Rejoicing in Tribulation.

"My dear brother, I cannot but speak what I have felt, seeing my Lord Jesus hath broken a box of spikenard upon the head of his poor prisoner, and it is hard to hide a sweet smell; it is a pain to smother Christ's love; it will be out, whether we will or not. If we did but speak according to the matter, a cross for Christ should have another name; yea, a cross, especially when he cometh with his arms full of joys, is the happiest hard tree that was ever laid upon my weak shoulder. Christ and his cross are sweet company, and a blessed couple. My prison is my palace; my sorrow is with child of joy; my losses are rich losses, my pain easy pain, my heavy days holy and happy days.

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"I tell a new tale of Christ to my may friends. Oh, if I could make a lovesong of him, and could commend Christ, and tune his praises aright; oh, if I could set all tongues in Great Britain and Ireland to work, to help me to sing a new song of well beloved! oh, if I could my be a bridge over a water, for my Lord Jesus to walk upon, and keep his feet dry! oh that my heart could say this word, and abide by it for ever" Is it not great art, and incomparable wisdom in my Lord, who can bring forth such fair apples out of this crabbed tree of the cross!" Nothing can come wrong to my Lord in his sweet working."

RUTHERFORD.

A Word to such as are espoused unto Christ.

"If you are married to Jesus only, and have such experience of heart deceitfulness, and dare the instability of your frames, that you place no dependence upon them; permit me to ask you, has your bridegroom the beloved of your souls, brought you into his banqueting house, into the church, the tent of his mother? Isaac brought Rebekah into his mother Sarah's tent; Boaz took Ruth into his house; and Jesus brought his spouse into his banqueting-house, also. Perhaps you will say, as some do, I must wait the Lord's time; when that comes, I shall be inclined to give up myself to the church. But having the written law of Christ in our hands, it is absurd, and to the last degree enthusiastic, to expect some farther manifestation to induce us to be found in the way of duty. The Lord's time is now." Macgowan.

Divine Strength manifested in human weakness.

If in the heaven -ward way we're bound,
We of't shall find it true,
That stumbling-blocks our path confound,
And quick-sands, not a few;
The great deceiver lays his plans,

With skill to trap our feet;

By pictures gay, drawn by his hand,
Our fall he wants to greet.

Oft' when we think we're quite secure,
And heedlessly walk on,
Forgetful, that if we endure,

It is through God's dear Son,
Some untoward event will rise,

Which we had never thought;
We, then our skill and strength despise,
Important lesson taught.

Satan, and those who serve him here,
Delighted are, to find,

Those who profess Christ to revere,

As wav'ring as the wind;
"Hold thou me up," be this our prayer,
Great God, our strength and shield,
In every dangerous step and shore,
Grant us thy power to wield.
And when death's valley we pass through,
May we have nought to fear.

If thou our soul, with grace renew,
Our path will then be clear
And in the new Jerusalem,

When we arrive in peace,
We then the Star of Bethlehem,
Shall praise, and never cease.
EDWARD REYNOLDS.

The Desires of the Righteous.

Holy Spirit, Heavenly Dove,
Shed abroad a Saviour's love

In my poor soul; bid darkness flee;
Reveal a precious Christ to me.

Dwell within this soul of mine,
Sprinkle me with blood, divine;
Holy Witness, speak within,
Pard'ning all my guilt and sin.
With a Saviour's flesh and blood,
Feed my soul, Celestial Dove;
Thus, my soul, for heaven prepare,
Seal my Saviour's image, there.
Quicken me, from day to day,
The glories of my Lord, display;
Without thy teaching, and thy grace,.
This soul of mine's a barren place.
Eternal God, thy power employ,
Fill me with holy, heavenly joy ;
Thy graces to my soul reveal,
My interest in them daily seal.
Let unction, power, and dew attend?
The reading of thy word,
And many a gracious promise send,
Into my heart, dear Lord.

Thus, in my body dwell and reign,
Till dust to dust returns again,
My spirit then to heaven convey,
To dwell with Christ an endless day,
To realise with all above,

A Father, Son, and Spirit's love,
That everlasting love decreed
To all Jehovah's chosen seed,

JOHN TAYLOR

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ESTEEMED BROTHER WALKER:-I told you how the heaviness and distress of my soul, brought me to sit down in the earth, and sorrowfully to exclaim every thing is against me." I suppose a great deal of my mental distress arises from weakness in the nerves; which doubtless will often prove a source of much inward uneasiness, and disquietude of soul. I told you also, how I was led to reflect, and to say-"Well, things appear dark, certainly; but what would have been your condition if sovereign grace had never raised you up 66 Why," said I, "I should have been a poor, vile, wandering reprobate-an outcast-either in hardened infidelity, or, in black despair." This thought caused me to arise from my low seat in the dust; and soon after, these words came into my soul, "Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him." This being Saturday-night, when these things occurred; and the words which I have mentioned, having abode with me, I was led to preach twice on the Lord'sday, from Job xiii. 15, 16; and what I here subjoin, is as much as I can gather up of what was then said.

"Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him. He also shall be my salvation; for an hypocrite shall not come before him,"

A more solemn and comprehensive portion of eternal truth cannot be found. It came to me at a moment, when such a word was seasonable, and when such a kind, and measure of faith was really

needed.

I do not know how it may be with you, but I find it much harder work, "to make my calling, and election sure,' than I did at first. And as to the ministry-why there are only two things in all the world that seem at all to favour that, or to declare it to be of God: the old serpent is against it; my deceitful heart, and my wicked nature are against it; men and ministers are against it; but though faint and despised, I am kept pursuing, and the Lord, in a measure, blesses the word to my own soul, and to the souls that come to hear.

I would not be presumptuous, to make my case parallel with Job, but I cannot help feeling much sympathy with him, both in his afflicting position, and in the spirit he manifested. The circumstances of Job were afflicting beyond our imagination. But there is a noble spirit which my soul greatly admires; and which spirit none but clear consciences can rightly manifest, and act upon.

The friends of Job, who had spoken to him, had secretly, as it were, thrown darts of accusation and suspicion, into his breast, until Job seems stirred up, and he says "I have understanding as well as you." But the fact is here declared-" He that is ready to slip with his feet is as a lamp despised in the thought of him that is at ease." Oh, how much solemn truth is here!

False and sleepy professors are called robbers (verse 6;) their tabernacles prosper; they are secure; they are at ease; they have an abundance.

Let

It be that God's elect (or many may of them) are brought into deep trialsboth of soul and circumstances. these robbers come, and they will throw out all manner of suspicions, and underhanded accusations to afflict you. Look at Zophar (Chap. xi, 11-14.)

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But a clear conscience has an answer for them-"Your remembrances (or remonstrances) are like ashes-Hold your peace-let me alone-that I may speak, and let come on what will. Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him. He also shall be my salvation; for an hypocrite shall not come before

him."

is exactly what the suspicious, highminded, and self-righteous folks are saying. Lord, preserve and hold us up; lest we fall by the way.

Then comes Bildad-he says to Job what satan suggests to many a child of God in seasons of distress. If thou wert pure and upright, (says Bildad,) surely now he would awake for thee, and make the habitation of thy righteousness prosperous." "Ah," saith the adversary unto the quickened but distressed soul, if you were a real vessel of mercy, God would appear for you; and make your way prosperous; but you are only an hypocrite; and therefore, thorns and briars encompass your path. This has lot many and many a time. I know not why it is, but get along in peace and prosperity, I never could for any length of time together; and this has been the sorrowful suggestion in my poor soul"it is because you never was planted in Christ."

been my

Then comes Zophar in a blustering tone. He seems as though he would cut Job down at a stroke. "What, "shall your lies make men hold their peace? and when thou mockest shall no man make thee ashamed?" Oh, dear; how hard and cruel such blows do seem to come, when we are in affliction. I have here and there seen and met with such hard-hearted, flinty-soul professors; for aught I know, they may be possessors; but to me, they neither look, nor speak, nor act like Christians. No doubt they are among the "all things which work together for good."

See, then, poor afflicted believer; it was by hard things that Job was driven to an extremity-and that extremity was to trust in the living God-let come what will-"though he slay me, yet will I trust in him."

The text contains four sentences, each expressive of a particular branch of that faith which cometh from the Lord.

I.-The sufferings which accompany, and the naked determination of a living faith-"Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him."

II. The industry and the obedience of faith-"I will maintain mine own ways before him."

III. The great object of faith; and the deliverance to which it will ultimately lead-" He also shall be my salvation."

IV. The discerning and discriminat

ing eye of faith, and the fellowship which it realizes.

I do desire to be found in possession of such a faith as this-and if I am-it must and will be both tried and proved by the things to which I have referred.

I.-The sufferings which accompany a living faith, and the naked determination it has come to. In most cases the strongest acts and expressions of faith are in connection with heavy trials and deep sufferings.

