July 26

Though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness. - 1 Peter 1:6.

HERE the apostle reminds us of the expediency of our afflictions. Nothing befalls us by chance, especially as to our afflictions. The Lord does “not afflict willingly, nor grieve the children of men.” There are purposes which he aims to accomplish; there are reasons for these various afflictions. “If need be,” says he. But, First, Who is to be the judge of this necessity? Why not we ourselves? No; we are poor, blind, short-sighted creatures; we cannot discern what will be good for us a month hence, nor a year hence; we cannot distinguish, in many things, between appearances and realities. How often have we been deceived, in passing through life, both by our hopes and our fears! We have desired things which would have proved our mischief if we had gained them; and we have endeavoured to shun things which after a while we found to be some of our chief mercies,-reasons, these, why we should “trust in the Lord with all our heart, and lean not to our own understanding.”

Who is to be the judge of this necessity? Why, God, whose understanding is infinite, who cannot, therefore, err; whose goodness is boundless, who cannot, therefore, injure those who commit the keeping of themselves to him. He “sees the end from the beginning.” He knows now what will be good for us thirty years hence, if we live so long; yea, he knows what will be good for us in eternal ages. He knows how to distinguish between appearances and realities; and, therefore,-

“Who so wise to choose our lot,

Or regulate our ways?”

And how should we be disposed to say, “The Lord shall choose our inheritance for us”! But, again, there is another question to be asked:-What is the need itself of which the apostle speaks, and which is to be determined by our heavenly Father, whose judgment is always according to truth? Why, we have the same need of “being in heaviness through manifold temptations” as the gold and silver has of the furnace; the same need as the vine has of the pruning-knife; the same need as the ground has of the ploughshare, to prepare it for the reception of the seed; the same need as the patient has of the disagreeable medicine; the same need as the child has for the restraints of the rod. Or, to lay aside figure, there are various purposes which these trials are to accomplish. There is a needs-be, sometimes, in the way of correction. There are follies that require the rod in the Christian. And there is a needs-be for them arising from prevention. Paul was not proud as yet, but there was danger of it; and the “thorn in the flesh” was given him, the messenger of Satan to buffet him, lest he should be exalted above measure. Such a creature has been removed from us: we had not idolized it, but God saw we were just going to kneel, and therefore he removed it. “Our hearts,” says Young, (and it is very true,)-

“Our hearts are fasten’d to the world

By various and strong ties;

But every trouble cuts a string

And urges us to rise.”

And for incitement; that our trials and afflictions may induce us to say, “Arise and depart, because this is not your rest.” The “needs-be” is sometimes for the purpose also of producing usefulness, of enabling us to sympathize with others in their trouble, to “weep with them that weep.” And, above all, that we may be conformed to our Lord and Saviour; for a suffering head must have suffering members too