Faith pulls the black mask from the face of trouble!

(Charles Spurgeon)

"I will sing of mercy and judgment!" Psalm 101:1

Faith triumphs in trial. When reason is thrust into the inner prison, with her feet made fast in the stocks — then faith makes the dungeon walls ring with her merry notes, as she cries, "I will sing of mercy and of judgment. Unto you, O Lord, will I sing." Faith pulls the black mask from the face of trouble — and discovers the angel beneath.

There is a subject for song — even in the judgments of God towards us. For,
1. the trial is not so heavy — as it might have been,
2. the trouble is not so severe — as we deserved to have borne,
3. our affliction is not so crushing — as the burden which others have to carry.

Faith sees that in her worst sorrow, that there is nothing penal — there is not a drop of God's wrath in it; it is all sent in love. Faith discerns love gleaming like a jewel, on the breast of an angry God! Faith says of her grief, "This is a badge of honor, for the child must feel the rod"; and then she sings of the sweet result of her sorrows, because they work her spiritual good. "Nay, more," says Faith, "these light afflictions, which are but for a moment, work out for me a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory!" So Faith rides forth on the black horse, conquering and to conquer, trampling down carnal reason and fleshly sense, and chanting notes of victory amid the thickest of the fray!