thee more than when he chastens thee. There is no hatred in his heart, no vengeance in his hand. He assures thee of this from the infalli

ble word of his mouth. Here may thy faith be settled believe him-he is doing thee good-he is promoting thy best interest. Cast not away this confidence, and then the cross will be the means of bringing thee to the nearest and holiest communion which thou canst have with thy father on this side heaven.

In this amiable light look upon thy Father and thy friend. Never forget it, O my soul, but keep it in the faith of thy heart, especially when he chasteneth thee. Then expect from his love, patience under his stroke, and after it the peaceable fruits of righteousness. These will grow abundantly upon the cross. They grow no where else so rich and ripe. Survey the promises which he has made to his suffering children, and wait in faith for a joyful harvest. In due season thou shalt reap, if thou faint not. And the cross is intended to keep thee from fainting; because thy Father sends it for the increase and for the strength

ening of thy faith. Read and study what he says to thee upon this point. Learn and inwardly digest it. In time of trouble thou wilt find great comfort from depending upon the promise of the Father, to give thee a happy issue. Meditate, then, upon the scriptures, in which he has declared his gracious purposes in afflicting his children; namely,

First, it is for the trial of faith. God gives it, and then tries it, that it may appear to be his grace; that men may see it, and honour him for it; and that it may grow by use, which is as necessary to spiritual, as exercise is to bodily growth. Trial shows the truth, and brings forth the power of grace, and is thereby a matter of great joy as the apostle James testifies, writing to the twelve tribes in their dispersion and affliction: "My brethren, count it ALL JOY, when ye fall into divers temptations, knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience; but let patience have its perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing." God be thanked for this word of strong consolation! What a precious scripture is it! How

full of encouragement to the believer to look with delight at temptations!-not temptations to sin, but trials sent from God to keep from sin. When he falls into them by providence, and meets them in the way of duty, then he should judge of them, not from sense, which can feel nothing but sorrow in afflictions, but he should take account of them from the declared purpose of God in sending them, and he should wait in faith for the blessings which they are to produce. God says, that they are matter of joy, of ALL JOY, of all true spiritual joy-they are not only such in his account, but he also makes them such to the believer. Accordingly we read in Scripture of many who did rejoice in trials. The Hebrews did for they took JOYFULLY the spoiling of their goods. Paul did: "I am comforted," says he, "I am exceeding joyful in all our tribulation." Nay, he went further-We GLORY in tribulations. He leaped for joy with the cross upon his back. He boasted and triumphed under it. What the world accounted his worst, he made his very crown of rejoicing:

for he knew and found that the trial of faith worketh patience: faith receives the cross from the Father's love, and learns to bear it after Jesus by the grace of the Spirit, the bearing of it; as it exercises, so it improves patience. The believer becomes more acquainted with it. Use, we say, makes perfect. He learns where the strength to bear is-from whence his comforts are to flowand from whose hand the blessed issue is to be received. He waits, therefore, with sweet submission to his Father's will, that patience may have its perfect work; that by trials it may be exercised; by sharper trials it may be improved; and by daily trials it may appear to be the genuine grace of the Spirit, perfect and entire, lacking nothing. This the believ er aims at. He would have every thing that belongs to true patience, and growth in it; he would have it refined by every fiery trial, and made purer and brighter, that it may hold out, till it have done its perfect work. The apostle Peter gives the same encouragement to the same afflicted Hebrews: he exhorts them to faith and patience under

their sufferings, in these words: "Ye are kept by the power of God, through faith, unto salvation, ready to be revealed in the last time; wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations; and the trial of your faith being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour, and glory, at the appearing of Jesus Christ." What treasures of love are laid open in this Scripture! Read, O my soul, and adore the exceeding riches of thy Father's grace. He knew how needful afflictions were, both for the flesh and for the Spirit, and therefore he appointed thee thy portion, and he has in mercy informed thee of his design in them. He has revealed his will for the ground of thy faith, that when he sends them, thou mightest experience the blessings promised to his suffering children. The belief of his love, in contriving and in proportioning them to the ability given thee to bear them, would administer matter of joy in sorrow, and by trusting to his faithful