been visited with affliction in body or mind, or in their circumstances, or not unfrequently in all combined; but God has supported and comforted them, and in his own and best time and way, has sent salvation. But David was now in trouble; perhaps from the jealousy, envy, and malignity of Saul, who "hunted him as a partridge on the mountains,' and cruelly sought after his life. Still, even in our day, it is true that "all who will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution." The truly godly are conversant both with outward and with inward troubles. "The Holy Ghost," said the apostle, "witnesseth that bonds and afflictions await me in every city; but none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto me, so that I may finish my course with joy, and the work given me to do." The primitive Christians encountered persecutions of every kind; but from the divine consolations which they experienced, they triumphed in their afflictions, taking joyfully the spoiling of their goods, reckoning that they had in heaven a better and a more enduring substance.”

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All the servants of God experience great inward trials; "Without," said the apostle, were conflicts, and within were fears." Every one of them is in danger from the crafty and malignant foe, who desired to have Peter "that he might sift him as wheat." Almighty Redeemer, prevalent Intercessor, pray for us, that " our faith may not fail." And who is there of the family of Jesus, who is not daily conscious of a conflict similar to that which the apostle has so feelingly described in the seventh chapter of the Epistle to the Romans? who have not in the bitterness of their spirit exclaimed, "When I would do good evil is present with me! O wretched man that I am, who shall deliver me from the body of this death?" Yet, adored be the riches of Immanuel's grace, the believer is conscious of some bright moments when he can say, "I thank God through Jesus Christ my Lord."

The psalmist said, he was heavily afflicted. "I am afflicted very much," was his painful language. When David penned the text, he, most likely, was in the depths of trial. This was the case often through his life; it was so when he wrote the 130th psalm, and he has recorded his experience on many similar occasions. It was so when he said, "The sorrows of death compassed me, and the floods of ungodly men made me afraid. In my distress I called upon the Lord, and cried unto my God; he heard my voice out of his temple, and my cry came before him, even into his ears. He bowed the heavens and came down; he sent from above, he took me. he drew me out of the great waters he brought me forth also into a large place, he delivered me because he delighted in me."

He was in "these depths" when he wrote the forty-second psalm; when he said "My tears have been my meat day and night, while they continually say unto me, Where is thy God? O my God, my soul is cast down within me deep calleth unto deep, at the noise of thy water-spouts, all thy waves and thy breakers have gone over me. Why art thou cast down, O my soul, and why are thou disquieted within me; hope thou in God, for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance and my God."

David was in "these depths," out of which none but God could deliver him, when he wrote the fortieth psalm. "I waited," says he, "patiently for the Lord, and he inclined unto me and heard my cry; he brought me up also out of the horrible pit, and out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings; and he hath put a new song into my mouth, even praise unto our God. Many shall see it and fear, and shall trust in the Lord.”

He was in "these depths," out of which none but God could deliver him, when Israel's monarch pursued him with inveterate hatred, and in moments of depression and unbelief, he exclaimed, "I shall one day fall by the hand of mine enemy."

He was in "these depths" when he fled from his wicked and unnatural son, and went up Mount Olivet barefoot and weeping; and when, from a heart almost broken, having heard of the death of the wretched rebel, he cried out with anguish of spirit, "O my son, Absalom! my son, my son Absalom! would God I had died for thee, O Absalom, my son, my son !"

All the family of God need discipline; some valuable ends are to be answered by the severest afflictions of the righteous. The Lord sees," says an excellent man, referring to his afflictions, "that I am such a rough hewn stone, that I need a vast deal of hacking and hewing to fit me for a place in the spiritual building." "You have given strong medicine to my relative,' said a person to the medical attendant. "Yes," said he, "his case is desperate; and no common remedy will reach it." And such is our depravity, pride, rebellion, unbelief, and ingratitude, that the medicine which reaches our case must be allpowerful; and, blessed be God, he loves his children too well to withhold that which will be for their welfare.

