it as from the Lord. Such tribulation will work patience, and patience hope, and hope maketh not ashamed. It will bid the foul be refigned, not with the refignation of a dogged fatalift, who knows he cannot help it, therefore it is no ufe oppofing; not the rebellious murmur of Cain, "My punishment is greater than I can bear; " not the proud look and high ftomach, which fhows a heart ftill unhumbled, and which, unless left in wrath to itself, will affuredly yet feel more deeply still the chastening rod of the offended Father; but a refignation which acquiefces, the expreffion of which will be, "Not my will, but thine be done." It will make a man pray God to show him the defign He has in fending forrow to him -to teach him what fins want special watching what weakneffes removing what omiffions filling up. "Lord! what wilt thou have me to do?" he will fay.

"Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: and see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting;" and thus, by God's mercy, it will greatly improve the Chriftian's character. If he outlive it, it is intended to fit him for more faithful fervice than he has yet rendered; if it follow him to his latest breath, then it was fent to ripen him for glory to come. And we may not forget, that if afflictions do not improve, they impede the foul; if they do not foften, they tend to harden the heart. “O Lord, are not thine eyes upon the truth? thou haft ftricken them, but they have not grieved; thou haft confumed them, but they have refused to receive correction: they have made their faces harder than a rock; they have refused to return." (Jer. v. 3.) The effect, too, is not to be of a temporary nature; the refult is not to

be effaced as easily as the tear which flowed from the eye. "Now have I kept thy

word," is the

proper refult.

If God re

move a bough, it is that the tree remaining may bring forth more fruit the year to come. If His wisdom spare awhile, it is that renewed vigour may be produced; that the incentive of gratitude may be added to that of Fatherly correction.

And what, dear brethren, more tends to God's glory or to our edification than the fight of a chaftened and yet cheerful fervant of God; one whom trial has kept low, and yet taught to love; whom faith has taught to truft; whom affliction has foftened, not foured; whose tender spirit anxiously heeds the flighteft intimation of the heavenly Father's will; whofe docile. heart has attained to the spirit of St. Paul? "But what things were gain to me, those I counted lofs for Chrift. Yea, doubtless,

and I count all things but lofs for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord for whom I have fuffered the lofs of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Chrift, and be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Chrift, the righteousnefs which is of God by faith: that I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his fufferings, being made conformable unto his death; if by any means I might attain unto the refurrection of the dead." (Phil. iii. 7-11.) Such characters there have been and are. Regarded in the light of future bliss,

their comparatively light affliction, which endureth but for a moment, fhall work out for them a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory."

And now, dear brethren, of those before

me there are few, if any, who have attained. years of maturity, who have been un

touched by forrow or trial.

Suffer me to

ask, What use have you made of it? How have you received it? What have been its results on your character? God does not willingly afflict. He had some object in view, your welfare and improvement; even the moulding of your foul for eternity. For if from the pages of inspiration. you would hear the things that shall be-if you would know the character and occupation of the Church triumphant, then, "he that hath ears to hear, let him hear." "After this I beheld, and lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, ftood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands; and cried with a loud voice, faying, Salvation to our God