‘The Lord of hosts hath decreed to stain the pride of all glory, and to bring into contempt all the honourable of the earth.’ Isa. 23:9. Therefore his word sends us to the common transactions of life, that we may gather instruction in humility, and be taught to bow to his sovereignty. Every dispute against the latter is a strong evidence of the want of the former. When the mouth is not stopped, but daringly opened against sovereign purposes and eternal decrees, it is an awful sign that the

‘Sufficient to the day is the evil thereof.’ As the trial and exercise of our day is, so shall our strength be. Saints shall have suffering grace for suffering times. Hours of great outward calamities often prove seasons of the greatest aboundings of inward consolation. It is said, ‘Stephen fell asleep.’ What! fall asleep under a shower of stones? Yes: the sweetest sleep he ever experienced. It was preceded by a supernatural sight of glory; he awoke in the full enjoyment of glory;

Observation is the life of understanding, experience is the joy of faith, learning good from others harms is true wisdom. Can we look around us, among the circle of our professing acquaintance, and not see the awful effects of slothfulness in the ways of God. What supine indolence in the cause of Jesus, and careless indifference as to the health and prosperity of the soul, do we behold! A very affecting description of this the Spirit of wisdom here presents to our view:

‘God hath not cast away his people which he foreknew.’ Rom. 11:2. Zealous professors may become shameful apostates. God’s own children may awfully backslide from him, and sadly decline in their love to him and service of him. Such conduct is most base to the best of Beings, most ungrateful to the most loving Lord and Saviour, most wounding to sensible gracious hearts: but such wandering sheep shall hear the faithful Shepherd's voice, and shall return with weeping and supplications.

The form of godliness without the power, is sufficient to make men saints, good churchmen, honest souls in the eyes of the carnal world. But when, by the power of the Spirit, our hearts possess the faith of Jesus, it cannot be hid, but the life of Jesus also will be manifested in our walk and conversation. Then persecution awaits us, the world hates us, their former esteem for and good opinion of us, is changed into hatred and opposition.

The gospel brings us from a hopeless into a hopeful state, but not into an independent one. We are never to expect freedom from trials and tribulations in this vale of tears; they lie in our way to the end of our hope, the enjoyment of God in glory. Faith takes hold of something that is material, and makes the soul triumph in hope. Hope makes the soul joyful, and excites to patience. Tribulations cause a throne of grace to be prized, a covenant God in Christ to be sought unto and delighted in. In the rough waves of difficulties, in the storm of affliction, in the boisterous sea of temptation, hope is an anchor to the soul. When that is cast within the veil,…