happiness of mankind! May divine grace, dear reader, enable you to live, and to work for God, that you may be saved from such a reflection as this; and at last hear the happy sentence pronounced, "Well done, good and faithful servant: enter thou into the joy of thy Lord."

CHAPTER V.

DISTRESSING

EXPERIENCE.

WHAT was said of the children of Israel, that they were much discouraged because of the way, may with great propriety be applied to many Christians, while travelling through this vale of tears. It is true the Israelites were under the peculiar direction of the Almighty; he was their Governor, Benefactor, and Guide; yet they were exposed to a variety of difficulties and trials. Thus too it is with his people now: they are the objects of his love, directed by his grace, held by his hand, and supplied by his bounty; yet they are not exempt from discouragements. Many, it is said, are the affections of the righteous, and through great tribulation they enter into the kingdom. What, then, it may be asked, is the service in which they are engaged hard and intolerable? Is the cause in which they have embarked evil? Is the the master whom they serve despotic and tyrannical? Or is the object which they have in view insufficient to animate their hopes, and so important as not to produce encouragement? We answer No. On the contrary, the system in which they believe, and the

prospect they have before them, are every way calculated to inspire their hopes, to remove their fears, and excite their confidence. But man is a feeble creature; nor does his conversion render him an angel. He is subject to many fears, attended with many infirmities; and though even walking in the right road, too often, alas! has reason to mourn over his deviations and follies. It may be observed, however, on the whole, that his sorrow arises not from the principles he holds, or the end he has in view, but from a sense of his defects. It is a supposition of the want of religion, and not the possession of it, as too many imagine, that causes him to mourn. Not but outward calamities, and the common afflictions of life, are felt by him as well as others; for though grace makes the Christian, it does not unmake the man: he has the common feelings of humanity, though aspiring after the fortitude of the saint. These troubles are not, however, the chief sources of his grief, though they tend to accumulate it. Did he possess all that lively exercise of faith, that ardent love, deep humility, calm resignation, holy zeal, and constant gratitude, which he wishes, outward things would not much affect him: his spiritual foes would gain but little advantage, and his joy would be but seldom interrupted. But, alas! the best of men have at times to lament the want of these: hence their souls refuse comfort; and in proportion as they possess sincere regard for their God, they feel unhappy in any departures from his laws. Nor is the present state of things

calculated to cherish these divine principles. The world is polluted, and the streams of depravity flow in all directions. Those whose dispositions are still congenial with this corruption, feel no conflict, no disgust, no trial; but those who have participated of the divine nature, who are breathing after holiness, feel the opposition, and lament its baneful effects. Hence our Saviour's words are verified in this as in many other respects: "In the world ye shall have tribulation."

It is to be observed, also, that this is not peculiar to a few. It is too common for distressed Christians to imagine that their case is singular: but no; for though there may be some who do not feel the same pungent sorrow as others, yet at one time or other they all are discouraged. No, disconsolate Christian: think not that you are alone. Thousands have been, and thousands now are, exposed to as painful exercises as you. Were you but better acquainted with them, you would find that their experience in a great measure resembles yours: and could you but ask the spirits of the just made perfect above, they would tell you that there were seasons in which they bore the same conflicts, and were filled with the same despondencies as you.

"Once they were mourning here below,
And wet their couch with tears:
They wrestled hard, as we do now,
With sins, and doubts, and fears."

But reason asks, Why, why does the sovereign Lord and Controller of all events suffer these things? Does he not possess infinite love to his people? And is not love productive of everything that is delightful where power is not wanting? To which it may be answered, That the wisdom of God hath so constituted it, and that, no doubt, to answer the most valuable ends. Nor can his goodness be impeached, since our very trials endear him to us, wean from the world, produce humility, excite dependence, and make us long for that happy state where all shall be unfolded, and we shall clearly see that all things have worked together for our good.

But let us now proceed to consider those circumstances which more particularly enter into the distressing experience of the Christian. And, first, we may observe, that a deep view of his own unworthiness often discourages him. Convinced of the holiness of God's law, and of the purity of the divine nature, he mourns over the little conformity he finds to the divine image. Observing the pride, the vanity, the indifference, the treachery and unbelief of his heart, he trembles before God. Other enemies are around him, waiting an opportunity for an attack; but this is within him, continually harassing and distressing him. Its secret intrigues, its various windings and turnings, its mutability and vileness, its readiness to coalesce with every surrounding object, its evasive shifts, its artifice and cunning, its infidelity and hypocrisy, with a long train of other