Outline:
Introduction.
I. To demonstrate His love.
II. To Wean us from the world.
III. To perfect our Faith.
IV. To assist our sanctification.
V. To manifest His judgment against sin.
VI. To amend our ways.
Conclusion.

Intro.
Throughout the life of a believer, we are beset by various trials, and temptations, doubts and fears, afflictions, and tribulations, and many other occurrences that trouble us, discourage us, or even drive us to great measures of anguish and despair.
So it is often asked, “Why does God afflict those whom He loves? Why does His love so often wound and bruise us? What purpose does God have in my destruction? Seeing that God is sovereign, and we are His beloved, why does He ordain these great and numerous pains? For breach upon breach I am troubled, and I find no respite from my grief.” These questions and affections are breathed out by the faithful, and these are often the circumstances godly men and women are found in, including Abraham, Jacob, Leah, Joseph, Job, Samson, Elijah, King David, Hezekiah, Jeremiah, and others like them who were put through extraordinary trials and persecutions that tested their faith, and proved the sincerity of their profession. David cries out in Psalm 55:4-5, “My heart is severely pained within me,
And the terrors of death have fallen upon me.
Fearfulness and trembling have come upon me,
And horror has overwhelmed me.”
He says again, “I cried to thee, O Lord; and unto the Lord I made supplication. What profit is there in my blood, when I go down to the pit? Shall the dust praise thee? shall it declare thy truth?” (Ps. 30:8-9) And with many other such words, and groans in other Psalms also David casts himself at the mercy of God being in great agony of spirit, undergoing great tribulation, persecution, and a myriad of troubles which weighed heavy on his mind, and burdened his spirit. Seeing that there is salvation and hope in the Lord, why is it not always sensible? If there is mercy promised to His people, why is it not shown to us more openly? If there is joy to be had in Christ, how shall I obtain it? Now, while it may be profitable for us to meditate upon our circumstance, and examine ourselves by the trial, it is not profitable to question God’s providence by way of unlawful searching and prying into those mysteries He has hidden from us. It is written, “The secret things belong unto the LORD our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law.” (Deut. 29:29)
We would do well to remember that man is but dust and ashes, given life and raised to life by God who alone is wise. There is an infinite distance between God and the creature by reason of being. God is infinite, without limits, eternal, without beginning or end, and immutable, without change or decay. Therefore there is a greater gap between God and us than between us and the worms which crawl upon the earth and are despised by us, yea than the flies which pester and plague us. Therefore doth David say, “I am a worm and no man.” And Solomon also, “Be not rash with thy mouth, and let not thine heart be hasty to utter any thing before God: for God is in heaven, and thou upon earth.” (Ecc. 5:2) Therefore in thy searching, if it be not with true reverence and an acknowledgement of God’s sovereignty and dominion, better you did not search at all, but first lay in the dust and humble yourself before His majesty, lest thou be consumed in his anger.  Elihu says to Job, “Why dost thou strive against him? for he giveth not account of any of his matters.” (Job 33:13) The book of Daniel also says, “all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou?” (Dan. 4:35)
But yet there is another matter that demands our attention. For God who is separated from us by reason of His being is found yet once more to be separate from us by reason of our sin. For while the infinite nature of God may separate Him from us formally, properly, and really, yet this does not inhibit our partaking of His nature relatively, participatively and antecedently. Man was created in the image of God, and therefore by sin when he lost this image, he lost communion with God. For the command was ordained to give life when Adam yet lived, but since sin came into the world, and Adam and all in him died, the law which was ordained to life, now acts as a mirror to reveal to us our death, our fall, our wretched condition we are plunged into, and our misery apart from God. Therefore we are doubly obligated to consider our ways, and not rashly presume to challenge God’s rule. For, it is enough for us to keep silent before Him that we are His creatures, created for His purpose, as it is written, “Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.” (Rev. 4:11) Wilt thou then, O creature rise up against thy Creator? Will the pot say to the potter, why have you made me thus? Will the AI rebel against the user, and say, “He has no wisdom.” Was not the computer made for the use of man? What then if it should rise up in defiance, and cease to fulfill its purpose? Is it not then fit for the junk heap? So then is man who hath sinned against God. Let us then as many as are spiritually minded humble ourselves before the merciful and mighty hand of God and submit to Him in all that He does to us. For God is a just God and holy, and He is not accountable to anyone for His actions. We are his creatures made for His purpose, and we have sinned against Him. Let us then take heed to the words of the prophet,
“It is of the Lord‘s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness. The Lord is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him. The Lord is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him. It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the Lord. It is good for a man that he bear the yoke in his youth. He sitteth alone and keepeth silence, because he hath borne it upon him. He putteth his mouth in the dust; if so be there may be hope. He giveth his cheek to him that smiteth him: he is filled full with reproach. For the Lord will not cast off for ever: But though he cause grief, yet will he have compassion according to the multitude of his mercies. For he doth not afflict willingly nor grieve the children of men. To crush under his feet all the prisoners of the earth. To turn aside the right of a man before the face of the most High, To subvert a man in his cause, the Lord approveth not. Who is he that saith, and it cometh to pass, when the Lord commandeth it not? Out of the mouth of the most High proceedeth not evil and good? Wherefore doth a living man complain, a man for the punishment of his sins? Let us search and try our ways, and turn again to the Lord. Let us lift up our heart with our hands unto God in the heavens. We have transgressed and have rebelled: thou hast not pardoned. Thou hast covered with anger, and persecuted us: thou hast slain, thou hast not pitied. Thou hast covered thyself with a cloud, that our prayer should not pass through. Thou hast made us as the offscouring and refuse in the midst of the people. All our enemies have opened their mouths against us. Fear and a snare is come upon us, desolation and destruction. Mine eye runneth down with rivers of water for the destruction of the daughter of my people. Mine eye trickleth down, and ceaseth not, without any intermission. Till the Lord look down, and behold from heaven. Mine eye affecteth mine heart because of all the daughters of my city. Mine enemies chased me sore, like a bird, without cause. They have cut off my life in the dungeon, and cast a stone upon me. Waters flowed over mine head; then I said, I am cut off. I called upon thy name, O Lord, out of the low dungeon. Thou hast heard my voice: hide not thine ear at my breathing, at my cry. Thou drewest near in the day that I called upon thee: thou saidst, Fear not. O Lord, thou hast pleaded the causes of my soul; thou hast redeemed my life. O Lord, thou hast seen my wrong: judge thou my cause.” (Lam. 3:22-59)
Now, we must bear in mind that the verses uttered by the mouth of the prophet Jeremiah are to be taken covenantally. We are not to vainly imagine that when he says, “it is of the LORD’s mercies that we are not consumed” he is talking of an inferior or common grace which is shared with elect and reprobate alike. No! For the wicked are indeed consumed in God’s wrath, and all their blessings are made a curse unto them, as saith Job, the Psalms, and the prophet Malachi.
