TRIALS.—It is the pruned church, like the pruned vine, that bears the most precious clusters; it is the crushed soul, like the crushed aromatic plant, that is the most fragrant. The harp of David reserves its sweetest notes for dirges, and the pencil of the Holy Spirit draws its brightest pictures on a dark ground. He who is a stranger to the depths of divine mercy is a stranger to the heights of divine promise, to the riches of religious joy. Man never appears more glorious, nor God more gracious than when the prophet stands among lions. It is true greatness, says Seneca, to have in one the frailty of man and the security of God. Hence persecution is spoken of as a gift:—"Unto you it is given in behalf of Christ not only to believe on Him, but also to suffer for His sake;" and the prediction of suffering is in the clear words of the Master; "In the world ye shall have tribulation."