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CHAPTER VI.

ON THE DUTY OF RESIGNATION.

SUBMISSION to the will of God under the afflictive events with which he is pleased to visit his children, is a lesson of the first importance, and a paramount duty of the Christian mourner. The sacrifice of a contrite, obedient spirit, is well pleasing to God. The exercise of cheerful resignation to his will is, perhaps, a duty the most difficult to perform; but it involves a principle which, when it originates from a heart-felt conviction of the power and wisdom of Jehovah, regulated and characterized by his mercy and love, from a persuasion of his right to do with us as seemeth good in his sight, and of his inflexible justice and matchless purity; when it is strengthened by the recollection of His faithfulness, who has promised that all things shall work together for the eventual good of those who love, and serve, and fear him; when it is founded on the propriety of our obedience to Him whose we are; and when it is sanctioned by an abiding sense of our own sinfulness and exposure to the

wrath of God, with just views of the great good to be accomplished in us, is at once the most delightful and the highest attainment of the Christian temper on earth.

However plausible and easy this may appear to be in theory, however much it may seem to be the natural result of the Christian character, it is quite certain, that to feel the chastening hand of God, and at the same time to exercise a cheerful acquiescence in the divine appointment, is so contrary to human nature, that it is extremely difficult to bear suffering with that meekness, humility, patience, submission, and sorrow for sin, which are included in this grace. Hence the necessity of becoming familiar with the duty, and striving most earnestly not only to know, but to feel and practise it.

Resignation presupposes a decided preference of doing what God commands, and undergoing what he inflicts, to the enjoyment of our own pleasures and desires. Before the human mind can cheerfully bear its inclinations to be thwarted, and its affections nipped in their kindliest growth, it must be deeply imbued with the righteousness of Jehovah's character and government, and with the infinite value of the soul: it must have been taught the vanity of seeking happiness in the creature, and the superior nature of religious joys. Naturally self-willed, attached to the pre

sent scenes, and desirous of gratifying those affections and feelings which own a depraved heart for their source, and present objects for their centre, it is not easy to give up our own will thus entirely, and requires not only our renewal by the Holy Spirit, but likewise the exercise of a constant reliance on Him who demands these sacrifices only for our good.

Resignation implies a distrust of our own understanding, and a cheerful confidence in the wisdom of God. The mind fondly clings to the imperfect views of mortality, and with the scanty knowledge of a day, often vainly imagines that it could remedy evils and alleviate sufferings which we now see and feel to be prevalent and inevitable. But the pride of intellect must be abandoned; we must become as little children before we can suffer the will of God with placid submission. We must cease to speculate on the causes and consequences of our suffering, and to scrutinize inquisitively the reasons of the divine appointment; we must believe that it is right, because he does it; and rely with confidence on his gracious promise, that "what we know not now, we shall know hereafter." God has promised to reveal to us his designs in a future life, and to enable us to perceive the end of that affliction which sovereign mercy has commissioned to detach us from the world.

This duty pre-supposes a belief of the goodness of God. We must possess exalted views of a Saviour's character, before we can trust our all in his hands. Could we entertain a doubt of his infinite holiness, believe the possibility of his unkindness, or indulge the thought that all his dispensations are not the result of his compassion, we could not commit ourselves to his care and guidance. But God is love: he has revealed himself under the most endearing characters; he has exhibited his mercy, in that he has reconciled us to himself through the blood of a dying Redeemer; and will he not likewise give us inferior blessings? He is infinitely good; he does not willingly afflict his children, but chastens them for their profit; and, assured that all our trials proceed from this pure source, we cheerfully resign ourselves to his disposal.

Our heavenly Father has promised to support us, and informs us that he has commissioned trials to bring about our sanctification. And if we contemplate the character of God, the equity of his government, the appointments of his providence, and his dealings with ourselves, we shall have reason to believe that He is faithful who has promised, and that he is able to keep that which we have committed to his care.

The duty of resignation comprehends farther, an unfeigned dedication of ourselves to the Lord

of heaven and earth. We must have chosen him for our God, because he has made us his children; and have determined to know nothing among men save Jesus Christ, and him crucified. We must have been convinced of our dependence on him, and have resolved with all our hearts and minds to live to his glory, before we can cheerfully seek to know and to do his will exclusively. Then shall we not be moved by any of these light afflictions, but shall consider simply the hand of God, acknowledge that not the minutest circumstance escapes his observation, and be earnestly desirous of doing what he requires, under every changing scene.

From this slight sketch, it is evident that the perfect exercise of this principle is no ordinary attainment; but it is not a trifling good we have placed before us as the prize. The active influence of this grace diffuses so much peace and serenity over the mind, affords such solid ground of consolation, and gives so well founded a hope of our eternal interest in the Saviour's righteousness, that it is indeed worthy our pursuit ; for success will prove a source of unspeakable blessing, and we shall praise the hand that has afflicted us.

The possession of this virtue in its active influence, as it weans from earth and leads us to place our affections on heavenly objects, is in