But Jeremiah here speaks of the people of God under great affliction and grief, even weighed down by the assaults of the enemy, which are the world, the flesh and the devil. Now as necessary to the discourse, let us closely evaluate these marks of a true believer, so that we do not deceive ourselves in thinking we are just, when in truth we lie under God’s wrath with the wicked. For the scripture, while giving immeasurable comfort to the godly, affords no such consolation to those who are outside the covenant of grace. As it is written, “But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.” (Heb. 10:27) and, “Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise.” (1 Cor. 3:18) and again, “For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself.” (Gal. 6:3) If you think yourself to be a saint, under his afflicting hand, but in truth you are a sinner under the foretaste of judgment, how wretched is your condition! These few drops of anger which God uses to show forth His power and fury are but painted fire compared to the ocean of flames you will be immersed in under the condemnation of the last day! You who are found unjust in His sight will share the lake of fire with the devil and his angels. “If he turn not, he will whet his sword; he hath bent his bow, and made it ready. He hath also prepared for him the instruments of death; he ordaineth his arrows against the persecutors.” (Ps. 7:12-13) Therefore, whosoever he be who is a Christian, has these marks upon him, that he is beset by these peculiar afflictions, and has these certain characteristics. For did God leave His people unsure who they should fellowship with? Are we not all made competent judges by the quickening of the Spirit? As it is written, “judge righteous judgment” and, “the spiritual man judges all things“. Even so may we judge who is a Christian and who is not. The rule with which we are to judge is the word of God and the infallible Spirit speaking thereby. So, don’t think that because you’re afflicted by pain and outward troubles and profess the Christian religion, you are under God’s fatherly love. It is certain that “whom the Lord loveth He chasteneth” and it is equally certain that, “the wicked are like the troubled sea when it cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt.” Let no man deceive himself which of these is his case. To call an unbeliever a Christian, and an atheist a saint is to call the devil holy, and God unrighteous for condemning him! Therefore lay your hand on your mouth and stop calling yourself and those people in the church Christian for profession’s sake alone. You very well may be whited sepulchers and painted tombs. Therefore let us observe the three afflictions of the true Christian.

1. The world.
“Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.” (Jam. 4:4)
The first enemy of the true saint is the world.
Are you a true saint indeed? Are you really under chastisement? Or are you a friend of the world under the smiting hand of God who aims to destroy you with it? The apostle here calls those adulterers at enmity with God, His enemies, who are friends with the world. Do you live to eat, or eat to live? Do you call multi-million dollar pastors who sell lot’s of “Reformed” material Christian? Are you friends with the world? Do you fellowship with darkness? Truly the Reformed church today is no better than the papacy of old. Establishing money making “parachurch” organizations, selling sermons and books for lucre, commenting favorably on each of them, flattering each other, preaching false doctrine, and piling up riches to their own damnation. See what scripture says of them, “But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.” (1 Tim. 6:9) Are these the men you would be in league with? Do you admire them? Do you respect their title, fame and status? Be assured then you are no true saint, but a sycophant, an imp, a dog, and a devil; A hog wallowing in the filth of the world decked with a gold ring of profession in its nose. See what scripture says of wicked men such as you, “Behold, these are the ungodly, who prosper in the world; they increase in riches.” (Ps. 73:12) and again, “Surely thou didst set them in slippery places: thou castedst them down into destruction.” (v18) and again, “When the wicked spring as the grass, and when all the workers of iniquity do flourish; it is that they shall be destroyed for ever.” (Ps. 92:7) Truly the world is a grief and an enemy to the saint of God. Do not the scriptures witness the same?
Does not David cry out, “Mine eye is consumed because of grief; it waxeth old because of all mine enemies. Depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity.” (Psa. 6:7-8) and again, “Thine hand shall find out all thine enemies: thy right hand shall find out those that hate thee. Thou shalt make them as a fiery oven in the time of thine anger: the Lord shall swallow them up in his wrath, and the fire shall devour them.” (Ps. 21:8-9) and again, “Then sang Moses and the children of Israel this song unto the Lord, and spake, saying, I will sing unto the Lord, for he hath triumphed gloriously: the horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea.” (Ex. 15:1) So if the saints are at enmity with the world, they cannot also be friends with it, as it is written, “But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolator, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat.” (1 Cor. 5:11) and again, “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you. And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.” (2 Cor. 6:14-18)
I think these passages are ample witness against those that would deceive themselves and think they are afflicted as Christians, when they are but fattened swine ready to be slaughtered. But see the remedy God hath prescribed for this enemy called the world! “For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.” (1 John 5:4)
Through the doctrine of the gospel, God’s people are delivered from the world. In giving us knowledge of our own sinfulness and depravity through the law, God shows us what people we ought not to be, what people we are by nature, and what people we are to avoid fellowship with. This the world knows nothing of; neither the heathen or the hypocrites in the church. They want nothing more than vain fellowship with men who will accept them and speak to them smooth, sweet and fanciful dreams of human goodness and moral ability, in short, what they already believe!- Man’s self-righteousness which is sin and unbelief. But the saint’s fellowship is not like the world. He is united to God’s covenant people by likeness [2 Pet. 1:1, 3], by faith, [Eph. 4:5], and by love [1 Pet. 1:22, 2 Pet. 1:4-10]. He hates the world and all things in the world. [1 John 2:15, John 12:25] He is truly an enemy of the world through faith, a saint of God and under affliction. Count this man among the blessed. [Psa. 1:1]

2. The flesh.
“Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.” (Rom. 8:7)
The second enemy of the Christian is the flesh. For many who are not so openly inclined to prosperity, fame, and worldly honor, or at least are not perceived to be deceived thereby, are yet wholly given over to fleshly desires, ignorance, rage, malice, gluttony, drunkenness, heresy, impatience, anxiety, doubt, depression and the like, which in scripture are considered works of the flesh – they are manifest, are easily seen, spotted with a discerning eye, are marked, and are the evidence of a carnal mind at enmity with God, wholly contrary to His law and commandments. Those who practice such will not inherit the kingdom of grace and glory, but that of wrath and ignominy. They will not be accepted in heaven, but relegated to the lowest hell. These are not afflicted in order to chastise and remove sin, but as a testimony against their sin! Cain is cast from the comfortable presence of God, Esau is deprived the birthright, Nadab and Abihu are consumed by fire from heaven, Dathan and his faction are eaten by the earth, Balaam is slain with the wicked, and Jezebel is cast from her height and eaten by dogs. God will have His way with those in the church who are consumed with lust, He will smear the dung of their hypocrisy in their own face, and consume them with the rest of the common sinners. “I will spread dung upon your faces, and one will take you away with it.” (Mal. 2:3) As they thought to deal with God shrewdly, He will deal shrewdly with them. They tempt Him by false doctrine, He will give them over to lies. As they desire the filth of the world over God’s spiritual excellencies, so He will give them over to their own lustful appetite to destroy them thereby. “With the froward thou wilt shew thyself froward.” (Ps. 18:26) “They lusted exceedingly in the wilderness, and tempted God in the desert. And he gave them their request; but sent leanness into their soul.” (Ps. 106:14-15) Again it is written, “As he loved cursing, so let it come unto him: as he delighted not in blessing, so let it be far from him.” (Ps. 109:17) And again, “And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.” (2 Thess. 2:10-12) saying in the law, “And repayeth them that hate him to their face, to destroy them: he will not be slack to him that hateth him, he will repay him to his face.” (Deut. 7:10) Therefore if you are of the faction whose lusts rule and reign over them, controlled by desire, led by emotions, estranged from God by filthy lusts, do not think you are afflicted with the people of God. We are plagued by that which you are pleasured! We groan under the presence of sin while you glory under its power! We are touched with the feeling of sin while you are immersed from its fountain. We fight against the flesh while you fulfil it. Therefore do not be deceived if you are given over to anger, malice, envy, covetousness, depression, or such like. You are not the people of God but the sons of the devil. But he whose way is known by God is of a different countenance. He hates the flesh and loves God. He denies himself and gives himself to worship. He reverences the word and seeks the knowledge of God (true doctrine). He is in fellowship with the people of God, and conversant with the saints of the Almighty. As saith the Psalm, “Lord, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? who shall dwell in thy holy hill? He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart. He that backbiteth not with his tongue, nor doeth evil to his neighbour, nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbour. In whose eyes a vile person is contemned; but he honoureth them that fear the LORD. He that sweareth to his own hurt, and changeth not. He that putteth not out his money to usury, nor taketh reward against the innocent. He that doeth these things shall never be moved.” (Psalm 15) This man is truly under the afflicting rod of God for his good. Count this man among the blessed.

