Fear not, you who love God, who are "the called according to his purpose." For you are in league with the stones of the field. All things are the servants of Him whom you call Father, and he has always done whatsoever hath pleased him. Fear not; for God has commanded the winds to waft you a benefit and the clouds to rain a blessing for you; the lightnings that they shall strike to your favor and the thunders to roll a benediction upon your head; that the waters shall roar and foam for you and the fires shall glow and burn in your behalf; yea, Death shall be your minister, and Satan shall serve you, and hell shall help you, and every shadow of darkness and every pain and woe that comes shall come to you fraught with precious blessing. Sing and be glad, for God hath done it: he has given orders to all his universe that all things seen or unseen shall work together for good to you, even to you. (Rom. 8:28.)

      But if you now say, "That promise is not for me," let me ask, Why not? If it is you do not love God, then turn to him right here and now, and from this moment it shall be to you according to his word. Or have you reasoned it out that your difficulties have arisen from former [249] disobediences and sins? Do not let that put you off. Many of our burdens and sufferings come as direct consequences of past transgression. God has taken account of that. This circumstance does not make his promise void. But if right here and now, in the midst of guilty, self-caused distresses you would come to God with all your heart, then he will not forget his word; every further trial, pain, burden, from that instant, shall be sanctified of God for your good, your blessing and help. He has spoken it, he will also perform it.

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