Let me search out the cause of my affliction. "Thus saith the Lord of hosts : Consider your ways." Hag. i. 7. "I will say unto God, Do not condemn me; show me wherefore Thou contendest with me." Job x. 2. "Let us search and try our ways, and turn again to the Lord." Lam. iii. 40. "For He doth not afflict willingly, nor grieve the children of men." Lam. iii. 33. [God hath always just and sufficient cause against us, should He enter into judgment. But afflictions are sent for correction and instruction; there is therefore some special cause or occasion, which should be searched out and acknowledged-though this may not be a sin of commission, or of special magnitude and grossness. It may indeed be utterly undiscernible to others :-and it may probably be of the nature of unbelief, unthankfulness, neglect,-declension from our first love, worldly-mindedness,-cleaving to the earth and to the creature,-spiritual sloth; or a disposition to live below our privileges, as well as to disregard our duties. Or it may be pride, legality, self-dependence, self-will, &c. We must also remember more particularly to search out and acknowledge sins against the Gospel; for these (so far as I have observed) are always far more severely visited than sins against the Law; and they are far more likely to be overlooked in our inquiries.] Then let me justify God. "Against Thee, Thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in Thy sight: that Thou mightest be justified when Thou speakest, and be clear when Thou judgest." Psalm li. 4. "Howbeit Thou art just in all that is brought upon us; for Thou hast done right, but we have done wickedly." Neh. ix. 33. "O Lord, righteousness belongeth unto Thee, but unto us confusion of faces, as at this day; to the men of Judah, and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and unto all Israel, that are near, and that are far off, through all the countries whither Thou hast driven them, because of their trespass that they have trespassed against Thee. O Lord, to us belongeth confusion of face, to our kings, to our princes, and to our fathers, because we have sinned against Thee." Dan. ix. 7, 8. [O that we were more disposed, fully and at all times to justify God! It would be much for our comfort and welfare. But alas! there is in us a rooted and dreadful disposition to justify ourselves rather than God. Even holy Job sinned greatly in this respect (Job xxxii. 2.) and it seems greatly to have aggravated and prolonged his troubles. Let us remember that, whenever we murmur or repine, we charge God foolishly, and presumptuously arraign His wisdom, justice and mercy: we disannul His judgment, and condemn Him that we may be righteous! (Job xl. 8.) or accuse Him that is most merciful, and loves us better than we love ourselves, of dealing hardly with us!!] O let me admire His forbearance : "It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not." Lam. iii. 22. "He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities. For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is His mercy toward them that fear Him. As far as the east is from the west, so far hath He removed our transgressions from us. Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear Him. For he knoweth our frame; He remembereth that we are dust." Ps. ciii. 10-14. "To the Lord our God belong mercies and forgivenesses, though we have rebelled against Him." Dan. ix. 9. [I have been myself in manifold and fearful depths of affliction, so that sometimes I seemed to be distressed and burdened to the utmost that flesh and blood could endure; yet on a careful review of the past, I cannot but admire the unspeakable tenderness and forbearance of God, who (I am fully satisfied) never laid upon me anything more than was just sufficient to gain His holy and most gracious ends. It is evident to me that in every case, if less would have sufficed, less would have been appointed me; for God weighs and measures out affliction to His people with most tender care. In nothing more clearly than in this, do I perceive the kindness of a most compassionate and affectionate Father; and in tracing all this, I am sometimes quite melted and overwhelmed, and I am convinced I ought to be much more so. O with what joy and thankfulness shall we trace and contemplate all this in eternity! How then shall we acknowledge that God was no less a loving and tender parent when He afflicted than when He comforted! This is particularly set forth in the passage quoted from Psalm ciii.] My soul repeat His praise |