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Discipline.

WHEREFORE all the discipline with which Job was exercised? He could say in truth, "I know that my Redeemer liveth" (Job xix, 25). As God's witness there was none like him in all the earth. He walked in uprightness, humility, patience, and wisdom; a perfect and upright man, fearing God and eschewing evil. Why then his afflictions and humiliations, before unheard-of among the saints? There was the flesh in Job; and the sifting discipline went on, until Job had learnt so to know both God and himself as to abhor himself, and justify God.

I seek to keep short accounts with God: this saves not only much trouble and time, but also much sharp discipline.

"A reproof entereth more into a wise man than an hundred stripes into a fool." (Prov. xvii. 10.)

It is indeed rare, when judgments come upon men, that those judgments yield their due profit. Those who walk with a tender spirit before God profit more by a word or gentle rebuke of His love, that none but themselves know of, than do others, who are careless walkers, by heavy judgments. If, however, great afflictions come, the heart being pre­pared, the end will be the double blessing. (Job xlii.)

The cry of "Abba, Father!" in the time of trouble, is often a sign of quick deliverance. When we kiss the hand that smites, the rod drops. Is it not to resist the will of God when we flee from those trials which He sends to prove our faith?

As children we may ask for understanding of our Father's will: but it belongs not to us to think for Him.

We may be sorrowful, yet not unhappy. Unhappiness is caused by self-will, that frets against the Lord's way of dealing with us. But we may have sorrow without sinning, and by such sadness the heart is made better. (Eccl. vii. 3.) Grace does not steel the heart, but makes it more tender. We may feel, but must not rebel.

Every child of God needs to be put into the sieve: but when sifted, if we be willing to endure the Lord's dealings with us, we shall not be put to shame.

How few the words of Jesus when all the earth, in its representatives-Herod, Pilate, priests and elders-rose up against Him! He never uttered more or less than was needed for God's glory. That perfect guidance of the tongue proceeded from the perfect sub­jection of His will to God.

The proper fruit of the Lord's discipline is that blessed state described by the psalmist, when the fretting of the flesh is silenced, the soul composing itself to rest in the ever­lasting arms. "Surely I have behaved and quieted myself, as a child that is weaned of his mother: my soul is even as a weaned child" (Psalm cxxxi. 2).

It is not every child of God who, by reason of acquaintance with God and with himself, reckons upon discipline, and resolves to go through it with God, how bitter soever it may be: hence when it comes he frets; he is the bullock unaccustomed to the yoke. (Jer. xxxi. 18.)

Christ had a lawful desire to be spared suffering. He could not otherwise have been a pattern to us of patience and submission: but His submission brought Him into the floods of His sufferings. Our afflictions are light, soon as we can say, "Not my will, but Thine be done."

Deep inwrought patience is precious fruit of suffering God's will according to God's mind.

If we desire that patience have her perfect work, we shall thank the only-wise God for all things whatsoever that afflict us; and whosoever they be that God uses for pruning our souls-be they unjust men or froward brethren -we shall love and pray for them, and seek to overcome their evil with good.

A child of God may be greatly afflicted, yet be far from murmuring against his heavenly Father. Sorrow sanctified obtains God's em­brace; rebellious grief spoils the soul of communion. The cluster must be bruised to yield its wine, and the sufferings of heavenly patience procure for the soul an overflowing cup of consolation, both for its own comfort and that of others. (2 Cor. i. 4-6.)

How many snares, how much harm, and loss, and shame, would the people of God avoid and escape, had they a little more patience in waiting for the Lord! Had Saul but waited a few minutes longer for Samuel then "would the Lord have established his kingdom upon Israel for ever" (1 Sam. iii. 13).

 

Experience.

IT is only as by faith we see our Home above, that we are proper pilgrims here.

We rightly use our past Experience, if, in time present, we have no confidence in the flesh.

Experience obtained without much waiting on God is not worthy the name: "Patience worketh Experience" (Rom. v. 4).

Our past Experience should be well pondered before God. The record of the pilgrimage of everyone of us will be found in the great book of God's government, by-and-by to be opened.

God requires steadfastness of faith from those who have had especial proofs of His love.

The spring or instability or purpose is some hankering within us after praise of man.

The more we walk with God, the more we shall sorrow for our sins and those of others. This sorrow well consists with joy in the Holy Ghost.

We never hinder another's service or grace without hindering our own: "Quench not the Spirit."

Let us always be aiming at perfection: thus we shall grow in the knowledge of our imper­fection.