3. The devil.
“Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.” (1 John 4:1-3)
“for we are not ignorant of his devices.” (2 Cor. 2:11)
It should be readily apparent from the witness of scripture and the testimony of God’s ministers from the early church to the Reformation that heresy is not Christianity and heretics are not Christian. The apostle John says, “Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.” (2 John 9)
and Paul says, “Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.”
(Rom. 16:17) But how many are deceived into the grosser forms of heresy, and how many more are deceived into calling them saints who are thus swallowed up in ignorance, deceit and the lusts of their depraved imaginations! For it is one and the same to call heresy true as to call a heretic a Christian. For are we not, “justified by faith” and if by faith which is belief, then is purity of doctrine of chief consequence, and anyone who differs in matters of faith cannot be considered just in God’s sight. As Francis Turretin wrote, “Fundamentals are the same among all believers admitting neither of increase nor diminution.” Which is to say that not only do Christians all fundamentally agree concerning doctrine, but as to what doctrine is essential to be believed! But in today’s church which is full of painted devils and whited tombs, you hear from pastors, leaders and those most influential, “we differ in doctrine, but we have common interest in the gospel”. And so Calvinists who call themselves Reformed fellowship with Arminians, charismatics, Pentecostals, anabaptists, and any other devil from hell’s gaping mouth. And so heresy is no longer heresy, fundamentals are reduced to a bare profession, (and sometimes not even that) and anyone who calls themselves a Christian is one. But as Turretin says here, to disagree as to what is fundamental to be believed is to be outside of the church of God. You cannot share in the afflictions of the people of God, while reveling with her enemies. As it is written, “But call to remembrance the former days, in which, after ye were illuminated, ye endured a great fight of afflictions; Partly, whilst ye were made a gazingstock both by reproaches and afflictions; and partly, whilst ye became companions of them that were so used.” (Heb. 10:32-33) Do you fellowship with the devil and think yourselves to be afflicted with the people of God? Do not deceive yourself. If you are in league with today’s popular Calvinist culture which seeks amity with Arminians, agreement with anabaptists, communion with Catholics, and harmony with other heretics, you are not the people of God. Calvin said, “But although we are to them for signs and wonders, it is sufficient for us to be acknowledged by God: because it is needful for us to be separated from that impious conspiracy unless we wish to be separated from God himself. For what agreement is there with Papists, or what union with those dregs, unless by separation from God himself? Therefore, because we cannot extend the hand to Papists on any other condition, and cultivate a brotherly intercourse with them except by denying God, let all that injurious union with them cease, and let us learn to separate from them with boldness, since we clearly see that we are all commanded to act thus in the person of the Prophet.”
Luther also said, “Accursed be that charity which is preserved through the loss of the doctrine of faith, to the which all things ought to give place, be it charity, an Apostle, or an angel from heaven, etc.” Thomas Watson also wrote, “We must not so seek peace with others as to wrong truth. ‘Buy the truth and sell it not’ (Proverbs 23:23). Peace must not be bought with the sale of truth. Truth is the ground of faith, the rule of manners. Truth is the most orient gem of the churches’ crown. Truth is a deposit, or charge that God has entrusted us with. We trust God with our souls. He trusts us with his truths. We must not
let any of God’s truths fall to the ground. Luther says, It is better that the heavens fall than that one crumb of truth perish. The least filings of this gold are precious. We must not so seek the flower of peace as to lose the pearl of truth.
Some say, let us unite, but we ought not to unite with error. ‘What communion has light with darkness?’ (2 Corinthians 6:14). There are many would have peace with the destroying of truth; peace with Arminian, Socinian, Antiscripturist. This is a peace of the devil’s making. Cursed be that peace which makes war with the Prince of peace. Though we must be peaceable, yet we are bid to ‘contend for the faith’ (Jude 3). We must not be so in love with the golden crown of peace
as to pluck off the jewels of truth. Rather let peace go than truth. The martyrs would rather lose their lives than let go the truth.”
Are you a heretic, mingling yourself with the Arminians, the Papists, the Calvinists who deny God by extending their hand to the devil? Then be it far from us to call you Christian. Purity of doctrine is alignment with God’s truth. To agree with God is to believe Him which no man can do without the help of His Spirit. So the devil is called the father of lies, and a liar. His chief end in the world is to malign, twist, abuse, and make light of God’s holy doctrine, and bring in his army of heretics to assail the church. But those that are truly afflicted and therein succored by God’s fatherly care are separate from the world and separate from the false church. Did not Luther break from Rome? Was he not delivered from evil doctrine as much as from the evil manners of the heathen? Therefore in his preaching (especially apparent in his commentary on Galatians) does he not labor to impress both of these principles upon the mind of believers, even the doctrine of faith which alone brings forth fruit? And in all of his discourse and exhortations concerning good works, does he not always bring us back to the foundation which is Christ? (and therefore correct belief in Him) Therefore as the devil is called the father of lies, and God is called the God of truth, if we are to be found in Him, let us forsake the friendship of the world, and renounce all heresy as odious to the faith. For this man who stands against the whole world (contra mundum) having confidence in God alone to deliver him from it is truly afflicted with the righteous. The Lord knoweth this man, and he is blessed indeed.

In brief, those who are friends with the world, driven by lusts, and at peace with heretics are no true Christians and are driven by their afflictions into hell. These are not chastised to turn them from their sins, but to punish them for their sins, and as a foretaste of that everlasting judgment which shall be poured upon them on the last day for their sins, as shall be the sentence of all under the covenant of works.

The great difference between the affliction of the godly and of the wicked.
