July 7

PART II.—Malachi 3:3.

WE have said, that Christ refines his people by his truth, by his Spirit, and by afflictions. It is by afflictions, that many of the graces are matured, and that the soul is conformed to the suffering Redeemer. Hence it is written, "tribulation worketh patience, and patience experience, and experience hope; and hope maketh not ashamed." And again, "if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together." As the refiner, Christ possesses every requisite qualification, necessary for the work. His skill is infinite: he knows the nature of his materials. What they should lose, in what they are deficient, and what is requisite for their complete salvation. Then his experience is extensive. He has suffered, and knows the nature of every variety of affliction to which we are exposed. Poverty, reproach, tribulation, anguish, and death itself, were all endured by himself. Then his tenderness is unbounded. He not only knows the true nature of our sorrows, but he is "touched with the feeling of our infirmities." The attack of Saul upon the primitive christians, was felt by Jesus, when he said "Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me:" His tenderness being such, he will not allow our sufferings to be injurious, nor our temptations to be stronger than we are able to bear, nor will he ever leave us to the scorching influences of the fires, but when we are tried, bring us forth as gold. It is said, "he shall sit as a refiner," that is, he shall watch the whole process; he shall heat, or cool the furnace as circumstances require, and when he beholdeth the design accomplished, and his own image clearly reflected, he will then bestow the crown of glory that fadeth not away.