We need not then count upon bright days below, nor think to pass lightly over the plea- sant earth, as if our life were but the " shadow of a dream." Joy within we may expect, — "joy unspeakable and full of glory," for that is the family-portion. But joy from without, the joy of earth's sunshine, the joy of the world's ease and abundance, the joy of unsevered bonds and unweeping eyes, is not our lot in this vale of tears.
Still, in the midst of the ever-wakeful storms
through which we are passing to the Kingdom,
there is peace — deep peace — too deep for any
storm of earth to reach. In the world we have
4*
42 THE FAMILY BADGE.
tribulation, but in Jesus we have peace. "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you, not as the world giveth give I unto you." And it is this which gives the peculiar aspect to the saints, the aspect of mingled joy and grief. The eye is dim with tears, yet, behold ! it glistens with joy. There is the brow of shaded thought, yet peace is playing round it. Clouds overshadow them, but on every cloud we see calm sunshine resting.
Their " peace is like a river." It is not stagnant as the lake, nor tumultuous as the sea, but ever in calm motion, ever flowing on in its deep channel, like a river. The course may sometimes be through rocks, sometimes through level plains, sometimes through tan- gled brakes, sometimes along the corn-field or ".the hill of vines," yet still it moves unhin- dered on. It may be night or day, it may be winter or summer, it may be storm or calm, but it is there — flowing on till the embrace of ocean receives it. Such is our peace ! Let us hold it fast.
Nor need we hide our peace any more than we should hide our cross. Let the world see both, and learn how well they agree together. For it is the cross that makes this peace feel so
THE FAMILY BADGB. 43
sweet and suitable. Amid the tears of grief, peace keeps her silent place, like the rainbow upon the spray of the cataract ; nor can it be driven thence so long as Jehovah's sunshine rests upon the soul. " The work of righteous- ness shall be peace, and the effect of righteous- ness, quietness and assurance for ever."
CHAPTER IV.
THE FAMILY DISCIPLINE.
"TRAIN up a child in the way he should go," is the injunction God lays on us. But it is, moreover, the principle on which he himself is acting with his Church. He is training up his children here. This is the true character of his dealings with them. The education of his saints is the object he has in view. It is training for the kingdom ; it is education for eternity.
How momentous, then, is the training ! It is God who is carrying it on by the Holy Ghost. It is the Church, which is the body of Christ, that is the subject of it. And it is to prepare her for an everlasting kingdom ! In bringing many sons unto glory, it was needful that even the Captain of their salvation should be made perfect through suffering. Surely then God lays vast stress upon this discipline. In his estimation it is no unimportant, nor un- meaning exercise. Knowing this, the apostle exhorts us on this very point, "My son, de-
THE FAMILY DISCIPLINE. 45
spise not thou the chastening of the Lord." It is too solemn to be despised, too momentous to be overlooked. The education of God's family is concerned in it. The preparation of an heir of glory depends on it.
This discipline begins at our conversion. The moment we are taken into the family it commences. " He scourgeth ef ery son whom he receiveth." It is not always visible ; neither are we at all times conscious of its operation. Nevertheless, from the very day that u we are begotten again to a lively hope " it begins.
It ends only with life, or in the case of the last generation of the church, with their being " caught up to meet the Lord in the air." It is a wrhole lifetime's process. It is a daily, an hourly discipline, which admits of no cessation. The rod may not always be applied, but still the discipline goes on.
1. It is the discipline of love. Every step of it is kindness. There is no wrath or ven- geance in any part of the process. The dis- cipline of the school may be harsh and stern ; but that of the family is love. We are sure of this ; and the consolation which it affords is unutterable. Love will not wrong us. There will be no needless suffering. Were this but
46 THE FAMILY DISCIPLINE.