365. ECC 7:14. THE DAY OF ADVERSITY

Ecc_7:14. The Day of Adversity

"In the day of adversity consider."’97Ecc_7:14.

"Man that is born of a woman, is of few days," &c. This world has fitly been compared to a wilderness, or valley of tears. "Man is born to trouble as the sparks fly upwards." It matters not who were our ancestors; what the splendors attending our birth; what our earthly prospects: we are heirs of sorrow, &c., are hourly exposed to a thousand sources of misery. And what is the best course to be adopted amid the distresses of life? Shall we endeavor to fly to the giddy scenes of worldly dissipation? Shall we sink into sullen apathy; and by stoical stupidity try to blunt our feelings, and create as great an amount of insensibility as possible? Alas! what miserable refuges are these! The only balm which can sooth in distress, is the consolation of true religion. And by that we are admonished in the text, "In the day of adversity to consider." Let us then ascertain,

I. What is to be understood by the Day of Adversity.

1. When we are deprived of the temporal good things of this life.

In our residence in this world we shall require temporal blessings; yet some of the best of men have been placed in extreme poverty and want. See the case of Hagar, with her infant child, Gen_21:14, &c. Elijah, also, was saved from starvation by miracle, 1Ki_19:4. Then, there is the affecting case of Lazarus, compelled to wait at the rich man’s gate, &c. The blessed Jesus, too, was extremely poor. No home, no earthly goods. Cradle and grave, both borrowed. Thousands of God’s saints have been in similar circumstances. "Day of adversity,"

2. May include seasons of domestic bereavements.

God has wisely arranged that families should not be removed at a stroke. How soon the first human pair were distressed by beholding their beloved Abel stretched out on the cold ground a silent corpse! All families know what bereavements moan. There is Abraham left to finish his pilgrimage without his beloved Sarah. David severed from his beloved Jonathan. Rachel weeping for her children. Sometimes these bereavements are peculiarly distressing: such was the case with the lovely Rachel, who in the same hour became a mother and a corpse. So, too, with David, who had to mourn over the death of his rebellious son. "O Absalom, my son," &c. 3o Ezekiel, who was called to listen to the divine mandate, "Son of man, behold I take away the desire of thine eyes with a stroke." So the widow of Nain, who was following the funeral of her only son. These are Jays of adversity indeed. Then, there are,

3. Times of bodily afflictions.

When wearisome nights and days are appointed unto us; when we are confined to our apartments, or to our bed; when the body is racked with pain, scorched with fever, or wasted by pining disease; whet food is bitter; when light is painful; conversation afflictive; when life has lost all its charms’97yet, how often is this the case! How many thousands have felt all this; yea, more than this! Have not some of you felt it? Well, any of these we may conceive to be the day of adversity. Observe, then,

II. The Course prescribed.

"In the day of adversity consider." Now I remark,

1. That we are naturally averse to consideration.

Hence, how frequently is consideration enforced in the divine word. Moses exclaimed, "O that they were wise, that they would consider their latter end." God says, "Israel doth not know, my people will not consider." Hence, he says by his prophet Haggai, "Consider your ways."

2. In adversity we have many facilities to promote consideration.

The mind is made serious’97sometimes broken down; driven out of the giddy scenes of the world. Chased, as it were, into privacy; shut out from external objects of attraction.

3. Afflictions have often produced consideration.

How many when rich and affluent were careless! God took them down from slippery places, and in their adversity they sought God early. How many have rejected all counsel, &c.; but when their advisers have been laid in the silent tomb, their advice and entreaties have been remembered and blest. Thousands have had to bless God that ever they were afflicted. But what should we especially consider in the day of adversity?

1. That all our sorrows are the result of sin.

Sin introduced all the evils which surrounded us. Earth is desolated, body filled with diseases, rendered mortal; all the sorrows of the mind are its fruitful progeny. We do not trace suffering to its rise, unless we follow it up to the fountain of our sins.

2. Consider that all our sufferings are under the control of God.

Yes, every event is either his appointment, or has his all-wise permission, see Isa_45:7; see also, Job_2:10, and Job_34:29. Afflictions are not the result of accident, arise not out of the dust, not the work of our enemies merely. God sees all, watches all, appoints all, or permits all. What a blessed thought that we are never excluded from the providential regards of God! A providence wise, just, and benevolent. Consider,

3. That our adversities are for the most salutary purposes.

Were we holy and perfect, then they might be dispensed with; but sickness requires medicine; the child requires correction; the gold requires refining; the air requires purifying winds; the earth requires nipping frosts and winter. So, our souls can only be disciplined for a better world, &c., by adversities. Consider,

4. That our adversities are mercifully mitigated.

Your afflictions are never unmixed; always some rays of light, some alleviations. Lost temporal mercies, but yet you have had health and friends; lost health, but the consolations of God have not been few or small; always favorable signs in your visitations. There never was but one unmixed cup, and Christ drank it in the garden. Our sorrows are infinitely lighter than our sins. It is of the Lord’s mercies, &c. Consider,

5. That our seasons of adversity are of limited duration.

"Day" of adversity. Therefore, they who weep should be as though they wept not. While we mourn, the clouds begin to disperse; while we sigh, the darkness breaks, and we have the dawn of a brighter day. Look back, you remember when you were ready to despair, you thought the Lord had forgotten to be gracious, but at eventide it was light. The Lord called you to rejoice in the brightness of his countenance. Consider while you are in distress, that the waters of affliction are rolling into the world of forgetfulness. Go to yonder grave-yard, and rely upon it that among all the grades of character, old and young, rich and poor, &c., there is not an aching head, nor an anxious breast.

Application

Let me remind you, that the three worlds revealed to us, are essentially different from each other.

1. This world is a state of mixture; joy and sorrow; health and pain; light and darkness.

2. Hell is the region of unmixed evil There is all night, all darkness, all wo, all despair.

3. Heaven is a world of unmixed felicity. Day, health, life, joy. Consider the end of life, is to prepare for this world of blessedness.

Autor: JABEZ BURNS