"(3) To those among you who may be in affliction. Many Christians know nothing of affliction. They are allowed to sail smoothly on; no storm comes near their little barque. They do not know what it is to write "Ichabod" — the glory is departed — on their dwellings; or like Naomi to say, "Call me not Naomi, call me Marah, for the LORD hath dealt bitterly with me" (Ruth 1:20-21). Dear brethren, it is not always that you will have these days. Days of darkness and disease will come, and what is to be done? There is only one place you can go to. "Into thine hand I commit my spirit; thou hast redeemed me, O LORD God of truth." (4) To those of you who are looking forward to duty. When a believer first comes to Christ, his time is all taken up about the gate, not about the way. I have been much struck with young believers. When they have been hearing a sermon, they say, "How did you like that sermon?" not, "What am I the better of it?" But, if you are a believer, you will feel that you have as much to do with the way as with the gate. Commit thy spirit to him. Oh brethren, he can carry you! "Even to your old age I am he; and even to hoar hairs will I carry you" (Isaiah 46:4). There is none but he can carry you — before duty to guide, in duty to direct, after duty to accept. Commit thy spirit to his hand; he will guide you. "Thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it" (Isaiah 30:21)." -Robert Murray McCheyne