IV. 1. For what ends then, (which was the fourth thing to be considered) does God permit heaviness to befal so many of his children? The apostle gives us a plain and direct answer to this important question; _That the trial of their faith, which is much more precious than gold that perisheth though it be tried by fire, may be found unto praise and honour and glory, at the revelation of_ Jesus Christ, ver. 7. There may be an allusion to this, in that well-known passage of the fourth chapter (altho’ it primarily relates to quite another thing, as has been already observed:) _Think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, but rejoice that ye are partakers of the sufferings of_ Christ: _That when his glory shall be revealed, ye may likewise rejoice with exceeding great joy_, ver. 12, &c.
2. Hence we learn, that the first and great end of God’s permitting the temptations which bring heaviness on his children, is the trial of their faith, which is tried by these, even as gold by the fire. Now we know, gold tried in the fire, is purified thereby, is separated from its dross. And so is faith, in the fire of temptation; the more it is tried, the more it is purified. Yea, and not only purified, but also strengthened, confirmed, increased abundantly, by so many more proofs of the wisdom and power, the love and faithfulness of God. This then, to increase our faith is one gracious end of God’s permitting those manifold temptations.
3. They serve to try, to purify, to confirm and increase that living hope also, whereunto _the_ God _and Father of our_ Lord Jesus Christ _hath begotten us again of his abundant mercy_. Indeed our hope cannot but increase, in the same proportion with our faith. On this foundation it stands: believing in his name, living by faith in the Son of God, we hope for, we have a confident expectation of, the glory which shall be revealed. And consequently, whatever strengthens our faith; increases our hope also. At the same time it increases our joy in the Lord, which cannot but attend an hope full of immortality. In this view the apostle exhorts believers in the other chapter, _Rejoice that ye are partakers of the sufferings of_ Christ. On this very account, _happy are you; for the Spirit of glory and of_ God _resteth upon you_. And hereby ye are enabled, even in the midst of sufferings to _rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory_.
4. They rejoice the more, because the trials which increase their faith and hope, increase their love also: both their gratitude to God for all his mercies, and their good-will to all mankind. Accordingly the more deeply sensible they are, of the loving-kindness of God their Saviour, the more is their heart inflamed with love to him _who first loved us_. The clearer and stronger evidence they have of the glory that shall be revealed, the more do they love him who hath purchased it for them, and _given them the earnest_ thereof _in their hearts_. And this, the increase of their love, is another end of the temptations permitted to come upon them.
5. Yet another is, Their advance in holiness; holiness of heart and holiness of conversation: the latter naturally resulting from the former; for a good tree will bring forth good fruit. And all inward holiness is the immediate fruit of the faith that worketh by love. By this the blessed Spirit purifies the heart from pride, self-will, passion; from love of the world, from foolish and hurtful desires, from vile and vain affections. Beside that sanctified afflictions have (thro’ the grace of God) an immediate and direct tendency to holiness. Thro’ the operation of his Spirit, they humble more and more, and abase the soul before God. They calm and meeken our turbulent spirit, tame the fierceness of our nature, soften our obstinacy and self-will, crucify us to the world; and bring us to expect all our strength from, and to seek all our happiness in God.
6. And all these terminate in that great end, That our faith, hope, love and holiness, _may be found_ (if it doth not yet appear) _unto praise_ from God himself, _and honour_ from men and angels, _and glory_ assigned by the great Judge to all that have endured to the end. And this will be assigned in that awful day to every man _according to his works_, according to the work which God had wrought in his heart, and the outward works which he has wrought for God: and likewise according to what he had suffered; so that all these trials are unspeakable gain. So many ways do these _light afflictions, which are but for a moment, work out for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory_!