2. To be submissive to his providence —
[It may be that God has been pleased to disappoint us in some things which we have set our heart upon ; and we have been grieved and vexed at the dispensation. But how little do we know what would have been the eifect of success ! Perhaps the attainment of our wdshes would have operated as Hazael's advancement did on him, and we should have long before this time have been even monsters in iniquity. At all events we have reason to believe that what we have lost was only like thick clay, which would have impeded us greatly in our Christian course. Perhaps God has seen fit to lay upon us some heavy affliction. Are we sure it was not necessary to lead us to deeper views of our own corruption, and to a more entire dependence on the Lord Jesus? We may be sure at least that our afflictions have been sent, as the pruning-knife, to lop off our luxuriant branches, and to make us more fruitful in the fruits of righteousness to God's praise and glory.]
3. To pant after his glory —
[It is in heaven alone that we shall be free from sin. Whilst we are in the body, we are exposed to the assaults of that roaring lion, that seeketh to devour us. True it is, we have God's promises to trust unto ; but true it is also that we have wicked and deceitful hearts ; and if we had attained as much as ever the Apostle Paul did, we must still, like him, *' keep under our body, and bring it into subjection, lest by any means, after having preached to others, we should be cast away ourselves." Let us then " look for, and haste unto, the coming of the day of Christ," even that blessed day, when all sin shall be purged from our hearts, and " all tears be wiped from our eyes."]