The offering up of Isaac-although but little is said, yet to me much is implied. There was a solemn, but quiet determination about Abraham's conduct which seems to express the deep mental anxiety of his soul; as though all the time engaged with God. "On the third day he lifted up his eyes and saw the place afar off." What inward struggles, prayer, and watchfulness, his soul had been the subject of, the Lord alone can tell: so take that 13th verse of Exo

dus xiv.-" And Moses said unto the people, fear ye not; stand still; and see the salvation of the Lord which he will shew to you to day: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen to day ye shall see them again no more for ever." Here was mighty faith, but it was not without deep suffering, for if you look at the 15th verse, it is evident Moses had been crying unto God to appear. He had faith in the power and promise of God, nevertheless, his soul wrestled and agonized with God for deliverance.

To come at once to the New Testament, look at what faith is compared to: -a shield-the shield of faith; which supposes protection from outward darts and enemies—and there is an emphasis laid on it-" Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked." Well, again, faith is called a breast-plate, this, again, denotes our exposure to outward, killing powers. These things declare to me that the suffering of the Christian in his own soul, is great.

So in Peter; the trial of your faith. being much more precious, &c. Well, then, living faith has suffering with it "Though he slay me." It is a strong expression.

First, here is a recognition of the hand of God in this affliction; as though Job clearly saw that it was by the hand of God, all these calamities had come upon

him. I have many times found much resignation brought into the soul from being enabled to say of my foes and trials as Joseph said of his brethren-"It was not you sent me hither, but God." Secondly, here is uncertainty as to how far this affliction may go-"though he slay, (or destroy) me." Who shall say where the chastening hand of God shall stop, when once it has begun the work? It buried Jonah in the belly of a fishit suffered Paul to be beaten, to be stoned, to suffer hunger, nakedness, and famine, to have a messenger from satan, a thorn in the flesh to buffet him. And look at John-driven into the Isle of Patmos.

Who can stay the hand of Omnipotence? —or say unto him, "What doest thou p" Thirdly, here is a cleaving unto God, here is a daring reliance, an absolute dependence upon the living God—it seems to say—

"I can but perish if I go ;

I am resolved to try." The second sentence-" But I will maintain mine own ways before him." See here the obedience of a living faith. Strong faith is not idle speculation; it is not bold presumption; nor is it reckless of the ordained ways of God. What spirit is it from whence this expression proceeds? What doth Job mean by it? "But I will maintain mine own ways before him." It was not from a self-righteous spirit, as is evident from the 23rd verse. No; Job, in these two sentences, says-" Let what may come, I will trust in the Lord; and urge or pursue that course which my conscience dictates; and which the light and knowledge I have of the things of God, call for."

I have found this in my soul's experience for many years: it is not all the temptations which have come hurling from the devil, nor all the reproaches which have fallen upon me from men; nor the innumerable imperfections which I see in every part of my life; neither is it all the dark forebodings of my own soul, that ever could or can stop my appeal to the living God. Oh, this is a merciful comfort to my poor mind, that, though I have waded through floods of sorrow; have been surrounded by the heaviest trials; cut to pieces, and brought to apparent ruin and destruction, by an awful fall; yet, nothing has

been able to stop my sighing and groaning, and crying after the living God. Surely in feelings and circumstances, I have, like Jonah, laid as in the very belly of hell; yet even then, there has been a looking again towards the temple of the Lord.

That faith that never laboured after

God; that has no longing for God; that faith that works no conquests over sin, no crucifixion to the world, no holding on in the ways of God; that faith is not the faith of God's elect. True faith

"LIVES and labours under load,

Tho' damp'd, it never dies."

By this, I say, you may know, if your faith is the faith of God's elect, If it be, there is suffering connected with it; you find it hard work to keep the conscience clean; to keep the feet straight; to obtain fellowship with, and nearness to God: but if it be genuine faith, it will fasten itself upon the cross, it will hide itself in the covenant; it will hold on to the truth; and while one wave after another dashes in upon the soul, it will cry out, "Lord, save, or I perish."

Thirdly, notice, the great object of faith. " He also shall be my salvation." These are cheering words: they prove that there had been a revelation in Job's soul of the Godhead of Christ; of the covenant character, and of the atoning blood, and justifying righteousness of the Lord Jesus Christ, HE also shall be my salvation." This is the solemn, but glorious position in which the Christian stands:-1. In afflictions deep. 2. In faith that is steadfast. 3. In works that are divine; 4. In hope of the glory of God.

and

It is manifest, then, that Job's bold and holy faith originated in a revelation of the Christ of God. Christ, in the eternity of his Godhead, had been revealed unto Job; wherein he saw not only the freeness, fulness, and sovereignty of redemption's scheme; but he also saw the ability of Christ to save unto the uttermost all that come unto God by him. Hence, faith triumphs in the prospect of a glorious deliverance, and says, "He, also, shall be my salvation."

In the revelation which the Holy Ghost makes of Christ unto a living fai h, there are at least these four things 1. The great glory of his person, as