Sivut kuvina
PDF
ePub

they cannot go into excess. A certain composedness and tranquillity of spirit beyond what would be the case were the mind abandoned to the impulses of mere emotion, and a certain fixedness of purpose, which could not be manifested, were it not that a ruling principle still holds and asserts its sovereignty amidst the tumult of excited passions, are manifest characteristics of the grace of patience. But that patience, which is a Christian grace, is not mere mental composure in the midst of outward troubles, and fixedness of purpose when excited passion threatens to bear the spirit away from its firmest resolves; but it is all this from right religious views and principles. It is because the mind of a Christian is stayed upon God, that it is kept calm and steady in the day of trouble and calamity. He has such confidence in the character of God, and has taken such a hold upon his promises, and understands, moreover, so well the end and design of His fatherly correction, that when affliction does come, instead of loosening his hold of God, it tends, on the contrary, to lead him to cleave to Him still more closely. Thus it was with Job, that notable example of patience. His language under his severest trials was-"though he slay me, yet will I trust in him." Now it is just when tribulation operates thus, that it worketh patience— when, in place of breaking a man away from his hold of God, and setting him adrift on a sea of troubles, it leads him, on the ground of God's gracious promises, to cleave to Him in firmer reliance, and makes him more resolute than ever, to seek to be in all things more submissive and obedient to the Divine will.

But some may object :—what assurance have we that tribulation shall operate thus-instead of working patience, may it not work in the opposite way; yea, is it not more likely to operate thus in the great majority of cases? We must keep in mind who are the persons of whom the Apostle makes this affirmation: they are, as we have seen, true believers-men whose faith has been effectual, not only for their justification, but also for producing in them peace, and joy, and hope. Now though it may not, and indeed cannot be true of others, that their tribulations will work patience, (for there cannot be Christian patience where there is not Christian faith;) the statement of the Apostle will hold generally true of those regarding whom he makes it. As God designs the tribulations of believers to work in them patience, and for this end measures out their trials in proportion to their strength, laying not more on any of them than they are able to bear, it may be affirmed generally of them, that their tribulation works in them patience. And this is enough for the Apostle's argument. He states what is the invariable tendency of affliction in reference to believers, and what is actually its general result.

Is

It being granted, then, that tribulation worketh patience, what ground, it may be asked, has a man for rejoicing in tribulation because it so operates? there enough in the virtue of patience to compensate a man for his sufferings, and to leave over and above a balance in his favour? Does the seed which he has sown in tears yield him manifestly such a plenteous return, that he can rejoice when he reaps it? Though

it is not because it yields patience merely, but other fruit besides, that the Apostle gloried in tribulations ; yet even in the mere exercise of patience, there is implied what ought to be accounted by the believer a very ample recompense for all his sufferings. The Christian is taught to regard the improvement of character—the having his mind and will brought into perfect conformity to the mind and will of God—as that above all things else to be desired and sought by him. Any advance he can make in this way, he looks upon as the greatest gain, not only on account of its present advantage, but especially because of its eternal recompense. Shew him, then, that he has gained in character-that he has brought his will more nearly to coincide with the will of God, and he will be satisfied that he has cause to rejoice in the acquisition, whatever may have been the sacrifice or suffering through which it was obtained. Now, how are such acquisitions made? In what way is a man taught to seek and expect improvement in character? First, we answer, by endeavouring, in the strength of Divine grace sought and relied on, to do the will of God, as made known in His holy commandments: and secondly, by endeavouring, through the same Divine aid, patiently to submit to God's will, as made known in His providential dispensations. He must be taught obedience, not only by the things which he does, but also by the things which he suffers. God combines both modes of discipline, because both are needed to form and perfect the character. Now, it is clear that a believer is taught obedience by suffering, only when he patiently

endures his afflictions. If affliction be not endured in the right and proper spirit, it cannot have any beneficial influence; but if, on the other hand, it be patiently borne-borne as a Christian should bear it; then it will produce not the grace of patience merely, but will strengthen all the graces of the inner man, and give vigour and solidity to the entire character. So it is manifest, that when tribulation worketh patience, it must necessarily extend its beneficial influence over the whole spiritual man, giving him increase in every part. That patience will operate so, is to be inferred from its very nature; and that such is actually its operation, is plainly stated by the Apostle James, when he says "My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience; but let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing"-(i. 2-4.) from which it is as clear as language can make it, that the perfect exercise of the grace of patience, implies the perfection of the whole man, in all Christian attainments. Knowing, then, that the patient endurance of affliction thus tends greatly to his present growth in grace, and so works out for him a far more exceeding, even an eternal weight of glory; good cause surely has the believer on this ground alone, even had he no other, to rejoice in his tribulations.

Secondly, But the patient enduring of tribulation, not only tends to the improvement of character, but it also serves to test the character, and so to manifest its genuineness. And this is the meaning of the Apostle

when he says, that patience worketh experience. The original term* here rendered, "experience" is used to denote the proof to which certain articles (metals or arms, e. g.) whose genuineness or good quality cannot be known by mere inspection, are subjected, with a view to ascertain if they be really what they seem to be; and it denotes not only the act of proving, but it is used too to signify the favourable judgment passed upon the article when it stands the proof. The latter seems to be the sense of the term in the passage before us, which might accordingly be rendered-" patience 、worketh) approval," i. e. the patient enduring of tribulations, enables a man, on sure and undoubted evidence, to pass a favourable judgment on his religious state and character. The truth of the Apostle's affirmation, as thus explained, must be very manifest. When a man is put into the furnace of affliction, and comes out unscathed-when his religious principles in place of being consumed like stubble, stand the fiery trial; and not only stand it, but are all the more strengthened and confirmed by it; then he has the best evidence to conclude that they are true and genuine. When he is in circumstances of ease and tranquillity, he may, indeed, in compliance with Scripture precept, give all diligence in the way of active obedience to obtain decisive evidence of his spiritual state-he may cultivate assiduously the graces of the Gospel, till they attain a size and development that is distinctly observable by his reflex sense; but then the doubt will naturally

* Δοκιμη.

« EdellinenJatka »