140 THE CHRISTIANS TREASURE. [SEAM. XXXVIII. rejoices. Apollos entertains me with most, affectionate discourses of the grace of Christ and his glory ; my faith rises high, my love is kindled to him whommy eyes have not seen; I believe in him, I love him, and my joy grows almost unspeakable. I remember the former in- structions of Cephas, who taught me the first principles of this divine religion ; and I take ,pleasure in those sa- cred foundations. Blessed be God, they are unshaken, andmy faith and hope, which were begun under his mi- nistry, stand for ever firm. Paul, and Apollos, and Cephas are mine. " It has pleased my heavenly Father indeed, to lay many sorrows upon me in this wilderness; but I have learned to think and speak like a christian, and say, Though I appear as dying, yet behold I live; though I am chastened, yet I am not killed : Every strokè of his rod is given by the hand of his love. His rod, like the rod ofAaron, blossoms with divine blessings, and brings forth holy fruit. " These very sorrows are sanctified to make me par- taker of his . holiness. These wounds that I feel let out the blood of pride, and cure the distempers of my soúl. Thus the very sufferings of, nature, and the sorrows of life are mine : I have learned to reckon my afflictions among my blessings; they work for my profit. Whether peace or pain, all are mine. " Besides, I solace myself in the midst of mypoverty and distress with this sweet meditation, that the less I en- joy of temporal comforts, and the delights of this world, if I improve my sufferings and sorrows well, there is the more joy and glory laid up for me in the world to come " " My light afflictions, which are but for a moment, are working for me a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory," e Cor. iv. 17. " Is my life on earth stretched out to a tiresome age? Heaven will be much the sweeter; and after many toils, I shall have the stronger relish of an eternal rest. Or does death make haste toward me in younger years, and bring my body quickly down to the dust ? My soul then is but dismissed the sooner to the building on high that is prepared for me ; for whether life. or death, all are mine. " When I cast my eyes around, and survey thepresent
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