Now, then, is the time for the saints to give glory to the Lord their God. Let them prize affliction as the very time and opportunity for doing so most of all. Let them use such a season well. And oh, what a consolation to think that affliction is really such a season ! Ah, surely it is one which an angel might covet-which an archangel would gladly stoop to were it possible They can glorify God much in heaven amid its glory and blessedness; but, oh, not half so much as we can do on earth amid suffering and shame!

'Tis my happiness below,

Not to live without the cross;
But the Saviour's power to know,
Sanctifying every loss.

Trials must and will befal;

But with humble faith to see
Love inscribed upon them all-
This is happiness to me.

God, in Israel, sows the seeds

Of affliction, pain, and toil;

These spring up and choke the weeds,
Which would else o'erspread the soil.

Trials make the promise sweet;
Trials give new life to prayer;

Trials bring me to his feet,
Lay me low and keep me there.

Did I meet no trials here,
No chastisement by the way;
Might I not with reason fear
I should prove a cast away?

Bastards may escape the rod,
Sunk in earthly vain delight;
But the true-born child of God,
Must not, would not, if he might.

O ALMIGHTY and eternal God: there is no number of thy days or of thy mercies: thou hast sent us into this world to serve thee, and to live according to thy laws; but we, by our sins, have provoked thee to wrath, and we have planted thorns and sorrows round about our dwellings; and our life is but a span long, and yet very tedious, because of the calamities that enclose us in on every side; the days of our pilgrimage are few and evil; we have frail and sickly bodies, violent and distempered passions, long designs and but a short stay, weak understandings and strong enemies, abused fancies, and perverse wills. O gracious God, look upon us in mercy and in pity: let not our weaknesses make us to sin against thee; nor fear cause us to, betray our duty, nor our former follies provoke thine eternal anger, nor the

calamities of this world vex us into weariness of spirit or impatience; but let thy Holy Spirit lead us through this valley of misery with safety and peace, with spiritual comfort and joy in the Holy Ghost; and when each have served thee in our generation, we may be gathered unto our fathers, having the testimony of a good conscience, in the confidence of faith, in the comforts of hope, and in perfect charity with thee and all the world; that neither death nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, may be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen.

26.

IMPATIENCE UNDER AFFLICTION CONSIDERED.

JAY.

CONSIDER first, how much your own welfare may require the process.

The Saviour was made perfect through sufferings: and the character of every Christian is more formed and improved from his afflictions than his enjoyments. What would some of you have lost, had you fled away before such a trying dispensation enriched your faith

and hope! How much of your happiness in heaven will arise from a review of your present conflicts on earth! The very trial of your faith is precious; and the crown of life is promised not to him that escapes, but to him that endureth, temptation. Afflictions are heavenly agents, and work out for you a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.

Consider, secondly, how much the welfare of others may require it also.

We are detained here to be useful, and we are often most useful in our trials. Nothing strikes like fear. The passive graces are the most impressive. It was well Bunyan did not escape from prison, or we should not have had the Pilgrim's Progress. Paul was a prisoner, and knew that to depart, and be with Christ, was far better; nevertheless, because it was more needful to the Phillipians, he was willing to abide in the flesh, and acquiesced in the adjournment of his deliverance and bliss. And here you also may be wanted.

Perhaps you have a venerable mother, and may be required to rock the cradle of her age, who rocked the cradle of your infancy. Perhaps you are a parent, and a rising family is dependant on your care, instructed by your wisdom, edified by your example. We may glorify God in heaven; but not in the same way as now, by submission, patience, and self-denial. This is an advantage we have above the glorified. Life is ours as well as death. Therefore all the days of our appointed time, let us wait till our change come.

GOD's way of answering the Christian's prayer for an increase of patience, experience, hope, and love, usu

ally is to put him into the furnace of tribulation. The apostle James says, "Count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations." People of the world count it all joy when they are in ease and affluence, but a Christian is taught to count it all joy when he is tried as gold in the fire.-CECIL.

OH! sweet affliction! thou hast often brought
My soul a suppliant at my Father's throne,
My nothingness, and his great power, to own!
I prize thee for the lessons thou hast taught,
For by thy strokes the blessings which I sought
I've found: nor will I view thee as a token
Of fearful wrath, but, with a spirit broken,
Will kiss the rod my lasting good has wrought.
wrap thee like a prophet's mantle round

I'll

A safe-guard through life's rough, ensnaring way;
And when, upon the verge of this low ground,
I see the opening of celestial day,

Blessing, I'll drop thee, and unfettered rise
To changeless peace and joy beyond the skies.

O LORD, rebuke me not in thine anger, neither chasten me in thy hot displeasure. Have mercy upon me, O Lord, for I am weak. O Lord, heal me, for my bones are vexed. My soul is also sorely vexed: but thou, O Lord, how long [wilt thou punish me]? Thine arrows stick fast in me, and thy hand