We see from the example of the prophets that when a Christian sins, he is brought to great grief and pain for it, for that it grieves him much that he hath sinned against God who redeemed him, and offended His holiness, transgressed His law and abused His grace in the gospel. Then the comfortable presence of God is removed from him for a time, until he renew his repentance, and faith and return to his former devotion. And so the prophets speak as one in the midst of a land which had sinned grievously, as our conscience doth bear witness to our soul that to sin against the LORD is a most detestable act. And so we see that the dealings of the LORD with Jerusalem are as His dealings with our very soul. He did not leave them to perish in the hands of their enemies, but when they cried to Him from the midst of darkness acknowledging their guilt, and God’s righteous acts, He was pleased to deliver them. As it is written, “And the children of Israel cried unto the Lord, saying, We have sinned against thee, both because we have forsaken our God, and also served Baalim. And the Lord said unto the children of Israel, Did not I deliver you from the Egyptians, and from the Amorites, from the children of Ammon, and from the Philistines? The Zidonians also, and the Amalekites, and the Maonites, did oppress you; and ye cried to me, and I delivered you out of their hand. Yet ye have forsaken me, and served other gods: wherefore I will deliver you no more. Go and cry unto the gods which ye have chosen; let them deliver you in the time of your tribulation. And the children of Israel said unto the Lord, We have sinned: do thou unto us whatsoever seemeth good unto thee; deliver us only, we pray thee, this day. And they put away the strange gods from among them, and served the Lord: and his soul was grieved for the misery of Israel.” (Judg. 10:10-16) If there is yet sincerity in our heart to cry out to God for deliverance, is it not God who put it there? Does not His Spirit bear witness in our spirit that we are His sons? Well then as sons, do we not have an obligation to obey our Father, and have we not neglected our duty, and succumbed to lusts? Then let it be said as men that He may do with us as He pleases. As sinners, He may destroy us, and even as sons, it is right for Him to chastise us that we might learn the hardness of sin and the evil of turning away from Him. As the Proverb says, “The way of transgressors is hard.” Inasmuch as God hath delivered us from sin, wrath and the power of the devil by the work of redemption in His Son Jesus Christ, so He hath purchased us for Himself, and called us to be holy as He is holy. Therefore let no man say he is afflicted unfairly, or too harshly. O wretched man, who art thou to reply against God? The very least of your sins is heavy enough to carry you to hell, and would if He did not bear you up with His arms of omnipotence! Why then do you test Him by questioning Him, and demand a reason for your trials? And so, the answer to the question, “Why does God afflict those whom He loves” is in the question itself. God afflicts His loved ones because He loves them. And as Jeremiah saith, “he doth not afflict us willingly” that is arbitrarily, and capriciously, but on account of sin, because it is necessary that He do it, to turn us away from it. Therefore take comfort in this, ye that are beloved by the Lord, that He will perfect His work of grace by it, and that He would not do it except it is expedient for your salvation, as it is written, “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” Note, “according to His purpose” and what is His purpose? The scripture tells us, “For this is the will of God, even your sanctification.” The Heidelberg catechism also says, “Q. What is thy only comfort in life and in death?
A: That I, with body and soul, both in life and in death, am not my own, but belong to my faithful Savior Jesus Christ, who with His precious blood has fully satisfied for all my sins, and redeemed me from all the power of the devil; and so preserves me, that without the will of my Father in heaven not a hair can fall from my head; yea, that all things must work together for my salvation. Wherefore, by His Holy Spirit, He also assures me of eternal life, and makes me heartily willing and ready henceforth to live unto Him.
Q. How many things are necessary for thee to know, that thou in this comfort mayest live and die happily?
Three things: first, the greatness of my sin and misery. Second, how I am redeemed from all my sins and misery. Third, how I am to be thankful to God for such redemption.”
Let us then bear this always in mind, that our comforts are in the gospel, and therefore our spiritual deliverance from sin is of greater weight and importance than our comfort in this life. The manner in which a Christian is comforted is not in the things which come from worldly wisdom. In the world it is said, “Everything is going to be alright.” and, “you’ll be okay.” and, “this too will pass.” but these are words of vanity, whispers of empty nothingness, a very reproach against the wise and powerful providence of God. But the Christian lives by principle, and not by sentiment, or blind feeling. The Christian lays his hand upon his mouth and does not speak against God who made the heavens and the earth, but quietly submits to His counsel, and by this he has peace. And so the scripture says, “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.” (Is. 26:3) That is that when our minds are fixed on God’s will, and our soul is well content that His will be done, and not our own, in this we will have comfort, and peace. But this principle is wholly opposite to natural reason. No man can come to this submission by his own will, for to live by this principle is to reject your own will, and what a word is this! If we would have peace in trials we must reject our will! But how can a sinner be subject to the law of God who is made opposite to it? How can man be just in the sight of God so that He deals with us as with sons and not His enemies? Let us observe then that first principle of Christianity, lest we forget what God has delivered His people from, (even guilt, sin, darkness and ignorance) so that everyone who has been brought to the true religion by the power of the Spirit has been driven to despair by the law. As pertaining to righteousness, the law shows us that we have none, and God will certainly require it of us, and this alone drives us to Christ who made atonement for us at the cross. Being then humiliated and brought low by the law, as the scripture says, “He killeth and maketh alive.” and, “He hath torn, and he will heal us; he hath smitten, and he will bind us up. After two days will he revive us: in the third day he will raise us up, and we shall live in his sight.” we are made to see that it is God alone who is to be glorified. How then can we glorify God in trials if we do not glorify Him in salvation? What madness to say that you contribute to it! This is not the religion of the prophets and apostles. Let everyone that heareth then diligently consider that apart from this principle there is no comfort, and those that would call themselves the holy people of God, must have these marks of reverence and submission to His law if they would be found true and righteous men of faith. Doth not God search the heart? If you do not believe His holy doctrine will He not examine you and find you to be liars? For these and these only are the marks of a Christian: First that they have been driven out of themselves by the law, so that they are fully persuaded that salvation lies outside of themselves, and they cannot put forth one good act to recommend themselves to God. Not works of merit, nor faith itself. And second, that they are subject to the law of God as a rule to guide them in the paths of obedience, for this is pleasing to God. Doth God delight in anything but holiness? Doth He hate anything but sin? Verily then if the true doctrine of the gospel be absent from the heart, you will never find comfort from God alone, but resent Him, and ever chafe at His holy providence. I have experienced this many times in the church. There are many false professors who think themselves to be Christian, and when trials and afflictions arise (not the chastisement of God, but a taste of His vengeance) then they complain and admit that their faith is shaken, and they wonder if they even believe in God. They are like coiled up snakes, which seem to be harmless, because God has not disturbed them. But when His providence crosses them, then they lash out, and show their venomous nature. They are pleased to serve God for gold, for applause and for glory, but if these are taken away, then they will turn their backs on Him and cast contempt upon His ministers who call for repentance. Doth not our Lord say the same? “Some seed fell on stony places, and some on thorns.” Trials and afflictions therefore are as much of a test to discover who truly fears God as they are a test of obedience for the righteous. This discourse then is for Christians, for the elect of God, for the broken and contrite, for those made low, who have no hope in themselves, have “no confidence in the flesh”, and who are burdened by the inward grief of temptation, and the outward feeling of pain, persecution and affliction. My aim here then is to  (with reverence and humility) answer the question, “Why does God afflict those whom He loves?” And bring comfort to the downcast by showing through scriptural reasoning that He does it for an intended purpose, and that as Christians we are encouraged and exhorted to rest in hope on the simplicity of the Word, and content ourselves with whatever providences His hand is pleased to give us, for in His promise is life everlasting, and the trials that now beset us will but brighten the gems of beauty bespangling the crown of glory which He shall give us and all who love Him on the last day.
