579 / 674
DISC.
X4:]
AND
JOY AT TIIE
RESURRECTION.
559
Why
is
my life
prolonged
in
sorrow
?
Why
are
my
days
-lengthened
out to
see
further
wretchedness
?
Methinks
"
the
grave should
be
ready for
íne,
and
the house
appointed
for all the living
;"
Job
xvii.
1.
xxx.
23_
What
can
I
do
further
for
God or
for man here
on
earth,
since my
nature
pines
away with
painful
sickness, my
nerves
are unstrung,
my
spirits dissipated,
and
my
best
powers
of
acting'
are
infeebled and almost lost
?
Peace,
peace,
O
thou complaining
spirit; Dost
thou
know
the
counsels
of
the
Almighty,
and
the
secret
designs
of
thy
God,
and thy
Saviour`?
He
has
many deep and unknown
purposes
in
continuing
his
children amidst heavy
-sor-
rows, which
they can never
penetrate or learn
in
this
world. Silence
and
submission becomes thee
at
all
times.
"
Father, not
my
will
but
thy
will be
done;"
Luke
xxii.
42.
And
let it
be
hinted
to
thee, O
my
soul,
that
it
is
much more
honourable
to
be weary
of
this
life,
because
of
the
sin's
and temptations
of
it,
than because
of
the toils
and sorrows
that
attend
it.
If
we
must
"
groan
in
this
tabernacle
being
burdened
;"
2 Cor.
v..4.
let the
snares,
and
the dangers,
and
the defilements
of
it
be
the
chief
springs
of
thy groaning
and
the
warmest motives to
re-
quest
a release. God
loves to
see his
people more afraid
of
sin
than'of
sorrow.
If
thy
corruptions are
so
strong,
and the
temptations
of
life so
unhappily surround
thee,
that thou
art
daily
crying out,
""
Who
shall
deliver
thee,
from
the body
of
sin
and death
;"
Rom.
vii:
24: then
thou
mayest
mòre honourably
send up
a
wish
to
heaven,
O
that
I had
the
wings
of
a dove,
that
I
might
fly
away
'and
be
at
rest
1"
Ps.
lv.
6.
0
that
God
would hide
me in
the
grave from
my
prevailing iniquities, and
from
the
ruffling
and disquieting
influence
Of
my own
follies and
my daily:
temptations
1
B
t never
be
thou
quite
weary
of
doing or szifferingthe
will
of
thy
heavenly
Father, though
he should
continue
thee
in this
mortal
life
a length
of
years beyond thy desires,
and
should-
withhold thee from
his
secret
place
of retreat
and
rest.
A
constant and joyful readiness
at
the call
of
God
to
depart'
Bence,
with
a cheerful patience
to
continue
-here
during
his
.
pleasure,
is
the most perfect
and blessed.
temper
that
a
christian
can
arrive
at:
It
gives
God
the
highest glory,
and
keeps the soul
in
the sweetest
peace.