Christ in Adversity
‘N the temporal calamities and adversities of this life, the vicissitudes of ’ commerce, the depression of trade, the pressure of want, it is equally our privilege to plead in prayer and faith this appropriate and precious promise of the Saviour,* and invoke His interposition, succor, and aid. Our Lord, when on earth, never showed Himself indifferent to the temporal necessities of man. We read that He had compassion on the multitude because they had nothing to eat, and in the exercise of His sympathy, and in the interposition of His power, fed thousands with bread. He
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is still the same. Have your commercial transactions met with a reverse? your enterprises with an untoward and unlocked for check? Are you actually under the pressure of want? your wife and your little ones crying for bread? Go in prayer, my brother, and plead in childlike faith this gracious promise of Jesus — Lo I am with you alway and you shall not plead in vain. Ah yes! He has sent. He has permitted this calamity but to show you how near He is to you, how He will, as of old, tenderly compassionate your need, and then, in the boundlessness of His divine resources, abundantly supply it. See Christ, and Christ only, in your present distress. Bow uncomplainingly, cheerfully, to His will. Lean confidingly, unwaveringly, upon His arm. Trust His goodness, faithfulness, and power. And, oh, if this temporal calamity, this worldly sorrow, but draw your soul to
Christ, if now you are aroused to prayer, are led to turn to God, to seek spiritual blessing, the “bread of life,” without which you perish, the “true riches” of grace on earth and of glory in heaven, through eternity you will praise the Saviour for the overwhelming calamity which saved your soul as by fire. Turn you now, amid crushed hopes, wrecked fortune, the biting and the cries of want, to Him whose providence can cause the barrel of meal and the cruse of oil not utterly to fail, and whose grace can so sanctify your affliction and chasten your sorrow as to make this present adversity the sweetest, holiest, costliest blessing of your life.
Yes! Christ is with you alway, all days; in the inexperience and temptations of your youth, to counsel and keep you; in the cares and anxieties of manhood, to sustain and soothe you; and in the feebleness, infirmity, and loneliness of old age, to be your stafi’ and comfort. Christ is with yon in widowhood, to vindicate joiir rights and cheer your desolation; in your lone orphanage, to be to you as a father and a friend; and in all the adversities and vicissitudes of life, its changing scenes and dying friends; in the total absence of the kind sympathy for which you yearn, the affection for which you pant, the counsel and protection which you need, Christ will in your experience make good to the letter His precious promise, ‘’Zo, lam with youP Oh! to have His presence with you in these circumstances, you can well afford to part with all others.
You are, perhaps, anticipating a trial, and like the disciples in the transfiguration, you fear as you enter into the cloud, the portentous shadow of winch is darking and closing around you. But how groundless were their fears! and equally so are yours. Christ was with them in the cloud, and a
Father’s voice issued from its bosom. Nev,er were they more honored or more safe. The same Christ, the same almighty, loving Friend is with you in the cloud which now you so much dread. Oh, trust your trembling soul to Him! Is it the heart’s Wrench you fear? Is it mental despondency you dread? Is it bodily suffering from which you shrink? Is it temporal loss you anticipate? ^^I am with you alway’’ is the soothing, assuring promise with which Jrsus would have you meet it. He will strengthen, sustain, soothe, and comfort you with His blissful presence at the moment of the trial. Trust Him now? He never yet belied Himself, never broke this precious promise in a solitary instance. ‘’As thy day so shall thy strength heP “As thy dajM “His presence will dissipate the gloom, quell the fear, hush the murmur, deaden the suffering, and thus encircled by His arms, He will bear you through it, to the eternal praise and glorj of His name. Friend of sinners! Lord of saints! my trembling spirit shrinks, I fear as I enter into this cloud! Be Thou sensibly near. Let me feel Thy hand, hear Thy voice, realize Thy presence, then shall I fear no evil, for Thou art with me. Thy rod and Thy staff will support and comfort me. “Z(9, I am with you; I will he with you. Fear notP Enough, my gracious Lord! I will now enter into the cloud; I will gird me for the trial, and, supported by Thy grace, and soothed by Thy love, will glorify Thee in the fire.
ILLUSTRATIONS.
In all our distresses and adversity Christ is ever with us. The following is an example drawn from humble life:
In the Fulton Street Prayer Meeting a few days since, a pleasant and venerablelooking stranger, arose and said, “While walking up Broadway yesterday, having lost my spectacles, I looked around to see where I could purchase a new pair. Finding a stand near, I stopped to select a pair. IsToticing that the dealer was an intelligent man, who had evidently seen better days, I entered into conversation with him.
“How long have you been engaged in this business, sir? ’
“‘Only a short time, sir. I have not always been so poor. I formerly lived in Charleston, South Carolina, and was in good circumstances, but myself and family were compelled to fly to save our lives. We barely succeeded in getting on board of a vessel about sailing for New York, and secreting ourselves in the hold. We had no time to save any thing, not even money enough to pay our passage.’” But how have you lived since yon came here? You cannot make enough at this business to support your wife and children?’
“‘God has cared for us thus far, sir. We had no money to pay rent, but we found a cellar up-town that we get for nothing, and my wife and I make enough to keep us in food and clothing. AVe are very thankful, very thankful to God, sir, that we came here.’
“^ How, sir, can you be thankful that you were compelled to give up all your property, leave a pleasant home, and live in a cellar?’
“‘Oh, sir, it is because we have found Jesus Christ since we came here, or rather, He has found us and we are more happy and content than when we lived in our pleasant southern home; for though we do live in a cellar, Jesus Christ is with us.^”