fear of man, even as the light of the sun extinguishes a common fire. For in the fear of the LORD is strong confidence; and thus is that enigma solved," happy is the man that feareth alway."1 Whatsoever befals," it shall be well with the righteous." 2 "Let not your heart be troubled," said Christ to his disciples. He is with them always, even unto the end of the world. And "who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors, through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." 3 To our own safety, our own sedulity is required. And then blessed for ever and ever be that mother's child, whose faith hath made him the child of God. The earth may shake, the pillars of the world may tremble under us, the countenance of the heaven may be appalled, the sun may lose his light, the moon her beauty, the stars their glory; but concerning the man that trusted in God, if the fire have proclaimed itself unable so much as to singe a hair of his head; if lions, beasts ravenous by nature, and keen with hunger, being set to devour, 1 Proverbs xxviii. 14. 2 Isaiah iii. 10. 3 Romans viii. 35-39. have as it were religiously adored the very flesh of the faithful man; what is there in the world that sball change his heart, overthrow his faith, alter his affection towards God, or the affection of God to him.'1 Be still then, believer, and know that he is GOD. That one monosyllable includes everything-wisdom, power, goodness, faithfulness, tenderness infinite: so that we may boldly say, "The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me." He never intended that his people should walk in sadness, and perplexity, and trepidation; but the very reverse. He would have them walking in the light of his countenance, children of light, rejoicing always in Him. Happy himself, he takes pleasure in the felicity of his people. He commands them to be careful for nothing, but in every thing to cast all their care upon Him, because that He careth for them. He enjoins them to let his peace continually keep their hearts and minds, through Christ Jesus. God's people were commanded to rejoice in him under the law; how much more are they bound to do so, under the far more clear and glorious dispensation of the Gospel. It may not be amiss, however, that we familiarize our minds with the idea of possible persecutions. This, should they not be ordained of God, will never occasion them; and in case they come, will 1 HOOKER, vol. III. p. 528. 2 Psalm cxlix. 2. L render them much less formidable. Familiarity with danger induces contempt for it: as we see exemplified in soldiers and seamen. Accordingly St. Peter thus exhorts us; "Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you; but rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings, that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy." 1 We should learn to think lightly of mere personal suffering. The Author of our being can either alleviate the sense of pain; or, which were nearly the same thing, enable us to endure it with all patience and long-suffering with joyfulness. "As the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ." 2 were the higher favour. says St. Paul," will I Nay, this "Most gladly, therefore," rather glory in infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest on me. 6 There fore, I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake; for when I am weak, then am I strong." It would be a great thing,' says the pious Mr. HOWE, if persons would admit the conviction of this, (and there is not a plainer thing in the world) that patience is better than immunity 11 Peter iv. 12, 13. 2 2 Cor. i. 5. If your Lord call you to suffering, be not dismayed; there shall be a new allowance of the king for you when you come to it. One of the softest pillows Christ hath, is laid under his witnesses' heads.'-RUTHERFORD'S Letters. from suffering: that great and noble effort of the Spirit of God upon the soul, whereby it is brought into an entire possession of itself! Is that to be compared with a little advantage that only my flesh and outward man is capable of ? '1 Bodily suffering, then, is by no means so much to be dreaded as it generally is. Some of the seasons of the greatest enjoyment experienced by the godly have been those of external trial. The Apostles, after they had been beaten, by order of the Jewish council, rejoiced that they were counted worthy to suffer for the name of Jesus. They accounted suffering for his sake a peculiar favour. "Unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe in him, but also to suffer for his sake." 2 And when Paul and Silas were thrust into the inner prison in a pagan town, and their feet were made fast in the stocks, they sang praises to God at midnight, so loud as to make the entire prison to resound. And in brief, their account of themselves is, that "though sorrowful, they were always rejoicing!" 3 I have read of a martyr even complaining on being taken down from a cross whereon he had been hanging in intense bodily agony; so superabundant was the spiritual consolation,' with Once let us, through which he was favoured. Divine grace, which can enable us to do or to endure anything, overcome the apprehension of 1 Note XVIII. 2 Philippians i. 29. 3 2 Cor. vi. 10. corporeal pain, and then we may bid the world and the devil defiance. The worst that they can do is to kill the body; and we owe God a death at all events, they cannot touch the soul. That is hid with Christ in GOD-a costly jewel in a secure fortress. And if our enemies put us to death, they do in effect confer on us a benefit, (though that extenuates not their guilt,-they mean not so:) for if we are believers, then "to us to live is Christ, and to die is gain,"-gain unspeakable. "All things are our's, whether life or death." 1 But while you endeavour thus to arm yourself with a mind prepared against all occurrences, guard also against anxiety; thereby making uncertain evils certain vexations; ' overloading to-day with the fear of what befal on the morrow. may ficient unto the day is the evil thereof." -Be not over-exquisite To cast the fashion of uncertain evils; For grant they be so, while they rest unknown, And run to meet what he would most avoid.' 3 66 Suf There is no one precept more necessary to be observed by a Christian, in order to his comfort, than that of our Saviour.-" Take no thought for the morrow; for the morrow shall take care for the things of itself." Our Lord here does not prohibit a prudent care, but an anxious distracting carefulness; as the original term imports. * 4 1 1 Cor. iii. 21, 22. 2 Archbishop LEIGHTON. 3 MILTON. |