle upon thee." Herein But the appre-his conduct forms a contrast with the friendship of say unto God, Do not condemn me. And Solohension is groundless. We are chastened of the others. A friend is born for adversity; but he oftener Lord, that we may not be condemned with the world. raises expectations than realizes them. For there is no condemnation to them that are in mon tells us, that "confidence in an unfaithful man Christ Jesus. He has redeemed them from the in the time of trouble is like a broken tooth, or a curse of the law, having been made a curse for foot out of joint." These are more than useless."To him that is them. And being now justified by his blood, they You attempt to use them, and they not only fail, shall be saved from wrath through him. This is but make you writhe with pain. the rest wherewith we are to cause the uneasy to afflicted, pity should be showed of his friend; but rest; and this is the refreshing. He was angry he forsaketh the fear of the Almighty." Job found with us, but his anger is turned away: and he com- it so, and said, "My brethren have dealt deceitfully forteth us. And not only so, but we also joy through as a brook, and as the stream of brooks that pass our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now re-away." Paul found it so: and though the brethren came to meet him, when he was going to Rome to ceived the atonement.

appeal unto Cæsar, as far as Appii Forum and the Three Taverns, he complains, "At my first answer no man stood by me, but all men forsook me." But he adds, "Notwithstanding the Lord stood by me and strengthened me." He is true, whoever is sight of him whose grace is always sufficient for us. If we faint in the day of adversity, it is by losing treacherous: whoever fails, he is faithful. To this, We resemble Peter. "Come," said our Saviour: Latimer testified in his last moments. Being fast-"And when he was come down out of the ship, he ened to the stake, and the fire just about to be kin- walketh upon the water, to go to Jesus. But when dled, he turned a heavenly countenance towards his he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid, and befellow-sufferer, and said, "God is faithful, who ginning to sink, he cried, Lord, save me." Ah, will not suffer us to be tempted above that we are said Jesus, you should have looked not at the waves, able." While Ridley answered, "Yes, be of good but at me. Am not I here? Within sight? withcheer, brother; he will abate the fury of the flames, in reach? or give us strength to abide them." Spilsbury had his hand, and caught him; and said unto him, O "And immediately Jesus stretched forth suffered for conscience' sake, and had been released thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt ?" from his confinement. second time, he said, seeing his wife and children it is founded in reason and truth-make it, Christian, But when apprehended a How sublime is the exclamation of Doddridge; but weeping, "I am not afraid to go to prison now-I whatever threatens, your ownfound God there the first time." In his flight and dreariness, the vision at Bethel was a privilege beyond all Jacob's expectation and thought. Driven from home, and travelling alone: having no guide to direct him, no defender to protect him, no associate to soothe his mind by communion; a forlorn youth, ruminating on his sad condition, and conflicting with those fears which attend uncertain always. "For there is an end, and thy expectation Lastly, Consider that you are not to endure them events he lights on a certain place, and tarries shall not be cut off." That end is certain. Siseria's there all night, because the sun was set. The dark- mother anxiously waited at the window for the arness was his curtains, the ground his bed, and a rival of her son, but he never came. The warrior stone his pillow. There he falls asleep, and sees has confidently reckoned upon a victory, which he and hears what encouraged him to the last moment never obtained; and the mariner has been ready to of life. But said he in the morning, "Surely God hail a desired haven, which he never reached.is in this place, and I knew it not." This ignorance "We looked," said the disappointed Jews, "for and surprise serve to represent the apprehensions light, and behold darkness; for peace, and behold of many of the people of God: they seem to think trouble." But, O Christian, there is hope in thy they shall be found deserted in such situations and end-a hope that cannot make ashamed. Thy redifficulties. But he is better than their fears; he lease from sorrow is as sure as the purpose, the surpasses even their hopes. He is there, and no promise, the covenant, the oath of God can render sooner do they call, than he answers, Yea, he is not only with them really, but pecu- that shall come, will come, and will not tarry." If Here I am." it. That end is near. "Yet a little while, and he liarly in the day of trouble. "As one whom his your cross be heavy, you have not to carry it far.-— mother comforteth," says he, "so will I comfort If life be short, trouble cannot be long. When a you; and ye shall be comforted in Jerusalem."The anxious, tender mother, regards all her off you will not return. It may be much less. A few few years are come, you will go the way whence spring; but she is most concerned for the poor weak-months; a few weeks; a few days more; and all ly, sickly child. The knee, the bosom is for him; will be peace, all will be quietness, all will be asfor him is the prepared delicacy, and the noiseless surance for ever. The sacred writers love to diroom, and the breathless step, and the frequent minish the period. In one place they tell us, "weepwatching and leaning over the bed of languishing, ing may endure a night, but joy cometh in the mornand the entreated reception of the offensive draught, ing." In another, that these "light afflictions are accompanied with the sincere assurance, "Ah, my but for a moment." darling child, how gladly would I take it for thee." moment we are forsaken." So, and no more is it And thus it is with his afflicted people. They have in the estimation of faith, and compared with eterIn a third, that "for a small their special privileges. As their day, so their nity. That end is blessed and glorious. No power strength is; and as the sufferings of Christ abound of description or thought can do it justice. It will in them, the consolation also aboundeth by Christ: bring a full development of all the trying dispensaand thousands can testify that they have had clearer tions through which you have passed. You shall discoveries, richer communications, and tenderer no longer walk by faith, but by sight. You shall supports under their trials than they ever experienc- see that his work is perfect, and his ways judgment. ed in seasons of ease and prosperity. What want You shall see how the most adverse providences we more? "God," says the Church, "is our re- were essential to your welfare; and not only feelfuge and strength, a very present help in trouble:ing satisfied, but filled with wonder and gratitude, therefore will not we fear, though the earth be re- you will be able to say, moved, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof." No creature can be a substitute for him; but he is more than a substitute for every creature and his presence peoples and fertilizes and gladdens the gloomiest desert: "I will allure her, and bring her into the wilderness, and there will I speak comfortably unto her. And I will give her her vineyards from thence: and the valley of Achor for a door of hope; and she shall sing there." The lamp cannot supply the place of the sun; but you have no reason to complain, if you can say, with Mrs. Rowe,

