Learn, then. Brethren, from this subject,
1. What spirit you are to manifest under any injuries you sustain —
[In no respect are you to indulge an angry and vindictive spirit ; but, rather, to follow the example of our blessed Lord, who, under the most injurious treatment that ever was endured in this world, opened not his mouth, but was dumb, even as a " sheep before its shearers." Instead of rendering e\'il for evil, we are to return nothing but good ; and to seek for victory in no other way; as God has said, " Be not overcome of evil; but overcome evil with good." Doubtless this is a difficult path : but it will surely bring upon us the divine blessing, both in this world and in the world to come.]
2. How you are to obtain it —
[You have seen what considerations influenced the mind of David : and the same will produce a similar effect on your minds. The first thing to be sought by you is a deep sense of your own sinfulness. Let that abide upon your minds, and nothing that man can inflict will greatly wound you. How heavy soever your trial may be, you will say, " Shall a living
1 Gen. xlv. 7, 8. and 1. 20. "^ Heb, xii. 10, 11.
" Rom. viii. 28. ° 2 Cor. iv. 17.
man complain? a man for the punishment of his sinsP?" Any thing short of the miseries of hell, especially if it tend to avert those miseries, will be accounted rather a mercy to be thankful for, than a judgment to be deplored i.
The next thing is, to realize in your souls the universal agency of Di%dne Providence ; so as to see, that " no trouble whatever springs out of the dusf^," but that every thing, even to the falling of a sparrow, or of a hair from your head, is ordered of the Lord^. Your nature may indeed recoil from suffering ; and you may deprecate it, even as our Lord himself did, when he desired that the cup which had been put into his hands might joass away from him. But this you will do with submission, saying, " Not my will, but thine be done :" and when you see what the Lord's will is, you wiU chide your reluctant spirit, saying, " The cup which my Father hath given me, shall I not drink it*?"
Finally, look to the issue of your trials, and then you will be moved by nothing that either men or devils can do". You have " seen in the case of Job the end of the Lord," even in this world ^. And, if the furnace be to purge away your dross, you will not greatly regret that God suffers you to be put into it. You will expect his presence with you in your troubles for your comfort and support y, and a rich compen- sation for them in the world to come^.
Get but these thoughts wrought into your hearts, and you will bear with resignation even the hea\dest calamities, and " commit your souls to God in well doing, as into the hands of a faithful Creator ^"]
P Lam. iii, 39. i Matt. v. 10—12. 1 Pet. iv. 12, 13.
r Jobv. 0. s Matt. X. 29, 30. * John xviii. 11.
^ Acts XX. 24. X Jam. v. 11. y Mai. iii, 3. Dan. iii. 25.
^ 2 Tim. ii. 12. Rev. vii. 14, 15. a i Pet. iv. 19.