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and carries one away; from a third, he snatches a complete half of the dear little ones; and of a fourth he takes them all but one; while from another he takes one and all. But to give and take health and wealth, friends and relations, blessings and mercies, at his own time, and in his own way, is a part of the plan of God's government of the world. Therefore, we should always expect to be deprived of what we possess, in a moment, or to be prevented with blessings suddenly, as streams of water in the south.Could we commit all we have, all we are, and all we wish, into his sovereign hand, to do with them as he pleases, our concerns should be as secure, and our souls much more tranquil.

If in sovereignty God has passed by some, and chosen me to a crown and kingdom, which in a few years I shall be possessed of for ever, what though he pass by me, and bestow on those the comforts of this life, which in a few years they must be dispossessed of for ever? Though thy providence should both perplex and pain me, I will never complain. I may sin in my desires, but thou wilt not injure me in thy determination. It shall please me that thou dost all thy pleasure, and my will shall be swallowed up of thine. I have forfeited every felicity; how, then, can I expect to begin heaven on earth? The prospect of heaven may make me triumph over every trouble, every trial, every disappointment in time. In a little I shall be so happy, that I shall almost forget that ever I had less felicity. Such is my confidence in thy wisdorn, such my dependence on thy powerful arm, such my expectation from thy fatherly kindness, that I acquiesce in all thou doest, and desire to be wholly at thy disposal in all I am, in all I have, and in all I de

sire. What I know not now, why at such and such a time I lose a friend, why I meet with such and such a disappointment, why such and such a cross is laid on me, I shall know hereafter, one time or other; or I shall know one time or other that it was good for me that I have been afflicted; and when time is no more, I shall know that he hath done all things well.

MEDITATION CXXXIV.

THE VICTORY OF FAITH.

Sept. 30, 1777.

"To him that believeth, all things are possible,” said he who cannot lie. Why, then, have I so many fears about many things? Would I not cheerfully commit the lot of my friends to the providence of God? Why, then, not commit the hearts of my nearest and dearest relations to the grace of God? Cannot he who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, shine into their hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of his own glory in the face of Jesus? Is God more niggardly of the graces of his Spirit, than of the good things of his providence? Does he prevent with his common kindness the creatures he has made, and cannot he prevent with his special grace the souls he has created? To him on the throne of his power every creature may look up for protection and supply; but to him on the throne of his grace, we may come with boldness, for grace, the best of blessings, to ourselves, our friends, our acquaintance, to our enemies, to all. To act strong faith in the most important matters, glorifies God most; and the sal

vation of mine own soul, and the souls of my dear friends, is of all matters the most important. While I seek the salvation of my friends, I seek the glory of God, for in their salvation he is glorified. Then, with all the eagerness of desire, with all the importunity of a poor supplicant, with all the boldness of faith, I plead, I wrestle, I implore, that the souls of these my dear friends may believe in the Saviour, who came to seek and to save the lost.

MEDITATION CXXXV.

THE NECESSITY OF AFFLICTIONS WHILE WE LIVE.

Aug. 29, 1778.

*

THIS very subject, twenty years ago, has em

ployed my pen; and, whether I write or not, I expect afflictions of one kind or other while in the body. Our afflictions may put on different appearances, according to the different periods of our life, but they will attend us as close as the shadow does the body. As long as I dwell in Mesech, I may expect wars; as long as I attend on sin and vanity, vexation and trouble will attend me. As I cannot be perfect in holiness while out of heaven, so I cannot be perfect in happiness while absent from God. I smart in my sufferings, I feel in my afflictions; but that I should sin before I suffer, offend before I am afflict ed, should make my inmost soul to smart. I have reason to fear that I am a very stubborn son, that I need so much correction; but it affords me comfort that I am not disowned as a bastard, but endure chas

* See Meditation XXXIX.

tisement as a son. He that has no long journey before him, but sits still in his own house, may escape the tempest, and hide himself from the storm; but he that sets out for another country, cannot expect. always to walk on the flowery champaign, or in the pleasant sunshine, but shall find a river to cross, and a mountain to climb; shall have darkness around him, and thunders roaring above him, the tempest attending his steps, and the storm dashing upon him ; and perhaps enemies waylaying him: So it is with the traveller heavenward, for through much affliction, and many tribulations, we shall enter into the kingdom.

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Again, affliction is as necessary for the health of the soul, as exercise for the health of the body.Lay a man down upon his bed, and let him never lift his head but to eat and to drink, how soon would he become good for nothing, yea, and lose his own health? Just so, let the saint have no afflictions, and his graces shall soon grow languid, and his soul sick and feeble; but affliction raises us from our sloth, makes us run to God, call in the divine assistance, see the vanity of the creature, and long for the heavenly state. "The wicked have no changes ;” well, is their heart filled with glowing gratitude to the God of their mercies? No, but, strange to tell," therefore they fear not God!" On the other hand, the saints are afflicted, and they cleave to God, and keep his statutes better than before.

Corruption is so interwoven with our frame, that in every station, and toward every relation, we may offend; but Providence has so ordered it, that, in every station, and from every relation, afflictions of one kind or other will come; and if they correct us

where we err, and mortify our corruption, we ought to welcome them.

The school of the cross is the school of light, and there must all the children of God be taught in their non-age, to fit them for the perfect state of glory. An ignorant person that sees the mariner heaving such a weight of ballast aboard his ship, would suppose he intended to sink her at sea; just so, whatever the world may think, the troubles and trials of the saints shall never sink them, but keep them from being overset by every squall, that they may arrive with safety at the haven of rest, having their anchor fixed within the vail.

MEDITATION CXXXVI.

GIBEON MAKING PEACE WITH ISRAEL.

Νου. 8, 1779.

WHEN Israel came out of Egypt to take posses

sion of the promised land, every thing about them was marvellous and instructive. They approached the land of promise in the time of its greatest plenty, to wit, in harvest, but at a time when Jordan seemed to forbid their entrance, by overflowing all his banks. But the same power that divided the Red Sea when they came out of Egypt, divides Jordan that they may enter Canaan. Just so it shall fare with the Israel of God. Death shall not keep them from their Father's house; and when they enter their heavenly inheritance, they shail find all fulness, even an eternal harvest of glory!

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