holiness and happiness. Prayer assumed a new character. The church, guided in her petitions by her Lord, learned to resign the foolish vagaries of a selfish fancy, and the irreverent cravings of a selfish will. These were exchanged for desires large as infinity for the glory of His name, and the coming of His kingdom, whose will is the perfect felicity of man. No hiding-place was found for the secret hoards of selfishness, or their accompanying cares. The gloomy shades where evil seeds germinate, were dispersed by an atmosphere of light and love. The doubts, the unbelieving fears which, like ‘wizards that peep, and that mutter,' harass the christian in secret, were silenced in the joyful sound of united prayer and praise. In combined effort, every right would be cheerfully recognised, every excellence honestly cherished, every sorrow tenderly soothed. If this beautiful picture be viewed as a reminiscence of past glory, let it be remembered, that it is also the anticipatory design of promised hope. He who gave the new commandment to His church, Prophet as well as Prince. Zion perchance may weep over her selfish monopolies,-her foolish ambition, her fatal rivalries. She has need to weep with ingenuous shame. But there is hope in her sorrow. Let her re-peruse the royal law. Behold! to the lowliest of her children, the precept brightens to a prediction; THOU SHALT LOVE THY NEIGHBOUR AS THYSELF." CHAPTER VII. ON TRIALS AND AFFLICTIONS. SECTION L PROSPERITY relaxes the tone and strength of many moral excellences: adversity restores them. Spiritual graces that droop and wither in the light of honour and joy, revive and bloom in the shades of humiliation and sorrow. These remarks are so general as to appear trite. Yet, by a strange contradiction, acknowledgments of their verity are frequently followed by expressions of wonder at the woes that sadden the world; and, especially, at the trials and afflictions which harass the church. But a shadow deeper than that of mystery alone, gathers round the sorrows earth. As the gloomy forms of evil vex the : spirit, and distress the senses, many with the recklessness of fools, cry out, "Let us eat and drink; for to-morrow we die." Others sink down in helpless despondency, and mutter amidst their groans, "My soul chooseth strangling and death rather than my life. I loathe it. I would not live alway let me alone; for my days are vanity." A few, with petrifying calmness, whisper, "I would harden myself in sorrow: let him not spare." There are, however, whose eyes are enlightened, and strengthened to penetrate the gloom. They view pain and sorrow, not with childish heedlessness, or perplexing wonder; not with stoical apathy, or rebellious impatience. They hear the rod, and who hath appointed it." Faith looks beyond the clouds and darkness which surround the great Arbitrator's throne, and resignation rises to gratitude as they exclaim, "Blessed is the man whom thou chastenest, O Lord, and teachest him out of thy law." "Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness, unto them which are exercised thereby." The sweetness of this after-season is known to those only, whỏ have experienced and improved it. Divine Providence, with healing gentleness, renovates the hope and joy of the humbled sufferer; and the Great Teacher, on these occasions, imparts His most salutary, profound, and ennobling lessons. The spirit of sacred wisdom opens her seven-pillared temple as for a solemn festival. She admits the chastened disciple to the arcana of her mysteries; and discloses secrets of knowledge and power, more precious than pearls or rubies. Let us listen near the posts of her doors; haply we may glean instruction that may avert some strokes of the rod from ourselves, or avail to double the advantage when we also are smitten. To the vigilant christian, recollections of past years ever prove a solemn and humiliating comment on the knowledge and duties of the present hour. But never are those recollections so vivid or so monitory, as when traced in the shade and retirement of affliction. Ah! there are characters of a mysterious hand-writing on the walls of that silent |