But in another way, you may feel the cloud return. The time is long, and human nature is weak, and power fails, and you feel yourselves walking towards the darkness which bounds the horizon of all natural life; yea the darkness will oftentimes steal into the inmost soul, and fill you with an indescribable horror, as you survey the vastness of the universe, in which God is apparently silent, and the almost infinite mass of abortive life that appears upon earth from generation to generation. Be comforted concerning this also: this darkness is inseparable from God's plan. Nay more; it is essential to it. Human life on the earth can no more reach the glory to be revealed without this experience, than the fruits of the field can appear without ploughing and harrowing. It is part of the plan. God's wisdom is in it, and His love, for God is love. We shall see it. Meanwhile we must exercise faith, without which He can not be pleased. Faith working by love can see a little even now -- by starlight as it were. The darkness is prolonged for the world as a whole; but it is short for any generation. It has been on the earth for ages, but no generation lasts for ages. We knew nothing of it last century; our turn had not come. Our turn has now come: it depresses, but it will soon be over, and when over, the next thing in our experience (apparently the immediate next) if actually delayed however long, is the eternal sunshine of the Father's manifested presence, power and glory. We shall find then what has been done for us by our present exposure in the darkness and cold of earth's winter. It is the Father's appointment for us meanwhile. What can we say but, "Thy will be done"? He doth not willingly afflict. Not only so, but He ministers to our need while we pass through the darkness. None of the elect of God is left alone. God is with him to guide and strengthen in many invisible ways. God cares for him; pities him; chastens him; upholds him; prepares him for the inheritance that is in store for all the sons of light: an inheritance in which they will commune with unspeakable joy, after the prolonged and bitter fight of faith victoriously waged in their several evil days.

"These are they that came out of great tribulation." We cannot come out of it without being in it first. While in it, it is hard to bear. But remember the end. Remember the joyful muster of the Lord's elect.