You will do it in heaven —
[Do you hear amongst the heavenly hosts one who is taking honour to himself? No: there is but one sound amongst all the celestial choir : all are singing praises to God and to the Lamb. And doubtless the saints in glory now see how much they are indebted to God " for events which once they deemed calamitous and adverse." Anticipate, then, that time ; and now begin to acknowledge, in every thing, whether painful or pleasing, the wisdom, and goodness, and power, and faithful- ness, of your God. And remember, that the more you have been enabled to do for God, the more you are indebted to God, by whose grace alone you have been empowered even to think a good thought1.]
Now, from this subject you may surely learn,
1 . Submission —
[" The ways of God are a great deep," and " his paths past finding out." But when you reflect that neither men nor devils can exceed the commission they have received from him, surely you should say in all things, " It is the Lord : let him do what seemeth him goodm" ]
2. Gratitude —
[View your mercies, which are more in number than the sands upon the sea-shore ; and see if you can trace them to any source but God. And are they all the fruits of his love, and the effects of his power, and do they not call for gratitude at your hands'? Methinks your every word should be thanks- giving, and your every breath be praise.]
3. Affiance —
[Doubtless there will be many circumstances that will be dark, and at present inexplicable : but you must never forget, that " though clouds and darkness be round about him, right- eousness and judgment are the habitation of his throne"." You have seen already, that, in numberless instances, he has brought good out of evil ; and that you have had reason to bless him as much for things which have been contrary to your desires, as for things which have been gratifying to flesh and blood. Learn, then, to trust him for the future ; and, under the darkest dispensations, learn to say with Job, " Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him."]
1 1 Chron. xxix. 13, 14. m 1 Sam. iii. 18.
n Ps. xcvii. 2.