May 19

And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also.—Romans 5:3.

THINK with yourselves how pleasant it is to have spirits got into this frame and posture, that we can really count it matter of joy to fall into afflictions. Oh think, I say, how pleasant it is! For how happy are those persons, who when they have a prospect of great evils before them, are yet not afraid of them! and certainly we shall not be afraid of that, which we have an actual disposition to rejoice in. In such a case we shall be under the pressure of no very tormenting fear. "They that hearken to me," saith Wisdom, "shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from the fear of evil." He that has got to this pitch, who can glory in tribulations, is arrived already to a safe dwelling: he hath so hid himself in the Divine presence, that he is secure from the fear of evil. No evil can ever reach him.

And consider again, that this is the only way we have to make any good or advantage of a matter that is bad in itself and in its own nature. For let us a little recount ourselves. I believe there are few among us, if any, that have not some prospect, more or less, of troublesome days a coming; a very afflictive condition. Pray what shall we do in this case, if we will not do those things that tend to bring us into a capacity of making this judgment our own, in reference to our own concernments! What have we else to do! Would we busy our thoughts how any such condition may be prevented? Shall that be our concern? Shall we try if we can stop the sun, or alter the course of the stars? Do we think to change the external posture of the world? That is, alas! a hopeless thought, a vain attempt.

But we have a nearer and a possible thing to do, namely, to get the temper of our own spirits altered; brought off from this world; pitched upon another and a better world. We have no other course to take. Let us then drive the nail that will go. We have hopes that we may alter our spirits if we will employ our power so to do, but we can not change the times and the seasons. That is our province and business. We have work to do here. We have a superintendency over our own spirits; here we are authorized; God puts us upon it to see our own spirits, that if they be earthly, we may endeavor to get them made heavenly; if impure, holy; if dead, lively; if vain, serious. This is our own proper business. So that as our case is, our circumstances are: We can not hope to avoid suffering, our business therefore is to avoid suffering uncomfortably; this, I say, is our great business. To avoid suffering we can not reasonably hope, though we should resolve to make shipwreck of faith and a good conscience. For do we think that all such persons that do so are secure from suffering? It is a remarkable passage we have in St. Paul's first epistle to the Corinthians. "There hath no temptation befallen you, but such as is common to men." That is one consideration. Another is, "But God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above what you are able." It is the former I would now speak to: "No temptation hath befallen you, but such as is common to men." As if he had said, You are liable to afflictions as you are men, not merely as you are Christians; so that you can not certainly save yourselves from them, though you should abjure your Christianity. For what can a man be safe from, that is common to man? These afflictions follow humanity. Are Christians the only men that are poor? that are crossed? or in a prison? If a man be a man, reckon only so, he is liable on that account to these things. Therefore, I say, since we have no way in the world to secure us from suffering, our great concern is to labor that we may suffer in the most comfortable way we can; so as that when it comes to be our lot, we may be capable of counting it all joy. And then we are a thousand times upon better terms, than if we were sure never to feel affliction; for that is only an external good; but the other is a spiritual good. And these are to be estimated according to the capacity and condition of the subject. I hope my flesh, my body, is not capable of so much hurt, as my spirit is of good. To be freed from afflictions, it is true, would be the advantage of the outward man; but to be able to bear them rejoicingly is an advantage to the soul; a thing capable of greater good than my outward man is capable of.

"Then shall my cheerful spirit sing The darksome hours away, And rise on faith's expanded wing, To everlasting day."