418 PSALMS, cxix. 71. [424.
Divine perfections, regret the sufferings which had been overruled for that end ? Did he not rather abhor himself for having judged too hastily respecting the designs of God ; and cordially approve of those dispensations, which in his haste he had been ready to condemn ? Thus shall we also do, when once we have " seen the end of the Lord*^." We may in our haste exclaim, "All these things are against me :" but at last we shall testify of all God's most afflictive dispensations, as Joseph did, that " God meant them for good'."
But suppose the trials to be of a spiritual nature. These are yet far more afflictive : " A wounded spirit who can bear ?" How grievously David was oppressed by them, we are informed in many
of his psalms'' But yet his testimony in our text was the
real dictate of his heart. And we may ask of others, Were the wounds which brought you to the heavenly Physician too severe ? Do you not number them amongst your richest mercies ? Has not every loss been more than compensated in the acquisition of sal- vation; and every pang more than recompensed in the peace and joy to which, through the knowledge of Christ, you have attained ? It was a matter of just computation with the Apostle, that " the sufferings of this present life (whatever they may be) are not wor- thy to be compared with the glory that shall be revealed in us."]
1. As estimated according to its own intrinsic worth —
[But who can ever rightly appreciate its worth ? St. Paul " counted all things to be but dross and dung in comparison of it'." We must be able to estimate all the miseries of hell, and all the glories of heaven, before we can form any estimate of its value ; and, if we could ascertain the full importance of those, we should still be as far as ever from having a complete conception of the worth of spiritual knowledge ; unless we could estimate also all the glory that will accrue to the ever blessed Trinity from the contrivance and execution of this stupendous plan, and the ap- plication of this salvation to a ruined world.]
Address —
1. To those that are at ease —
[How faint, for the most part, are your desires after spiritual knowledge ! Whether you hear, or read, or pray, what formality pervades it all ! But, if God have indeed designs of love towards you, you will be taught by the rod, what you will not learn with- out : " He will cause you to pass under the rod, in order that he may bring you into the bond of the covenant," And if lesser trials will not accomplish the purposes of his grace, he will visit
you
" Jam. V. 11. * Gen. 1. 20.
•' See Ps. xxxviii. 1—8. & Ixxvii. 3 — p. & Ixxxviii. 6, y. & c\u 1 — 10.
' Phil. iii. 8.
424.] THE JilENEIlT OF AFFLICTION. 419
you with heavier: ''from chastening you with rods he will scourge you with scorpions." Yet think not that a season of affliction is in itself favourable for the pursuit of spiritual knowledge : it is far otherwise : pains of body, and distress of mind, have a ten- dency to impede, rather than assist, the exercises of the mind. Ask those who are in deep affliction, Whether they find it easy to collect their thoughts, and fix them with energy on the concerns of their souls ; and they will bear one uniform testimony, that health is the time to seek the Lord. Be persuaded then, now vyhilst you are at ease, to study " God's statutes," and especially those which declare to us the way of salvation ordained for sinful man. Know that there is no other knowledge of any importance whatever in comparison of this ; and that, if even the most grievous sufferings should be welcomed as accessary to the attainment of it, much more must it deserve all the time and attention that can be bestowed upon it. You never need fear that you will hereafter have occasion to complain, that its fruits did not repay you for the cultivation of it.]