Death Begins A wicked Man's Hell, But Ends A Godly Man's Hell.

An easy hell

(Thomas Watson, "The Art of Divine Contentment")

"I have learned to be content in whatever
circumstances I am. I know both how to
have a little, and I know how to have a lot.
In any and all circumstances I have
learned the secret of being content--
whether well-fed or hungry,
whether in abundance or in need."
Philippians 4:11-12

Whatever affliction or trouble 

a child of GOD meets with--

it is all the hell he shall ever have! 

Whatever eclipse may be 

upon his name or estate--

it is but a little cloud which 

will soon be blown over--

and then his hell is past!

Death begins a wicked man's hell.
Death ends a godly man's hell.

Think with yourself, 

"What is my affliction? 

It is but a temporary hell. Indeed, 

if all my hell is here on earth--

it is but an easy hell. 

What is the cup of affliction--

compared to the cup 

of damnation!"

Lazarus could not get a crumb; 

he was so diseased that 

the dogs took pity on him--

and as if they had been his 

physicians, licked his sores. 

But this was an easy hell--

the angels quickly fetched 

him out of it!

If all our hell is in this life--

and in the midst of this hell, 

we have the love of GOD--

then it is no more hell, 

but paradise! 

If all our hell is here on earth, 

we may see to the end of it; 

it is but skin-deep, it cannot touch 

the soul. It is a short-lived hell. 

After a dreary night of affliction, 

comes the bright morning of glory!

Since our lives are short--

our trials cannot be long!

As our riches take wings 

and fly away--

so do our sufferings! 

Let us learn then, to be content, 

whatever our circumstances.

   ~  ~  ~  ~

GraceGems has published Philip Bennett Power's challenging one page article, 
"Self-Denial".