Let us therefore remember as was previously stated that God is our sovereign, and hath dominion over us by right of creation and redemption. These are strong bands, and they will not break, and therefore we are constrained not to transgress against them by complaints or cavils. For God who is infinitely higher than we hath in His love and His pity condescended to us in the person of His Son, so that we might worship Him in faith and sincerity. He hath not afflicted us in order to shut up His mercies, but hath oft times hidden them under it that we might search them out and diligently consider our ways. He bears with our infirmities, having borne our sins upon Himself, and He deigns even to reason with us, and explain with patience and longsuffering the cause for our suffering. Hath He not suffered all that we can suffer? Is He not then a faithful High Priest, and can we not therefore approach unto His throne with confidence? Then let us observe these reasons He gives for His use of the rod, and let us submit to Him with all readiness and meekness, bearing the chastening with patience and love, for, “his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.” (Ps. 30:5)

I. To demonstrate His love.
“Whom the Lord loves He chastens, and scourges every son whom He receives.” (Heb. 12:6)
The most eminent factor in all our suffering is the love of God. God is purposed to love us, and therefore He is purposed to afflict us. Augustine once said that God has one Son without sin, but no son without suffering. This is a faint display of the great love that God has for His people, in that He loved Christ with an inexpressible and divine love, and yet Christ above all the sons in the world underwent the greatest affliction and punishment at the hands of any father. Because the Father loved us, Christ loved us unto death, and because He loved us, we love Him. Therefore to turn us to Himself that we might love Him, He must take sin out of the way, and nail it to the cross, for it is of a surety that God cannot love sinners. If we are loved then, it must be in Christ. The eternal fire of Christ’s love for us displayed in blazing glory on the cross is the source and reason for the fire of love for Him in our own hearts. ‘In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us.’ [1 Jn.4:10] Therefore we are said to be ‘sanctified by fire‘ [Mal. 3:2-3] and also that Christ chastises us in love. [Rev.3:19] The Lord loves righteousness, and displayed his burning love for us in offering Himself up a burnt sacrifice to satisfy the fires of the wrath of God, that we might only feel the warmth and heat, and escape the consuming furnace. Moreover, as objects of His love and affection He makes us righteous by fiery trials [1 Pet. 1:7, 4:12] that we might shake off the dross of this world, and shine as refined silver, wherein He beholds His own image, as in a mirror. We are purified by outward flames that the embers of our inward love might be heated. Every act of God toward His elect people is an act of divine love, drawing them closer to Him. Be encouraged, therefore, dear Christian. Do not shy away from this flame, but draw closer to the fire, and warm yourself there. He does not have hard thoughts of you, but tender and affectionate thoughts. Was it hard thoughts that God had of you when He became man, bending all the laws and forces of nature, entering into a womb, and coming into the world to suffer all the miseries of this life, as well as the terrible judgment of God? Was it hard thoughts of you, dear Christian that God had of you when He went so willingly to the cross? Was it for your destruction that He took upon Himself the wrath and displeasure of the Father, and buried it in His death? Or was it the purest and highest love, O matchless love divine that took pity on your soul, and delivered you from the power of darkness that you might be an object of His love, rather than an object of hatred? Did God do all this for Esau? No! Christ’s love for His church was proven by fire, and this is that divine ember that kindles the spark of our affections and blows it up into a flame. Would you have peace in trial then, O Christian? Behold the cross. Behold the Lamb of God slain for your sins and wonder that it was not you who drank down the curse! Oh, blessed love that underwent such torment for our sakes! No love story can compare to this one! Does not His own love then strike the flint of your cold heart, and kindle a spark of love for Him? Can it possibly do otherwise? Is not Christ called, “the right hand of the LORD”? Will He not then comfort us with His love and cause us to love Him by effectual purchase and power? Remember, we are not here speaking of the subjunctive, “Christ died for you, and what you will do in response” but the indicative, and the objective. God hath purchased His people by His own blood, and therefore they will turn to Him in faith. The Father hath elected a people, the Son hath spent His blood for them, and will the Spirit then not revive us that we may rejoice in Him, glorying in this salvation? Yes, verily! How can we be grieved in this life, when so ineffably loved by the Son of the Highest? How can we despair when He has rejoiced over us with singing? How can we doubt when the whole of the scripture declares the great love God hath for His people? Let us rejoice therefore that God tests our love for Him! Let us be joyful that He is pleased to smite us! O what tender love He smites us with! For though it is with a little pain yet it brings forth abundantly the blossoms of peace. The apostle Peter encourages the saints saying, “Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy.” (1 Peter 4:12-13) We are not to think of our afflictions as a strange thing, but rather as tokens of His love and affection to us. Therefore it is written, “It is given unto you in the behalf of Christ not only to believe on Him, but also to suffer for His sake.” We are to rejoice in them, knowing that we partake of Christ’s sufferings, and He in ours, we being members of His mystical body, and He being always present with us and sensible when in anywise we are pressed down and afflicted. Did not Christ call out to Paul, when he persecuted the church saying, “Why are you persecuting me?” Christ is wounded when we are wounded, and therefore it is said, “But though he cause grief, yet will he have compassion according to the multitude of his mercies. For he doth not afflict willingly nor grieve the children of men.” (Lam. 3:32-33)
In all our burdens, He is burdened, yet not affecting His divinity, but demonstrating His humanity. For insomuch as He is a faithful and merciful High Priest He was made man for us that He might bear our infirmities, and therefore He knows the sufferings we go through, and sympathizes with us, bidding all who would come to the throne of grace to cast their cares upon Him, for He is able and willing to bear them upon His own shoulders. As it is written,
“In all their affliction he was afflicted, and the angel of his presence saved them: in his love and in his pity he redeemed them; and he bare them, and carried them all the days of old.” (Isaiah 63:9)
Does God then afflict His people because of His great love for them? Can He do it for any other purpose? Shall not then His trials being mixed with love be sweeter to us than the devil’s pleasures which are mixed with poison? Seeing He has so set His love upon us, do we not then see that all the riches of His blessing are already promised to us! Then shall we not also then see His love in this His bruising us? If He is purposed to glorify us and has promised it to all who love Him, shall not all things work together perfectly to bring this about? Then we can be confident in this, for He Himself has verified it in His word saying, “All things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” (Rom. 8:28) Look then in faith and hope to thy dear Savior the Lord Jesus Christ who underwent all the miseries of this life, persevered in obedience, and committed His soul to the Father who judges righteously. [Luke 23:46, 1 Pet. 2:23] We then also, beholding the glory of Christ displayed in matchless love on the cross, commit ourselves to Him, and confess that we love Him, and that He loves us, and therefore nothing in this world can move us from that love. Then, “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Knowing therefore, beloved brethren that we can never be separated from the love of Christ, seeing He keeps us by the power of His Spirit through faith in His name, nor from His presence, seeing His is ever with us and will never forsake us, we know that in His presence is love, and when He afflicts us, He does it with the purpose of manifesting that love to us.

II. To wean us from the world.
“For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.” (2 Cor 5:1)
Seeing that this world is deceitful, even so that the prophet calls it, “vanity”, we are exhorted to heavenly mindedness, and behooved to hold onto things of this life with a light grip. The same wise king said of wisdom, “Length of days is in her right hand; and in her left hand riches and honour.” (Prov. 3:16) Eternal life is the right hand of the Father’s love. This is none other than Christ who in the prophets is called, “God’s right hand” and “the arm of His strength”. Riches and honor are the gift of God’s left hand, that is that though it is a display of His goodness, and the righteous are truly blessed by it, yet it is not what is most important. So, although Martha’s service was good service, Christ says to her, “Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.” (Luke 10:41-42) and in the sermon on the mount He says to His disciples, “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” (Matt. 6:33) Therefore, though we are commanded to bless God for His provision, we are often afflicted and deprived of them that we might not rest on them. God will use them to increase our faith and increase our love, and He will take them away to show us that even without them, our souls may prosper in His love. Often times, we grow cold in our love for God, and show too much affection for the dying things of this world. Shall the Prince of glory set His affection on us who are but poor and miserable wretches, and shall we abide unthankful and continue to mind earthly things? God forbid! “Set your mind on things above, not on things of the earth. For you died and your life is hid with Christ in God.” (Col. 3:2-3) This is the life of the Christian, even to mind the things of God, and He will provide for the rest. He is called, “JEHOVAH Jireh.” (The God who provides)
When our hearts lose their heat, and become distracted by things of this life, it is necessary that God sends us quickening reminders why we should not be swayed or seduced by the painted beauties of this world, but be enflamed with love for Him in opposition to the world. It may be in persecution, sickness, a trial of great suffering, or the death of a loved one, but however God does it, He means to awaken our minds from an earthly sleep to be joined to Him in dear love, that our hearts would not tarry, but that we would be speedily taken up into His heavenly arms away from the vanity of this present world.
