to destroy us ? Would to God we had been con- tent, and dwelt on the other side of Jordan11. Thus will " our spirit fail," and our progress be stopped, if "the peace of God keep not our hearts and minds1."
But let " the love of God be shed abroad in the heart," and instantly " the rough places become plain, and the crooked, straight1" :" the " paths of religion become paths of pleasantness and peace." The most self-denying precepts are not then regarded as " hard sayings1;" " nor are any of the command- ments grievous™." And though affliction cannot, in itself, be joyous, yet, as endured for the sake of Christ, it becomes a ground of joy : " having peace with God," says the Apostle, " we glory in tribula- tions also11."
Let us look into the Scriptures and see how prompt for obedience the saints were made by a sense of God's pardoning love. No sooner had a live coal from off the altar been applied to the lips of the Pro- phet Isaiah, in token of his acceptance with God, than he was willing, yea desirous, to undertake the most difficult and self-denying services °. The Thes- salonian converts were inferior to none in their attachment to Christ ; and, if we inquire what was the source of their distinguished zeal, we shall find that " the Gospel had come to them, not in word only, but in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance ;" and from that moment they be- came the most eminent followers of Christ, and his Apostle p. It was no easy service which Mary Mag- dalen performed in washing the Saviour's feet with her tears ; especially in the presence of such a com- pany : yet, " much having been forgiven her, she loved much ;" and therefore testified her love in the best manner she was able, notwithstanding she was likely to meet with nothing but derision and con- tempt from the proud Pharisee, in whose house she wasq. But on this subject we naturally turn our
11 Josh. vii. 6, 7. * Isai. lvii. 16. k Isai. xl. 4.
1 John vi. 60. m 1 John v. 3. " Rom. v. 1 — 3.
0 Isai. vi. 6 — 8. p 1 Thcss. i. 5 — 7. *' Luke vii. 44 — 47.