1hall lorLrn, with St. Paul, to II glory in tribulationf! also, knowin" that tribulation workoth putrience." 2. The second blessed fruit off thia bitter tree i, err,perien,;P,. "Tribn- latiun worketh patience; and patience, experience." The word here translated "experi- ence" really means in the original " proof," or " trial," or " testing." In the Revised Version it is translated "probation." Thie does not, perhaps, quite express the fall meaning either; but the point is the.t the e.poetle had something more in his mind than what we ordinarily mee.n by the word" experience." His idea. probably was that tribu- lation and our patience under it give proof or confirmation of two things. They afford us proof of the character of God-his faithfulness in fulfilling his promises, his love in sustaining us, and his power in giving us the victory over trial and suffering. A.nd they afford us proof of our own character also-proof that we are the sons of God, proof that we have been justified by faith. "Whom the Lord loveth he cba.steneth." And then there is the precious promise, "Blessed is the man that endureth temptation [or, •trial') : for when he is tried, he she.11 receive the crown of life, which the Lord bath promised to them that love him." In such ways does God confirm UB by suffering, and by our own patience nnder it. So he confirms our faith in him. and confirms our own Christian character. This is another blessed fruit off the bitter tree of tribulation. 3. Th thir<1 blesser1 fruit off this bitter tree is hope. " And experience, hope." The proof which we he.ve received of God's g"odness under past trials leads UB to hope for still greater revela- tions of his goodness yet to come. The proof we have had of hie wise and gracioua purpose in purifying us by trial and suffering leads us to hope that "he who bath begllll a good work in us will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ." So the Christian is ever looking forward. When he bee.re the cross, he is looking fol'W'll'd to the crown. When he is suffering for his Me.ster's sake, he is looking forward to the time when he shall reign with him in glory. Thie subject of tribulation and its fruit :night fittingly be closed with some lines written by a young lady in Nova Scotia, who "lV'M an invalid for ma.ny years- "My life is e. wearisome journey; I em sick of the dust and the heat The re.ys of the sun beat upon me; The bria.rs are wounding my feet; But the oity to which I am going Will more than my trials repay ; All the toils of the road will seem nothing When I get to the end of the way. "There are so mo.ny hills to olimb upward, I often am longin,g for rest ; But he who appoints me my pathway Knows just what is needful and best. I know in hie Word he he.s promised The.t my strength she.ll be as my day; And the toils of the road will seem nothing When I get to the end of the way. " He loves me too well to forsake me, Or give me one trial too much: All his people have dearly been purohe.sed, And Satan can never ole.im such. By-and-by I shall 1!88 him and praise him In the oity of unending de.y ; And the toils of the road will seem nothmg When I get to the end of the way.
"Though now I am footsore and weary, I shall rest when I'm safely at home: I know I'll receive a glad welcome, For the Saviour himself hNI ea.id, ' Come! So when I e.m weary in body, And sinking in spirit, I aay, All the toils of the road will seem nothinc When I get to the end of the--,. I 4-S THE EPISTLE OF PAUL TO THE ROMANS. [oR. v. 1-21.