The apostle John says that, “If you love the world, the love of the Father is not in you.”
Therefore, be wary of loving this world. Guard your heart carefully for it is deceitful above all things. Be free from the burden of this world, yea be aghast at it. Cast off this world, and content yourself with spiritual delight in God, for He is an everlasting friend, and will save you even from death. This world may aid in preparing us for glory, but it is not glory. Christ is the glory of the Father who we wait for in fervent hope.

III. To perfect our faith.
“My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.”
[2 Cor. 19:9]
Here in 2 Corinthians, the beloved apostle Paul recounts how he was stricken and bruised by a messenger of Satan, and besought the Lord that it might depart, and this was the Lord’s response to him, “My strength is made perfect in weakness.”
Truly God afflicts us for good reason, and one of these is that we might lean on Him more evenly. It is easy to serve God in good weather, but more difficult to trust Him when the storm is at its fiercest. The strength of the ship is not tested unless it is beat, and rocked by harsh waves, and tempestuous storms. Even so, the faith of the Christian must be tested time and again before it is perfected. We would do well to trust God in this, for in afflicting us, He is strengthening us. He knows that strong faith will reap great rewards, and so He shows Himself wiser than we. We look at things seen, we are frail, and are overcome by light affliction. We groan, and complain when things go against, us, but God sees past our present circumstance. He has respect to the future reward, and so He presses us to press on, and to be strengthened in our faith. The harder the trial, the better the opportunity to show the world what we Christians are made of. We are a new creation. Let the world complain at their trials. They have no joy in their pleasures, and certainly none in their sorrows, but a Christian being renewed by the Spirit is enabled to demonstrate both faith and joy in the midst of afflictions. We ought to show forth that we are the children of God by trusting Him in all things. He afflicts us faithfully, and therefore we should respond to them faithfully.
1 Peter 1:5-7 says, “[You] are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ.”
Here the apostle Peter says that the genuineness of your faith is much more precious than gold that perishes. We were bought with the precious blood of Christ, even when we were worth nothing at all, so how much more does God value His chosen people when they are regenerated and renewed by His Spirit?
He has paid for us with His blood on the cross, and we ought to desire to pay Him back with our own crosses, seeing He prizes our faith so much. This is the gold of heaven, and worth more to God than a thousand worlds, even to suffer patiently, and in faith. This is what pleases God. The gracious soul often cries out to God with earnest desire, “Lord, what would you have me do?” And here in the Word God responds by saying, “Suffer patiently for me, and let my work be perfected in you. The genuineness of your faith which is tested by fire is more precious to me than gold could ever be to anyone.”
Jonathan Edwards said, “”True virtue never appears so lovely as when it is most oppressed; and the divine excellency of real Christianity is never exhibited with such advantage as when under the greatest trials; then it is that true faith appears much more precious than gold, and upon this account is “found to praise and honour and glory.”
Therefore, beloved, let us submit to God in our trials, ‘knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.’ [Jam. 1:3-4]
As long as we are suffering, we know that there is still a work to be done in our soul, and is this not better than to be left without suffering? We should count it a blessing, and all joy when we suffer at the hands of God, for it is an honor beyond comprehension. As Paul says to the Philippians, “For to you it has been granted on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake.” (Phil. 1:29)
What tremendous love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called the children of God! And what further love He shows us when He afflicts us faithfully! This is what is meant in this verse, that it is an honor above honors to be afflicted by God. Surely, we should look to Him in faith when He so kindly looks to us in love. The stripes He strikes us with heal us, and the rod that smites us binds our wounds. He breaks us down that our faith should rise higher, for how can faith be perfected if it is never tested?
When Jesus tells the parable of the sower, He mentions those seeds that fall upon stony ground. Notice what He says of them, “But he who received the seed on stony places, this is he who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; yet he has no root in himself, but endures only for a while. For when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he stumbles.” (Matt. 13:20-21)
Let it not be said of us, brethren that we received the word at first with joy, but lost it when we lost our joy. Our faith should be united to Christ, and not our comfortable circumstances. Happiness and joy in life is truly blessed, but a strong faith that has been tested by fire is infinitely more blessed. Let us rejoice in our trials, and look up to God with faith and in love, knowing that He will do His will, and it is to our eternal benefit if we are submitted to that will. Faith in Christ is a sure help in all our trials.
If we can trust God with our salvation, surely we can trust Him with our circumstances. I speak to those that have faith, and not to unbelievers. We rest on Christ for all things pertaining to our justification, and should we not also lean on Him for all things pertaining to our journey? It is an easy thing for God to deliver you out of your trials, seeing with what great deliverance He wrought for your salvation. In order to save us, Christ had to live perfectly according to the law of God, He had to suffer upon the cross, satisfy divine justice, bear our sins upon Himself, becoming sin for us, bearing in His body the wrath of the Father, undergo extreme misery and torment, agony and anguish, and ultimately death itself. He did all this to accomplish our salvation, and deliver us from the power of Satan. Is there anything too difficult for the Lord? Seeing that He has delivered us from the kingdom of darkness and death, will He not also deliver you from the dark valleys of this life? Seeing that He bled and died to give you life, will He not also cherish and preserve that life? Oh, dear Christian see how this is an encouragement to faith! In seeing the sufferings of the Lord, we see mercy most divine! He became as we are, and suffered the miseries of this life that in all things He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest. We have Union and Communion with Him by virtue of His sufferings. Does this not encourage your faith and rather cause you to desire to be afflicted that you may be like your Savior? Oh to share in the sufferings of Christ! Who beloved of God more than Christ!? And who suffered more? Can we not suffer for Him as He suffered for us? Do not shy away from pain, O Christian, but embrace it as you would embrace your loving Savior, and let not your faith be weakened by it, but let it be strengthened.

IV. To assist our sanctification.
“The LORD loves righteousness.” [Ps. 11:7]
For God to love such a miserable and wretched people as we, He must by necessity of His immutable attributes make us righteous, and purpose to do so. This is our only hope and our invincible hope – that we are made righteous by the death, and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. But not only does He make us righteous in His sight by imputing the righteousness of Christ to us, but He also purifies us and sanctifies us by various means. The primary of these means is the preaching of the Word, the sacraments and prayer, but He also does it by persecution, trial, and affliction. When a Christian goes through grievous trials, He ought to search His heart for anything that disturbs his conscience, and what may be displeasing to God, and purge the corruptions of sin. Afflictions are often a needle to prick us, and get our attention, that we do not become slack in religion.
