Affliction (28)
Though a Christian ought to be quiet under God's correcting hand, he may without any breach of Christian contentment complain to God. As one of the ancients says, Though not with a tumultuous clamor and shrieking out in a
confused passion, yet in a quiet, still, submissive way he may unbosom his heart to God. Likewise he may communicate his sad condition to his Christian friends, showing them how God has dealt with him, and how heavy the affliction is upon him, that they may speak a word in season to his weary soul.
Jeremiah Burroughs
The Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment Afflictions are God's furnace, by which he cleanses his people from their dross. Affliction is a fire to purge out our dross, and to make virtue shine. Afflictions are medicines which heal soul diseases, better than all the remedies of physicians.Precious Remedies Against Satan's Devices
Afflictions on the godly are fruits of covenant-mercy. 2 Sam vii 14. Afflictions on the wicked are effects of God's wrath.The Ten Commandments, 30
It is the great mistake and folly of men that they make more haste to get their afflictions removed than sanctified.
God had one son without sin, but no son without stripes.The Beatitudes, Discourses, 2;323
The least sin is worse than the greatest affliction.Lifting Up, 68
Afflictions are but our Father's goldsmiths who are working to add pearls to our crowns.Precious Remedies, 93
Wicked men in affliction are like iron, which while in the first it melts, but after it hath been a while out, it grows stiff again.Saint\'s Nosegay, 83
Behold I show you a mystery! Sin brought affliction into the world, and God makes affliction to carry sin out of the world.
Affliction is God's forge wherein He softens the iron heart.
The afflictions of the saints are not judgments, but corrections or trials; they are God's discipline to mortify sin or His means to discover grace and to prove our faith, love, patience, sincerity, and constancy. Well, then, behave thyself as one under trial; let nothing be discovered in thee but what is good and gracious.Exposition, Epistle of James, 6
Afflictions quicken us to prayer. It is a pity it should be so; but experience testifies, that a long course of ease and prosperity, without painful changes—has an unhappy tendency to make us cold and formal in our secret worship. But troubles rouse our spirits, and constrain us to call upon the Lord in good earnest—when we feel a need of that help which we only can have from his almighty arm.
Afflictions likewise strengthen us—by the exercise our graces. As our limbs and natural powers would be feeble if not called to daily exertion—so the graces of the Spirit would languish, without something which was provided to draw them out to use.
Lastly, afflictions are honorable, as they advance our conformity to Jesus our Lord, who was a man of sorrows for our sake. Methinks, if we might go to heaven without suffering, we would be unwilling to desire it. Why should we ever wish to go by any other path to heaven—than that which Jesus has consecrated and endeared, by his own example?
New Quotes
What is affliction? Affliction is all that is contrary to one's will; thereby God eats out the core of our wills. Whensoever therefore you meet with any affliction, pray over it and beg that God would eat out the core of your wills thereby; and the more the core of your wills is eaten out, the more willing you will be to suffer for the name of Jesus Christ.Works 3:342
Affliction is a gift of love even as faith is. It's grace as well to bleed for as to believe in Christ. It may be fair overhead when and while foul under foot. In a bad way a man may have good weather. A fair sky and a filthy way may consist. The shepherd may pipe, though the dog may bark. Build upon it, ye suffering saints!Sips of Sweetness, 150
We are sure of this, that God intends His church no hurt. True indeed, take a single affliction and it will seem to hurt... but view the whole frame, and you will see how one wheel turns about another (like the wheels of a watch), which (though they have cross and contrary motions) all conspire and work together for goodTemple Rebuilt, 15
They who dive in the sea of affliction bring up rare pearls.
Affliction doth not rise out of the dust or come to men by chance; but it is the Lord that sends it, and we should own and reverence His hand in it.
Afflictions make the heart more deep, more knowing and profound, and so, more able to hold, to contain, and beat more.
The winter prepares the earth for the spring, so do afflictions sanctified prepare the soul for glory.
Prosperity may cause us to rise in the world, but affliction is needful to raise us above the world.
God chequers his providences, white and black—as the pillar of the cloud had its light side and dark side. Look on the light side of the estate; who looks on the back side of a landscape? Suppose you have lost much in a law-suit—there is the dark side; yet you have some land left—there is the light side. You have sickness in your body—there is the dark side; but you also have grace in your soul—there is the light side. You have a child taken away—there is the dark side; your husband lives—there is the light side. God's providences in this life are variously represented by those speckled horses among the myrtle-trees which were red and white. (Ze. 1:1) Mercies and afflictions are interwoven—God speckles his work.https://gracegems.org/Watson/art_of_divine_contentment2.htm
Our temptations, if not yielded to, are not sins; they are afflictions only.
Afflictions are light when compared with what we really deserve. They are light when compared with sufferings of the Lord Jesus. But perhaps their real lightness is best seen by comparing them with the weight of glory which is awaiting us.
God makes afflictions to be but inlets to the soul's more sweet and full enjoyment of his blessed self.Precious Remedies Against Satan's Devices
Oh! what a merciful providence is it that, though God bruise his people, yet, while he is bruising them, he is doing them good! It is as if one should throw a bag of money at another, which bruises him a little, but yet it enriches him. Affliction enriches the soul, and yields the sweet fruits of righteousness.The Ten Commandments, 32
Afflictions on the godly make them better, but afflictions on the wicked make them worse. The godly pray more; Psa cxxx i. The wicked blaspheme more.The Ten Commandments, 30
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1. Thomas Watson (142)
2. Charles Spurgeon (134)
3. J.C. Ryle (117)
4. John Calvin (107)
5. J.I. Packer (92)
6. John Piper (87)
7. George Swinnock (78)
8. A.W. Pink (68)
9. John Flavel (66)
10. Louis Berkhof (63)
11. C.S. Lewis (59)
12. John Owen (59)
13. Martyn Lloyd-Jones (58)
14. B.B. Warfield (58)
15. R.C. Sproul (55)
16. Thomas Manton (53)
17. Heinrich Bullinger (53)
18. Thomas Brooks (52)
19. Matthew Henry (51)
20. Gerald Bray (50)
2. Charles Spurgeon (134)
3. J.C. Ryle (117)
4. John Calvin (107)
5. J.I. Packer (92)
6. John Piper (87)
7. George Swinnock (78)
8. A.W. Pink (68)
9. John Flavel (66)
10. Louis Berkhof (63)
11. C.S. Lewis (59)
12. John Owen (59)
13. Martyn Lloyd-Jones (58)
14. B.B. Warfield (58)
15. R.C. Sproul (55)
16. Thomas Manton (53)
17. Heinrich Bullinger (53)
18. Thomas Brooks (52)
19. Matthew Henry (51)
20. Gerald Bray (50)
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