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"And Job said

JOB.

Perfect Resignation.

The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord."-JOB i. 21.

THE

HE principle that moved holy Job to his submissive behaviour under accumulated calamities is essential to true piety, and constrains every pious individual to act in the same manner, to a greater or less degree, in similar circumstances. It arises out of a deep and settled conviction that all things are under the control of a Being infinitely wise and merciful, who has brought him into a state of communion and friendship with himself, and also assures him of efficient support in every trouble that may befall him ;—of its conversion at length into a real benefit, and of its submissive endurance being crowned with an abundant recompense. It represses therefore the rising of the natural emotions of surprise above due bounds; it repels inquietude and fear at any sudden stroke of misfortune, which would otherwise overpower the dictates of faith and enlightened reason, and disturb the habitual tranquillity of the soul. His language therefore to the Supreme Disposer of events, in all his afflictions and distresses, is that of the Psalmist David, "I know, O Lord, that in very faithfulness thou hast afflicted me, and that thy judgments in all things are right;" thou hast reasons for permitting what has happened to befall me, which, could I now perceive, as I one day shall, would not only reconcile me to it, but compel me to adoring

acquiescence, and prompt the fervent exclamation,

"Even

so, Father, for so it seemed good in thy sight." I take then the cup of sorrow which thou hast put into my hands, and press it to my lips, without for a moment suspending my praises of thee or the hallowing of thy name in my heart.

"Take all, great God, I will not grieve,

But still will wish that I had still to give.
I hear thy voice; thou bidd'st me quit
My paradise ;-Í bow, and do submit.
I will not murmur at thy sovereign word,
Nor ask thine angel to put up his sword.”

This is not mere passive submissiveness, the result of indolence, or a recklessness of spirit, which troubles not itself about the reasons of events, as if all such trouble about them were useless, but suffers them to take their course, without any consideration of the end they were designed to answer, the submissiveness of a creature devoid of reason. But this is the mind taking part with God in all his proceedings, justifying him in his severest inflictions, and looking forward for relief to the day that shall restore to us all, and more than all, that we have lost, and consummate our wishes in the fruition of bliss.

How greatly superior is this to the boasted stoicism of the ancients. They stifled the feelings and sensibilities of nature, to show an even front in all circumstances, whether of pleasure or of pain, that they might receive the admiration of their contemporaries. They made themselves less than human, that they might appear to be more. But piety leaves the sufferer in possession of all his natural feelings and sensibilities, yet restrains them from excess, and brings them under the authority of right reason and of God. It leaves us men, while it makes us saints, and trains us up for the companionship of angels. It breathes the sincere and fervent prayer to "the Father of lights," "Thy will be done

on earth, as it is done in heaven." Yea, it subjects the human will to the Divine, divesting of extravagance the recorded prayer of Luther—“Lord, let my will be done— for thy will is mine.”

Of several instances of this kind which it has been my privilege to witness, I have recorded one at length with all its attendant circumstances, which I here abbreviate.

An Irish peer and his lady were regular attendants at the chapel where I ministered, at Kensington, and had been so prior to my settlement there, having from early life been conscientiously attached to the services of religion among Protestant Dissenters. They resided in a suite of apartments in the neighbouring palace, in a comparatively retired and private manner. Both of them were sincerely pious and devout, and dignified in person and appearance, though advanced in years, having reared a numerous family. They were affable and courteous, and ready at all times to converse on the doctrines and duties of the Christian religion. Two married daughters occasionally accompanied them to worship, and though remarkably striking in their appearance, were still more remarkable for their devout attention to the things of God. It is of their eldest son, however, that I have now to speak. His early career had not been such as to please his godly parents, but after a residence abroad he returned for a while to Kensington, where he attended my ministry with his family.

I learnt, partly from himself, that while wandering in a foreign land-India, I believe-and in a part of it almost wholly uninhabited, he was seized with an intermittent fever which confined him to a little lonely hut, with only a female of colour, its sole occupant, to attend upon him. Destitute of all medical aid, and but imperfectly understood by his attendant, he felt the desolateness of his situation, and

began to apprehend a fatal termination to his malady. In
this state, on the alternate day of relief and composure, he
ruminated on the instruction he had received in early life,
and the wayward course he had pursued. He possessed no
copy of the Scriptures, but he recollected large portions of
the Psalms which he had read and committed to memory
when he was a child, and was so struck with the numerous
prophecies of Christ contained in them, and their fulfilment
in the Gospel history, as to feel an indubitable persuasion of
their Divine inspiration, and a determination, if he should
recover, to make that book his study and to receive it as a
revelation from heaven. This was but a conviction, indeed,
of the understanding, without proceeding any further; for
God does not always accomplish the work of conversion at
once; but it had prepared the way for his devout attention
to the truths which he now heard proclaimed from the
pulpit: and, under a conviction of his sinfulness and need
of a Saviour, he was led to embrace the Gospel of reconcili-
ation and to yield himself unto God. Deep and sincere
was his repentance, and marked and conspicuous the benign
transformation of his whole conduct and conversation.
was received into our communion, and became anxious that
the knowledge which he had received should be imparted to
others, more especially to those whose habitual sentiments
and course of life resembled what, unhappily, had once been
his own.

He

He obtained, soon after this, an appointment under government in Ceylon, and embarked for that island with a cargo of Bibles and Testaments, and Books from the Religious Tract Society, which I helped him to procure, resolving to sow there "the seed of the kingdom" broadcast, and to follow it with the assiduous culture of oral instruction, public worship, and the celebration of Divine

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ordinances; which he did, with considerable success. In this work, it appears, he had the zealous co-operation of his amiable and pious consort. All things thus wore a smiling aspect, and his letters home, detailing the progress of religion in his own soul, and his varied endeavours to enrich the souls of those around him with the same Divine knowledge, delighted the heart of his aged and widowed mother, whose favourite son he was. By the death of his father he had succeeded to the title, and, having acquired ample property, he sent to his mother the joyful tidings of his intended return to England, to reside near her for the remainder of his days, and to be associated with me as an office-bearer in the Church where his name had first been enrolled. I was aware that his rank and station in life would place impediments in the way of the execution of his project, and I therefore dwelt upon it with no sanguine expectations. Still, to have so zealous, consistent, and influential an individual among us as a 66 fellow-worker to the kingdom of God," would, I felt, be a source of true satisfaction. How often, in the elegant little suite of apartments in the palace, have I sat with his dear mother, counting on the joy with which she would receive him to her arms, and be repaid for all her former anxieties by his honourable and useful career. At last a letter was received stating the day on which he should embark to return home, with all the choice purchases he had made, and the valuable presents and marks of honour with which he had been favoured. rejoiced with her in the happy anticipations thus awakened, not unchastened, however, with a wholesome sense of dependence upon God for their accomplishment.

I

About the time of their expected arrival she was all anxiety to learn when the vessel that bore them first appeared in sight. After some unexplained delay-alas for

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