Page:Spiritual Reflections for Every Day in the Year - Vol 2.pdf/72

 and those false persuasions and earthly desires, which lead downward into the paths of folly and vice. In this struggle and temptation there is an oppression of soul; the bright truths of Revelation are somewhat obscured by our dimness of thought; and the understanding, the eye of the mind, can see at the moment no bright prospect or hope of relief. It is this severe state of temptation that the Psalmist speaks of, when he says, "Mine eye mourneth by reason of affliction: Lord, I have called daily upon thee, I have stretched out mine hands unto thee." In temptation's darkness, the understanding has no clear perception of truth, and the eye mourns by reason of affliction. In this condition, man's safety is to call daily upon the Lord, and stretch forth his hands, the spiritual powers of his mind, in humble supplication and prayer. In this affliction, if thou be faithful and true, if thou desire that the Lord will lead thee out of the temptation, and thus deliver thee from evil; thou wilt be sure of relief—thou wilt come forth like gold tried in the fire—and feel that in affliction thou hast lost nothing but dross, and gained a more perfect knowledge of the truth! and feeling the blessedness of a conqueror in temptation, thou wilt exclaim with David—"It is good for me that I have been afflicted: that I might learn thy statutes." (Psalm cxix. 71.)