Volume VIII Part 6 (2/2)

Should he shrink from low notions of himself, and sharp pain, and mortification of natural wishes, whose guilt called down the Son of G.o.d from heaven to die upon the cross for him? May he live in pleasure here, and call this world his home, while he reads in the Gospel of his Saviour's life-long affliction and disappointment?

It cannot be; let us prepare for suffering and disappointment, which befit us as sinners, and which are necessary for us as saints. Let us not turn away from trial when G.o.d brings it on us, or play the coward in the fight of faith. ”Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong[23];” such is St. Paul's exhortation. When affliction overtakes you, remember to accept it as a means of improving your hearts, and pray G.o.d for His grace that it may do so. Look disappointment in the face. ”Take . . . the Prophets . . . for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience. Behold, we count them happy who endure.”

Give not over your attempts to serve G.o.d, though you see nothing come of them. Watch and pray, and obey your conscience, though you cannot perceive your own progress in holiness. Go on, and you cannot but go forward; believe it, though you do not see it. Do the duties of your calling, though they are distasteful to you. Educate your children carefully in the good way, though you cannot tell how far G.o.d's grace has touched their hearts. Let your light s.h.i.+ne before men, and praise G.o.d by a consistent life, even though others do not seem to glorify their Father on account of it, or to be benefited by your example. ”Cast your bread upon the waters, for you shall find it after many days. . . . In the morning sow your seed, in the evening withhold not your hand; for you know not whether shall prosper, either this or that; or whether they both shall be alike good[24].” Persevere in the narrow way. The Prophets went through sufferings to which ours are mere trifles; violence and craft combined to turn them aside, but they kept right on, and are at rest.

Now, I know full well, that this whole subject is distasteful to many men, who say we ought to be cheerful. ”We are bid rejoice, why then do you bid us mourn?” I bid you mourn in order that you may rejoice more perfectly. ”Blessed are they that mourn, for they shall be comforted[25].” ”They that sow in tears, shall reap in joy.” I bid you take up the cross of Christ, that you may wear His crown. Give your hearts to Him, and you will for yourselves solve the difficulty, how Christians can be sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing[26]. You will find that lightness of heart and cheerfulness are quite consistent with that new and heavenly character which He gives us, though to gain it in any good measure, we must for a time be sorrowful, and ever after thoughtful. But I give you fair warning, you must at first take His word on trust; and if you do not, there is no help for it. He says, ”Come unto Me, . . . and I will give you rest.” You must begin on faith: you cannot see at first whither He is leading you, and how light will rise out of the darkness.

You must begin by denying yourselves your natural wishes,--a painful work; by refraining from sin, by rousing from sloth, by preserving your tongue from insincere words, and your hands from deceitful dealings, and your eyes from beholding vanity; by watching against the first rising of anger, pride, impurity, obstinacy, jealousy; by learning to endure the laugh of irreligious men for Christ's sake; by forcing your minds to follow seriously the words of prayer, though it be difficult to you, and by keeping before you the thought of G.o.d all through the day. These things you will be able to do if you do but seek the mighty help of G.o.d the Holy Spirit which is given you; and while you follow after them, then, in the Prophet's language, ”your light shall rise in obscurity, and your darkness shall be as the noonday. And the Lord shall guide you continually, and satisfy your soul in drought: and you shall be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not[27].”

[1] 1 Sam. xxv. 1.

[2] Heb. xi. 36-38.

[3] Matt. xxiii. 35.

[4] Jer. i. 6.

[5] Isa. lviii. 12.

[6] 1 Cor. x. 5.

[7] 2 Tim. iii. 13.

[8] Jer. xviii. 18.

[9] Ibid. xi. 21.

[10] Ibid. xxvi. 16, &c.

[11] Ibid. xx. 2.

[12] Ibid. x.x.xii. 3.

[13] Ibid. x.x.xvii. 14.

[14] Ibid. x.x.xviii. 6, 9.

[15] Jer. xlii. xliii.

[16] Ibid. x.x.xix. 14.

[17] Ibid. v. 3.

[18] Ibid. v. 30, 31.

[19] Jer. xii. 1-3.

[20] Ibid. xv. 10-18.

[21] Ibid. xvii. 16,17.

[22] Jer. xx. 7-14.

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