we know, be yet permitted to inflict : " We have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin." Instead therefore of complaining of the heaviness of our trials, we have reason rather to be thankful for the lightness of them : and, if we faint when they are so light, how shall we support them when they come upon us with unrestrained force ? " If we have run with footmen and they wearied us, how shall we contend with horses*^?" In our " strivings then against sin" and Satan, let us prepare for yet greater extremities: and, when we are prepared for the worst that can come upon us, then will all which stops short of that appear light and easy to be borne.]
2. They are all the fruits of paternal love — [God had exhorted his people under the Old Testament dispensation to regard their trials in this view, as sent by a loving Father to his children ; and to receive them with truly fihal gratitude, *' neither despising them," as though they came only by chance, " nor fainting under them," as though they had been sent in anger ■*. And the Apostle fixes our attention particularly on the tender and affectionate terms under which our God addresses us ; " My son, despise not." And we should not overlook such endearing expressions, which, if duly attended to, would reconcile us even to the most afflictive dispensations. The truth is, that man is only an instrument in God's hands : and that the very afflictions which men lay upon us for our excess of piety, God lays upon us for our defects, or for the further advancement of his work within us. St. Paul's thorn in the flesh was ordained of God to prevent his being too much elated by the revelations which had been vouchsafed unto liim^. Our state in this world is a state of discipline : we are yet children, and need correction on account of our manifold errors and faults : and it is by cor- rection that we are gradually brought to the exercise of true wisdom. This is found universally amongst men ; insomuch that there is no wise father who does not occasionally correct his child. A man, who sees children that are unconnected with him acting amiss, takes no notice of them, but leaves to others the painful office of correcting them : but his own chil- dren he corrects, because of his peculiar interest in them, and his love towards them. Would we then that God should disregard us as bastards, that have no real relation to him? Would we not much rather be dealt with by him as his beloved children, in whose welfare he takes the deepest in- terest? Whatever then be our affliction, corporeal or mental, personal or domestic; or with whatever view it may be in- flicted on us by others, let us view the hand of a Father in it,
<: Jcr. xii. 5. ^ Trov. iii. 11, 12. ^ "1 Cor. xii. 7.
2336.1 AFFLICTIONS THE FRUIT OF GOD's LOVE. 461
and say, with Eli, " It is the Lord ; let him do what seemeth him good^." Let us " hear the rod, and him who hath ap- pointed it°;" and endeavour to make a just improvement of it for the good of our souls.]
3. If we have submitted patiently to the rebukes of our earthly parents, much more should we to those of our heavenly Father —
[Earthly parents do not always correct so justly or so temperately as they ought ; their rebukes being sometimes little else than an ebullition of their own evil tempers : yet we have submitted to their corrections without presuming to arraign the wisdom, the justice, or the love that inflicted the chastisement upon us. This is a part of that honour which children were by God's law enjoined to pay those who were the fathers of their flesh ; and which, if they obstinately refused to pay, they were, by God's own appointment, to be stoned to death''. But this submission is due in an infinitely higher degree to Him who is the Father of our spirits : and, if we refuse it to him, a far worse death assuredly awaits us in the world to come ; for he never inflicts any evil upon us but for our greater good, even that we may become in a greater degree " partakers of his holiness." On the other hand, to obedient children there was a peculiar promise of a long and happy life ; a promise doubtless fulfilled to multitudes in former times, and not unfrequently accomplished now. But to those who meekly submit to the Divine chastisements, it shall be fulfilled in the Canaan that is above, even in the regions of blessedness and glory for evermore. Shall we then refuse to the corrections of our heavenly Father that submission which we paid to our earthly parents ? " Shall we not much rather be in subjection to him, and live?" Surely this is our truest wisdom, and our highest privilege.]