God has blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: we have oneness with Christ; we have faith and the Spirit: what more, then, do we need but the Trial of Faith and the Spirit's fellowship? If we have a steadfast purpose to overcome temptation, sooner or later we surely prevail. Abraham, through the weakness of the flesh, did not leave his father when God commanded him to go into the land of Canaan; but it was his steadfast purpose to obey God; so that at the last, when he offered up Isaac, he conferred not with flesh and blood. Are we content to leave our cause in the hands of God? Job should have done this at the first; but by justifying himself he increased his trouble. James 1:2. "Count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations." There is grace in Christ for our fulfilling the precept. If, being tried, I am entangled in unbelief, I cannot count my Trial joy; so to do, I must by the Spirit's power resist the Tempter. Satan has no pity on us, be we sick or well: if he leave us for a season, it is because the time decreed is spent, and he cannot exceed his commission. Faith never expects to learn _deep_ lessons without _deep_ difficulties; therefore she is not surprised by strange and dark providences. How many are apt to say, "My temptation is peculiar!" But we should remember that it is the peculiar aggravations which make a trial effectual, and should not forget the word, "There hath no temptation taken you, but such as is common to man" (1 Cor. 10:13). Our faith is greatly strengthened when we are brought to see that no arm but God's can help; no wisdom but His can guide; and no love but His can satisfy. The thickest cloud brings the heaviest shower of blessings. Those very circumstances which make unbelief despond are meat and drink to faith. Satan is employed for God's people—for their discipline, their correction, their sifting, but not for their destruction. Christ often wounds in order to heal; and if He give pain it is that we may find peace and rest in Himself. His wounds are full of kindness, and always tend to life, and health, and peace. We often make this great mistake—we expect in the kingdom of patience what is only promised in the kingdom of glory; and we ask God rather for deliverance from the warfare than grace for it as long as He is pleased that it shall last. Our impatience for victory often increases the heat of the battle. To preserve _purity of life_ in time of temptation, we must take constant heed to _purity of thought_. God has settled in heaven certain Trials of our Faith, which will as surely befal us as the crown of glory be given us at Christ's appearing. God's purposes of grace are a golden chain; not a link must be missing. Temptations which find us dwelling in God are to our faith like winds that more firmly root the tree. (James 1:2-4.)