Others, no doubt, had reason to complain; but when we slide down into a selfish state, we overlook others, by keeping the eye intently fixed on ourselves. Our trials, our troubles, our disappointments, our losses, our crosses, the ill treatment we receive, are the things that affect us, and which, we think, should affect every body else. We think little of how we may have injured others, or wounded their feelings; we are too much taken up with ourselves. Many, looking at different points of our conduct, may well say, in reference to our treatment of them, "I THINK THAT'S HARD." But there is one who has more cause to use this language than all the rest put together; and yet of the injury we have done that one we seldom think. The one I refer to is GOD. Let us now suppose the eye of God to be resting on us, and while our whole life, with all its varied scenes, passes before his mind, fancy we hear him say, in reference to the different stages of our life, and our conduct towards him, "I THINK THAT'S HARD.” "He created us by his power, placed us in most favourable circumstances, surrounded us by kind relations and friends, guarded our childhood and youth, and supplied us with all that was necessary for body and soul. He acted the part of a kind, forgiving, and forbearing father towards us. In one word, he dealt well with us. And yet we never realised our obligations to him, nor praised him, nor manifested gratitude to him. But we received all his mercies as if we had a right to them, and never attempted to render again according to what he had done for us. He only asked us to love him, and give him thanks; but instead of loving him, we loved almost every one rather than him; and, in stead of praising him, we lived as if there was no God in the world. Was not this unkind? Might he not well say, "I THINK THAT'S HARD ?" He told us of our state as sinners, and pointed out the danger to which we were exposed. He sighed over us, and said, “O sinner, thou hast destroyed thyself." He called unto us, and said, "Come now, and let us reason together, though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be white as snow, and though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool." He saw us rushing on headlong to ruin, and he again addressed, saying, "As I live, saith the Lord, I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth. Turn ye, turn ye, for why will ye die?" But we refused to believe his testimony, and went on as if we were perfectly safe; we turned a deaf ear to his call, and rejected his invitation with contempt; we disregarded his solemn oath, and despised his loving exhortation; may he not, then, well say of our conduct, "I THINK THAT'S HARD ?" Nor did he yet give us up, but he put his word into our hands, he sent his servants to speak in our ears, and he used a great variety of means to bring us to a better state of mind. He offered us a free pardon, saying, "Only acknowledge thine iniquities. He presented us with an everlasting salvation, saying, "Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved." He promised to confer on us the greatest and best blessings that he had, saying, "Ask, and ye shall receive; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.' But we refused to receive the pardon he offered, or render the confession he required; we rejected the salvation he presented, and would not exercise faith in his Son; and we refused to apply for the blessings he promised, preferring to remain as we were. Surely, surely, the Lord may well say of our treatment of him, "I THINK THAT IS HARD.' Reader, how have you treated the Lord? What return have you made to him for all his kindness to you? Have you loved him with your whole heart, and praised his name from day to day? Have you ever been heartily sorry for having grieved and offended him, seeing he daily loadeth you with his benefits? Have you ever accepted his invitation, gone to his throne, confessed your sins, sought pardon, or believed on Jesus for the salvation of your soul? If not, have you not treated the Lord hardly? If not, and the Lord sends you to hell as one who rejected his invitation, treated his Son with contempt, and cast his promises behind your back, can you think it hard? Hard! Why, what could the Lord do? He offered to pardon you, if you would confess your sins, and you would not. He promised to save you, if you would believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you would not. He sighed over you, expostulated with you, and kindly exhorted you; but you set at nought all his counsel, and would have none of his reproofs. What could he do but what he did? just give you up, and leave you to yourself. Almighty vengeance frowns on high. While thunder murmurs round the sky, Where shall I hide my sinful head? Is there no shelter from the eye Those guardian drops my soul secure And conscience smiles within. LIGHT FOR A DARK HOUR. MAN is born to trouble when he is born into the world of nature; and he is born to trouble too, when he is born into the world of grace. Every man has his trouble, but a Christian man has a double share. "Many are the afflictions of the righteous," but blessed be God, it is added, the Lord delivereth him out of them all." 66 The best of men have generally been tried most. Look at Jacob among the patriarchs, David among the kings, Jeremiah among the prophets, Daniel among the rich, and Lazarus among the poor. Lift up your eyes, and behold that white robed multitude; how happy they look, how sweetly they sing, how gracefully they walk up the golden streets of the holy city. "Who are these ? and whence came they? These are they that came out of great tribulation, who have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb; therefore they are before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple; and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them. They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat. For the Lamb which is in the |