TRIALS AND TEMPTATIONS.
By John Matteson
Do NOT marvel, dear reader, if you find many hard trials and temptations in your pathway. These all work for our good when borne with patience and resignation. And, by the grace of God, we can be victorious, having our loins girt about with truth, covering ourselves with the shield of faith, wielding the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, and praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit. Eph. 6. Such a warfare is very useful to us. It exercises and strengthens our faith. The precious gold is tried and purified by fire. So likewise is our faith proved and strengthened by temptations. Sometimes we are overcome on account of our ignorance or weakness. This is pitiful and shameful; yet it should not cause us to give up or cease the struggle. "If any man sin we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous." 1 John 2. Jesus will kindly receive us when we come unto him, even though we have been wanderers or backsliders. The lukewarm he will spew out of his mouth in the great and final day; but still sweet mercy lingers. His counsel to such is to be zealous, and repent. Rev. 3. Let us then come to Jesus, even if we have to come all covered with shame. Let the heart be broken. Let anguish pain the soul. Such shame and pain are very small compared to the shame and torment which will be ours in the great day if we are found wanting. What incalculable loss and infinite misfortune then to get a place assigned unto us outside of the city in the lake of fire; but how sweet the words will sound: "Come, ye blessed of my Father." John Matteson.