thou art passed by, as unworthy of trust, or incapable of service. At such trials, nature will be greatly offended and grieved; and it will require a severe struggle to suppress resentment: yet much benefit will be derived from a meek and silent submission; for by such the servant of the Lord proves his fidelity in denying himself, and subduing his corrupt appetites and passions.

If thou wilt consider the speedy end of all these trials, and the everlasting peace and blessedness that will succeed, they will then, so far from being occasions of disquietude and distress, furnish the most comfortable encouragements to persevering patience. In exchange for that small portion of corrupt and selfish will, which thou hast freely forsaken in this world, thou shalt always have thy will in heaven: there, whatever thou willest, thou shalt find; and whatever thou desireth, thou shalt possess: there thou shalt enjoy all good, without the fear of losing any part. Thy will being always the same with mine, shall desire nothing private and personal, nothing out of me, nothing but what I myself desire: thou shalt meet with no resistance, no accusation, no contradiction, no obstruction; but all good shall be present at once to satisfy the largest wishes of thy heart. There, for transient shame patiently endured, I will give immortal honor; "the garment of praise, for the spirit of heaviness ;" and for the lowermost seat, an everlasting throne. There the fruits of obedience shall flourish, the labor of penitence rejoice, and the cheerfulness of subjection receive a crown of glory. ·

CHAPTER XXXV.

A desolate Spirit committing itself to God.

DISCIPLE.

O LORD God, holy Father, be thou blessed now and for ever! for whatever thou willest, is done; and all that thou willest, is good. Let thy servant rejoice, not in himself, nor in any other creature, but in thee; for thou only art the object of true joy: thou, O Lord, art my hope and exaltation, my righteousness and crown of glory! What good do I possess, which I have not received from thee, as the free and unmerited gift of redeeming love? All is thine, whatever has been done for me, or given to me.

"I am poor and afflicted from my youth up :" and sometimes my soul is sorrowful, even unto death; and sometimes is filled with consternation and terror at the evils that threaten to overwhelm me. But I long, O Lord, for the blessings of peace; I earnestly implore the peace of thy children, who are sustained by thee in the light of thy countenance. Shouldst thou bestow peace; shouldst thou pour forth the treasures of heavenly joy; the soul of thy servant shall be turned to harmony, and devoutly celebrate thy praise. But if thou still withholdest thy enlivening presence, I cannot “run the way of thy commandments ;" but must smite upon my bosom, because it is not with me as it was once, “when thy lamp shone upon my head.”

O Father, ever to be praised, now is the hour of

thy servant's trial! O merciful Father, ever to be loved, it is well that thy servant should suffer something for thy sake! O Father, infinitely wise, and ever to be adored, that hour is come, which thou didst foreknow from all eternity, in which thy servant shall be oppressed and enfeebled in his outward man, that his inward man may live to thee for ever! It is necessary I should be disgraced, humbled, and brought to nothing, in the sight of men; should be broken with sufferings, and worn down with infirmities; that I may be prepared to rise again in the splendor of the new and everlasting day, and be glorified with thee in heaven!

It is thy peculiar favor to him whom thou hast condescended to choose for thy friend, to let him suffer in this world, in testimony of his fidelity and love and be the affliction ever so great; and however often, and by whatever hand it is administered, it comes from the counsels of thy infinite wisdom, and is under the direction of thy merciful providence; for without thee nothing is done upon the face of the earth. Therefore, "it is good for me, O Lord, that I should be afflicted, that I may learn thy statutes,” and utterly cast from me all self-confidence and self-exaltation. It is good for me, that "shame should cover my face :" that in seeking comfort, I may have recourse, not to men, but to thee; that I may learn to adore in silence thy unsearchable judgments.

I give thee thanks, O Father of mercies! that thou hast not spared the evil that is in me; but hast humbled sinful nature by severe chastisements, in

flicting pains, and accumulating sorrows, both from within and from without; and of all in heaven and on earth, there is none that can bring me comfort but thou, O Lord my God, the sovereign physician of diseased souls ; “ who woundest and healest, who bringest down to the grave, and raisest up again!" Thy chastisement is upon me, let thy rod teach me wisdom!

Behold, dear Father, I am in thy hands, and bow myself under the rod of thy correction! O teach my untractable spirit a ready compliance with thy righteous will! Make me thy holy and humble disciple, as thou hast often done others, that I may cheerfully obey every intimation of thy good pleasure! To thy merciful discipline I commend all that I am, and bless thee, that thou hast not reserved me for the awful and penal chastisements of the future world. Thou knowest the whole extent of being, and all its parts; and no thought or desire passeth in the heart of man, that is hidden from thy sight. From all eternity, thou knowest the events of time; thou knowest what is most expedient for my advancement in holiness, and how effectually tribulation contributeth to wear away the rust of corruption. Do with me, therefore, O Lord, according to thy own will. Grant, O Lord, that from this hour, I may know only that which is worthy to be known; that I may love only that which is truly lovely; that I may praise only that which chiefly pleaseth thee; and that I may esteem what thou esteemest, and despise that which is contemptible in thy sight! Suffer me no longer to judge by the imperfect perception of my

own senses, or of the senses of men ignorant like myself; but enable me to judge both of visible and invisible things, by the Spirit of Truth; and, above all, to know and to obey thy will. How great an instance of this infallibility of judgment, is the glory that is given and received among men! for none is made great by the voice of human praise. When men extol each other, the cheat imposes upon the cheat, the vain flatters the vain, the blind leads the blind, the weak supports the weak.

We must account ourselves rather worthy of Affliction than Comfort.

CHRIST.

THOU hast not been able, my son, to continue in the uninterrupted enjoyment of spiritual fervor, nor always to stand upon the heights of pure contemplation, through the influence of that evil nature into which thou art fallen. Thou must sometimes feel thy poverty and weakness, though with shame and regret. As long as thou art united to an earthly body, thy days will often be full of heaviness, and thy heart of sorrow. Unable to escape from flesh and blood, thou must still feel the severity of its restraints, and groan under the power of those carnal appetites that interrupt the exercises of the Spirit, and intercept thy views of heaven.