891.]
been for piety, the more have they been the objects of the world's hatred and contempt. With what astonishing cruelty were the saints of old treated ! They, of whom God says, the world was not worthy, were made as the filth of the world, and the ofF-scouring of all things ''. What though the same violence does not rage at present ? is the enmity of the carnal heart slain ? Does not the same aversion to religion exist now as in former times ? and is it not still found in many instances that our " greatest foes are those of our own household ? " Yes ; and in many instances is this a source of deep affliction, even as " a terrible blast, and as a wintry storm."]
3. From the temptations of Satan —
[" Whoever will set himself to seek the Lord must prepare his soul for temptation." Satan will not lose any of his vassals without endeavouring to reduce them to their former state of subjection. For this end he will harass the soul with his temptations, which, as fiery darts, will inflame it with evil passions, and with a "venom will even drink up the spirits ^" How inexpressibly grievous these are to a child of God, may be seen by the bitter complaints of Paul respecting that thorn in his flesh, and his entreaties for deliverance from the buffet- ings of Satan s. Never does a saint feel himself more " needy and distressed " than in circumstances like these ; nor could any endure this " conflict with the principalities and powers of darkness," if not upheld by an invisible and almighty arm.]
4. From the hidings of God's face —
[God oftentimes, for wise and gracious ends, withdraws himself from his people, and suffers them to "walk in darkness for a season, and without light. And this is incomparably the most distressing of all the trials that can be endured in this world. Our blessed Lord, who never complained of the cruelties exercised upon his body, cried out with inexpressible anguish, by reason of the dereliction he experienced in his soul, " My God, my God! why hast thou forsaken me^?" Many too of his dearest children have mourned like him, and been ready to conclude that God had forsaken and forgotten them\ To esti- mate aright the greatness of this affliction, it must be felt ; for neither words can express, nor imagination conceive, the gloom and misery of a deserted soul.]
Were we to view them in this light only, we should dread, rather than desire, to be of their number. But in the text, we see,
1 Cor. iv. 13. vi. 4. e 2 Cor. xii. 7, 8.
' Isai. xlix. 14, I's.lxxvii. 7 — 9.
e
Heb.
xi.
so-
-38.
f
Eph.
vi.
le.
Job
h
Matt.
xxvii.
46.