May 4
Daily Gleanings of the Saintly LifeSaturday after Fourth Sunday in Lent
This is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully. 1 S. PETER ii. 19.
He who can be content to have God for a witness of his patience and sufferings, has found the secret to make God his friend. We complain of unjust sufferings, and they are the things which we ought most to value. A Christian whose whole care is to avoid sufferings has forgotten his Pattern, and that we are Christians in order to be crucified with Christ. We see in Jesus Christ innocence and holiness itself suffering, and yet we complain of hardships. The meekness of Christ when in the hands of His enemies, and when He had power to have delivered Himself, is what we are always to remember.
Lord, Who hast suffered all for me, My grace and pardon to procure, The lighter cross I bear for Thee Help me with patience to endure.
The storm of loud repining hush; Give me, O Lord, submissive faith; Nor let me speak of my distress, Who merit everlasting wrath.
Perhaps some golden wedge suppressed, Some secret sin, offends my God; Perhaps that Babylonish vest, Self-righteousness, provokes the rod.
Ah! were I buffeted all day, Mocked, crowned with thorns, and spit upon, I yet should have no right to say, My great distress is mine alone.
Let me not angrily declare No pain was ever sharp as mine; Nor murmur at the cross I bear, But rather weep, rememb'ring Thine.