The desire of present freedom from pain is natural to man; "but should it be according to thy mind?"* Wilt thou, O vain man, contend with Him that formed thee? Wilt thou bring thy judgment into opposition with the decrees of Infinite Wisdom? Shall the short-sighted reasoning of mortality be placed in competition with the determinations of Omniscience? Shall thy blind and foolish self-love be opposed to the designs of Infinite Goodness, and mercy, and love? Wilt thou, a perishing creature, presume to give laws to Omnipotence, and to obtrude thy puny will against His who doth all things well; whose boundless presence fills every heart, and directs every event; who governs all things by his power, and without whose supervision not the smallest circumstance can come to pass? Reflect on the incongruity of such conduct; consider thy situation as his servant, and the perfections of the Almighty Disposer of all things. Seriously recollect, that impatience under his chastening hand is highly offensive. The allwise Jehovah afflicts with the most gracious design; his chastisements are sent on the kindest errands of love. What ingratitude to despise his correction, to murmur at his dispensations, and to be impatient for the removal of affliction

* Job xxxiv. 33.

before it shall have accomplished the end he has proposed! Surely, if we reflect on the comparatively minute section of our lives dedicated to this salutary discipline; if we appreciate the long intervals of ease and prosperity frequently allotted to us, the many comforts with which our darkest hours are interspersed, and the secure refuge from the storm which is provided for our safety and comfort; discontent and impatience will be banished from our bosom, every expression of immoderate grief will be hushed to repose, and our hearts will be animated by affectionate obedience to the will of Him in whom we live, and move, and have our being, and who is infinitely worthy to receive our humble adorations, and our highest ascriptions of praise.

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CHAPTER IV.

ON THE ADVANTAGES OF SORROW.

A DISTINGUISHING feature of the Christian religion, is the state of trial and of suffering it involves; as the grand mean of perfecting the character of its disciples, bringing out their principles into active exercise, proving their sincerity, purifying their hearts, elevating their affections, chastening and improving their temper and dispositions, and as the prelude to that eternal rest and happiness which are reserved for the people of God, for those who are made perfect through sufferings.

It is indeed true, that religion's "ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are paths of peace." Yet it is equally true, that, to fallen man, the obedience it requires is repugnant, the duties it enforces are painful: and the sufferings inseparably connected with its exercise, so far from communicating peace, serve to excite the angry turbulence of our nature, and to fill the

* Prov. iii. 17.

heart with innumerable solicitudes. It is only when the mind becomes convinced of the infinite excellence of divine truth, of the holiness of its precepts, and the importance of the realities it develops; when the heart is animated with the love of God, and with its dependence on Him in whose favour is life, that it can unfeignedly embrace the self-denying precepts of Christianity, that it can rejoice to "suffer all things," that it may "win Christ, and be found in him," Christianity does not consist in a certain scheme of doctrines and precepts, which demand our assent: it is a practical principle, a principle of action, constantly and universally operative, giving its peculiar tone and temper to the entire character, and pervading and influencing every part of the conduct. It is not a principle which we can assume to-day, and dispense with to-morrow, according to our particular feelings and interests: but we must be alike governed by its influence, in whatever circumstances we may be placed. We are not required, nor would it be prudent or proper, to be always talking about religion; but by our example, which will speak louder than words, we should evince its holy tendency, and regulate our conduct by its dictates.

But this by the way; for, while the genius of Christianity requires us to be active in doing the will of God, it demands our passive obedience :

it teaches us to suffer, and exhibits a state of trial as the only way to a haven of eternal rest. The voice of affliction silently, but energetically, whispers, "My son, give me thine heart."* God demands the whole heart: he will reign in the affections of his people, and requires their will to be ceded implicitly to his commands. Sorrow serves to prove the heart, and to discover to us whether this is really the case-whether we can resign our blessings into the hands of Him who gave them, with cheerfulness; and can still praise Him, though he sees fit to smite our choicest earthly comforts. It informs us whether we love God supremely, and can readily yield our present pleasures to advance his glory and honour.

Perhaps it is more difficult to suffer on Christian principles, than it is to be actively engaged in doing good: and if so, the more necessary and important will be the process by which we may be taught to glorify God in suffering for his sake. Affliction accomplishes this object, since it teaches the necessity of cultivating, with the greatest care and diligence, those graces to which the heart is particularly adverse, and especially those which interfere with our individual feelings, and spirit, and temper.

* Prov. xxiii. 26.