of the oppressor^?" Look at Pharaoh and all his host : what could they do against the God of Israel*? Look at Herod, when he would '* stretch out his hand to vex the Church :" " he falls a prey even to worms," which eat him up alive *. Know that the creature is no more than " an axe or saw in your Father's hands :" and that he can do nothing, but as your Father sees fit to employ him for your good ^ Li all that he attempts, he is limited and controlled % and shall effect no- thing which shall not subserve your eternal interests'*. Be strong tlien, and of good courage ; and whatever cross may lie in your way, take it up cheerfully, and bear it after your Lord and Saviour : for be well assured, that your Saviour deserves it richly at your hands ]
2. The suffering Christian —
[Shall I pity you ? No : rather let me congratulate you as being made conformable to your Lord and Saviovu* *. Re- peated are St. James's declarations, that sufferings for Christ's sake are subjects rather for joy than for grief. " We count them happy that endure V And again, " Blessed is the man that endureth temptation ; for, when he is tried, he shall re- ceive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him ^." Receive then trials as " the portion which God has appointed you**;" and expect that, if your afflictions abound for Christ's sake, " so shall your consolations also abound by Christ';" and whatever you may lose for his sake, you shall even in this present hfe receive an hundred-fold more than you have lost'', and, in the world to come, *' an ac- cumulated weight of happiness and glory" to all eternity ^ And when you shall have arrived at the realms of glory, it will be no grief to you that you " came out of great tribulation ;" for then will " your Saviour lead you to the living fountains of bliss, and God himself will wipe away all tears from your eyes'"."]
» Isai. 11. 12, 13. * Rom. ix. 17. " Acts xii. 1—3, 23.
* Isai. X. 7, 11,15. ' Rev.ii. 10. ' 1 Pet. i.7.
* 1 Pet.iv. 12, 13. ' Jam. V. 11. ^ Jam. i. 12.
" 1 Thess. iii. 3. « 2 Cor. i. 5. ^ Mark x. 28—30.
* 2 Cor. iv. 17. "" Rev. vii. 14—17.