Pfalm, "The law of thy mouth is better unto me than thousands mergy. welcome tafk, but is the delight Prayer is not to them an un of their fouls. of gold and filer. How fweet are thy words unto my tafte ! Yea Tweeter than honey to my mouth!" Satan and their wicked hearts When they find (verfes 72, 103. Afflictions are ftriving to throw hindrances in neceffary to lead perfons to unthe way of the performance of derstand many parts of the Bible, this duty, they will not reft until particularly those which relate to fufferings, and the divine fupported the victory, and can fervently they have, in fome degree, obtain under them. Who understandeth He is pleafed fometimes remarkably to fill their mouths with argu pour out their hearts to God. ances are against them, while they are bowing at his footstool. They are uncommonly affifted in praying for themfelves, for their families and friends, for enemies, for the whole human race, and efpecially for the peace and prosperity of Zion. like the good man under the rod, how tribulation worketh patience; and patience, experience; and experience, hope? Who understand-ments, when all worldly appeareth like the patient fufferer how confolation aboundeth by Chrift, as the fruit of chastisement. The beft of men do not know how much they trust in themselves and in the world, until their attach ment is tried and broken by the rod. Now they fee more fully than ever their own folly in plac-rive benefit from their afflictions It is painful to those who de ing fuch confidence, in the things to be deprived, by ill health, or which perish. They will blefs God for ever for that difcipline worship and ordinances of God's other means, of attending on the which hath opened to them the pride and deceitfulness of their hearts, and hath brought them to difcern the worth and glory of that kingdom, which cannot be moved. True Chriftians have ges. Hence when they are exclurarely fo clear evidence of their ded from the place which they rarely fo clear evidence of their love, they can adopt the language adoption as when their earthly of David, when he was wandering hopes are dashed in pieces. in the wilderness of Judah, by the perfecutions of Saul. "O God thou art my God; early will I Sanctified afflictions lead men to be more attentive to the du house. which they find an increafing relThefe are objects for ifh as they are emptied from veffel to veffel, by their trying chan feek thee my foul thirfteth for | difcharge this duty, and to come thec, in a dry and thirsty land, and the fouls of men are so tenderly loved, that they dare not be filent when called to fprak in a way of warning and reproof. The other duty which I fhall mention in this place is compaffion and kindness to those who are afflicted. We are commanded to bear one another's burdens, to love as brethren, to be pitiful, and to be courteous. There are men whofe inward thought is, that their houses shall continue for ever and their dwelling places to all generations.They are intoxicated with their profperity, and prefume that no painful changes await them. They look with contempt upon the needy and afflicted, and are difpofed to charge them with bringing their troubles upon themselves, or continuing them by their imprudence or timidity. Job xii. 5, Sanctified afflictions are inftrumental of stirring up perfons to a faithful discharge of the duties of the fecond table of the law. There are two in particular, which I fhall name. The firft is the duty of adminiftering juft reproof. This duty can never be rightly performed without much felf-denial. It is too common either to backbite those who do wrong, or to reprove them in anger. Both are forbidden by the word of God. We are bound to tell our neighbor, and especially a Chriftian brother, to his face, what we think amifs in his behavior, and to intermingle meeknefs with firm nefs. When we feel calm and tender, we hate to wound the feelings of another, but the spirit of the gospel requires us to reprove fin in others, whatever may be the confequences. A mind fo- He that is ready to flip with lemnized by prayer, and commun- his feet, is as a lamp despised in ion with God in other duties, the thoughts of him that is at a mind which feeth the exceed- cafe." The fons of carnal pleasing finfulness of fin-and is bro't ure make their boat that they to the footstool by the rod, is pre- have kept themselves clear from pared to adminifter reproof, with the troubles which fall upon oth out being overwhelmed with a ers, and fay," we shall never be flavish dread of the wrath of the reduced to their ftate, or if we offender, and to do it in a manner fhould, we will foon extricate ourwhich is beft fuited to work a felves by our wifdom and fortireformation. What boldness, and tude. Let thofe poor wretches at the fame time what meeknefs, fuffer, it is good enough for them, did the prophets and apoftles dif- but as for us, we feel above fubcover, in reproving the ungodly? mitting to the weakness and the and in attempting to pull out of dejection which they discover." the fire