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and cry for help。 He arises and rebukes the wind and the waves； and at
once there is a calm。 He mildly reproves the faithless fears of His
panions； and all is over。 Such is the picture。 It is one full of
deep instruction。 e now； and let us examine what we are meant to
learn。
1。 Let us learn； first of all； that following Christ mil not prevent
our having earthly sorrows and troubles。
Here are the chosen disciples of the Lord Jesus in great anxiety。 The
faithful little flock which believed when priests； and scribes； and
Pharisees were all alike unbelieving； is allowed by the Shepherd to be
much disquieted。 The fear of death breaks in upon them like an armed
man。 The deep water seems likely to go over their souls。 Peter； James；
and John； the pillars of the Church about to be planted in the world；
are much distressed。
Perhaps they had not reckoned on all this。 Perhaps they had expected
that Christ's service would at any rate lift them above the reach of
earthly trials。 Perhaps they thought that He who could raise the dead；
and heal the sick； and feed multitudes with a few loaves； and cast out
devils with a wordHe would never allow His servants to be sufferers
upon earth。 Perhaps they had supposed He would always grant them smooth
journeys； fine weather； an easy course； and freedom from trouble and
care。
If the disciples thought so； they were much mistaken。 The Lord Jesus
taught them that a man may be one of His chosen servants； and yet have
to go through many an anxiety； and endure many a pain。
It is good to understand this clearly。 It is good to understand that
Christ's service never did secure a man from all the ills that flesh is
heir to； and never will。 If you are a believer； you must reackon on
having your share of sickness and pain； of sorrow and tears； of losses
and crosses； of deaths and bereavements； of partings and separations；
of vexations and disappointments； so long as you are in the body。
Christ never undertakes that you shall get to heaven without these。 He
has undertaken that all who e to Him shall have all things
pertaining to life and godliness； but He has never undertaken that He
will make them prosperous； or rich； or healthy； and that death and
sorrow shall never e to their family。
I have the privilege of being one of Christ's ambassadors。 In His name
I can offer eternal fife to any man； woman； or child who is willing to
have it。 In His name I do offer pardon； peace； grace； glory； to any son
or daughter of Adam who reads this paper。 But I dare not offer that
person worldly prosperity as a part and parcel of the Gospel。 I dare
not offer him long life； an increased ine； and freedom from pain。 I
dare not promise the man who takes up the cross and follows Christ；
that in the following he shall never meet with a storm。
I know well that many do not like these terms。 They would prefer having
Christ and good healthChrist and plenty of moneyChrist and no
deaths in their familyChrist and no wearing caresChrist and a
perpetual morning without clouds。 But they do not like Christ and the
crossChrist and tribulationChrist and the conflictChrist and the
howling windChrist and the storm。
Is this the secret thought of anyone who is reading this paper？ Believe
me； if it is； you are very wrong。 Listen to me； and I will try to show
you you have yet much to learn。
How should you know who are true Christians； if following Christ was
the way to be free from trouble？ How should we discern the wheat from
the chaff； if it were not for the winnowing of trial？ How should we
know whether men served Christ for His own sake or from selfish
motives； if His service brought health and wealth with it as a matter
of course？ The winds of winter soon show us which of the trees are
evergreen and which are not。 The storms of affliction and care are
useful in the same way。 They discover whose faith is real； and whose is
nothing but profession and form。
How would the great work of sanctification go on in a man if he had no
trial？ Trouble is often the only fire which will burn away the dross
that clings to our hearts。 Trouble is the pruning…knife which the great
Husbandman employs in order to make us fruitful in good works。 The
harvest of the Lord's field is seldom ripened by sunshine only。 It must
go through its days of wind； and rain； and storm。
If you desire to serve Christ and be saved； I entreat you to take the
Lord on His own terms。 Make up your mind to meet with your share of
crosses and sorrows； and then you will not be surprised。 For want of
understanding this； many seem to run well for a season； and then turn
back in disgust； and are cast away。
If you profess to be a child of God； leave to the Lord Jesus to
sanctify you in His own way。 Rest satisfied that He never makes any
mistakes。 Be sure that He does all things well。 The winds may howl
around you； and the waters swell。 But fear not； 〃He is leading you by
the right way； that He may bring you to a city of habitation。〃 （Psalm
cvii。 7。）
II。 Let us learn； in the second place； that the Lord Jesus Christ is
truly and really Man。
There are words used in this little history which； like many other
passages in the Gospel； bring out this truth in a very striking way。 We
are told that when the waves began to break on the ship； Jesus was in
the hinder part； 〃asleep on a pillow。〃 He was weary； and who can wonder
at it； after reading the account given in the fourth chapter of Mark？
After labouring all day to do good to soulsafter preaching in the
open air to vast multitudes； Jesus was fatigued。 Surely if the sleep of
the labouring man is sweet； much more sweet must have been the sleep of
our blessed Lord！
Let us settle in our minds this great truth； that Jesus Christ was
verily and indeed Man。 He was equal to the Father in all things； and