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Jonah was in "these depths" of trouble. God said to him, “Go to Nineveh, and preach what I bid thee." "No," said the disobedient prophet, "I will not ;" and he went in an opposite direction down to Tarshish. And he was so foolish and depraved, as to imagine that God would know nothing about his wilful disobedience; but God knew all about it, and sent a tempest after him to compel him to return into the right way. And he accomplished the work so effectually, that he became willing to be anything, and to do anything which the Lord pleased, and to go anywhere whither he should order him. When God speaks, he can bow the proudest shoulders that will not submit to his yoke; or he can with infinite ease break the neck that will not bow before him. "Be wise now, therefore, O ye kings; be instructed, O ye judges of the earth. Kiss the son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled yea but a little.. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him.”

God's people were very much afflicted," and in the deep waters, when, by "the rivers of Babylon they sat down, yea they wept when they remembered Zion. They hanged their harps upon the willows; for they that carried them away captive required of them a song, aud they that wasted them required mirth, saying, Sing us one of the songs of Zion. How," said they, "shall we sing the Lord's song in a strange

land!" The servants of God have all found the world to be a large wilderness; but they are on their pilgrimage out of it, and shall certainly arrive at their Father's house in glory.

وو

God's people "were very much afflicted" in the time of the prophet Isaiah, when" Zion said, the Lord hath forsaken me, and my Lord hath forgotten me !" But was it so? No, God has engaged by "oaths, and promises, and blood," the blood of the everlasting covenant, "ordered in all things and sure,' that he will never leave nor forsake his people. Nay, at this moment, when the Church used this desponding language, God regarded her with more than the fondness of a tender mother; "Can a woman," said he, "forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? Yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee. Behold! I have graven thee on the palms of my hands.". hands." "O," said the church, "Is it so? Then sing, O heavens, and be joyful, O earth; and break forth into singing, O mountains for the Lord hath comforted his people, and will have mercy on his afflicted."

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Job was "afflicted very much." The Sabeans fell upon the oxen, and drove them from the land; the Chaldeans rushed upon the camels, and made them their prey; and they "slew the servants with the edge of the sword," so that only one escaped to bear the sad tidings. At that trying moment, a whirlwind from the wilderness smote his house, and it fell, and all his family were crushed in the general ruin. And the great enemy took such advantage of these painful circumstances, that he induced him to curse the day of his birth. Yet his faith did not fail; he fell prostrate on the ground, and worshipped, and said, "The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord!" And after this he was "afflicted very much," when he said, "O that my grief were weighed; it would be heavier than the sand! The arrows of the Almighty are within me, the poison whereof drinketh up my spirits." Yet his faith kept him from sinking, even in this extremity; "Though he slay me," he exclaimed, "yet will I trust in him.".

The primitive Christians were "afflicted very much;" they endured a great fight of affliction." Yet they gave utterance to the triumphant language, "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulations, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us." Whatever view we take of the history of God's afflicted people, it is evident that, collectively and individually, it is "through much tribulation they must enter the kingdom of God." But every one of them shall enter it; the feeblest, the most despised, the unworthiest, shall enter it. Infinite love and faithfulness are combined to complete the mighty work of his grace :—

"And ills of every shape, and every name,
Transformed to blessings, lose their cruel aim;
And every moment's transport in the breast,
Is given in earnest of eternal rest."

Q

But let us notice secondly, the psalmist's prayer; "Quicken me, O Lord." It is a short prayer, but full of meaning; God does not hear any for their much or fine speaking. You see, the psalmist betook himself to prayer; "Prayer," says Mr. Henry, "is a salve for every sore." He followed the good old practice, while others went from creature to creature, of going to God; he was a true son of wrestling Jacob. This is one design of affliction-it is a messenger to summons us to the mercy-seat; and it is good, or otherwise with us, as we are often there. When comfort cannot be gained anywhere else, it has been found in communion with God. The prophet knew this sentiment to be true in his own experience, "Although," said he, "the fig-tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herds in the stall; yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation."

