106 THE PRACTICAL üSES [SERM. XXXVI. death and love of the Son of God, remember the price of thy forgiveness." VIII. Patience underheavy afflictions, is another di- vine lesson that we should learn from this doctrine of the atoning death of Christ ; andnot patience only, but holy joy in the midst of earthly sorrows may be derived from the same, spring. Rom. v. 1, 2, 3, 8. Being justified by faith we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, we rejoice in hope of the glory of God; and not only so, but we glory in tribulations " because God has commended his love towards us at this rate, in that while wewere yet sinners Christ died for us." Reflection. " Why then should my spirit be over- whelmed under the troubles of this life ? Surely the mercies which I enjoy are infinitely greater than all my sorrows. God has redeemed my soul from hell by the blood of his Son. Lord, I would suppress all my repining thoughts ; I am humble, I am thankful ; and though thou , visitest me with chastisements, to reduce me frommy follies, thou hast not laid on me the burden of my sins, . nor calledme to the hard and dreadful work of answer- ing the severe demands of thy broken law. This burden thy own Son has borne ; this work he has performed. " The cup of common sorrows which my heavenly Fa- ther puts into my hand, shall I not drink it !" It is not a cup of such anguish and terror as the Son of God drunk up fir my sake. Why shoulda creature saved from hell, be impatient and uneasy at any of the little sufferings which he sustains here on earth ! " This is not only a powerful argument to compose my soul to resignation under troubles, but even to raise me to holy joy. Surely he that has loved me, and has given his own Son up to death for me, does not afflict me willingly, nor grieve my spirit beyond what he sees necessary. He transacts áll his affairs with me accord- ing to that covenant of love whereby he ordained his Son to die for me; and he will bestow upon me every good thing in its proper season : " He that spared not his own Son, but gave him up to die for us, shall he not with him freely give us all things !" Rom. viii. 32. Bless the name of thy God, O my soul, let my heart be filled with thankfulness, and my lips with praise : He has distinguished thee, my soul, by peculiar blessings
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