the eternal God。 But He was also Man； and took part of flesh and blood；
and was made like unto us in all things； sin only excepted。 He had a
body like our own。 Like us； He was born of a woman。 Like us； He grew
and increased in stature。 Like us； He was often hungry and thirsty； and
faint and weary。 Like us； He ate and drank； rested and slept。 Like us；
He sorrowed； and wept； and felt。 It is all very wonderful； but so it
is。 He that made the heavens went to and fro as a poor； weary Man on
earth！ He that ruled over principalities and powers in heavenly places；
took on Him a frail body like our own。 He that might have dwelt for
ever in the glory which He had with the Father； amidst the praises of
legions of angels； came down to earth and dwelt as a Man among sinful
men。 Surely this fact alone is an amazing miracle of condescension；
grace； pity； and love。
I find a deep mine of fort in this thought； that Jesus is perfect
Man no less than perfect God。 He in whom I am told by Scripture to
trust is not only a great High Priest； but a feeling High Priest。 He is
not only a powerful Saviour； but a sympathising Saviour； He is not only
the Son of God； mighty to save； but the Son of man； able to feel。
Who does not know that sympathy is one of the sweetest things left to
us in this sinful world？ It is one of the bright seasons in our dark
journey here below； when we can find a person who enters into our
troubles； and goes along with us in our anxietieswho can weep when we
weep； and rejoice when we rejoice。
Sympathy is far better than money； and far rarer too。 Thousands can
give who know not what it is to feel。 Sympathy has the greatest power
to draw us and to open our hearts。 Proper and correct counsel often
falls dead and useless on a heavy heart。 Cold advice often makes us
shut up； shrink； and withdraw into ourselves； when tendered in the day
of trouble。 But genuine sympathy in such a day will call out all our
better feelings； if we have any； and obtain an influence over us when
nothing else can。 Give me the friend who； though poor in gold and
silver； has always ready a sympathizing heart。
Our God knows all this well。 He knows the very secrets of man's heart。
He knows the ways by which that heart is most easily approached； and
the springs by which that heart is most readily moved。 He has wisely
provided that the Saviour of the Gospel should be feeling as well as
mighty。 He has given us one who has not only a strong hand to pluck us
as brands from the burning； but a sympathizing heart on which the
labouring and heavy…laden may find rest。
I see a marvellous proof of love and wisdom in the union of two natures
in Christ's person。 It was marvellous love in our Saviour to condescend
to go through weakness and humiliation for our sakes； ungodly rebels as
we are。 It was marvellous wisdom to fit Himself in this way to be the
very Friend of friends； who could not only save man； but meet him on
his own ground。 I want one able to perform all things needful to redeem
my soul。 This Jesus can do； for He is the eternal Son of God。 I want
one able to understand my weakness and infirmities； and to deal gently
with my soul； while tied to a body of death。 This again Jesus can do；
for He was the Son of man； and had flesh and blood like my own。 Had my
Saviour been God only； I might perhaps have trusted Him； but I never
could have e near to Him without fear。 Had my Saviour been Man only；
I might have loved Him； but I never could have felt sure that He was
able to take away my sins。 But； blessed be God； my Saviour is God as
well as Man； and Man as well as GodGod； and so able to deliver
meMan； and so able to feel with me。 Almighty power and deepest
sympathy are met together in one glorious person； Jesus Christ； my
Lord。 Surely a believer in Christ has a strong consolation。 He may well
trust； and not be afraid。
If any reader of this paper knows what it is to go to the throne of
grace for mercy and pardon； let him never forget that the Mediator by
whom he draws near to God is the Man Christ Jesus。
Your soul's business is in the hand of a High Priest who can be touched
with the feeling of your infirmities。 You have not to do with a being
of so high and glorious a nature that your mind can in no wise
prehend Him。 You have to do with Jesus； who had a body like your own
and was a Man upon earth like yourself。 He well knows that world
through which you are struggling； for He dwelt in the midst of it
thirty…three years。 He well knows 〃the contradictions of sinners；〃
which so often discourages you； for He endured it Himself。 （Heb。 xii。
3。） He well knows the art and cunning of your spiritual enemy； the
devil； for He wrestled with him in the wilderness。 Surely； with such an
advocate you may well feel bold。
If you know what it is to apply to the Lord Jesus for spiritual fort
in earthly troubles； you should well remember the days of His flesh；
and His human nature。
You are applying to One who knows your feelings by experience； and has
drunk deep of the bitter cup； for He was 〃a Man of sorrows； and
acquainted with grief。〃 （Isa。 liii。 3。） Jesus knows the heart of a
manthe bodily pains of a manthe difficulties of a man； for he was a
Man Himself； and had flesh and blood upon earth。 He sat wearied by the
well at Sychar。 He wept over the grave of Lazarus at Bethany。 He sweat
great drops of blood at Gethsemane。 He groaned with anguish at Calvary。
He is no stranger to your sensations。 He is acquainted with everything
that belongs to human nature； sin only excepted。
（a） Are you poor and needy？ So also was Jesus。 The foxes had holes； and
the birds of the air had nests； but the Son of man had not where to lay
His head。 He dwelt in a despised city。 Men used to say； 〃Can any good
thing e out of Nazareth？〃 （John i。 46。） He was esteemed a
carpenter's son。 He preached in a borrowed boat； rode into Jer