God, by afflictions, often fits us for greater degrees of grace which He is going to bestow.

Though I suffer, yet I am well, because I am what God would have me to be.

Lord, do not permit my trials to be above my strength, and do Thou vouchsafe to be my strength and comfort in the time of trial.

Grant, O Lord, that I may never be wanting to the cause of truth, nor expose it by any indiscretion, or unseasonable transports of zeal.

Jesus Christ avoids persecution.*

To suffer for

righteousness' sake is well pleasing to God; but then it must be done according to the appointment of God, not out of a proud zeal.

Give me grace to take in good part whatever shall befall me, and let my heart acknowledge it to be the Lord's doing, and to come from thy providence, and not by chance.

God makes use of afflictions-sometimes by way of prevention; "lest I should be exalted," said St. Paul; to reform them; "before I was afflicted, I went astray;" to perfect them; patience, courage, submission to the will of God, are graces not so much as understood by people who meet with no adversities; "we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God;" to prove men, and show them for examples; if a man had no enemies, how could he show his charity in forgiving them?

Never consider so much the instrument of your

John vii. 1. † 2 Cor. xii. &c.

Psalm cxix.

Acts xiv. 22.

afflictions as the meaning of the good providence of God in these things.

Afflictions are no marks of God's displeasure. Jesus loved Mary and Lazarus, yet they were both afflicted.-John xi. 5.

Punishment is due to sin. We must be punished here or hereafter; it is the cause of all afflictions, and designed by our gracious God to bring us to repentance.

Prosperity is a most dangerous state; we fancy it is owing to our merit, and it is followed with pride, neglect of duty, fearlessness.

It is happy for us when God counts us worthy to suffer for His name's sake; to contend with Satan, as Job did, and be able, through God's grace, to overcome so powerful a spirit.

Afflictions, undergone with resignation, are the great test of our love of God; when we love Him, then He chastens us. May God sanctify all our afflictions to us all.

May I receive every thing from Thy hand with patience and with joy!

Remember me, O God, in the day of trouble. Secure me, by Thy grace, from all excess of fear, concern, and sadness.

Let the afflictions I meet with be in some measure serviceable towards the appeasing of Thy wrath. Let them prove the happy occasion of forwarding my conversion and salvation.

TEMPTATION.

We are exposed to temptation all our days. Men are never more dangerously tempted, than when they think themselves secure from temptation. This is a

proof of the power the devil has over them.

We tempt God when we expose ourselves unnecessarily to dangers, through a false confidence of his

assistance.

DESPAIR.

HOPE.

Grant, O God, that, amidst all the discouragements, difficulties, dangers, distress, and darkness of this mortal life, I may depend upon Thy mercy, and on this build my hopes, as on a sure foundation.

Let Thine infinite mercy in Christ Jesus deliver me from despair, both now and at the hour of death.

RESIGNATION.

Grant that I may receive the punishment of my sins with patience and resignation.

Give me, O God, a heart to consider, that man could have no power against me, unless it were given from above.*

John xix. 11.

ENEMIES.

A Christian should not discover that he has ene

than to others.

mies any other way than by doing more good to them "If thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink." He will therefore be careful not to lose such occasions.

O Jesu! whose charity all the malice of Thy bitterest enemies could not overcome, shed abroad in my heart that most excellent gift of charity, the very bond of peace, and of all virtues.

Rejoice not over thy greatest enemy being dead; but remember that we die all."-Ecclus. viii. 7. Our enemies are our benefactors, procuring for us a new right to heaven.

I

cause.

pray

God convert all those who hate us without

I beseech Thee for my enemies, not for vengeance, but for mercy; that Thou wouldst change their hearts by Thy grace, or restrain their malice by Thy power.

IN TIME OF WAR.

O sovereign Lord! Who for our sins art justly displeased, I prostrate myself before Thee, confessing my own sin and the sin of this people; acknowledging the justice of any scourge which Thou shalt think fit to bring upon us; and trembling to think how much I may have contributed toward it.

Thou hast already spoken to us both by Thy judgments and mercies, both by the scarcity and plenty of bread; and we have not regarded it. Thou hast taken away the lives of many, very many, in their very sins, by which numerous widows and fatherless children have been left miserable.

The sins of whoredom and drunkenness; of swearing, lying, and perjury; of litigiousness, injustice, defrauding the public, and sacrilege, are made light of.

The sins of impiety, of profaneness, of despising the means of grace and salvation, are too common amongst us.

What shall we say, to prevail with God to avert the judgments which these sins deserve?

God be merciful unto us, and put a stop to this torrent of wickedness; put Thy fear into all our hearts, that we may return to Thee; that we may repent, and bring forth fruit meet for repentance; and that iniquity may not be our ruin.

May the dread of Thy now threatened judgments deter us from evil; may Thy goodness and patience lead us to repentance; weaken the power of Satan ; take from among us the spirit of slumber, of ignorance, and inconsideration.

Let every one of us see and feel the plague of his own heart, and say, "What have I done to bring these evils upon us?" So that bringing forth fruits answerable to amendment of life, we may escape Thy judgment now hanging over us; and above all, Thy judgment against sinners in the world to