Beaten Spices

Spices a7’e most fragrant ivJien burnt and bniised, so have saving graces their chiefest fragrajicy in hard times. The pillar that conducted the Israelites appeared as a cloud by day, but as fire by flight. The excellency of faith is beclouded till it be put upon a thorough tt’ialP Herein lies one of the benefits of affliction, it fetches out latent sweetness and light. Certain herbs yield no smell till they are trodden on, and certain characters do not reveal their excellence till they are tried. The developing power of tribulation is very great: faith, patience, resignation, endurance, and steadfastness are by far the best seen when put to the test by adversity, pain, and temptation. God has created nothing in vain in the new creation any more than in the old, hence one of the sweet necessities of trial is to bring forth and use those precious graces which else had been unemployed. God is not glorified by unused graces, for these lie hidden and bring him no honour; may we not, therefore, rejoice in tribulation, because it fetches out our secret powers, and enables us to give glory to the Lord whom we love? Yes, blessed be the pestle which bruises us, and the mortar in which we he to be beaten into fragrance. Blessed be the burning coals which liberate our sweet odours and raise them up to heaven like pillars of smoke. Can we not say this?

Then it is time we could, and perhaps our present affliction has been sent for that very end, — that we may learn the way oi complete consecration, and be made perfect through suffering.