PATIENCE. 190 dealings of the Most High are often mysterious. "Clouds and darkness are round about him." Afflictions are perhaps protracted, or one trial scarcely ends before another begins. Calamity treads on the heels of calamity, cloud rolls on after cloud, and tempest follows tempest. Then to trust in God needs patience. This patience he requires. "Despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him." “Let patience have her perfect work.”” My brother, or sister, follow after patience. Calmly to bear a momentary trial, needs little of this important grace; but to bear trial after trial; to pass with calm submission, and not a murmuring wish, through weeks, or months, or years of affliction; and when the scene is darkest, still to exclaim, "Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him:" this is the spirit to which a Christian should aspire. Patience is equally necessary to enable the Christian to persevere. It is not enough in the Christian pilgrimage, to commence the journey with alacrity, and to pass through its first stages with pleasure. He who wishes for the Christian crown, must till death pursue the Christian course. Whether the way be rough or smooth, flowery or thorny, he must tread it to the end. Whether the heavens smile or frown, shed beams of exhilarating light, or are clothed in darkness and storms, he must pursue his course. Whether he have many friends to help him on to heaven, or none to assist him in his way, but many foes to oppose his progress, he must still go on. Whether he go cheered by the company of fellow-pilgrims, or have to press through hosts of enemies, and meet the scorn, the hatred, the persecution of friends and of mankind, he must still press forward. And whether he advance cheered by his heavenly Father's smiles, and abounding in spiritual joys, or has to walk in darkness and have no light, without one spiritual comfort, but wrestling with the rulers of the darkness of this world, and encountering the fiery darts of the wicked one, the Christian must still go onwards. advance when all smiles around you, is no difficulty; but you are called to follow those, who through faith and patience inherit the promises, and who went out of great tribulation. "Add," therefore, "to your faith patience." To Patience is also indispensable, to enable the Christian to (Heb. xii. 5. (m) James i. 4, PATIENCE EXEMPLIFIED BY THE LORD JESUS. 191 exercise that meekness, gentleness, forbearance, and forgiveness, which are essential parts of the religion of the Saviour. An able writer has observed, that the character which is the subject of the commendation, precepts, and example of the Lord Jesus, is "meek, yielding, complying, forgiving; willing to suffer; silent and gentle under rudeness and insult, suing for reconciliation where others would demand satisfaction, giving way to the pushes of impudence; conceding and indulgent to the prejudices, the wrong-headedness, the intractability of those with whom it has to deal."* § 12. The Saviour does not merely represent such a character as amiable in his sight, but he inculcates the attainment of it upon his disciples. His word says, "Be patient towards all men.' "n"Follow after patience." "If, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God. Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not."p "Resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also." The patience thus inculcated, the divine Saviour exemplified. He bore with mildness the dullness and unbelief of his friends, and the taunts and malice of his enemies. When his disciples contended who should be the greatest, he mildly reproved them, by setting a little child in the midst, and teaching them, that those who would inherit his kingdom must become lowly as that child. When Peter, James, and John slept, instead of watching with him, in the season of his greatest sorrow, he calmly said, "Could ye not watch with me one hour? Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation."r When Peter wickedly denied him, he only turned and looked on Peter, and by that piercing look reproved him ; and though all his disciples forsook him and fled when his death approached, yet when he rose again he said, "Go tell my BRETHREN that they go into Galilee, and there shall they see me. "When Judas came to execute his treason, he meekly said, "Friend, wherefore art thou come?" and when the traitor drew near and kissed him, instead of an upbraiding 192 ENCOURAGEMENTS FOR PATIENCE. word, his gentle language was, "Judas, betrayest thou the Son of man with a kiss?"" With equal patience did he expostulate with other more open enemies, when he said, “Many good works have I showed you from my Father, for which of those works do ye stone me?"" Perhaps for conscience' sake, you may have to encounter that kind of persecution, which still exists. You may have to bear the frown of friends, the ridicule of former gay companions, or possibly even the loss of home. Perhaps you may be threatened with the displeasure of parents and relatives, or of employers on whom your support has depended. If this should be the case, let patience have its perfect work. With patience take up your cross and follow Christ. He says, "I say unto you, my friends, Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do: but I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which, after he hath killed, hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him."w "Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are ye when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad; for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.' "If we be dead with him, we shall also live with him: if we suffer, we shall also reign with him."y ציי If you are called to trials of these descriptions, the great God encourages you to trust in him, and fear not what man can do. But if you shrink from them, in doing so you will turn away from heaven.