lurking within us a conviction directly opposed to it else why that restless anxiety in trouble, to look so closely into second causes? Why are our minds continually going over the circumstances that have led to our calamities? Why does one of us say, "Had this been let alone, my buried friend might have been spared." And another, "Had that been done, my poor child might not have sunk." And a third, "In any other situation, my withered health might have stood firm."

There may be some truth in all this, but the incessant dwelling of our minds on it shows how we labour to push God out of our concerns; how unwilling our sinful hearts are in all situations to acknowledge or even perceive His hand.

But He has another reason for ascribing to Himself our trials. We can get no good out of affliction,

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no real comfort under it, till we view it as sent to us from Him. The man of the world regards affliction as coming forth of the dust," and trouble as "springing out of the ground." It is the necessary result, he conceives, of our present condition and circumstances; and where is the benefit that he derives from sorrow? It works in him no submission, it brings out of him no praise. It is when the mind discovers God at the very root of its suffering; when it sees Him desolating its comforts, and robbing it of its joys with His own hand; when every grave seems dug by Him, and every loss and every pang are felt to be His work; when it cannot banish Him from its thoughts, nor disconnect with

Him one of its griefs, nor even wish to do either; it is then that the soul begins to bethink itself, and the heart to soften, and man's proud, rebellious, stubborn spirit to give way. Then the knee bends, and the prayer goes up, and the blessing comes down. Then, for the first time, we are quieted and subdued. "I was dumb," said David, "and opened not my mouth: because Thou didst it." "It is the Lord," said Eli; and then that poor old parent could add, "Let Him do what seemeth Him good." 2 And this conviction will carry us yet farther. Only let a man once see that a Father's hand has mingled his cup of bitterness, and he will soon do more than say, "shall I not drink it?"3 His heart may be half breaking, but there is something within that heart, which, ere he is aware, will force his lips to praise. "The Lord gave," said Job, "and the Lord hath taken away;" and then comes this noble, but yet natural exclamation, "Blessed be the name of the Lord.” 4 BRADLEY.

XLVII.-(2)

JOHN XVII. 24

Father, I will that they also, whom Thou hast given me, be with me where I am, that they may

behold my glory."

Mark where the presence of Christ is to be enjoyed.

He prays that we may be with Him,

1 Ps. xxxix. 9.

3 John xviii. 11.

21 Sam. iii. 18.

4 Job i. 21.

"where He is." Now in the Spirit, He is everywhere. He is God, and as God He fills all space with His existence: He must speak therefore, here, of that world wherein He manifests His presence, where He dwells in the body, where He even now lives and reigns as the glorified Son of Man. And this is to be not only with the most glorious Being in the universe, but with Him in the most glorious place; in the place which He calls His own kingdom, His own city, His own house; a world which He has built to show forth His power, to declare His greatness by its magnificence as gloriously as any material thing can declare it; so gloriously, that when we see it, we shall deem it almost worthy to be His dwelling. To be with him there, is to be with Him in a world from which all sorrow and sin are excluded, where not a single unholy feeling is ever experienced, nor a single tear shed, nor sigh breathed; where the weary soul may rest, and the troubled soul be quiet, and the tempted soul repose, and the fettered soul be free. It is to be with Him not alone, but with the highest and best society the universe can afford; with cherubim and seraphim, with the patriarchs and fathers, with apostles, and prophets, and martyrs. It is to meet again in His blissful presence the companions of our youth; the parents, and children, and friends, whom death has separated from us, or distance severed, or infirmity estranged; and to meet them where death can touch them no more, where distance can never intervene, nor passions

disturb. In a word, it is to be where the Lord Christ Himself delights to be; where He finds the materials of joy for His own wonderful soul. It is to see His face in its brightness, to hear His voice in His happiness, to sit down at His glorified feet. It is for the abased members of the body to be united to the triumphant Head: it is to meet the Bridegroom in all the radiance and joy of the bridal morning; it is to be with the incarnate Jehovah in Jehovah's own everlasting heavens.

With such a prospect before us, shall we not say one to another, Let us lift up our heads with joy amidst the troubles of an evil world? We are to sojourn in Mesech but a little longer; we are soon to take our leave for ever of the tents of Kedar; we are already within the distant rays of that glory which is our sure inheritance; and can the light afflictions of the present time have more power to depress, than that "far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory" has to elevate and gladden us? Oh, no! Our concern shall be to feel and act like men who are going to a happy and holy Saviour, in a holy and happy world. We will labour to have

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our conversation in heaven;"" to catch some

thing of its spirit before we enter into its joy.

BRADLEY.

10. The experience and possession of divine pity is better than bodily ease, freedom from trouble, or the greatest worldly prosperity.

1 2 Cor. iv. 17.

T. ADAM.

2 Phil, iii. 20.

XLVIII

Preparation for higher degrees of glory is likewise wrought by the grace of God, through the agency of suffering, and should much reconcile us to the cup. Grace in our hearts is indeed created, planted, and watered, by the hand and Spirit of the living God; but it is also strengthened to perfection under His power, by the exercise of affliction. Doubt not but that the highest who will ascend to glory above, will be found to be among those who not only have washed their hearts in the Redeemer's blood,— (this is the title to all salvation,)--but who also have been tried in the refining fires of affliction more severely than others. Affliction is a school, under the blessing of God, to ripen us for an exceeding and eternal weight of glory; and vain as is the common imagination, that those who are tried here are saved from all sorrow hereafter, be they united to Christ or not; it is yet a true doctrine, that as there are degrees of glory, so the most severely afflicted ones, who are also believers in Jesus, will shine the brightest in that glory; not so much because of their suffering, as of the grace wrought to purification in their souls by the Spirit of God, through the agency of suffering.

Take courage, therefore, any amongst you, beloved, who are the sons and daughters of tribulation; if united to Jesus by a living faith, you are training, through your very afflictions, for superior