Sanctified Afflictions.

The righteous is an everlasting foundation.

Prov. x. 25.

Unto Him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy. Jude 24.

We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not. I John v. 18.

The Lord will perfect that which concerneth me; Thy mercy, O Lord, endureth for ever; forsake not the works of Thine own hands. Psalm cxxxviii. 8. When I said, My foot slippeth, Thy mercy, O Lord, held me up. Psalm xciv. 18.

XV.-Sanctified Afflictions.

As a man chasteneth his son so the Lord thy God chasteneth thee. Deut. viii. 5.

And if they be bound in fetters, and be holden in cords of affliction; then He showeth them their work, and their transgressions, that they have exceeded. He openeth also their ear to discipline, and commandeth that they return from iniquity. Job xxxvi. 8-10.

Happy is the man whom God correcteth; therefore despise not thou the chastening of the. Almighty: for He maketh sore, and bindeth up; He woundeth, and His hands make whole. Job v. 17, 18.

Blessed is the man whom Thou chastenest, O Lord, and teachest him out of Thy law; that Thou mayest give him rest from the days of adversity, until the pit be digged for the wicked. Psalm xciv. 12, 13.

Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now have I kept Thy word. It is good for me that I have been afflicted, that I might learn Thy statutes. I know, O Lord, that Thy judgments are right, and that Thou in faithfulness hast afflicted me. Ps. cxix. 67, 71, 75.

Whom the Lord loveth He correcteth, even as a father the son in whom he delighteth. Prov. iii. 12. I will turn My hand upon thee; and I will purely purge away thy dross, and take away all thy tin. Isaiah i. 25. By this therefore shall the iniquity of Jacob be purged, and this is all the fruit, to take away his sin. Isaiah xxvii. 9.

As many as I love I rebuke and chasten. Rev. iii. 19. I will hedge up thy way with thorns, and make a wall, that she shall not find her paths. And she shall follow after her lovers, but she shall not overtake them, and she shall seek them, but shall not find them. Then shall she say, I will go and return to my first husband, for then was it better with me than now. Hosea ii. 6, 7.

We glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; and patience, experience; and experience, hope. Rom. v. 3, 4•

When we are judged we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world. I Cor. xi. 32. I know that this shall turn to my salvation, through your prayer, and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ. Phil. i. 19.

Whom the Lord loveth, He chasteneth, and Scourgeth every son whom He receiveth. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? They, verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but He for our profit, that we might be partakers of His holiness. Now no chasten

ing for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous; nevertheless, afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby. Heb. xii. 6, 7, 10, 11.

Sanctified Afflictions.

For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. For our light affliction which is but for a moment worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory. 2 Cor. iv. 16, 17. Behold, I have refined thee, but not with silver; I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction.

Isaiah xlviii. 10.

The trying of your faith worketh patience. Blessed is the man that endureth temptation; for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love Him.

James i. 3, 12.

That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ. I Pet. i. 7.

Some of them of understanding shall fall; to try them, and to purge, and to make them white, even to the time of the end. Dan. xi. 35.

Many shall be purified and made white and tried. Dan. xii. 10.

I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried. They shall call on My name, and I will hear them I will say, It is My people; and they shall say, The Lord is my God. Zech. xiii. 9.

XVI.-Grace to the Children of Believers.

I will pour My Spirit upon thy seed, and My blessing upon thy offspring. And they shall spring up as among the grass, as willows by the water-courses. One shall say, I am the Lord's, and another shall call himself by the name of Jacob; and another shall subscribe with his hand, unto the Lord, and surname himself by the name of Israel. Isaiah xliv. 3-5.

I will establish My covenant between Me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations, for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee and to thy seed after thee.. Thou shalt keep My covenant therefore, thou and thy seed after thee in their generations. Gen. xvii. 7, 9.

And the Lord thy God will circumcise thine heart and the heart of thy seed, to love the Lord thy God with all thine heart and with all thy soul, that thou mayest live. Deut. xxx. 6.

All thy children shall be taught of the Lord, and great shall be the peace of thy children. Isa. liv. 13. The promise is unto you, and to your children.

Acts ii. 39. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. Acts xvi. 31.

Suffer the little children to come unto Me, and forbid them not; for of such is the kingdom of God. And He took them up in His arms, put His hands upon them, and blessed them. Mark x. 14, 16.

Now are they [your children] holy. I Cor. vii. 14.

XVII.-Promises of an Interest in God.

As our God.-I will establish My covenant-to be a God unto thee. Gen. xvii. 7. And I will walk among you, and will be your God, and ye shall be My people. Lev. xxvi. 12.

This God is our God for ever and ever, He will be our guide even unto death. Psalm xlviii. 14.

Fear thou not, for I am with thee, be not dismayed, for I am thy God. Isaiah xli. IO.

God Himself shall be with them, and be their God. Rev. xxi. 3.

Enterest in God.

I, the Lord, will be their David a prince among them. of My pasture, are men; and the Lord.

God, and My servant Ye, My flock, the flock I am your God, saith Ezek. xxxiv. 24, 31.

I will be their God, and they shall be My people. 2 Cor. vi. 16.

I will be to them a God, and they shall be to Me a people. Heb. viii. 10. God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He hath prepared for them a city. Heb. xi. 16.

For thy Maker is thine husband, the Lord of Hosts is His name; and thy Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel, the God of the whole earth shall He be called. Isaiah liv. 5.

Ye shall be My people, and I will be your God. Jer. xxx. 22.

Our Portion.-The Lord is the portion of mine inheritance and of my cup. Psalm xvi. 5. My flesh and my heart faileth, but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever.

Psalm 1xxiii. 26.

The Lord is my portion, saith my soul, therefore will I hope in Him. Lam. iii. 24.

I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward.

Gen. xv. I.

Our Glory.-In that day shall the Lord of Hosts be for a crown of glory, for a diadem of beauty, unto the residue of His people. Isaiah xxviii. 5.

Of His Presence with us.-My with thee, and I will give thee rest.

presence shall go Ex. xxxiii. 14.

The upright shall dwell in Thy presence.

Psalm cxl. 13.