-The fearful, as well as the unbelieving and profligate, must have their portion in the lake of fire. But if you are called to such trials, and persevere, the prize is great, the crown is glorious. § 13. Connected with resignation and patience is GONTENTMENT. The possession of this will save you from a thousand snares, and from a thousand sorrows. The holy Saviour displayed it in his life, and taught it by his precepts. How little did he possess! How humble was his fare! No sumptuous entertainments were made in his lowly abode; No (2) Luke xxii. 48. (r) Matt. v. 10-12. (v) John x. 32. (w) Luke xii. 4-7. glitter of finery adorned his dwelling! He was content with the situation of a carpenter. He was partly supported by the kindness of a few pious followers, "who ministered unto him of their substance;" and paid a trifle of tribute by a miracle. His most eminent disciple manifested a similar spirit: "I have learned in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content."b Similar to these examples are the instructions addressed in the sacred Scriptures, to the disciples of the Saviour. "Be content with such things as you have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee."c 'Having food and raiment, let us be therewith content."d "Be careful for nothing but in every thing by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known unto God."e "Art thou called, being a slave? care not for it."f The admonition given to Baruch is most important: "Seekest thou great things for thyself? Seek them not." By discontent multitudes have destroyed their peace, and, it is to be feared, undone their souls. Dissatisfied with the allotments of the Most High, they have aimed at greater things, and in pursuit of these have neglected the admonitions of conscience; have violated the precepts of Heaven, and following the shadows of time, have slighted and lost the treasures of eternity. The course of some has ended in disappointment; others have succeeded in obtaining the wealth or honour they pursued, but have lost religion and heaven in the pursuit. Many young persons, employed in the service of pious families, or in situations where their religious privileges were fully enjoyed, have left such situations for others, where they had no such advantages, but where a few more pounds a year might be obtained. In such cases religion has often died. They have gained a little worldly profit; but it has been gained by the loss of everlasting life, and the ruin of an immortal soul. Ah, dreadful profit! wretched bargain! deceived and foolish purchasers! How much happier are they, whose worldly profits and possessions may be much smaller, but who, taught by Jesus, are content with such things as they have; whose home is the skies, whose heart is there; who pass through life as travellers to heaven, and who, having (e) Phil. iv. 5, 6. (g) Jer. xlv. 5. (a) Luke viii. 3. (6) Phil. iv. 11-13. (c) Heb. xiii. 5. (d) 1 Tim. vi. 6-10. (f) 1 Cor. vii. 21. S 194 GOVERNMENT OF THE TEMPER. sought first the kingdom of God and its righteousness, read their title clear to the inheritance of the saints in light. CHAPTER X. GOVERNMENT OF THE TEMPER.-GOVERNMENT OF THE THOUGHTS.-GOVERNMENT OF THE LIPS.-SELF-EXAMIN ATION. THE IMPROVEMENT OF TIME.-ON AVOIDING IDLENESS, AND ON DILIGENCE. ON RECREATIONS.DUTY TO CIVIL RULERS. § 1. WHETHER we regard the honour of religion, or the comfort of domestic life, much depends upon governing the temper. Some persons are naturally possessed of a temper kind and sweet; and are thus prepared, when they become partakers of religion, to display its most attractive charms. Others are naturally violent and passionate, or sullen and morose. IT IS AS MUCH THE OFFICE OF RELIGION TO SOFTEN AND SUBDUE HARSH AND UNRULY TEMPERS, AS IT IS TO MORTIFY THE MOST FLAGRANT VICES. Little do they know of the design of religion, and little do they feel of its power, who are insensible to this. The word of God inculcates meekness and gentleness, and the mild and lovely tempers of the Saviour. "Cease from anger, and forsake wrath."a "Be ye angry, and sin not. Let not the sun go down upon your wrath; neither give place to the devil."b "Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, be put away from you, with all malice." "Put on, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, humbleness of mind, meekness, long-suffering."d "Be ye kind one to another, tender-hearted."e "The fruit of the Spirit is peace, gentleness, meekness."f "Follow after meekness." Psal. xxxvii. 8. (6) Eph. iv. 26. Col. iii. 8. (c) Eph. iv. 31. (a) 1 Tim. vi. 11. |