3. That a humble mind will be more thankful for the mitigating circumstances of an affliction than querulous about the affliction itself —
[We greatly admire this in the history before us. And who' does not see what sweet composure such conduct is cal- culated to bring into the mind ? The generality of persons are ready to fix on every circumstance that can aggravate their
g Dan. iv. 29 — 33. ^ Acts xii. 22, 23. ' Matt. xxii. 12.
affliction ; and hence they make themselves far more miserable than they would otherwise be : but if, like Hezekiah, they looked on the brighter side of their troubles, and noticed the mercies with which they were blended, they would be com- paratively happy under them. Even self-love might dictate such a line of conduct, if we were actuated by no better motive : for, if once we saw, how much more afflictive our circumstances might have been, and how much heavier judg- ments we have merited, we should feel gratitude rise up in our bosoms, and " bless our God, no less when he takes away, than when he gives :" we should confess it to be " of the Lord's mercies that we are not utterly consumed."]
2 Kings XX. 19. Is it not good, if peace and truth he in my
days ?
BY many it is thought that a knowledge of futurity would contribute to their happiness : but we are per- suaded that it would prove only a source of misery : the good that would be foreseen would lose more than half its zest, whilst the evil that was anticipated would embitter the remainder of their days. It was as a punishment, and not as a favour, that an insight into futurity was given to King Hezekiah. He had displeased the Lord by his conduct towards the am- bassadors of the king of Babylon : and God sent him word what calamities should befall both his family and nation through the instrumentality of that monarch. This judgment however was tempered with mercy; the execution of it being deferred to a generation yet unborn. Hence the judgment was submitted to with pious resignation : " Good is the word of the Lord which thou hast spoken. Is it not good, if peace and truth be in my days ?"
It is not our intention to enter any further into the Jewish history than just to fix the precise import of our text. The text is applicable to all persons in every age, and particularly so to this present season. We shall therefore take occasion from it to shew,
^ Thanksgiving for Peace, in 1816.