age of Egypt, and the travels and privations of the
What was Canaan to the Jews, after all the bond-
desert; what was that land flowing with milk and
honey, that rest which the Lord their God gave
them, compared with the rest that remains for the
people of God-that better, that heavenly country!
What a complete, what an eternal discharge! Of
all your sufferings, nothing will remain but the re-
membrance, and this will enhance the deliverance;

and "the greater the sorrow, the louder you'll sing." | and hideth himself; but the simple pass on, and are The shadow of care, of sorrow, of fear, shall never punished." But are you sure you are not afflicted fit over those regions of repose and blessedness.- even now? In the midst of your sufficiency, are "Thy sun shall no more go down; neither shall you not in straits? In all your successes, do you thy moon withdraw itself: for the Lord shall be not feel a cold aching void within, still urging you thine everlasting light, and the days of thy mourn- to ask, "Who will show us any good?" While ing shall be ended." I could go on repeating Scrip- you walk according to the course of the world, do ture, for it loves to dwell upon this subject; but I you not complain of the poverty of its pleasures, will conclude this reference with two passages.- and the falseness of its resources? Are you not The one is, the testimony of the apostle Paul. He dissatisfied with all creature enjoyments? Is there spoke from experience. No one had suffered more; not a constant war between your inclinations and and he had been in the third heaven. But hear convictions? Does not conscience often condemn him: "I reckon that the sufferings of this present you? Have you not your forebodings of the futime are not worthy to be compared with the glory ture? Do you never think of the infirmities of apthat shall be revealed in us." The other is the ad- proaching years; of the house appointed for all dress of the angel to John in the Revelation; words living; of the judgment-seat of Christ? which Burns, the poet, says he could never, from a child, read without tears-so allied is the tenderness of genius to the sentiments of piety. "He said unto me, what are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they? And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said unto me, these are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them. They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more, neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat. For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters; and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.'

