June 15 AM

We that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened. 2 Cor.5:4.

It is a sore temptation, that saints of God in all ages have fallen under, that, upon a survey of the outward ease, pleasure, and prosperity of the ungodly, "they have called the proud happy," Mal. 3:15, and under a sense of their inward groanings, burdens and sorrows, have been led to think, it is vain to serve God, and call in question his love to them and care for them. Such sentiments as these, at times exercise their minds: 'I called by grace! Is my soul quickened and made alive to God? have I fled to Jesus for refuge? am I a child of God by adoption, through the faith of Jesus? Surely it cannot be. Was it so, should I be thus plagued all the day, and chastened every morning? should I groan thus under oppression from Satan, tribulation from the world; and be thus burdened with the lusts of the flesh, and the carnal workings of corrupt nature? Surely if ever I have known any thing of Jesus in spirit and power, it is all come to an end: verily I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocency to no purpose.' Thus doth the subtle serpent artfully steal into the mind, and borrows the tongue of saints. But this is very injurious to the soul, as we see in the experience of the Psalmist, 73rd Psalm. And it is highly resented by our loving Lord and Saviour, as very dishonorable to him. See Mal. 3:13.

Saints' burdens are creature allotments; believers' groans are Jesus' concerns; children's sorrows reach the Father's heart; they are the lot of God's people in every age. Prophets, apostles, martyrs, and confessors of Jesus, none exempt while in this tabernacle. Yea, they evidence the life of the soul: and also, under the Spirit's influence, work for the profit of the soul. Hereby it is instructed in self-knowledge, so as to bow to the sovereignty of God in humility and dependence on Jesus. Prayer is excited, faith is called into exercise, God's word is searched, promises are prized, exhortations become pleasant, carnal hopes are cut off, worldly joys become irksome, earth is less loved, and a sinful body groaned under, makes perfect freedom in glory longed for. O there is a blessed writ of ease and rest, issued out from the court of heaven! Soon it will be served upon us. Then, down tabernacle: up soul to the presence of thy Lord. Farewell groans. Welcome eternal triumphs. Here is a sweet portion of comfort; drink of the brook by the way, and lift up thy head; "Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved." Psalm 55:22.

Now let my Lord my Saviour smile,

And shew his name upon my heart;

I would forget my pains a while,

And in the pleasure lose the smart.

O why, my soul, why these complaints?

Still while he frowns his bowels move;

Still on his heart he bears his saints.

And feels their sorrows and his love.