Job v. 17.-Behold, happy is the man whom God correcteth: therefore despise not thou the chastening of the Almighty.

Prov. iii. Il.Neither be weary of his correction.

Heb. xii. 6.-For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.

Heb. xii. 9. 11.-We have had fathers of the flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection to the Father of Spirits and live? for they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness. Now, no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous but grievous: nevertheless afterwards it yieldeth the peaceable fruits of righteousness to them that are exercised thereby. 2 Chron. xxxiii. 10.-The Lord spake to Manasseh and to his people; but they would not hearken. Wherefore the Lord brought upon them the cap

tains of the host of Assyria, which took Manasseh, and bound him with fetters, and carried him to Babylon. And when he was in affliction, he besought the Lord his God, and humbled himself greatly before God, and prayed unto him; and he was intreated of him, and heard his supplication.

Job xxxvi. 5.-Behold, God is mighty, and despiseth not any; he is mighty in strength and wisdom; if they be bound in fetters and holden in the cords of affliction, then he sheweth them their work and their transgressions; he openeth also their ears to discipline, and commandeth that they return from iniquity. Psalm cxix. 71. 67.-It is good for me that I have been in trouble, that I may learn thy statutes: before I was troubled I went wrong; but now have I kept thy word. 2 Cor. iv. 17, 18.-Our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we

1

look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal."

What I have now read to you is a part of that holy word which is written in the Bible for our learning; written for your learning, my afflicted friend, by the appointment and inspi ration of the Lord God; and therefore it deserves your serious attention. Consider then that the word of truth here assures you that affliction does not come by chance, nor of its own accord, nor from the mere natural course of things, as grass and herbs spring out of the ground;-" affliction cometh not forth of the dust, neither doth trouble spring out of the ground;" but it comes from the wise and righteous appointment of God;-"it is the Lord;"-in every kind of sickness and trouble, it is the Lord who works, directs, and governs; "he woundeth and maketh sore;" and "let him do what seemeth him good;"-let your will

be humbly and patiently submissive to his will. He hath a right and the power to do with you what he will, for "the earth and all things therein belong unto him," and "his kingdom ruleth over all." And you may be sure that whatever he does towards you is right, and intended for your good. The Lord alone knows what is really good for you; his wisdom is infinite, and "he is righteous in all his ways, and holy in all his works ;" he is " loving unto every man, full of compassion and goodness:" and though "he cause trouble," yet you may be sure that you deserve and require it; for he doth not afflict willingly," from mere caprice, nor without just reason, nor for his own pleasure, but "for your profit, that you may be partaker of his holiness. "He executeth judgment" with perfect justice, to correct the transgressor and punish for sin. And if he punishes with the temporal judgment of sickness or other affliction, it is indeed a proof of his mercy and loving-kind

66

ness; for he thus visits to rouse man to serious thought, to convince of sin, to awaken to repentance, and stimu late to obedience, that the sufferer, humbling himself before God with sincere penitence and faithful submission in Jesus Christ, may be a partaker of his holiness here, and of happiness hereafter. "When we are

thus judged, we are chastened of the Lord that we may not be condemned with the world:" the body is chastened that the soul may be saved! from everlasting damnation. Apply then to yourself this direction of Scrip ture" despise not," neglect not "thou the chastening of the Lord, neither be weary of his corrections;" do not give way to despondency, impatience, murmuring, or repining.complaint. "Wherefore does a man complain for the punishment of his sins?" Wherefore should you impatiently repine at what is intended for your good? rather be thankful that the Lord is thus pleased to notice you; and desire and seek that the good which he in-: