CHAPTER VI. THE MOURNER'S MOTIVES TO SUBMISSION. One part, one little part, we dimly scan, Through the dark medium of life's feverish dream; As the Christian mourner is specially called to the discharge of the duty of submission, it is of importance that he should understand its nature, and feel the force of the motives by which it is urged. Every grace has had its counterfeit; and that which is most lovely, and most necessary to our comfort in affliction, is often the most closely imitated. Some are favoured, above the rest of their species, with a mild constitution, placid temper, and gentle manners, so that trials which agitate, and raise into a tumult, the passions of men difficult of control, scarcely ruffle the calm and tranquil surface of their bosoms. Others are quick in feeling, and irritable in disposition, and yet have so much self-command that they meet a great affliction with firm constancy, and heroic fortitude. While there are still others who, through the influence of a good education, and the restraints of good society, have formed the habit of mental discipline, and moral quietude. Mere natural principles, resembling in form and colour the buds of grace, although devoid of their life and sweetness, are pleasing to the eye; and those efforts which men make to improve and perfect the resemblance are, doubtless, much to be commended; and yet they are not to be substituted for those divine habits produced in the heart by the influences of the Holy Spirit. Christian submission is THE DISPOSING OF OUR OWN WILL TO THAT OF GOD, from a firm conviction of his absolute propriety in us, and a soothing persuasion that whatever he appoints is the dictate of infinite wisdom and goodness. It involves the entire surrender of ourselves to the Most High, willing to be, to do, to sacrifice, and to suffer what he may judge best, and that too from a principle of love to his character, and obedience to his will. When the soul yields itself, and all that is dear to us, into the hands of our Father, to be entirely at his disposal, it performs an act of resignation; when it passively endures suffering, and meekly bears up under trial, it exercises patience; and when it approves the Divine procedure, and sees its equity and reasonableness, it displays the virtue of acquiescence. Now all this is implied in submission: it constitutes that "hidden man of the heart, which is not corruptible; even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which in the sight of God is of great price." He who knows how to fix a right estimate of things, judging of them according to their own intrinsic excellence, and in their relation to each other, has impressed on it the seal of his high approbation. It must have for its basis reconciliation to our offended Sovereign, by faith in the atonement of the Saviour; for so long as we view God in the light of an enemy, we shall not feel reconciled to the discipline of his hand. It is, in a special manner, the workmanship of the Divine Spirit. "The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance against such there is no law." It is not a plant of this earth's growth; it is derived from paradise; and it is destined in paradise again to expand its greenest leaves, and unfold its richest blossoms. Some parts of the duty, indeed, cannot be discharged in heaven; for in that happy world, suffering will be unknown. But to yield ourselves living sacrifices, holy and acceptable unto God; to have our inclinations, and purposes, and pursuits, entirely conformed to the will of the Great Supreme; and to derive our happiness alone from the contemplation of the development of his plans of providence and grace, and in a cheerful and prompt execution of his commands, will be our employment and privilege when mortality shall be swallowed up of life. In this sense, submission is the chief characteristic of all the celestial inhabitants. Angels are the Lord's ministers; and no sooner do they receive the expression of his will, than they hasten, on wings of love, to execute his commands. They approve his pleasure; and, quick as sun-beams, and active as light, they rejoice to fulfil his purposes. The perfection of a holy being is to do what God loves, and to love what God does. While trials are impending, it is perfectly consistent with submission to pray for their removal, and to use all lawful means to avert the threatened danger. Should the cup presented to us be still in the hand of our Father, we may beseech him, even with strong crying and tears, “If it be possible, let this cup pass from me." When Hezekiah was sick unto death, he prayed and wept sore; and the God of David, his father, heard his prayer, saw his tears, and added unto his days fifteen years. And the daughter of Jairus was brought back from the verge of the invisible world, and restored to the arms of her affectionate father, in answer to his fervent entreaty, and in approval of the strength of his faith. In connexion with prayer, means are to be used. To neglect them is not dependence on God-it is wilful and criminal presumption. Had not Noah, at the Divine command, built an ark, for the saving of himself and his house, both he and his family would have been swept away with the flood. Means are afforded us in order to be employed; and while the Christian sedulously performs a prescribed duty, he calmly leaves the result with Him "who is excellent in counsel, and wonderful in working." As the designs and purposes of God are concealed from us, and are only made known by events, his revealed will, and not his secret purposes, must be the rule of our conduct. His purposes are unalterable: and yet he frequently changes his dispensations, in answer to fervent, effectual prayer. If we desire deliverance, we should imitate the conduct of the ancient pilot, who at the same moment kept his hand on the rudder, and his eye on the star that directed him. Should the trial, notwithstanding, overtake us, and the evil which we dread happen unto us, submission does not exclude natural feeling, nor does it destroy the due sense we ought to entertain of the greatness of our affliction. How can it be otherwise than that we should feel, subject as we are to pain and suffering, vicissitude and bereavement? "No chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous.” Pagan philosophy endeavoured to inspire in the breasts of its disciples a contempt of misery, and, by the severity of its precepts, to render the heart proof against the sharpest trials. Christianity offers no violence to nature; it requires us to be tenderly affected with our condition, and instructs us how to turn our grief into a useful channel. It treats us as men, liable to innumerable evils, and to various |