Puritan Gems on the Blessings
of Affliction Richard Baxter Afflictions teach us to value
the blessings of God, which in prosperity we are apt to forget. God's afflictions are not to
destroy us, but to wean us from the world and bring us closer
to Christ. It is folly to doubt God's goodness
because of his chastening rod, for the rod is in the hand of
infinite love. Thomas Brooks Afflictions are
but God's furnace to refine his gold. Christ's school of affliction
is the best school in this world. God would not rub so hard if
it were not to fetch out the dirt that is ingrained in our
natures. Afflictions are God's medicines
to cure his people. William Bridge. As the winter
prepares the earth for the spring, so affliction prepares the soul
for glory. The greatest afflictions are
less than we deserve. God empties us of worldly comfort
to fill us with heavenly joy. Jeremiah Burroughs God's people
are like gold. They are purified by fire. God does not strike as an enemy
to destroy, but as a father to correct. John Flavell, sanctified afflictions
are better than unsanctified prosperity. The furnace of affliction is
where God polishes his jewels. William Guernal, God's wounds
cure, sins kisses kill. John Owen, afflictions quicken
our desires for eternal things. Afflictions are blessings to
the soul, though they seem bitter to the flesh. Samuel Rutherford Your afflictions
are your father's love tokens. When I am in the cellar of affliction,
I look for the Lord's choicest wines. Richard Sibbes God breaks the
cistern to drive us to the fountain. The fire does not destroy the
gold, but only refines it. God's hammer breaks us in pieces
that he may fashion us into his own likeness. God squeezes the sins out of
his saints by affliction. It is better to go limping to
heaven than leaping to hell. Thomas Watson. A sickbed often
teaches more than a sermon. God's rod is a pencil to draw
Christ's image more distinctly upon us. The Puritans consistently viewed
affliction as a tool in our Father's loving hands for instructing,
humbling, sanctifying, refining, drawing believers closer to Him,
increasing their graces, shaping them into Christ-likeness, and
preparing them for glory.