dition of all trials; compared with the world's duration they may be but "for a little while;" compared with eternity, nothing; and they may hereafter be so infinitely outbalanced that we may" remember them no more," or remember only to rejoice in them eternally. "A woman," saith our Lord with so much tenderness, "a woman when she is in travail hath sorrow because her hour is come, but as soon as she is delivered of the child, she remembereth no more the anguish, for joy that a man is born into the world; and ye now therefore have sorrow, but I will see you again, and your joy no man taketh from

Important as such assurance is to all, how inexpressibly so is it to them that mourn; how it diminishes "the sufferings of this present time," and maketh them indeed "not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be hereafter;" "this is the victory that overcometh the world, even your faith;" the man that hath nothing to hope for beyond, has the full weight of his misfortunes to bear without one means of

lightening them; where should he turn for com fort or for solace? If possessions are stripped off, he loses all; if the course of earthly happiness is stopped, at once is all enjoyment; if friends are taken away, it is for ever! Trust in the world, and when the world betrays thee, when thy goods are taken away from thee, when thou art compassed on every side "with a great fight of afflictions," and findest thyself destitute of every resource, then look to these things which Christ has spoken, that "in Him ye might have peace." "In the world ye must have tribulation," but when the world, with all these, is ended, what will remain but the happy remembrance of having resisted them? Their very existence proves this not to be the "home," the "rest for the people of God," and if thereby they are perfected, fitted for a higher degree of immortality, even "through much of them enter into the kingdom of heaven;" they that "sow in tears shall reap in joy," and "blessed may they be that mourn," for "they shall be comforted."

It is our ignorance which veils the Almighty's dealings from our view. Could we see heaven

"A little while and ye shall not see me, and

again a little while and

ye

shall see me,

994 is an

assurance which of itself is full of comfort; for when deserted by every other aid, when outward friends might seem "scattered, and to leave us alone," we may say, as our Lord did, “yet I am not alone because the Father is with me."5 He that overcame the world, yet watcheth over it, and to his own he saith, "lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of it." The temptations, the tribulations of it he endured, and wherein does happiness consist but in our near resemblance to Him-he shewed how they should be borne; he still observes how they are. To disasters and misfortunes all are alike exposed; there is no exemption, no immunition; but the peace which he hath promised is within. It is the heart, not the outward state, which he would guard. Every thing outward may be adversesevere calamities in life, the greater terrors of death, the known miseries of the present state, the darkness and uncertainty of the future. But if these are permitted, it is not without cause;

they are purposely to try-"whom the Lord loveth, he chasteneth;" afflictions speak convincingly, they awaken the mind, they call it to God-it may be by a rugged path, but they may lead it towards heaven.

"A good man struggling with misfortune," was thought even by the heathens, to be an object regarded and approved by heaven. How much more so may a Christian be when endeavouring to follow the steps of his Redeemer in patient, persevering piety, and with how much greater assurance may he strengthen himself with the hope, not only of the divine presence, but of its aid and its favour? It is then that we listen with such willing attention to those words of our Saviour; it is then that Christ saith, "come unto me all ye that travel and are heavy laden"-look and learn of me: ye may meet with many tribulations, but "be of good cheer"-"let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid; ye believe in God, believe also in me:" this is a state of trial; and tribulations form a part of it. I may not seem to interpose to prevent those appointments which, in the scheme of providence, are

wisely allotted, but "I will not leave you comfortless;" "I am on thy right hand, so that thou shalt not fall;" the time of trial hastens to an end, and "he that endureth to the end, the same shall be saved."

996

It was when "their hearts were sorrowful" that Christ gave this comfort to his disciples, and that he taught them, secondly, to have recourse to prayer: "verily, verily, I say unto you, whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name he will give it you. This was a means which he appointed, and which themselves could supply. To pray, and to pray in the name of Christ, is his disciples' great resource. "Prayer is, indeed, the application of Want to Him who only can relieve it, the voice of sin to Him who

alone can pardon it. It is the urgency of

poverty, the prostration of humility, the fervency of penitence, the confidence of trust, the cry of faith to the ear of mercy." Prayer is at all times so essential a part of religion that there can hardly be any without it, but it is the very language of sorrow. When the heart is broken, and

6 Verse 23.