December 31

The second is, misery. Not only "few," but "evil," says he, "have the days of the years of my life been." His history verifies the assertion. At what period was he not called to suffer, from his early leaving his father's house down to the hour when, in the anguish of his soul, he cried, "Joseph is not, and Simeon is not, and ye will take Benjamin away: all these things are against me?"

But this attribute belongs not to Jacob's life only. "Man is born to trouble, as the sparks fly upward." From this sorrowful experience none are exempted. Evil enters the palace as well as the cottage. Solomon, the happiest of mortals as to means and opportunities of enjoyment, tells us not only that "all is vanity," but "vexation of spirit." We are often tempted to discontent by comparisons; yet perhaps the very persons we envy are envying every one else. "The heart," and the heart alone, "knoweth his own bitterness." Let us not promise ourselves in life what life has never yet realized. No condition will answer a high degree of expectation.

Let us go forth into a new portion of our time, sober in our hopes with regard to creatures, but with confidence in God. If he is the rock, they are broken reeds. If he is faithfulness and truth, they, at their best estate, are altogether vanity. And that we may be prepared for all that awaits us, let us seek that grace which can sustain us in the evil hour of adversity, and turn death itself into a blessing. Without this all the evils of time will issue in the miseries of eternity.

"This seems a gloomy view of life." But is it not a true one? —Yet it is not unmingled with good, much good. Our mercies are new every morning. And it becomes us to be thankful that in a world so full of evil we have had, during the months we are closing, so many exemptions, deliverances, alleviations, and comforts.

Besides, this was not our original state, but the consequence of sin. Moral evil produced natural evil. "By one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin"—"Cursed is the ground for thy sake, in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life; thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field; in the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return."

This state too is not our final one—unless we choose to make it so. The Gospel places within our view, and within our reach, regions of perfect blessedness, where it shall be said, "The Lord hath taken away thy judgments, he hath cast out thine enemy: the king of Israel, even the Lord, is in the midst of thee: thou shalt not see evil any more."

Nor should it be forgotten that the evils of life themselves are rendered useful. What is the effect of sin is also "the fruit to take away sin." The world, even as it now is, is capable of seducing the heart—What would it be if it presented nothing but attraction and indulgence? This changes the aspect of our condition; and not only prevents despondence and murmuring, but enables us to say, it is good for me that I have been afflicted. O how the suffering of the present time endears the Scripture! The throne of grace! The sympathy of Jesus! The glory to be revealed!

—Here is one alleviation more. If the days of our pilgrimage be VOL. II. 30

"evil," they are "few." The brevity corrects the bitterness. The fight may be severe, but the warfare will soon be accomplished. The road may be rough, and the weather stormy, but our Father's house -our home is at hand! "God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away." AMEN.

THE END.