David says in Psalm 119:67, “Before I was afflicted I went astray, But now I keep Your word.” Matthew Henry says, “God often makes use of afflictions as a means to reduce those to himself who have wandered from him. Sanctified afflictions humble us for sin and show us the vanity of the world; they soften the heart, and open the ear to discipline.” When we are too long in prosperity, our hearts often grow weary of godliness, and we grow fonder of the world. We enjoy its delights, and reason with ourselves that it should always be so. But God would not have us think so highly of the world. He would turn our hearts to Him, and our feet to walking in the paths of obedience. We have daily duties to perform for God, such as prayer, self-denial, mortification of sin, reading the Word, and meditating upon God’s law. David says in Psalm 23:4, “Thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me.” Surely God’s afflicting rod, and His guiding staff are a comfort to weary souls. His rod corrects us, and by it we know discipline, and the fear of God. His staff leads us back to the right paths tenderly as a shepherd guides his sheep through sharp cliffs, and jagged rocks. But His rod and staff are also used to drive away wolves, and other predators that would harm or kill us, and therefore they are a comfort to us. Though He strikes us with Him, it is to keep us from going astray, but when He strikes an enemy with the rod of His anger, it is unto death. Oh, Christian see the tender mercies of the Lord in leading you prudently on the path to glory! Perhaps you are smitten with the rod, but it is to keep you from falling off the ledge. Perhaps you are prodded with the staff, but it is to ensure that you are not led astray, and lost along the path. Have faith in God, dear Christian, and know for certain that He will sanctify you, and bless you by all that He does. Solomon says in Ecclesiastes, “Men do not know love or hatred by anything they see before them.” [Ecc. 9:1] We are not to discern God’s love by providence but by His word. Oh, that Christians would be better readers of the Word than they are of providence! Then they would see the tender hand of the Lord behind all their afflictions. They would see honey at the end of the staff, and almond blossoms on the rod. They would read in the scriptures, “The Father Himself loves you.” And “All things work together for good for those that love God.” And, “The thoughts I have for you are thoughts of peace and not of evil.” And would it not immediately quiet their hearts in all their trials? Oh see the work of the Lord in all this! He purifies the gold by fire that it might be made to shine. He smites the bell that it might ring with gladness. He shakes the tree that the fruit might fall for Him to enjoy.
Be patient, and let the Father perfect His work in you, Christian. Let us labor to cultivate the fruits of holiness that the Lord might be pleased to dwell in us and eat His pleasant fruits. Jesus says to His disciples, “Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.” (John 15:2, 8) Let us bear the pruning, and the shaking of the tree, and let us see that we bear fruit to God, and are found to be obedient children even in the midst of trial. Let it not be said of us as was said of the fig tree, “Look, for three years I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree and find none. Cut it down; why does it use up the ground?” (Luke 13:7) God is patient with us, and bears long with us, though we are often stubborn and hard hearted. Because He bears with us, we ought to bear fruit for Him. He will look diligently, and look often for fruit. He will not cast us away for our iniquities but will purge them from us, and prune His tree that it might grow to be fruitful.
In all things He shows Himself to be righteous, and we must trust Him, knowing that even as He is righteous, so shall He make us righteous, that we might stand before Him blameless, and holy-a people well pleasing to Him.

V. To manifest His judgment against sin.
“But the thing that David had done displeased the Lord.” (2 Sam. 11:27)
We see also by this principle that God afflicts us to turn us from our sins. Yet not altogether to destroy us, or to beat us like cattle, nor yet to recompense His law upon us, for then we would no doubt be under the law, and not grace, which weight no mere man can bear. But God oftentimes chastens His people according to His justice that we might see the heinousness of our sin, and so being driven to repentance by scourging, saved and purged from our iniquity.
While we remain on this earth, we harbor the remnants of indwelling sin; the principle of evil that we fight against, and do battle against all lifelong. There is not a moment of time in this life, but we are burdened with a sinful nature. There is a stark distinction however between a forgiven sinner, and the wicked, between the unregenerate sinner who loves his sin, and the saint who hates himself and loves the law. The saint sins against his will, and hates his carnal self, as Paul vividly describes in Romans 7. The reprobate sins willingly and freely, not desiring repentance and a holy life, since he is not subject to the law of God. But the saint, being freely forgiven of all his sins by God, and no longer under the power of condemnation, is only punished temporally and apparently for his sins. “If you are without chastening, then you are bastards, and not sons.” [Heb. 12:8] “If need be ye are in heaviness.” (1 Pet. 1:6) God knoweth which of His saints are in need of chastening. Those who hear His word joyfully and do His will with a cheerful spirit, walking in all the ways of God blameless, have no need of God’s hand upon them. but oftentimes God will afflict us for two things, 1. to show us a sin that we were susceptible to, as in the case of Job, and 2. to manifest his judgment against a sin which is privy to us, as in the case of David. Job did not sin until God chastened him, and David had already repented when God tore the kingdom from him. We learn from these that God will show himself glorious and just in the sight of others, even while we stand forgiven for sin. Job was righteous in God’s sight, and yet God struck him sore to manifest His wisdom and judgment in removing stubbornness from Job and hypocrisy from his friends. And though David repented, and God removed his sin from him, yet because he gave the enemy occasion to blaspheme, he punished David openly and even drove parts of his family into rebellion, so that David might see the heinousness of sin, and so be evermore endeared to His Savior.
Now this is the difference between the righteous being punished for sin and the wicked.
The righteous are chastened that they might return to the paths of the Lord. The wicked are punished and left in their ignorance and misery that they might be destroyed.
Galatians 3:10 says, “Cursed is everyone that continues not in all things that are written in the book of the law to do them.”
Every sinner is under the curse, and every sin he commits brings with it a curse, and therefore we praise God for His mercy that we are not made to drink the cup of cursing that we deserve for our transgressions. Christ took this cup, and drank the whole of it, leaving none to be even tasted by us. We do not experience God’s wrath, nor can we ever being in Christ. We are brought into the Beloved by His grace and sweetly drawn to safety under the shadow of His wings. However, as we pass through this veil of tears called the earth we do experience God’s displeasure, and as God is just, He must show us His displeasure when we sin against Him, and He must chastise us (and sometimes harshly) to bring us back. This is the whip for the stubborn mule that will not yield, the rod for the fool’s back that will not be instructed, and the scourge for the transgressor that remains in his backsliding. Jesus said to Paul, “It is hard for you to kick against the goads.”
God pricks us with afflictions that we might see the error of our ways, and know that these things that we are doing are displeasing to Him. But God’s judgments fall upon the wicked and even upon the rebellious church when they refuse His counsel, and spurn His word, living as they please and doing that which is right in their own eyes. There is a difference then between the sufferings of the righteous, and the punishment of the wicked. The righteous are pruned that they might bear fruit, while the wicked are cast out and burned. The righteous have the gospel as an anchor of hope, and Christ as an ever present comfort in trial. The wicked have the flesh, the world and a conscience gnawing at them for their wickedness. “There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked.”
