Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy." James v. 10, 11.

Must I be carried to the skies

In flowery beds of ease,

Whilst others struggled for the prize,
And sail'd through bloody seas?

Let us also consider well such texts as these: "We must, through much tribulation, enter into the kingdom of God." Acts xiv. 22.

"No man should be moved by these afflictions for yourselves know that we are appointed thereunto. For verily, when we were with you, we told you before that we should suffer tribulation; even as it came to pass, and ye know." 1 Thess. iii. 3, 4.

Is not tribulation a mark of my calling?

"Even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow His steps: Who did no sin, neither was guile found in His mouth: Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when He suffered, He threatened not; but committed Himself to Him that judgeth righteously." 1 Peter ii. 21-23.

"And He said to them all, If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me." Luke ix. 23.

Did I meet no trials here,

No chastisement by the way:
Might I not with reason fear
I should prove a cast-away?

Bastards may escape the rod,

Sunk in earthly vain delight;
But the true-born child of God

Must not, would not, if he might.

[It seems very strange to the carnal understanding of man, that Afflictions should be tokens and proofs of God's love: yet they ought always so to be regarded. Were God pleased to destroy us, it would be only needful to say, "Ephraim is joined to idols: let him alone," (Hos. iv. 17.) and to leave us to ourselves. But He doth not so deal with us. He is mindful of us: He watches over us: He rebukes and chastens us: He labours to awaken and instruct us. Doth this look like hatred? Nay, here are plain proofs of persevering love, which will not give us up.]

Are not all my Trials and Sufferings intended for my good?

"They verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but He for our profit, that we might be partakers of His holiness. Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby." Heb. xii. 10, 11.

"It is better to go to the house of mourning, than to go to the house of feasting: for that is the end of all men; and the living will lay it to his heart. Sorrow is better than laughter: for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made better. The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning; but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth." Eccl. vii. 2-4.

[As this is an unquestionable truth, instead of poring upon our afflictions, to which corrupt nature is always too prone, let us look more at the glorious and gracious end for which they are designed-which is no less than to prepare us for eternal blessedness. Let us then have "respect unto the recompense of the reward," and then surely with Moses we shall deliberately choose "to suffer affliction with the people of God, rather than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season." Heb. xi. 25, 26.

But we are apt to say in our hearts, This is such a grievous chastisement: anything else I could have borne.' But it should be remembered that if it were not grievous, it would be

no chastisement; and therefore could not answer the holy, gracious, and blessed ends for which chastisement is designed. If we did not feel the rod, it would do us no good. It is needful that it should smite us in some tender part. What folly then is it, to wish only for such chastisement as would be no chastisement at all!]

Is not Affliction suited to mortify the flesh?

"We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body. For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not