clear and visible as if it were pointed out to us by a voice from heaven. For who does not see how trials wean us from the world, and purify us from our dross ? We are told, and we find it true, that " tribulation worketh patience, and pa- tience experience, and experience hope, even a hope that maketh not ashamedq." But, independent of this, so great are the blessings of redemption, that they ought to swallow up, as it were, every other consideration ; and to fill our souls with unutterable joy and gratitude, even in the midst of all the troubles that either men or devils can inflict upon us. In the first chapter of this epistle, the Apostle puts this in a most striking point of view. He supposes the Colossians to be oppressed with heavy and long-continued afflictions : and " he prays for them," that they may be " strengthened with all might, according to God's glorious power, unto all patience and long-suffering, with j oy fulness ; giving thanks unto the Father, who hath made them meet to be partakers of the in- heritance of the saints in light. ; who hath delivered them from the power of darkness ; and hath translated them into the kingdom of his dear Son, in whom they had redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sinsr." Must they under their trials be content with exercising " patience?" no: or "long-suffering?" no: they must be filled with "joyful- ness ;" and be so borne up by a sense of God's mercy, and by the wonders of redeeming love, as to have not a word to utter but in a way of praise and thanksgiving. This then, beloved, is to be the frame of your minds at all times ; as it was of Paul and Silas, when in the prison and in the stocks " they sang praises to God at midnight8."]
In doing it, however, we must still have respect to the Lord Jesus Christ for the acceptance of our very best services —
[Continually is this inculcated in the Scriptures of truth. " We must give thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ*." Praise is " a sacrifice which must be offered" on him as our altar; and " be presented by him" as our great High Priest, even as the animals were under the Jewish law" ; and it is therefore called " the calves of our lips* :" nor can an}7 sacrifice, however holy, be " acceptable to God, but as offered to him through Jesus Christ7." This is particularly to be borne in mind at all times. We must " never sacrifice unto our own net, or burn incense to our own drag2," but do on earth as they are doing in heaven.
« Rom. v. 3—5. r Col. i. 11—14. < Acts xvi. 25.
1 Eph. v. 20. u Heb. xiii. 15. x Hos. xiv. 2.
y 1 Pet. ii. 5. z Hab. i. 16.
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