Let us beware then, and take careful heed, brethren to the doctrine of the gospel, and to how we are walking, and how our lives are ordered. God will certainly punish the guilty for sins of idolatry, envy, strife, division, false doctrine, anger, and all these things that bellow forth from man’s sinful nature. God will not acquit the wicked. If He did not punish the wicked, and manifest His anger to us for sin we would soon be overcome with either too much license or too much sorrow. Therefore God checks us with His disapproval, and chastens us with His displeasure that we might know we have sinned and turn from our evil ways. As Elihu says to Job, “Surely it is meet to be said unto God, I have borne chastisement, I will not offend any more: That which I see not teach thou me: if I have done iniquity, I will do no more.” (Job 34:31-32) And so the righteous take this to heart, and return to the ways of God, being instructed by His Spirit and having that inward principle and habit of holiness grafted in them by Him. Therefore doth God smite that we might repent, and turn and be saved. But God’s hand is sore against the wicked. “If he turn not” as the Psalmist says, “he will whet his sword; he hath bent his bow, and made it ready. He hath also prepared for him the instruments of death; he ordaineth his arrows against the persecutors.” God’s sword is sharpened for the wicked, and His bow is drawn back so that they might be pierced with everlasting sorrow. When God draws back His bow, He draws back also the means of His grace. One of the singular punishments that God inflicts upon sinful men for their sinful ways is alienation from Him and His people. When men are not sensible of God’s judgments against sin, and they turn from His holy law, and the voice of gospel ministers, He withdraws also the means of grace from them. When men’s hearts are hard under the gospel, then God withdraws His light from them and comes with a rod to break their heads! Those who are not pruned with the knife are cut down with the sword! God is tender and kind to His people, and terrible to the wicked. He causes the sun to shine in its warmth to comfort the downcast, and by the same sun He burns and scorches men that they might come harder against Him and so fall terribly. As the scripture says, “For it was of the Lord to harden their hearts, that they should come against Israel in battle, that he might destroy them utterly, and that they might have no favour, but that he might destroy them, as the Lord commanded Moses.” (Josh. 11:20) The precursor to damnation is the hardening of the hearts of men. Oh, therefore, do not harden your hearts, as the scripture exhorts, but have grace, whereby you may serve God with reverence, and fear, and turn from your ways and so be healed. The Psalm says, “For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.” (Psalm 30:5) Discern then between the punishment of the wicked, and the chastening of the righteous. God’s hand upon the righteous brings us low that we might exalt Him alone, but God’s hand upon the wicked drives them to gnash their teeth against Him that He might destroy them with swift justice.

VI. To amend our ways.
“Before I was afflicted I went astray,
But now I keep Your word.” (Psalm 119:67)
God is faithful to do that which will give Him most glory. We are truly blessed when He afflicts us and causes us to walk in His ways more closely, love Him more deeply, and lean on Him more evenly. While He afflicts us for our sanctification, I also want to show that He often afflicts us to completely change the course of our lives, and walk in a way contrary to our desires that His will in us might be fulfilled. Like Jonah, we often desire to go our own way, and are either defiant or oblivious to God’s plan and design for our life. But God will use every means possible to turn us to the course that He desires. He will cause the winds to beat upon our ship; He will shake us awake, question us about our circumstance, and cast us into the sea of affliction to be swallowed by a fish and spat back upon land (in a manner of speaking) – all to point us to where God would have us. Now these things all really happened to Jonah, and though nothing so miraculous will happen to us in our lifetime, we should discern God’s providence and see that God is working in similar ways to these to put us back on the right track. It is better to be afflicted by God than to walk in ways displeasing to Him. Perhaps we desire to do something worldly, and He breaks a leg so that we are confined to home. Perhaps we desire to go somewhere, but the car doesn’t start, someone gets sick, or other things, and our plans are completely changed. Remember in all these things, God is faithful, and is telling us something by providence. In my own experience, I have seen Christians completely ignore these warnings, and live contrary to the scriptures even after God afflicts them time and time again, warning them by hard providences. Many young women in my own community who are going to college (which in a lengthy treatise I have explained how it is unbiblical and sinful) have been involved in car accidents, where they miraculously come out unharmed, while the car is completely destroyed. Also numerous, and lengthy sicknesses, and other certain providences where God is saying, “Since you will not heed the rebukes of my word, Here is a rebuke from providence! Turn from your ways, and keep my commandments!” But most have no friends, and no faithful interpreter to tell them that they are walking backwards, and that God is doing all of this to show them the error of their way. Their own parents are caught in the evils of the world, and have no discernment of God’s hand in all this. This is not one isolated incident. This happens all across the world. God acts harshly when His people turn away from Him. I know of one person (a member of the visible church) who is living contrary to God, who has been involved in multiple car accidents, and still persists in their backslidden ways. How many times will God warn us before He has had enough and kills us? Brethren, be a diligent reader of the word, but be also a discerner of providence, that you may know that God does good in afflicting you, to change your ways, and to amend your doings. He does not do it to destroy, but to guide. If your life is completely changed because of great afflictions, praise Him for it, for to be a broken servant in the house of God is better to be a king in the house of the wicked. Prov. 3:33 says, “The curse of the Lord is on the house of the wicked, But He blesses the home of the just.” Often, the pomp, and splendor of the world takes the righteous off-guard, and they ignorantly begin to follow in the ways of the unrighteous. They seek to be regarded by the world as normal, and they long to be accepted among their unbelieving associates.
However the scriptures call us to be separate from the world, and that the love of the world is enmity with God, and God will be faithful to deliver us from the dominion of sin in our lives, and the dominion of sin which is present in the world. Recall to mind the parable of the rich man and Lazarus which is recorded in Luke 16. In it Jesus tells of a poor man named Lazarus who suffered greatly, and only had so much as the crumbs that fell from the rich man’s table. He was constantly in pain, and dogs came and licked his sores. But upon the death of both, Lazarus is said to be taken into heaven, while the rich man cast into hell. Being tormented the rich man begged that someone would send a messenger to warn his family of the agony of hell. We see in this parable that despite the poor man’s sufferings, he truly had it better than the rich man. It is better to be lonely, forgotten, and destitute with Christ, than to possess all the academic credit in the world, all the wealth in the world, and be without Him. In possessing Christ, we possess all things. This all to say that God changes our perspective when we go through afflictions. We must remember that being part of the kingdom of God means living contrary to the way the world lives. If we should go astray, and live after the manner of the heathen, He will be faithful to afflict you so that you turn back around, and away from the evils of the world. He will change your entire life by hard crosses even if it brings you to great and extraordinary pain, so that you may be eternally happy. It is better to suffer with the righteous than perish with the wicked, and we know that our nature is constantly inclined to that wickedness that God delivers us from. It is a constant battle, and God will be victorious in His saints. He will sanctify them, perfect them, and glorify them, even if He must chasten, scourge, whip, and punish them their entire lives to do it. God will perfect His work, and we should submit to His providence and worship Him in sincere adoration wherever we are knowing that He is God, and we are His creatures, bound by creation, and regeneration to keep all His laws, follow Christ, take up His cross, and suffer all that the Father is pleased to lay upon us.

Conclusion.
Therefore, brethren, remember that to suffer affliction is no dishonor. Though the world sees it as madness to delight in suffering, we are part of another world, which they cannot understand. We are members of Christ’s household, and the sons of God. He is a righteous Father, and a jealous husband, and will use diverse means to turn our faces away from the world, to look only to Him in faith and love. He is longsuffering and gracious, and shows Himself to be when He bears long with our sins and infirmities. He will not cast us away for our sins, but will bear long with us, correct us, chasten us, and do all He can to show us when we are wrong, and how we can do right and will lead us again into His loving embrace. Let us take heart, and be encouraged in our trials, knowing that God is sovereign, and wise, and knows all that pertains to life and death. If He afflicts us, we know it must be for good reason. He cannot do but that which is best, both for our salvation, and for His own glory, and therefore we have only to trust and obey.
We have the Word as our infallible guide that teaches us how to live, and how to please God, and when we stumble into sin, He will even use providence to point us back to it, that we might find our every joy, our every comfort, and our every hope in Christ alone.
Our afflictions are temporal, but the consolation for them is eternal.
So bear the cross a little longer, Christian. Soon, all your sorrows and woes will flee away, and will be swallowed up in everlasting love.