their near friends? We O ye proud boasters, betray no fhall, according to our fphere of longer fuch impious folly and action, imitate them in fome de- madness, but remember that the gree if we are governed by the days of adversity will come upon Tame fpirit. Nothing has a hap-you like an armed man, and plunge pier tendency to lead perfons to you in mifery! tians love one another!" The difciples of Chrift fometimes in the prefent world, fall out with each other, and give mutual wounds. But joint fufferings have always been found to check their animof clofer bonds of affection. When fuch are the fruits of our afflictions we have not been fmitten in vain, but fhall derive peace and comfort from them in this world; and fhall receive a far more exceed IV. Sanctified afflictions are inftrumental in weaning men from earthly attachments, and in ripening them for death and heaven. The pious Patriarchs confeffed themselves amidst their troubles to be pilgrims and ftrangers on the earth and to be looking for a city which hath foundations, whofe builder and maker is God. The primitive Chriftians took joyfully the fpoiling of their goods. Knowing that they had in heaven, a better and an enduring fubítance. Chriftianity fpeaks a very different language from that of the men of the world, Heb. xiii. 3. "Remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them, and them which fuffer adverfity, as being yourselves alfo in the body."ities and to unite them in the Nothing teaches perfons to feel for the children of forrow like experience in the fchool of adverfity. This eminently qualifies the followers of the compaffionate Saviour, to fympathife with the afflicted, and to strive to lightening and eternal weight of glory their woes. They extend their in the world to come. compaffionate feelings to all who are under trouble, and efpecially to thofe, who are the friends of the great Redeemer. They will ftrive to relieve the wants of thofe who are needy, and to bind up the broken fpirit. 2 Cor. i. 4. "Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God." They labor to turn the attention of their afflicted fellow mortals to the only fources of confolation, and to prepare themed for deliverance in the prefent world, and immortal glory in the world to come. They can cheerfully welcome to their bofoms, the humble and patient difciples of the bleffed Saviour; however much they are despised by the ungodly world. Knowing thefe to be the excellent of the earth, they are compaffionate and kind to them for their Lord and Master's fake, and rejoice in the profpect of meet*ing them in the paradife above, where all forrow and crying fhall be done away. The enemies of the primitive Christians remarked concerning them when they faw their ftrong mutual affection under their fiery trials, "Behold how thefe Chrif Pious perfons who have fuffermany pains, and endured many outward loffes and bereavements, look upon this world as being a very empty place, and not by any means worthy to be fought as a portion. While they give thanks to God, for the innumerable temporal deliverances and bleffings which they have received, they dare not reft their hope of fupport and enjoyment on any thing beneath the skies. They can difcern no earthly profpect which has unadulterated charms; but every thing around them wears the appearance of decay and diffolution. They watch and they pray that they may not be enfnared by earthly allurements, and that they may be in conftant readiness for the ap proaching change by death. The | apoftle Paul. He was raised up eternal world grows more and more familiar to their minds, and their thoughts are much employed on that state into which they are foon to enter. Many of their meditations are employed on death and on the future judgment. Although they cannot determine what their views will be, when they fhall be called to walk thro' the dark valley, yet they believe that the end of the upright man, will be peace. They are much in prayer to God, that he would not forfake them in the hour of death, and believe that the only way in which divine confolation is then to be expected, is in a humble walk with God, and in the faithful discharge of every duty while life is continued. What a firm hope, and what animating prof pects, were enjoyed by the apoftle when he could declare, as in 2 Cor. V. "For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were diffolved, we have a building of God, an houfe not made with hands eternal in the heavens. For in this we groan, earnestly defiring to be cloathed upon with our house which is from heaven. We are confident I fay, and willing rather to be abfent from the body, and to be prefent with the Lord!" How earnestly defirous was our apostle that Chrift might be magnified in his body, whether by life or by death? He could fay as in Phill. i. "For to me to live is Christ and to die is gain. But if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labor, yet what I fhall choose, I wot (or know) not. For I am in a ftrait betwixt two, having a defire to depart, and to