thirty years that they had continued hi the wilderness ? and did it not become them to place their confidence in him, though they could not see the immediate reason of his dispensations ? Thus should we do, when tempted to disquietude and despondency : we should say, "It is the Lord ; let him do what seemeth him good :" " the cup which my Father hath given me, shall I not drink it?" Yes; "when walking in darkness, we should stay ourselves upon our God ;" and deter- mine with Job, " Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him." This was the expedient to which David resorted in the midst of all his troubles, and which he found effectual to compose his mind ; " he encouraged himself in the Lord his Gode."]
2. For what end it was sent —
[God has expressly stated the end for which he tried them so long in the wilderness : it was, " to humble them, and to prove them, that they might know what was in their hearts f." And was not the prospect of such an end sufficient to reconcile them to the means used for the attainment of it ? Let us also consider the ends for which our afflictions are sent : are they not sent with a view to make us " partakers of his holiness?" Who would be discouraged at his trials, if he reflected on the necessity which there is for them, and the blessed fruit that shall spring from them ? Doubtless, they are " not joyous for the present, but grievous :" nevertheless the refiner's fire may well be endured, if only it purge us from our dross, and make us, as " vessels of honour, meet for our Masters use."]
3. The certain issue of it, if duly improved —
[They were well assured that God would fulfil his promises. Even their recent victory over the Canaanites was a pledge and earnest of their future conquests. What if they did not under- stand the way of the Lord ? The direction they had taken at their first departure from Egypt had appeared to their fathers to be erroneous : but it had proved " the right way ;" and they should have been satisfied, that this, though alike mysterious, would have a similar issue ; and that the number and greatness of their trials would ultimately redound to the glory of their God, and to their own real happiness
Thus we should bear in mind that all our afflictions are working together for good, and that, " light and momentary in themselves, they are working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory." Did we but consider this, we should be content to suffer, till we had filled up our ajipointed mea- sure : yea, we should even " glory in our tribulations," know- ing that we are to be " made perfect by them," and that " they are our appointed way to the kingdom of heaven."]
e 1 Sam. xxx. 6. with Ps. xlii. 11. f Deut. viii. 2.