It is observable, that he does not pray for deliverance. Though he was very much afflicted," he was not only willing still to be in trouble if it seemed good to God, but even so long as he pleased. He wished his afflictions to be sanctified, much more than he desired their removal. He was very willing to endure the heat of the furnace, so that he might be benefitted by the process, and, in God's good time, come forth as gold.

"Quicken me, O Lord;" let my troubles answer thy gracious design; let the fruit be to embitter every sin. Cure me of my wanderings from thee; forsaking "broken cisterns," help me to come primarily and perpetually to thyself, the over, and ever-flowing fountain of living waters; for

"Where can such sweetness be

As I have tasted in thy love,

As I have found in thee."

Quicken me, O Lord." Give me a more lively apprehension of eternal things. Daily and hourly experience convinces me, that I am inordinately attached to creatures, and creature good, and too unmindful of the solemn realities which await me. Let my best affections be set on things above; may the great truth be ever present with me, that "the things which are seen are temporal, and the things that are not seen are eternal." Let me not be permitted to loiter in the wilderness, unmindful of my Father's house; rather would I " 'forget the things that are behind, and press to those that are before, for the prize of my high calling of God in Christ Jesus."

وو

Quicken me, O Lord." Then as my "afflictions abound, my consolations will abound also;" notwithstanding my trials, "Waiting on thee, let me renew my strength, mount up as on eagle's wings, run in thy ways without weariness, and walk in them without fainting.' Quicken me, O Lord." Let me be humbled under a consciousness of my unprofitableness and depravity. Let the experience of thy servant be mine, who said, "I have heard of thee by the hearing of the

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ear, but now mine eye seeth thee; I repent, and abhor myself in dust and ashes.

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Quicken me, O Lord." Let me know that all thy dealings with me, however trying, are in love; come and visit me in my sorrows; manifest thyself unto me as thou dost not unto the world; give me some tokens that I am a child of thine. Let thy Spirit witness with my spirit, that I belong to thee; then, though "afflicted very much," I shall sing

""Tis my happiness below,

Not to live without the cross;
But the Saviour's power to know,
Sanctifying every loss:
Trials must and will befal,

But with humble faith to see,
LOVE inscribed upon them all,

This is happiness to me."

'Quicken me, O Lord." More and more endear to me the precious promises of the everlasting covenant, "ordered in all things and sure." "Quicken me, O Lord." Brighten my prospects of heavenly felicity; let my path be like that of the just, "which shineth more and more unto the perfect day." Though "afflicted very much," give me to see my way through my afflictions, and out of them into the blessed state where the happy inhabitant never saith, "I am sick," and where "the weary are at rest!" then I shall smile at my troubles; and heavy as they are to nature, faith shall sweetly exclaim, "These light afflictions are but for a moment, and they work out a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory." Consider

III. The psalmist's plea, "Quicken me, according to thy word." David's Bible was but a small one, but he loved it; yea, more than thousands of gold and of silver;" it was sweeter to him than honey, or the droppings of the honeycomb. We never hear him saying, O how I love my crown! O how I love my throne! O how I love my palace! No; but he often cries out, "O how I love thy law !" no doubt there were some parts of it, which he had an eye to, and which he pleaded before God in his afflictions; and there are many parts of God's blessed word which a godly man may now plead at a throne of mercy. May he not say,

And

"Quicken me" under my trials according to the examples of thy word. I have an account of many there who went astray from thy ways before they were afflicted, but who afterwards kept thy statutes; O let it be so with me! I read of some, Lord, in thy word, in reference to whom, "Tribulations wrought patience, and patience experience, and experience hope;" and hope made not ashamed, for the love of God was shed abroad in their hearts by the Holy Ghost. Lord, let it be so with me.

Quicken," revive, strengthen, and comfort me in my troubles, according to the blessed promises of thy word. Hast thou not said, "Thy shoes shall be iron and brass, and as thy days thy strength shall be ?" Hast thou not bade me cast my burden on thee, with the assurance that thou wilt sustain it? Hast thou not declared that the waters