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of coming to us as it were naturally, they too often reach us—and we are made capable of, and fitted for them—only through the intervention of suffering, sorrow, and pain. You will apprehend that this would make a great difference in any case, and in the one under consideration, it constitutes, I think, the distinguishing feature. Nay, more, not only may we judge that it is most frequently through suffering we are to look for our perfection; but if, at any time there come upon us any unusual trial, then may we gather most assuredly that God is calling us to some great thing, and desiring to bestow on us some peculiar grace.
Let us take it then for granted, as Scripture and experience abundantly prove, that the way to richest blessings often lies through severest trials. We acknowledge this principle, when we set the highest value, as generally speaking we certainly do, upon those things which have cost us most pains. But because our nature shrinks from such a course, and does not readily accept a doctrine so contrary to its ease and comfort. Holy Scripture is ever engaged in forcing the truth of it upon us in the strongest terms.
"Blessed are they that mourn," says our Lord, "for they shall be comforted."[1] "If any man will come after me let him deny himself and take up his Cross and follow me,"[2] are again His gracious words. In these He shows us that if we would
