December 14

"I will say unto God, Do not condemn me." Joshua 10:2.

He could have resolved on nothing better in his affliction than betaking himself to God. It was turning to him that smote him, and resembling the child who, when corrected by the mother, always clings to her knee. We are too fond of taking our complaints to men; but

"Were half the breath thus vainly spent, To heaven in supplication rent, Our cheerful cry would oftener be, Hear what the Lord has done for me!"

If I weep, says Job, "mine eye poureth out tears unto God;" and if I speak, "I will say unto God"—

But what does he say? "Do not condemn me." Now there was no real ground for this fear. There is no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus. Their sins once pardoned, if sought for, shall never be found. And their afflictions, however distressing, have nothing penal in them; they are only like the fire to the gold, and pruning to the vine, and medicine to the patient, and correction to the child. We are chastened of the Lord, that we may not be condemned with the world.

But the language implies that he knew God could charge him with guilt enough to condemn him, if he should deal with him after his desert. And every child of God feels this. In reviewing even the most innocent periods of his life, and the devoutest services in which he was ever engaged, he exclaims, "Enter not into judgment with thy servant, O Lord; for in thy sight shall no flesh living be justified."

It shows us also, that a child of God is prone to fear the displeasure of God in his afflictions. The people of the world as we see in the case of the barbarians with regard to Paul's viper, and the caution of our Lord with regard to the mea on whom the tower of Siloam fell—deem their fellow-creatures sinners because they suffer such things. And though we are much more disposed to judge others by this erroneous rule than ourselves, yet there is something in calamity, says Madame de Stael, that tends to make all minds superstitious. We would rather say, that tends to revive the remembrance of a moral providence, and the belief of a connection between sin and punishment. And this is more the case when afflictions are sudden and unlooked for, and great and repeated, or have any thing that looks peculiar in them. And even good minds have not been able always to resist such impressions and conclusions. Gideon said, "If the Lord be with us, why then is all this evil befallen us?" And the pious widow of Zarephath, upon the loss of her child, "said unto Elijah, What have I to do with thee, O thou man of God? art thou come unto me to call my sin to remembrance, and to slay my son?" The poet tells us, and very truly, "Behind a frowning providence, He hides a smiling face;" but he does hide it. The frown is visible enough—sense can see this; but the smile can only be apprehended by faith; and whose faith is always in exercise?

We may also remark, that gracious souls deprecate nothing so much as censure from God. Therefore they say unto God, "Do not condemn me. To any thing else I bow. But I cannot bear exclusion from thee. Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none on earth I desire besides thee. Thy loving-kindness is better than life. In thy presence all my happiness is placed. Use the rod of a father, but let me not feel the sentence of the judge. Correct me, but do not abandon me. Cast me not away from thy presence, and take not thy Holy Spirit from me."

Nothing can relieve the gloom of a follower of God but the light of his countenance. Nothing can make melody in his troubled conscience but the sound, "Go in peace; thy sins be forgiven thee." O seek such an assurance of divine favor before the evil days come, wherein you will say, we have no pleasure in them. If trouble—and man is born to trouble as the sparks fly upward: if trouble—and you are not for a moment secure—should fall upon you before you have a good hope through grace that God is pacified towards you, your condition will be the most pitiable. You must either stupefy the mind with Satan's opiates, or faint in the day of adversity.

And let those who have it, preserve and cherish this sense of divine favor and acceptance. Beware of grieving the Holy Spirit of God. Beware not only of sin, but of the world. Beware of sloth and sleep. Christian slept, and lost his rell out of his bosom. And while Saul slept, he was deprived of his spear and his cruse. When trouble comes, you should not have to seek what, above all things, you want immediately to use. Without his smiles, even in prosperity your comforts will not cheer you; but in adversity, without his approbation, how heavily will every stroke fall, and how deeply will every wound be felt.

Let me know always that He is near that justifieth me; that all is well with my soul and for eternity; that he will support me under my burden; that, though he afflicts me, he loves me, and afflicts me because he loves me; and I will say, "Here I am; let him do what seemeth him good."