March 12

"Surely it is meet to be said unto God, I have borne chastisement, I will not offend any more, that which I see not, teach thou me: If I have done iniquity, I will do no more."—Job 34:31, 32.

THE third petition in our Lord's prayer is soon uttered, but not easily felt—"Thy will be done." It is more difficult to suffer than to do the will of God; to lie passive at his feet, than to engage in the active duties of religion. We have before us part of Elihu's advice to Job in his afflictions. The sentiments it contains are worthy our notice.

LET US EXPLAIN THEM. Here are four things.

It is the language of submission. The word chastisement is in italics, which shows that it is not in the original; we may therefore refer this act of submission to any of those crosses with which the Almighty visits us. We should desire not so much the removal of the stroke, as the sanctification of the trial.

It is the language of confession. This is implied rather than expressed. "I will not offend any more." God shows us our sinfulness in our sufferings. Some will not be brought to the full confession of their guilt without the fiery trial of affliction.

It is the language of promise. "If I have done iniquity, I will do no more." Thus when the parent corrects the disobedient child, he not only requires of him a confession of his faults, but a promise of future good behavior.

It is the language of desire. "That which I see not, teach thou me." Prayer is like an arrow that pierces the dark clouds of affliction, and makes them break, with blessings, on the Christian's head; but the arrow will fall to the ground, unless the bow is strung and bent in a dependence on the power of the Spirit. Our afflictions are sent for our instruction. There are many things that we see not in the light of prosperity, but which are clearly discovered in the darkness of adversity. Christ has no disciple that is not introduced into the school of affliction.

LET US ENFORCE THEM. The propriety of such a course will appear

When we consider our deserts. Should the sinner complain because he is a sufferer? Is it meet for the disobedient child to upbraid his father when he is correcting him for his faults?

When we consider God's designs. It is not for his pleasure, but our profit, that he afflicts us. Look at his power; who can resist him?—his sovereignty; who can question the order of his arrangements?—his wisdom; who can dispute it? The axe might be laid to the root in justice, but the pruning knife is applied to the branch in mercy. It is a true sentiment, that God orders all his blackest providences in the world, like dark clouds, to be the watering-pots of the garden of his church, that the fruits and flowers of it may be brought to maturity.