Lamentations 3

Ver. 3, 7, 9, 43, 53. He has so plunged and fixed me in miseries, that it is impossible for me to get out; and my attempts to obtain relief do but render me still more and more miserable.—We are quite overwhelmed with trouble, and brought into a most desperate and remediless condition. 4

REFLECTIONS UPON CHAP. III.—How tremendous are the fatherly corrections of JEHOVINI! and very criminal must be the sins which so provoke him against the objects of his love. The children of light, and heirs of joy, sometimes walk in the greatest darkness of calamity and grief, and even despondency: and many and diversified are God’s arrows of affliction, flying swift and piercing deep. But, if men will walk in crooked paths of iniquity, it is but just that God should cross their designs and break their measures; and, if they will regard iniquity, it is just in him to shut out their prayers, than which few things are more galling to a gracious heart.—Saints can never enter the lowest hell, being preserved by grace: but, by multiplied troubles from God, from devils, and from men, they may have a hell upon earth. Yet God will deliver his people and churches in due time, when they are thoroughly melted and purified in his furnace. In their worst cases they are neither helpless nor hopeless. Let us therefore always acknowledge him kind and faithful. If our troubles be heavy 95 and sharp, let us eagerly claim and live upon him as our portion, and comfort ourselves with his compassion, and with a persuasion that all he does is the fulfilment of his gracious word, on which he has caused us to hope. Let us complain to God, but never complain against him. And let us earnestly work together with God, and labour to promote the same self-debasing and soul-sanctifying ends. Experience of former kindness should encourage us to hope for more. And, having cast our burdens on the Lord, we should continue waiting instant and patient in prayer; and at last we shall find an answer of peace. There is no prison so deep or dark but God can bring us out of it; no enemy so strong but God can destroy; and no request of faith so silent but he will hear it for our good. But wo to those, however powerful, haughty, merry, or scornful, against whom God’s favourites plead! And think, my soul, what of all these troubles Jesus underwent—in infinite love underwent—and all for me! 9 E