Prophet. We shall, it is to be presumed, comply with this exhortation.

We shall

"hear the rod;" we shall, that is, attend to the lesson, to the instruction, which the rod of affliction is intended to convey, and shall consider the hand whence it proceeds. We shall with holy Job humbly say, "Shew me wherefore thou contendest with me." We shall thus be led on to serious and impartial self-examination. "Let us search and try our ways, and turn again to the Lord," was the exhortation of Jeremiah to his countrymen in their calamity. With this exhortation we ought invariably to comply in the hour of distress. Even in prosperity, it is our

duty and our interest frequently to examine our lives, and to compare our conduct, and the inward disposition of our souls, with the rule of God's commandments; it is a duty, however, which we then are too often inclined to neglect.

But affliction has a natural tendency to dispose us to this work. The object for which it is sent, is to correct and amend in us whatever doth offend the eyes of our heavenly Father,' and ought to set us upon searching what there is in us which particularly requires amendment and correction. It will lead us to meditate upon the holy, and pure, and strict law of God, to consider well the various practical directions and precepts contained in the holy Scriptures, and to reflect how very far we have fallen short of really acting up to them, how many known duties we have heedlessly neglected, of how many actual transgressions, in thought, word, and deed, we have repeatedly been guilty. At the same time, by humbling our mind, and subduing our spirits, affliction brings them into a proper frame for the work of repentance; it weakens the power of many of the most dangerous temptations to sin,

and brings us to fly for support and refuge to the mercy of God.

More particularly will afflictions, through the divine blessing, induce us properly to estimate, and heartily to embrace, that signal display of the mercy of the Almighty, which was manifested in the redemption of the world by the death and sufferings of his Son. Not only have

the sufferings which we endure a natural tendency to lead us to the serious and thankful contemplation of those far severer sufferings which he encountered for our sakes, but will also direct our attention to the bitter cause of those sufferings, and bring us with a lively faith and heartfelt sorrow to throw ourselves in all humility at the foot of the cross.

Such, my friends, are some of the salutary purposes which afflictions are designed to answer; such are the reasons for the assertion of the Psalmist in the

text, "It is good for me that I have been afflicted." Let us do what we can that they may produce these effects in us. Too often they fail of producing them. Too many instances there are of men, who, as the Prophet speaks," revolt more and more," the more they are afflicted; who refuse to receive correction," who "set their faces harder than a rock," and "refuse to return" to God. Let not us be like unto them. Let not the chasten

ings of God be thrown away upon us. It has been well said, that it is a great loss to lose an affliction. If it does not make us better, we have suffered to no purpose; and, unless God should in his wrath give us over to a hardened heart and a reprobate mind, we must expect that other and more severe chastenings will be inflicted to do the work, which through our negligence the former affliction failed of accomplishing. Let every affliction then do its proper and

perfect work; let it induce us to search and try our ways, and to endeavour to amend whatever we find amiss in thought, word, or deed; let it render us more serious, more humble, more heavenly-minded, more devoted to God and to his service.

Finally, let us remember, that afflictions are sent in mercy; that "we are chastened of the Lord that we should not be condemned with the world." They will save us from this condemnation only, in so far as they make us more holy and better Christians. If they produce not this effect, if we wilfully refuse to be corrected or amended by them, the merciful intention with which they were sent will be defeated; our condemnation will yet take place; and they will only be so much in addition to the dreadful sufferings which that condemnation will entail.