The New Life

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The New Life.
tain an abiding blessing from it. They know not
what the Father has in view with them in the school
of trial.
In a good school there are four things necessary
a definite aim, a good text-book, a capable teacher, a
willing pupil.
1. Let the aim of trial be clear to you. Holiness
is the highest glory of the Father, and also of the
child. He " chastens us for our profit that we may
be partakers of His Holiness: ' ^ In trial the Christian
would often have only comfort. Or he seeks to be
quiet and contented under the special chastisement.
This is indeed the beginning ; but the Father desires
something else, something higher. He would make
him holy, holy, for his whole life. When Job said,
" Blessed be the name of the I/ord," this was still but
the beginning of his school-time : the Lord had still
more to teach him. God would unite our will with
His holy will, not only on the one point in which He
is trying us, but in everything : God would fill us
with His Holy Spirit, with His holiness. This is the
aim of God ; this also must be your aim in the school
of trial.
2. Let the word of God at this time be your reading
book. See in our trials how in affliction God
would teach us out of His law. The word will reveal
to you why the F'ather chastens you, how deeply He
loves you in the midst of it, and how rich are the
promises of His consolation. Trial will give new
1 Isa. xxvii. 8, 9
; i Cor. xi. 32 ; Heb. ii. 10, xii. 11.
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