CHAPTER III. HOW AFFLICTION SHOULD BE RECEIVED. SOME receive affliction as if they deserved a different treatment from God. They murmur at it. It chafes and irritates them. Like "a bullock unaccustomed to the yoke," they will not bend their neck. This must be wrong; for shall we receive good at the hands of God, and not evil? If chastisement is our portion, must it not be well for us? Others again receive it with unconcern, as something they must put up with as best they can. They look upon it simply as a misfortune, which is to be borne because it cannot be avoided. This too must be wrong. A true Christian will receive affliction with Submission. It is his Father's doing; and therefore he quietly submits. It comes from Him, and must therefore be well. He feels that there is a needs-be for it. What a sweet pillow is this, on which to rest his weary head! He cannot, perhaps, see why it is needful; but he acknowledges that it must be right, and that what he "knows not now,' he will know hereafter." It is a voice of love; and he is ready to exclaim with Samuel, "Speak, Lord, for thy servant heareth." I can give you no better prayer than that contained in the well-known hymn, which is given at the end of this book Renew my will from day to day, We should receive our Affliction too with Patience. St. Paul says that "tribulation worketh patience." This ought to be its effect upon us; and this will be its effect, if God blesses it to us. Sometimes patience can be learnt in no other school. We are taught in the chambers of sickness and suffering, what we cannot learn elsewhere. What precept and example fail to teach us, affliction sometimes will. You are now called to patient, humble suffering. Others may be called to do much for God; you are called to suffer. Your duty is to be still. This is your work now. heavenly Father allots it to you. And, be assured, you may glorify C Your Him quite as much by your patience, as you could do by the most active service. Oh then, submit to this wholesome discipline; and pray that it may tame, and subdue, and chasten you, leading you to bear without a murmur whatever your heavenly Father shall lay upon you. Our affliction should humble us. The people of Nineveh humbled themselves in their trial. Job said, "I have heard of Thee by the hearing of the ear; but now mine eye seeth Thee; wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes." David says, "I was dumb, and opened not my mouth, for it was thy doing." Even proud Nebuchadnezzar was for a while laid low. And we Christians are exhorted to "humble ourselves under the mighty hand of God." Surely, if anything will bring down our high thoughts, and set us upon our right level, it is sickness. You may, perhaps, hitherto have prided yourself on your strength, or your appearance. What are they now that you are wasted by sickness? Or you have perhaps been inclined to boast of your learning. learning. But can learning relieve your pains, or help you to meet death? It is utterly powerless on such occasions. Or, again, you may have been lifted up by riches. But how miserably poor we seem, when God's chastening hand is upon us! Fall down then before God, and say, "Naked came I into the world, and naked shall I return. The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away blessed be the name of the Lord." But I must go even further still, |