But, if we have evidence that we are the children of God, his promises furnish the most abundant consolation, in every trial.  We are assured “that all things work together for good to them that love God.”  And of this we have many examples in the Holy Scriptures, where the darkest providences have in the end, to be fraught with the richest blessings.  It was so in the case of Joseph, already mentioned.  We are also taught to look upon the afflictions of this life as the faithful corrections of a kind and tender Parent.  “For whom the Lord loveth, he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.”  How consoling the reflection, that all our sufferings are designed to mortify and subdue our corruptions, to wean us from the world, and lead us to a more humble and constant sense of our dependence upon God.  Besides, the people of God have the most comforting assurances of his presence, in affliction, if they will but trust in him. “In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy steps.”  “Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and he shall sustain thee:  he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.” “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble:  therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof.” “The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord; and he delighteth in his way.  Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down; for the Lord upholdeth him with his hand.”  O, how ungrateful for a child of God to repine at the dealings of such a tender and faithful parent!  O, the ingratitude of unbelief!  Who can accuse the Lord of unfaithfulness to the least of his promises?  Why, then, should we refuse to trust him, when the assurances of his watchful care and love are so full, and so abundant?

We have not only strong ground of confidence in the Lord, under the pressure of afflictions in general, but we are particularly directed to look to him for the supply of all our temporal wants.  If we have evidence that we are living members of the body of Christ, growing in grace and the knowledge of him, we have the most direct and positive assurances that all things needful for this life shall be supplied.  Our Saviour, after showing the folly of manifesting an anxious concern about the supply of our temporal wants, since the Lord is so careful in feeding the fowls of the air, and clothing the lilies and the grass of the field, says,—­“But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you.”  By this, however, we are not to understand that the Lord will give us every earthly blessing which we desire.  We are so short-sighted as often to wish for things which would prove positively injurious to us.  But we are to understand that he will give us all that he sees best for us.  And surely