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arise, may they not after all be spurious? so he feels altogether in the condition of one who is marching to the battle-field, equipped in armour that has never been proved, and concerning which he has room to doubt how it may serve him in the hour of conflict. In short, the evidence of his spiritual condition, which a man obtains by mere active obedience in a season of unruffled tranquillity, always comes slowly, and perhaps never comes surely-a doubt always rests upon it; whereas if he be subjected to tribulation, and if he endure the trial, the evidence which was before doubtful, and which might have long continued so, at once stands forth clear and convincing. So it was with the early disciples. They seem to have had no more doubt of their own spiritual condition, than they had of the fact of their Lord's resurrection; and it was doubtless from their patient endurance of their tribulations, that they were enabled to pass upon themselves so decided a judgment of approval. Their tribulations were, indeed, of a kind that was fitted directly to test their religious principles; but in his comportment under afflictions of whatever kind, the believer may find at once the surest and the shortest way of arriving at a true judgment regarding his religious character.

Thirdly, The value, to the believer, of this judgment of self-approval, will fully appear when we consider, that it worketh hope-even a hope that maketh not ashamed. The connection between a believer's judgment of self-approval, and his hope of glory, is very evident. The fact of his being a believer implies, that he has faith in the unseen realities of the future world-that

he really and assuredly believes that there is in heaven an inconceivably glorious inheritance in reserve for the people of God. He may believe this, however, without having any assured hope of being himself a partaker of the inheritance. He knows that it is promised to men, not absolutely, but conditionally-that it is promised to men of a certain character only; so it is clearly only when he has been enabled to pronounce judgment on himself favourably and decidedly, that his hope of future glory will be brightened up into full assurance. We do not mean to say, that Christian hope is attainable only by a man's looking inwardly upon himself, and being enabled to pass a favourable judgment upon his own character. It may be attained, in some measure, in the act of simple reliance upon the Saviour for the promised blessings of salvation. In the direct exercise of faith, without the reflex act of self-inspection, a man may have some measure of both peace and hope imparted to him. But the hope which is thus produced is faint and flickering, until it be strengthened by the evidence of sensible experience-until he sees, by looking inwardly upon himself, that the faith of the Gospel has produced in him the character of the Gospel, and until moreover he has had this character tested in such a way as makes it manifest that it is no counterfeit it is not till then, that he can look upon himself as indeed an heir of the blessed inheritance, and can rejoice in the assured hope of its eternal enjoyment. Thus it is that self-approval worketh hope-the hope which maketh not ashamed-which shall never deceive nor disappoint him that cherishes it.

And surely such a hope, it must be allowed by every one who knows any thing of its value, will far more than compensate a man for all his troubles and sorrows; and much more cause has he to glory in tribulations than to grieve under them, when he regards them as God's appointed means of conveying to him so rich a blessing. He need not mourn though this earth be made darkness and desolation around him, who has the hope of heaven's glory to cheer him; and if it be in the dark night of sorrow that the light of heavenly hope is made to shine most brightly, he need not be impatient for the coming of the dawn. Of all God's gifts to men on earth, the assured hope of heavenly glory is the richest and the rarest; and though it be obtained, like the inheritance of which it is a foretaste, through much tribulation, it is still to be regarded as cheaply purchased. Our Lord promised to recompense his disciples, even in this life, an hundred-fold, for whatever sacrifice they should make for his sake and the Gospel's. And how did he fulfil this promise? Not by enriching them with temporal blessings; for their life to its close was one of privation and suffering. But still the Saviour's promise was fulfilled-their hundredfold compensation was doubtless given to them. The blessed hope that grew out of their very sufferings, that was their compensation; and from our Lord's language we may learn to estimate its worth. So though to outward observation they seemed of all men the most miserable, yet this was all made up to them an hundredfold in spiritual joy and consolation. The hope of salvation was given to them in such

measure, that

though they seemed to have no other inheritance in this life except unmingled and unmitigated tribulation, their's was, in fact, the most blessed portion of any that God here allows to men-they were anointed with the oil of gladness above all their fellows. And as it was with them, so is it with every true disciple. Afflictions not merely suffered but endured, will always yield to him the same blessed fruit. "Behold," says an Apostle, "we count them happy that endure," (James v. 11;) and knowing the process by which that blessed hope, which is the brightest as well as purest ray of any that sheds its light and gladness upon the soul of man, is made to shine, we can have no difficulty in perceiving the reason as well as truth of the Apostle's estimate. It is true that they are happy who endure affliction, just because affliction cannot be endured without brightening up in the soul of the believer that hope of glory, which is enough of itself to fill the heart with joy unspeakable.

The Apostle, to give confirmation to his argument, and to shew that the process by which this gladdening hope is extracted out of the believer's tribulations, is not one that is carried on independently of the aid of Divine grace, adds, "Because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts, by the Holy Ghost which is given to us." The divine Spirit, by infusing love towards God into the believer's heart, and inspiring him with all filial affections, gives him assured grounds to regard himself a child of God-one whom God regards with the love of a father; and being assured of this, and knowing that on this point there is no delusion or self-deception,

then he knows for certain that his hopes can never be disappointed-that be they ever so bright, they shall be far more than realized.

The practical lessons, Brethren, which this subject is fitted to teach, are so plain and obvious, that they must at once occur to your own reflection. It shews us who they are who alone can glory in tribulation, and extract joy and gladness out of sorrow and distress. And this surely should admonish every man, in his season of tranquillity, to make preparation against a day of trouble, by seeking to gain entrance into that state of acceptance with God, in which, though troubles do assail him, they cannot greatly distress, much less destroy him, but shall all be made to brighten his hope now, and to augment his glory hereafter. Let no man think that it is time enough to seek after God, when the day of trouble comes. If that be then to be done, there will be no glorying in tribulation. It will yield nothing but the bitter fruit of sorrow. In anticipation of the evil day, it were surely well for men to acquaint themselves with God, and be at peace with Him, so that when it comes they may be enabled, in confidence, to flee to Him as their refuge and very present help.

The subject before us, while it thus admonishes all men to seek preparation against the evil day, speaks comfort to the believer who is enduring affliction. It shews him the blessed results of affliction, if it be endured with the patience of a Christian, and assures him that light shall arise to him out of darkness and joy out of sorrow, if he only hold fast his confidence

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