"Tribulation worketh Patience;" but if tribulation pass by without working patience, we cannot have "Experience" (Rom. v. 3).

 

A Sound Mind.

ONE special mark of a sound mind is a readiness to take counsel of God, and a bringing into subjection all notions of our own or of others to His revealed will.

It is not by change of circumstances that we can be made happy, but by submission to the will of God. This submission is mani­fested by our steadfast purpose to mortify the will of the flesh, and by our contending against everything that offends God.

Without confidence in the love of God we cannot cheerfully submit to His discipline.

Let not the morrow be as a thief to rob you of this day's blessing.

We are apt to judge of things by present appearances; but the Lord sees them in all their consequences.

Murmurers always extol times past as better than the present. The people of Israel in Egypt groaned by reason of hard bondage. Having passed the Red Sea they sang the song of redemption: but how ready were they to say one to another, "Let us make a captain, and let us return into Egypt" (Num. xiv. 4). Had Moses desired to shame them, he might have asked: "What said you under Pharaoh's yoke?"

Dangers and Temptations.

IF we would keep the creature in its place, we must take God as our portion.

Being an heir of glory I would, by God's grace, rather break stones on the road for Him than be put to the drudgery of ruling an empire.

Spiritual prosperity is always attended with strong temptation to the high thought, the lofty imagination.

The worst temptations are those which so pamper and please the flesh that they do not vex us at all: they are perilous by their deceitfulness.

The outward falls of the children of God always bespeak the foregoing state of the heart.

The wearing of apparel is a special mark of our fall and shame. How unseemly then is pride of dress! Does the convict glory in the convict's coat?

 

The Christian's Walk.

IF we can fight well in the closet, we shall walk happily with God in all His ways. We should begin our every day's journey with Him: and, comparing need with supply, shall we not take pleasure in infirmities and necessities? because Christ will thereby take occasion to magnify His grace, and to lead us to springs of consolation in Himself.

Evil speaking has place in the heart before it escapes the lip.

Happy they who never hang upon the crea­ture's favour: they who expect everything from God and nothing from man will have no disappointment.

To be a true witness for Jesus I must be much in His company, hear His voice, and observe His ways. How can we know the character of one with whom we have but little intercourse?

Humility helps us to know our pride; and if we would have the "rest" that is for the lowly, we must tread under foot our pride. (Matt. xi. 29.)

Those temptations which prove the most defiling are oft-times the least painful.

When God's will rules in us, and overrules our will, we shall then indeed, but not till then, know the pleasures of having our will. (1 John iii. 22; v. 14, 15.)

The Christian's path in the world is obedi­ence to Christ; following Him, suffering for His sake. When we take part with the world to put it in order, and to make the crooked straight, we, as it were, take off our robes of heavenly priesthood to act as citizens of earth.

We ought so to walk before the world, that the evil eye, looking for a blot, may find none. The people of the world are keen judges of what a child of God should be.

Did the children of God walk worthy of God, they would no more seek worldly honours and glories than a king's son in his princely apparel would stitch thereon a beggar's rags.

"Bless them that curse you" (Matt. v. 44). The deed of grace is to be done at the moment of receiving the injury. When the curse pro­ceeds from the mouth of the enemy, let the blessing proceed from yours. Remember the words, " Father, forgive them," "Lord, lay not this sin to their charge." (Lu. xxiii. 34; Acts vii. 60.)

There is light for the pilgrim's path, though there be not an unclouded sky.

If a man's' heart were filled with Christ and His coming in glory, would it not be seen in all his ways,-whether in the family, the church, or the world?

To be spiritually-minded is "life and peace" to ourselves: but how profitable to others also! That utterance and knowledge may be used aright, he that has them must walk with God.

Let Christ be with you wherever you go, and let it be known that His presence is with you.

Take good heed to your walk: God will care for your good name.

God has great ends to answer by leaving His children in the world; even that they may be living witnesses for Him whom they love-the unseen Lord Jesus. We should be ever giving thanks for such an office; and for our continuance on earth, that we may fulfil it.

Let us be pilgrims, not by constraint, but by loving choice.

 

Trial of the Servants of Christ.

WHEN Christ would put peculiar honour upon His servants, He often suffers them to be brought low in the sight of men. If the saints are favoured to suffer reproach for Christ's sake, then will they own the honour put upon them to be thus con­formed to their Master. Paul and Silas, thrust into prison at Philippi, sang praises to God.

Christ never allows any faithful servant of His to suffer loss, but He turns that loss to great gain.

God always honours faithful servants, and comforts persecuted ones.