DISCOURSE XI. 239 the wilderness among many trials, darknesses and distresses. He has stripped thee perhaps of one comfort after another, and thy friends and relatives in succession are called down to the dust they are released from their conflicts, and are placed far out of the reach of every temptation ; and it is not thy business to pre- scribe to God at what hour he shall release thee also. Whenso- ever he is pleased to call ,thee to lay down thy flesh in the dust, and to enter into God's hiding- place, meet thou the summons with holy courage, satisfaction and joy, enter into the chamber of rest till all the days of sin, sorrow and wretchedness are overpas- sed : Lie down there in a waiting frame, and commit thy flesh to his care and keeping, till the hour in which he has appointed thy glorious change." I.V. " The lively view of a happy resurrection, and a well- grounded hope of this blessed change, is a solid and divine com- fort to the saints of God, under all trials of every kind both in life and death." The faith and hope of a joyful rising- day has supported the children of God under long distresses and huge agonies of sorrow which they sustain here. It is the expectation of this desirable day that animates the soul with vigour and life to fulfil every painful and dangerous duty. It is for this we ex- pose ourselves to the bitter reproaches and persecutions of the wicked world ; it is for this that we conflict with all our adversa- ries on earth, and all the powers of darkness that are sent from hell to annoy us ; it is this joyful expectation that bears up our spirits under every present burden and calamity of life. What could we do in such a painful and dying world, or how could we bear with patience the long fatigues of such a wretched life, if we had no hope of rising again from the dead ? Surely we are the most miserable of all men in the days of public persecution, if we had hope only in this life, t Cor. xv. 19. It is for this that we labour, and suffer, and endure whatsoever bur heavenly Father is pleased to lay upon us. It is this confirms our fortitude, and makes as stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, for as much os we know that our labour shall not be in vain in the Lord, t Cor. xv. 58. It is this that enables us to bear the loss of our dearest friends with patience and hope, and assuages the smart of our sharpest sorrows : For since we be- lieve that Jesus died and rose again, so we rejoice in hope that they which sleep in Jesus shall be brought with him at his return, and shall appear in brighter and more glorious circumstances than ever our eyes were blessed with here on earth, 1 Thes. iv. 13, 14. This teaches us to triumph over death and the grave in divine language, O death, where is thy sting ? O grave, where is thy victory t 1 Cor. xv-. 55. Reflection. " What are thy chief burdens, O my soul ? Whence are all thy sighs and thy daily greetings ? What are thy
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