trust in thee;" here faith is improved by affliction. "My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations, knowing that the trying of your faith worketh patience. Not only so, but" (strange to tell!) "we glory in tribulation also, knowing that tribulation worketh patience, and patience experience, and experience hope, and hope maketh not ashamed, because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost."

5. They are noble antidotes against, and preservatives from sin: "Ere I was afflicted, I strayed, but now I keep thy word."

6. They assimilate the saints to their glorious Head, their sympathizing and feeling High Priest, who was 66 a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief:" yea, in the work of redemption," the Captain of their salvation was made perfect through sufferings."

7. They give a general disgust of all created things, and prove the creature to be subject to vanity; hence, says one much inured to affliction, "I have seen an end of all perfection."

8. They teach humanity and sympathy to fellowcreatures in the same circumstances. Israel, from their being strangers, were to know the heart of a stranger, and deal kindly with him; and in this men ought to imitate him, "who suffered, being tempted, that he might know how to succour them that are tempted, and be a merciful High Priest to his people."

9. They make very humble, and break the haughty mind, and bring down the lofty thought: "I shall go softly all my years, in the bitterness of my soul; my soul is as a weaned child :" and God has this in view by them, to hide pride from man.

10. They make the man rightly exercised therein, to know himself, and think on his former ways; to resort often to the throne of grace, go often to God, and increase, as it were, the acquaintance between God and his soul: " In the day of my trouble I sought the Lord."

11. They give clear and certain proof of the providence of God, who in six troubles and in seven delivers out of them. They preach his power, who makes his people pass through fire and water, not to other ruin, which we might well expect, but to a wealthy place, to heaven and to glory.

12. They prepare for glory, and make us fit to join the company of those that came out of great tribulation, and have washed their garments and made them white in the blood of the Lamb, therefore are they before the throne of God, and enjoy him in all his divine plenitude, world without end.

Shall I, then, despise the discipline of heaven, from which none are exempted, no, not the Son of God? Yea, all the heirs of glory are brought up in the school of the cross. O royal privilege, inestimable blessing, to be under the care of heaven, and tuition of God! Away, despondency, begone; thou wouldest cast a covering over the love of him who is my tower in troublous days; and make me conclude hardly of him who has thoughts of kindness towards me. Can infinite wisdom be at a loss to contrive, or infinite power nonplussed to bring to pass, to bring to perfection, my relief? Till then, I shall, I will believe; nor shall I look to means, or tie Omnipotence to them. Bring Israel to the rock to quench their thirst! What! Can solid flint be converted into a cooling stream? But, lo! the aged sides divide asunder, and let the prom

ised springs refresh the parched hosts. Omnipotence, rather than not perform, will stop the course of nature, and make the restless billows rise in liquid walls, that Israel's bondaged sons may tread the trackless sand; will bid the raven feed, with morning and evening care, the wandering prophet; and forbid the fire to burn, or even to singe the garments of the glorious martyrs; yea, to feed his chosen people, he creates and rains down manna from above. Who, then, should bound his power, or doubt his faithfulness? God will never break his word, whatever men think, nor falsify his faithful promise.Cursed unbelief implies, that either God promises what he never intends to perform, or what he is not able to perfect; both which are blasphemous; both which, O my soul! abhor, and rather rejoice in tribulation, which, when watered with the dew of heaven, is so far from being a barren soil, that it is the nursery of other graces, and brings forth patience, and patience experience, and experience hope, and hope strong confidence, and sweet dependence on that God whose love is shed abroad in the heart by the Holy Ghost.

Again, in affliction the saints are ascertained of the love and care of God, when their prayers enter into his holy habitation, and their requests are answered to the joy of their soul. Hence it was sin in Israel to chide with Moses, and to quarrel with God, when brought into difficulties and dangers that seemed inextricable every way. Before them the Red Sea forbids them to advance, high hills on every side hinder their escape, and behind advancing hosts swoln with rage, and ravening after blood, deny a safe retreat. Now man is more than nonplussed; all cour

age fails; faith and hope are low; fears are high; and, alas! their eye is not towards Him who can do all things, and who did instantaneously, to manifest his power, and fix his people's faith in himself, divide the raging floods, and build the restless waters in chrystal walls, to bound their steps in ways not known before, and clothe their rear in shady night, which darted pitchy darkness in the eyes of the keen pursuer.

Seeing Thou, O Governor of men! canst make crooked things straight, rough places plain, and affliction even to become a friend, I will rejoice in thee for ever, nor quarrel at thy conduct. Yea, wo to them; nay, wo to me, if I use any unlawful means, or be too anxious to set my nest on high, that I may be delivered from the power of evil. Agitating affliction, like the flux and reflux of the sea, casts out mire and dirt, sweeps its troubled bosom, refines the affections, and purifies the soul. Take courage, O, my soul! and mind that yet a little while and sin is no more, and sorrow is no more, and temptations are no more, and troubles are no more, and time is no more but yet a little while, and love, and life, and light, and liberty, and joy, and glory, rapture, and delight; in a word, God and all his fulness, are thine for evermore.

MEDITATION XXIII.

PRIVATE EXPERIENCE.

May 24, 1757.

THE wonderful condescension of God! If he looks into heaven, among thrones and dominions, seraphim and cherubim, it is humility, stupendous

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humility. How much more when he casts his caring eyes on this inferior world! But still most of all, when he hears the cries, and answers the requests, of one who is infinitely less than the least of all his mercies! Thou hast heard, and I am revived; thou hast answered me, and I am confirmed in my belief of thy love towards me. O Lord! henceforth let all my love be thine, and on thee let all my faith depend. Now I know to whom to fly, and where it is safe to hide me. Now I know, that one day is to God as a thousand years, and that whatever he thousand years, he can do in one day. friend that sticketh closer than a brother, with confidence I will cleave. Faith could never be too large in its requests to God in prayer; but God has many a time gone beyond faith in his returns of mercy, and made the blessing broader than belief itself, and more extensive than the utmost expectation.

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Alas! it is night in the soul, when unbelief suggests that God's ear is heavy that he cannot hear, and his hand shortened, that he cannot save. Lord, let such a night never spread over my horizon; but let the day-star of faith spread out the purpled morning, till the glorious sun bring in the perfect day. Mine extremity has been, and still shall be, thine opportunity to appear in my relief. Circumstances with me may come to my utmost, even to my last extreme, but can never come to thy utmost; but even though it were so, thou canst save to the uttermost all that come unto thee. Let others conclude of the conduct of providence as they please; but for my part, I approve and praise, and henceforth shall be at thy disposal, O glorious Governor of men and angels! Do with me as thou wilt, for thy kindness I have ex