The LORD Afflicts Us For Our Good.

HE will not spoil them! 
(Letters of John Newton)

"Now for a little while, if necessary, 
you have been grieved by various trials." 
1 Peter 1:6
The LORD loves HIS children, and 
is very indulgent to them so far as 
they can safely bear it--
but HE will not spoil them! 

Their sin-sickness requires strong 
medicines, some of which are very 
unpalatable. And when our case calls 
for such, no short-sighted entreaties 
of ours will excuse us from taking what 
HE prepares for our good.

It is comforting to know that every dose 
is prepared by HIS own hand, and not 
one is administered in vain, nor is it 
repeated any oftener than is needful 
to answer HIS purposed end. 

Until then, no other hand can remove 
the affliction which HE lays upon us. 
When HIS merciful design is answered, 
HE will relieve us HIMSELF; and in 
the mean time HE will so moderate 
the operation, or increase our 
ability to bear it--
that we shall not be overpowered by it.

Afflictions are useful, and in a degree 
necessary, to keep alive in us a conviction 
of the vanity and unsatisfying nature of 
the present world and all its enjoyments; 
to remind us that this poor world is not 
our rest; and to call our thoughts upward, 
where our true treasure is, and where 
our hearts ought to be.

When things go on much to our wish, 
our hearts are too prone to say, 
"It is good be here!" 

Thus the LORD, by pain, sickness, and 
disappointments, by breaking our 
cisterns and withering our gourds--
weakens our attachment to this 
world, and makes the thought 
of leaving it more desirable.

Trials are medicines which our gracious 
and wise physician prescribes, because 
we need them; and HE proportions 
the frequency and weight of them 
to what the case requires.

It is true, without a single exception, 
that all HIS paths are mercy and truth 
to those who fear HIM. The LORD 
afflicts us for our good--
but it is always a thousand 
times less than we deserve!

   ~  ~  ~  ~

GraceGems has published Archibald Brown's precious and uplifting sermon,
 "The Sympathy of JESUS!"