[It is principally with a view to increase and strengthen their graces, that God permits his people to experience so many troubles. He " chooses them in the furnace of afflic- tion," and by means of the fire he " purges away their dross," that they may come forth as gold. Blessed is the testimony which David bears to this truth s: and every believer will esteem his trials most richly recompensed, when he finds that " they have wrought in him an increase of patience, experience, and hope*."]
3. In the manifestations of his love —
[Never does God vouchsafe such visits to his people, as when they are suffering for his sake, and in obedience to his will. " He will draw nigh unto them," and " manifest himself unto them as he does not unto the world," and will give them " the witness of the Spirit, as an earnest of their everlasting inheritance." Thus, if their " afflictions abound for Christ, their consolations are made to abound by Christ"." Now " in the Lord's favour is life ; and his loving-kindness is better than
r 2 Cor. xii. 9, 10. See this further promised, Hos. ii. 14, 15. and exemplified, Ps. xxxii. 2 — 7.
s Ps. cxxxviii. 3. l Rom. v. 3, 4. u 2 Cor. i. 5.
life :" when therefore a sense of his " love is shed abroad in the heart," it little concerns them by what means so great a bless- ing has been imparted : whatever they may have endured to prepare them for it, they will not hesitate to say, " It is good for me that 1 have been afflicted."]
Application —
[Is there any afflicted soul that cannot find consolation in God ? He is only like Hagar, who had a fountain close to her, while she was expecting nothing but death x: "let him therefore, though in darkness, stay himself upon his Gody." Sooner or later, shall all who wait on God be refreshed and comforted2.]
x Gen. xxi. 15—19. ? Isai. 1. 10.
z Isai. xl. 27 — 31. and xli. 17, 18. and xliv. 3. and xlix. 10.