2. Those who are called to bear the yoke —
[Remember that your trials are the fruit of God's love to your souls: for "whom he loveth, he chasteneth:" and, instead of thinking your lot hard, learn to " glory in your tribulations," and to " take pleasure in your distresses6." It was not an ignorant or enthusiastic man that said, " We count them happy that endure ; " and who from that conviction exhorts us, " My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations f." Only take eternity into the account, and all your trials will appear light and momentary in the view of that far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory which they are working out for youg.]
e Rom. v. 3. 2 Cor. xii. 10.
f Ps. xciv. 12. with Jam. i. 2, 12. and v. 11.
e 2 Cor. iv. 17, 18.
Lam. iii. 31 — 33. The Lord will not cast off for ever : but though he cause grief, yet will he have compassion according to the multitude of his mercies. For he doth not afflict wil- lingly, nor grieve the children of men.
THE Prophet Jeremiah was, perhaps, above all other prophets, a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief. It is possible, indeed, that in this chap- ter he may speak in part as a representative of the Hebrew nation ; but still there is so much which has an immediate reference to himself, that we cannot but consider it as a record of his own experience a. At all events, the consolations which he administers, whether they refer to himself in his individual capa- city, or to the people collectively, are suited to every person under heaven, whilst under the pressure of any trouble. To enlarge upon all the various topics which he adduces, would lead me too far, and would be the work of a large volume rather than of a single discourse. I shall content myself with noticing the subject so far only as it presents itself to us in the words which I have read : wherein you see,
s -
a ver. 1 — 20.