unspeakable, when he shall bid adieu to every evil. 0, how sweetly will he rest from all his toils! The transition, from pain, to pure pleasure,-from poverty, to the enjoyment of the heavenly inheritance, from the valley of the shadow of death, to the light of everlasting day— will be so great as to fill his soul with such exquisite sensibilities as exceed all thought and description. Behold the afflicted christian; see him stuggling with poverty and wretchedness. See his body wasted by affliction, and his spirits almost broken by adversity. Behold him

stretched on the bed of death, and his whole frame convulsed with agony.-Perhaps, you are ready to ask, How is it possible that all these things work together for his good? Pursue his soul, in her flight to the everlasting habitations, and you will be satisfactorily answered. Behold him carried, by angels, into Abraham's bosom. Before, he was afflicted;"but, now, he is comforted." He is comforted, in viewing the striking contrast between his former misery, and present happiness. Before, he was, perhaps, despised: but, now, he is introduced with acclamations of joy, to an innumerable company of angels, and the spirits of just men made perfect. Before, he was poor and destitute: but, now, he is put in possession of the inheritance incorruptible, undefiled and unfading. Before, he was assailed by temptations but, now, he is out of the reach of every adversary. Before, he was afflicted with pain: but, now, he has bidden an everlasting adieu to pain, and toil, and misery. He is come out of the great tribulation. He shall hunger no more; neither thirst any more for the Lamb, who is in the midst of the throne, shall feed him, and lead him unto living fountains of

waters; and God shall wipe away all tears from his eyes.

Thus have I endeavored to shew, that affliction, although it may now seem grievous, is productive of real good to the true christian, either in its present and immediate effects, or in its future and everlasting conse

quences.

Let us now briefly consider, in the

THIRD, and last place, what influence this doctrine ought to produce on our views and conduct.

Its leading tendency is to produce contentment. If all things, and, especially, affliction, work together for good, then ought we to suppress all murmur and repining. Remember, O afflicted believer, that it is God who allots thee thy portion. Who art thou, then, that repliest against thy Maker, and why dost thou yet find fault? Has he not a sovereign right to do what he will with his own? Son of affliction, lift up thy brow. It is thy heavenly Father that chastises, and chastises in mercy. His thoughts towards thee are thoughts of peace. Although man regards not thy anguish, God sees thee, and his gracious ear is ever attentive to thy cries. “We have had fathers of our flesh, who corrected us, and we gave them reverence; and they verily chastened us after their own pleasure, but" God “for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness." Let the voice of murmur be, then, forever silenced. Our heavenly Father knows what is best for us, and it is our part, to bear with patience. Believing that every afflictive dispensation is designed, by Him, for our good, let us, cheerfully, resign ourselves to his will. We are in the hands of a gracious God, who is merciful even in chastising. If affliction slay our sin, and quicken our christian graces;

if it wean our hearts from this transitory world, and direct our thoughts to a better state, as well as prepare us for it; we have reason to be, not only contented, but thankful.

In this life, we cannot, in many instances, discern the kind intention of heaven, in afflicting us. The purposes of God are often inscrutable. His thoughts are not as our thoughts, neither are his ways as our ways. But, as far as we are able to trace his designs, we see, that every thing is ordered in wisdom and mercy.-Let us, then, cheerfully leave with God, what we are unable to explain. When we arrive in yonder bright region, we shall see, and understand, what we are now unable to unfold. We shall then see, that the way in which we were led, though it may now appear circuitous, was the right way. We shall see, and confess, with gratitude, that every affliction, however painful, was blessed, to promote our welfare.

"Wherefore, comfort one another with these words."

SERMON XII.

ON RESIGNATION.

Psalm xxxix. 9.

I was dumb, I opened not my mouth; because thou didst it.

BY JOHN M'DOWELL, A. M.

Pastor of the first Presbyterian Congregation of Elizabeth-Town.