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me, pity me, O ye my friends, for the hand of God hath touched me!" And the Father of mercies knows our frame, and remembers that we are dust. We are not required to choose suffering for its own sake; or to be indifferent to ease and deliverance. Our Saviour himself had not that fortitude which mocks at pain; but that which deeply felt; and yet submitted. With strong cryings and tears he prayed, "Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless, not my will, but thine be done."

But what allows of excuse, truth does not require us to commend. It was his infirmity that induced David to long for death, to hasten his escape from the stormy wind and tempest: and an old writer tells us, it would have been more honourable for him to have asked for the strength of an ox, to bear his trials; than for the wings of a dove, to flee from them. Is not such language unworthy and ungrateful? Should we overlook and forget all our comforts? Have not these been great and numerous? And did we then long to flee away?-Yea, are they not many and various even now? And shall we only dwell on the dark side? Let us examine again; and let truth and thankfulness stand by us the while.-And may they not yet be many and great? Afflictions are not immutable dispensations. What changes often take place, to the surprize, as well as joy, of desponding sufferers!

"The Lord can change the darkest skies;
"Can give us day for night:

"Make drops of sacred sorrow rise

"To rivers of delight."

And is there not unbelief in the case? You are afraid of all your sorrows; and not only of their continuance and increase; but of their influence and effects. You dread lest you should not bear them properly, so as to glorify God; but sink in the day of adversity, and-sin too. Yet, O thou of little faith!

wherefore dost thou doubt? Is not he able to preserve, and support, and comfort thee? And has he not engaged to do it? Has he not said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee? "When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire thou shalt not be burnt; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee." And has not his conduct always accorded with this assurance; both with regard to others, and with regard to yourselves?

"Did ever trouble yet befall,

"And He refuse to hear thy call?
“And has He not his promise past,
"That thou shalt overcome at last?"

More than once you have been appalled in the prospect of a trial; but when the evil day came, there came with it mercy and grace to help. Perhaps you even gloried in tribulation-and you would not refuse to pass through some of those distressing exercises again, to enjoy the same peace and

comfort.

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Is there not much ignorance and inconsideration in this impatience? How do you know that it is better to escape from these troubles, than to bear them? Not one of them has befallen you by chance. May you not infer the righteousness of them all, from their very Author? Is not his work perfect? and his ways judgment? He doth all things well. Does he detain you in distress because he does not love you? Yea, He loved you with an everlasting love; and withheld not his own Son from you. You may therefore entirely confide in him, assured that if he does not release you, it is because he waits to be gracious; and also equally assured, that blessed are all they that wait for him-for it is good for a man, not only to hope, but quietly wait for the salvation of the Lord.

First. Your own welfare may require the process. The Saviour was made perfect, through suffering; and the character of every Christian is more formed and improved from his afflictions, than his enjoyments. What would some of you have lost, had you fled away before such a trying dispensation enriched your faith and hope! How much of your happiness in heaven will arise from a review of your present conflicts on earth! The very trial of your faith is precious: and the crown of life is promised, not to him that escapes, but to him that endureth, temptation. Afflictions are heavenly agents, and work out for you a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.

Secondly. The welfare of others may require it also. We are detained here to be useful; and we are often most useful in our trials. Nothing strikes like facts. The passive graces are the most impressive. They are better than a thousand sermons-better, to arrest the careless, to instruct the ignorant, to encourage the timid, to comfort the desponding. It was well Bunyan did not escape from the prison at Bedford, or we should not have had his Pilgrim's Progress, and his Holy War. Paul was a prisoner, and knew that to depart and be with Christ was far better; nevertheless, because it was more needful for the Philippians, he was willing to abide in the flesh, and acquiesced in the adjournment of his deliverance and bliss. And here, you also may be wanted. Perhaps you have a venerable mother, and are required to rock the cradle of her age, who rocked the cradle of your infancy. Perhaps you are a parent, and a rising family is dependent on your care, instructed by your wisdom, edified by your example. We all are placed in circumstances where we may prove a blessing: and this is our only opportunity. We may glorify God in heaven; but not in the same way as now-not by submission, patience, and self-denial. This is an advantage we

have above the glorified. They cannot exercise candour, and forgive injuries, and relieve distress, and save souls. Life is ours, as well as death. Therefore, all the days of our appointed time let us wait, till our change comes.

SEPT. 26.-" And he brought him to Jesus."

John i. 42.

THESE are few words; but they are very instructive and improving. We may ask three questions.

To whom was he brought?" He brought him to Jesus." To whom should he have been brought, but unto him?-He had the words of eternal life. In vain would he have been brought to the princes of the world; to the philosophers of antiquity; to the moralists of the age; to the Scribes and Pharisees; to Moses; to the law-Moses wrote of him; and the law was a schoolmaster, to bring men to Christ, that they might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the deeds of the law. To him, says Isaiah, shall men come. To him, said the dying Jacob, shall the gathering of the people be. There alone they can find the wisdom they need; the pardon they need; the peace they need; the strength they need. In him they are blessed with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places-Neither is there salvation in any other.

Who was brought? It was Simon Peter-" He brought him to Jesus." He is a character frequently and largely noticed in the Sacred History. For, in consequence of this introduction, he became not only a disciple of Jesus, but a preacher of the Gospel, and an Apostle: and, from the low occupation of a fisherman, he was made a fisher of men; and, by one cast of his net, he gained three thousand souls. Let

us endeavour to bring men to the Saviour, remembering that we know not what he will do, not only in them, but for them, and by them. While he saves them he may also employ and dignify them. However unlikely they at present appear, we may by-and-by observe them, with joyful surprise, and adoring gratitude, not only as Christians, but as ministers in his Church; and extensively serving their generation, according to the will of God. Whatever condition they may fill, or office they may discharge, they will be, must be, useful. Like their father Abraham, they will be not only blessed, but blessings. In converting one, we do good to many-Who ever went to heaven alone?

We may also ask-Who brought him? It was Andrew-" He brought him to Jesus." Andrew had been for some little time with Jesus himself; and he immediately evinces the influence of the intercourse on his own mind, by his concern to bring others to the same Saviour. And there is nothing peculiar in this. They who have seen his glory, will be sure to proclaim his worth. They that have tasted that the Lord is gracious themselves, will be always constrained to invite others-0 taste and see that the Lord is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him. And they always speak of him best who speak from experience.

Andrew was not only acquainted with Jesus, but he was also related to Peter. He first findeth his own brother Simon, and saith unto him-We have found the Messias. The expression intimates that he also prevailed upon others, but that he began with him. His finding him first, might have been accidental; but it is much more probable that it was by design. He thought, and he thought justly, that his own brother had, though not an exclusive, yet a prior claim to his attention: and therefore, while many lead their friends and relations, their own flesh and blood, into the haunts of dissipation, the counsel of

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