be with Chrift which is far better." Let not Chriftians in general be difcouraged because they have not rifen to the attainments of the for eminent usefulness in the church of God, and he did more to propagate chriftianity than any other mere man who hath ever lived. He fuffered much in his labors to advance and defend the religion of the bleffed Saviour. To ufe his own language, he was 'in deaths oft,' while he was travelling round the world, to proclaim the glad tidings of peace and pardon through a crucified Saviour. The followers of Chrift, at large, have not been called to such services as was the apoftle, nor to endure fuch trials as he endured, and therefore it is not ftrange, that their confolations fhould fall far below his. But remember, ye patient sufferers, that God is not unmindful of your labor of love, and that he is training you up to ferve him better while on earth, and to enjoy a brighter crown in heaven. God will not break the bruised reed, and the fmoking flax he will not quench. He heareth every figh, and every breathing of the contrite heart; and will give you grace to perfevere to the end of your days, and to come off conquerors, yea more than conquerors through him who hath loved you, and given himself to die for you. We always find the most heavenly-minded Chriftians among those who have smarted most by the red. To them meditations have become familiar on that glorious ftate in which the redeemed will be brought into the immediate prefence of God and of the Lamb, and will unite with the fpirits of juft men made perfect, and with the holy angels in everlafting fongs of praife. However far they may fall fhort of rapturous enjoyments in religion, while they fee through a glafs darkly, they discover a folidity and firmness in their exer eifes, which manifeft that their light is fhining with increafing brightness unto the perfect day. I have now endeavored to collect and bring into view fome of the principal evidences of fanctified afflictions. Can we fay in a review of our troubles, as the Pfalmift did in a review of his, "It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy ftatutes." Our afflictions have certainly had fome effect upon us; either in rendering our hearts tender, and our lives obedient, or in hardening our hearts, and occafioning us to become more obftinate and open in the practice of wickedness than ever. If the laft be the effect our cafe is alarming indeed, and we have much caufe to fear that to us is referved the blackness of darkness for ever. Let us recollect the marks or evidences of fanctified afflictions which have been brought into view, and impartially compare ourfelves with them. conform to the law of benevolence towards men; and in particular, will be emboldened to reprove fin, and be engaged to exercife compaffion and kindness towards the afflicted. Sanctified afflictions are inftrumental in weaning men from earthly attachments, and in ripening them for death and heaven. Thefe are very plain rules of trial, and fuch as must commend themselves to our minds. If we have fought to regard them in our practice when we have been in tribulation, we have found true peace; and can say with the Pfalmift, "That it is good for us that we have been afflicted." Are there not fome who can adopt this language, and find evidence that they are heirs of heaven? And may fay in fome happy moments with the Apoftie, "I reckon that the fufferings of the prefent time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which fhall be revealed in us?" (Rom. viii. 18.) Let fuch maintain, at all times, a patient and a devout, a watchful and a heaven ing will foon be ended, and they will foon be admitted into the world of everlafting light and joy. When any derive benefit from their afflictions they acknowledge and adore the hand of Godly temper. Their days of mourn. in them; and they feel fatisfied with the perfect government of the Most High. The fubjects of fanctified afflictions are led to a clear discovery of their fins, and an unreferved confeffion of the divine justice, and wisdom in their chaftisement. They examine their hearts and their paft lives, and abhor themselves as being very vile in the eyes of infinite purity. They who are afflicted in covenant faithfulness, will find the grace of the gofpel peculiarly endeared to them, and will ftrive to obey God's will in all things. They will prize and feek after com. munion with God in the various exercifes of private and public worship. They will endeavor to How awful is the ftate of those who have become hardened in all their afflictions? What can fuch expect in the course which they are purfuing but everlafting mifery?" He that being often reproved, hardeneth his neck, fhall fuddenly be deftroyed, and that without remedy." (Prov. xxix. 1.) What cause is there to fear that all the evils which they have felt in the prefent world, are but fo many prefages of endless, vindictive wrath in the world to come? Let them be warned-let them be entreated, to fearch and try their ways and turn unto the Lord! |