Perhaps at this very moment you are not strangers to a wish that you had never been born. Colonel Gardiner tells us, "that while he was keeping up every gay appearance, and was envied as the happiest of mortals, he would gladly have exchanged conditions with a dog." "There is no peace, saith my God, unto the wicked."

-But here are some, here are many before me who are in trouble. For the days are evil; and the eup is going round; and what family, what individual is not called to taste the bitterness, if not to drink the very dregs? I do not ask you what your trials are; but I must inquire, what are you doing under them? Are you despising the chastening of the Lord, or are you fainting now you are rebuked of him?-Unsanctified trouble always produces one of these: it always hardens the sufferer against God, or sinks him into despondency.

Men and brethren, you have often heard it said, "The end crowns the action." "All is well, that Is the former of these your case? Are you one ends well." Now religion has this recommenda- of those, who, when he arrays himself against tion. We are far from denying its present advan-them, instead of submitting, "rush upon the thick tages; for we know from Scripture and observation and experience, that it is profitable unto all things, and has promise of the life that now is, as well as of that which is to come. But allowing that it were | all gloom, and self-denial, and sacrifice, and suffering here; yet "mark the perfect man, and behold the upright, for the end of that man is peace." The happiness in which it terminates, infinitely more than indemnifies and recompenses all the hardships and trials of the passage. Even Balaam confessed this; and prayed, "Let me die the death of the righteous, and let my last end be like his.”

bosses of his buckler;" and "fight against God?" Are you like Ahaz, of whom it is said, "In his affliction he sinned yet more and more against GodThis is that Ahaz!" It was an awful appeal that Jeremiah made to God, concerning many of his hearers. Must your preacher prefer the same? “O Lord, are not thine eyes upon the truth? Thon hast stricken them, but they have not grieved; thou hast consumed them, but they have refused to receive correction; they have made their faces harder than a rock; they have refused to return." If this be the case, faithfulness requires me to tell you that one of these two consequences will be sure to follow. That is either God, provoked by your contempt of his correction, will cease to disturb you, and recalling the instruments of his discipline, will say, "They are joined to idols, let them alone;" or he will turn the rod into a scorpion, and fulfil the

What a difference between the Christian and others! Both are advancing towards the close of life; but they are leaving their good things, and he his evil ones. Both will soon bid an eternal farewell; but they to their joys, and he to his sorrows. They at death will plunge into "the blackness of darkness for ever;" while he will reach "the in-threatening, "If ye walk contrary to me, I also will heritance of the saints in light."

-So reasonable is the Christian's resignation; and so well founded is the Christian's hope, with regard to affliction.

“But what has such a subject as this to do with me? I am not in trouble." Then I tremble for you. We know of whom David speaks, when he says, "They are not in trouble as other men: neither are they plagued like other men." And we know who has said, "Because they have no changes, therefore they fear not God." But if you are not afflicted, you soon may be. Every thing here is uncertain. How often is the lamp of the wicked put out. Truth whispers, "Truly the light is sweet, and a pleasant thing it is for the eyes to behold the sun: but if a man live many years, and rejoice in them all, yet let him remember the days of darkness, for they shall be many. All that cometh is vanity" Is it not therefore wise to provide against what is possible, what is probable-yea, I will add, unavoidable? A prudent man, forseeth the evil,

Then

walk contrary to you, and punish you seven times
for your iniquity." Thus the blow first affects the
man's property. Then it strikes a remoter relation.
Then it takes away the desire of his eyes.
it invades his own person, and shakes him by dis-
order over the pit-and he recovers-and turns
again to folly. At length, having been often re-
proved, and hardening his neck, he is suddenly de-
stroyed, and that without remedy. Are none of
you in danger of this? Are there not some of you
who have not only been addressed by him, and fre-
quently addressed; but also have been smitten by
him, and awfully too; so that it would have seemed
impossible for you to stand out. "I have overthrown
some of you, as God overthrew Sodom and Gomor-
rah, and ye were as a firebrand plucked out of the
burning: yet have ye not returned unto me, saith
the Lord. Therefore thus will I do unto thee, O Is-
rael: and because I will do this unto thee, prepare
to meet thy God, O Israel." But canst thou stand
before him! Can thy heart endure, or thy hand be