We may be sorrowful, yet not unhappy. Unhappiness is caused by self-will, that frets against the Lord's way of dealing with us. But we may have sorrow without sinning, and by such sadness the heart is made better. (Eccl. 7:3.) Grace does not steel the heart, but makes it more tender. We may feel, but must not rebel. Every child of God needs to be put into the sieve: but when sifted, if we be willing to endure the Lord's dealings with us, we shall not be put to shame. How few the words of Jesus when all the earth, in its representatives -- Herod, Pilate, priests and elders—rose up against Him! He never uttered more or less than was needed for God's glory. That perfect guidance of the tongue proceeded from the perfect subjection of His will to God. The proper fruit of the Lord's discipline is that blessed state described by the psalmist, when the fretting of the flesh is silenced, the soul composing itself to rest in the everlasting arms. "Surely I have behaved and quieted myself, as a child that is weaned of his mother: my soul is even as a weaned child" (Psalm 131:2). It is not every child of God who, by reason of acquaintance with God and with himself, reckons upon discipline, and resolves to go through it with God, how bitter soever it may be: hence when it comes he frets; he is the bullock unaccustomed to the yoke. (Jer. 31:18.) Christ had a lawful desire to be spared suffering. He could not otherwise have been a pattern to us of patience and submission: but His submission brought Him into the floods of His sufferings. Our afflictions are light, soon as we can say, "Not my will, but Thine be done." Deep inwrought patience is precious fruit of suffering God's will according to God's mind. If we desire that patience have her perfect work, we shall thank the only-wise God for all things whatsoever that afflict us; and whosoever they be that God uses for pruning our souls -- be they unjust men or froward brethren—we shall love and pray for them, and seek to overcome their evil with good. A child of God may be greatly afflicted, yet be far from murmuring against his heavenly Father. Sorrow sanctified obtains God's embrace; rebellious grief spoils the soul of communion. The cluster must be bruised to yield its wine, and the sufferings of heavenly patience procure for the soul an overflowing cup of consolation, both for its own comfort and that of others. (2 Cor. 1:4-6.) How many snares, how much harm, and loss, and shame, would the people of God avoid and escape, had they a little more patience in waiting for the Lord! Had Saul but waited a few minutes longer for Samuel then "would the Lord have established his kingdom upon Israel for ever (1 Sam. 13:13). Experience It is only as by faith we see our Home above, that we are proper pilgrims here. We rightly use our past Experience, if, in time present, we have no confidence in the flesh.