and all-sufficient portion. They, who have experienced fellowship with him, and discoveries of his glory in ordinances, will feelingly regret the loss of them, and ardently desire the re-enjoyment of them. But great is the mercy, that God himself, the fountain of happiness, and his throne of grace, are ever accessible to the poor and needy, that seek the water of salvation. And if he refresh our hearts with the tokens of his favor, they ought to be enlarged in his praise. Happy and delightful is it, to be able to meditate on a remembrance of his former lovingkindnesses; and in his strength, to follow him closely in the means of grace, and paths of his commands. It is his help and favor only, that can tune our hearts to praise him, while we enjoy his protection. Dreadful will be the destruction of the enemies of Jesus Christ and his people! But eternal shall be the safety, unspeakable the joys, of him and his ransomed children, while all their malicious enemies shall be filled with astonishment, and struck into endless silence and confusion. XIII. To such as feel themselves under God's correcting hand. If they see not how they can be delivered, they should not despair. But put on patience, and look through the thick cloud. After darkness comes light. "Heaviness may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning." Own God's hand in your affliction, and lay it not on instruments. Job said, "The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away." Thus justify God in all things, for it is fit it should be so. Desire rather that affliction may be sanctified than removed; pray more to be fitted for deliverance, than released from the trouble; underrate not your mercies; get faster hold of God by faith and prayer. Still own God as a father, and he will own you 66 as a child; glorify God in the fire, and say, Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him." Then, though God's hand be heavy upon you, and none can deliver you from it, yet is he a Father still; though perhaps offended, yet he is not a sin-avenging judge this would be dreadful! Compare 2 Samuel xxiv. 14, with Hebrews x. 31. His scourging as a father is a branch of the gospel covenant. As none can deliver you out of God's correcting hand, so none can pluck you out of his fatherly hand; our Lord Jesus thus testifies both of himself and his Father, who, he says, is While you are in his hand you are engraven on the greater than all, John x. 29. he never looks off from you, palms of his hands, and he takes special care of you in his providence. Remember, if you are never delivered out of God's hand of affliction here, death will set you at liberty. There are two choice cordials, 1 Cor. x. 13, to assure you that you shall be enabled to bear your affliction, and that in due time you shall have a way to escape. Let the children of God be animated and encouraged in their sufferings from God, and for God. Though they may be sharp and long, and no human help can avail to rescue them, God can and will, and they may say as the three children, "If it be so, our God, whom we serve, is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king," Daniel iii. 17. The Lord will deliver them by his hand of mercy, out of the hand of justice, yea, from the evil work of sin in the soul, and will preserve them unto his heavenly kingdom. They must walk by faith, and not by sight; study the promises, be much in prayer, reflect on past experiences, sanctify God's name, learn obedience by what they suffer under God's hand, and they will in the issue find that all things work together for their good, though they cannot discern it for the present. Happy souls, who trust in God, and live by faith in evil times! XIV. Fainting under chastisements reflects dishonorably upon God. It is true, in some respects, those who are extremely dejected, are not so guilty as despisers; for usually they acknowledge the justice of his providence. But that false conception of the Father of mercies, either that he willingly afflicts the children of men, or that he hates them because he afflicts them here, is so contrary to his holy and merciful nature, so injurious to his goodness, 1 John iv. 8, the special character of his nature, that it is an equal provocation, with the slighting of his sovereignty. XV. In our perplexing difficulties, we ought to recur to the first principles of our most holy faith. And never should we lose sight of God's kindness to those, who are washed in the blood, and sanctified by the Spirit of his dear Son. Often the strongest believers are most violently tempted, and dragged to the very brink of death and destruction. While God, in this world, marks his enemies and friends in the most perplexing manner;-whom he hates he prospers to their ruin; and whom he loves, he corrects and scourges for their profit; what need have we to attend closely to his word as our rule; and amidst astounding providences, wait in faith and patience till we see the end of the Lord! The worst that a believer hath, is better than the greatest prosperity of the ungodly; which but ripens them for everlasting ruin, and hastens them into it. But to whatever sad lengths the afflictions and temptations of God's people draw them, they will issue in their с instruction, humiliation, comfort, and holiness. When rebellious or murmuring thoughts arise in our hearts, they must be carefully resisted and quickly suppressed. We must never grieve nor stumble God's people, by representing his service as hard and unprofitable. And it is not the strongest carnal reasoning, but fellowship with God in his word and ordinances, that can enlighten a darkened soul, or disentangle it from an ensnaring temptation. Great is the mercy of God, when he relieves his children, who had by their fretfulness become their own tormentors; and that even at their very worst, he never ceases to look upon them in his Son, to attend and support them, as weak infants in his family. But bright views of God and eternal things, are sometimes ushered in by great darkness and bitter trouble of mind. Holiness here, and glory hereafter are closely connected. And little reason hath one guided of God, and an heir of everlasting happiness, nay of God himself, and joint heir with Christ, to envy the earthly prosperity of the ungodly. How insignificant do all other things appear, when compared with the everlasting enjoyment of the INFINITE ALL, the REDEEMING GODHEAD!! How light and easy are death and trouble, when considered as our way to it! While the enemies of God hasten towards endless perdition, his children should by faith depend on his promise, that here and hereafter their lips may be filled with his praise. XVI. Jesus, thy blood and righteousness, When from the dust of death I rise E'en then shall this be all my plea, Bold shall I stand in that great day, From sin and fear, from guilt and shame. Thus Abraham, the friend of God, This spotless robe the same appears, O let the dead now hear thy voice! XVII. What days of trouble have God's people to endure, from temptations, corruptions, afflictions, and desertions! But in deep distress, we must flee to the compassionate bosom of our God, who spared not his own Son, but freely gave him up for his elect, and pour out our complaints before him. And, if we would speed, we must be both importunate and unwearied in our applications at the throne of grace. If we but speak in groans, God can understand us, and will answer. But often, under strong trials, God's people feed their sorrows, and reject the consolations which God suggests to them in his word; often they indulge the melancholy apprehension that he hath forsaken |