on this side of Heaven!
(John MacDuff, "Encouragements to Patient Waiting" 1864)
GOD'S children have found that
suffering times were blessed times--
that they never had such nearness
to their FATHER, such holy freedom
with HIM, and such heavenly
comforts from HIM--
as under affliction; it only
took away what checked
the current of HIS love, HIS
peace, and HIS joy in their hearts.
The afflictive cross, be it what it may--
pain, sickness, calamity, loss of
friends, fortune, fame--
is the greatest blessing
on this side of Heaven--
because by it the FATHER . . .
keeps HIS children in the closest
communion with HIM,
purges them of vanity,
makes them partakers of HIS holiness,
increases their graces,
crucifies the life of sense,
deadens them to the world, and
mortifies their lusts and sinful passions!
As the outward man perishes--
the inward man is renewed day
by day. In times of affliction, they . . .
receive new life, new strength,
new comfort, new peace;
become more and more conformed to JESUS;
tread the steps of those who have
"entered into rest," and come up
"from the wilderness leaning
on the arm of the Beloved ONE."
Christian, take comfort when you
think of the mighty cloud of witnesses
who would thus testify to your SAVIOR'S
constant care and unchanging love!
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
GraceGems has published Archibald Alexander's insightful article,
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