Painful as this portion is to flesh and blood, none need to fear it, if only they attend to,
IL The Apostle's directions in relation to it — God graciously appoints to his people this portion, in
order ^ 3 Tim, M. 1% * Msit. %* ^, 1$,
order to promote their spiritual welfare, and progres- sively to transform them into the Divine image in righteousness and true holiness. Hence St. James exhorts his afflicted brethren to regard their trials as means to an end; and,
1 . To welcome the means — [The proper tendency of trials is to work patience in our souls. At first indeed they operate to the production of im- patience, or, rather I should say, to the eliciting of those e\'il dispositions which lurk in our hearts. Till we have had our pride in some measure subdued, we know not how to bear the unkindness which we meet with : we fret under it, and rage even as a bullock unaccustomed to the yoke : but when we discover our weakness, we are ashamed of it, and humble ourselves before God on account of it, and implore grace from him to support us, and thus gradually become instructed by the discipline, and are at last " strengthened with all might by his Spirit unto all patience and long-suffering, with joy ful- ness, giving thanks unto the Father," v.ho has wrought in us that very change of heart and life which has exposed us to the enmity of the ungodly world *".
Now when we see what good our God designs us by these trials, we should not only be reconciled to them, but be thankful for them, and " count them just occasions for exalted joy." For, what price can be too great for so valuable an ac- quisition as that of a meek, submissive, and patient spirit? We submit with readiness to many things which are dis- pleasing to flesh and blood for the advancement of our bodily nealth : and shall we not thankfully take the prescriptions of our heavenly Physician for the health of our souls ? What if they be unpalatable to our taste ? We should regard the affliction as good, when we know what benefits will ultimately result from it^; assured, that "the sufferings of this present life are not worthy to be compared with the glory that shall be revealed in us\" When therefore we see the clouds ga- thering around us, we should not be alarmed, but should say rather like the countryman whose fields are burnt up with drought. Now God is about to refresh and fructify my barren heart, and his clouds shall drop fatness on my soul. What if your enemies meditate nothing but evil? Should that be of any concern to you, when you know who has engaged to over- rule it all for good'? I say then with tlie Prophet, "Fear not" any menaces or preparations, how formidable soever they may ai)pcar'' ; nor complain of any trials, however oppres- sive
' Col. i. 11, 12. P Isui. xxvii. 0. '' Rom. viii. 18.
' Rom, viii. 'ZS. " Jsai. viii. 12, 13.