the Almighty not to" enter into judgment with us;" and can we presume to be severe in passing judgment upon another? Do we with unfeigned sorrow for our sinfulness, beseech our heavenly Father to

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forgive us our trespasses;" and can we, on the very threshold, as it were, of earth, and now drawing nigh to the footstool of the throne of grace, withhold our forgiveness from them "who trespass against us?" Can we refuse to "have mercy on our brother," even as we trust that " our heavenly Father will have pity on us?"

Thus does Affliction appear to be the Guide to Reflection; the Teacher of Humility; the Parent of Repentance; the Nurse of Faith; the Strengthener of Patience; and the Promoter of Charity: while of those, upon whom Affliction is thus sanctified to the purifying of the soul and its improvement in Christian graces; of those, who study to convert it with the blessing of their merciful Father to their spiritual and eternal welfare, that they

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may become partakers of his holiness:" of those, who welcome it as the mean,

whereby they" may learn the statutes" of the Lord; of such persons it may be truly affirmed, as the royal Psalmist acknowledged of himself, that "it is good for them to be afflicted."

Valuable however as affliction is, it is a season, for which it would be extreme folly and presumption in us to wait; and so to put off our improvement in Christian virtues until the time of its arrival. It is good for those who are afflicted, that "they learn the statutes of the Lord, and become partakers of his holiness;" but it is better that we learn those statutes and obey them, that we follow after that holiness and practise it, before the day of affliction arrives. There are many considerations, which should induce us to profit by "the riches of God's goodness, and forbearance, and long-suffering," "while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh when we shall say, we have no pleasure in them; or ever the silver cord be loosed, or the golden bowl be broken, or the pitcher be broken at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern "."

Eccl. xii. 1, 6.

When affliction comes upon us, it may be too late for us to profit by it. It may come, when our heart is "hardened already by the deceitfulness of sin "," and is no more open to repentance. It may fall upon us hastily and unawares; our "fear may

come as desolation, and our destruction as a whirlwind," and may sweep us away from "the land of the living," and out of the place of hope; and then, though we may wish to call upon the Lord, yet he will not answer;" though we may " seek him early, yet we shall not find him." If it come with a less hasty pace, still it may come with such severity of bodily torment, as may prevent us from duly feeling for the danger of our soul. If it leave our body comparatively at ease, it may seize on our understanding, and drive us to insensibility or distraction. But let it come under its most favourable form, and leave us leisure and opportunity and inclination to open our eyes upon the danger that besets us; still those better resolutions, which after a long career of vice or

thoughtlessness are formed under the immediate pressure of distress and in the prospect of approaching dissolution, appear at the best in a questionable shape, and when put to the trial are commonly found to be delusive. In truth the season of health and vigour is that which is due to the service of God: we are to serve him then, when " strong in the Lord and in the power of his might," we can endure and resist temptation:-then, when we can "eschew evil," not because we have lost the inclination or the power of sinning, but because he commandeth us:--then, when our love of virtue can be shown not by ineffectual wishes, but by active and strenuous exertions in doing good:-. then, when we can offer him the full strength and glory of the harvest, not the wretched " gleaning of the grapes after the vintage is done "." As this is the way wherein we ought to serve him; so this is the only way, wherein we can be assured, that we serve him agreeably to his will. "It is good indeed to be afflicted," where

Isaiah xxiv. 13.

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Affliction leads us to the knowledge and practice of God's commandments; and they are happy, who are awakened by suffering from their former dream of carelessness or iniquity, and conducted to a sincere and permanent repentance. But happier still are they; more abundant is their recompense, and brighter will be their crown of glory; who having diligently "walked before the Lord in the land of the living," have been at length "made perfect by suffering:" and thus trusting in the merits, and strengthened by the Spirit, of Christ, have both lived the life, and "died the death, of the righteous."