September 13

For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.—Hebrews 12:6.

God's paternal love in sending afflictions, is a sufficient argument to win our compliance with his will. The blessed apostle, applying lenitives to the afflicted, propounds two divine truths, that if seriously thought of, and steadfastly believed, are powerful to mitigate the bitterness of all sufferings, and support the spirit in the greatest agony: The first is, God scourgeth every son whom he receiveth; and the other that is joined with it is, Whom the Lord loveth, he chasteneth.

The rule is general:

1. All his sons are under the discipline of the rod; and who would be so unhappy as to be exempted from that number for all the prosperity in the world? Afflictions sanctified are the conspicuous seal of their adoption and title to heaven. And who would forfeit the honor of that adoption, and lose the benefit annexed to it, the eternal inheritance, rather than patiently bear his fatherly chastisements? Others who enjoy a perpetual spring of pleasure are declared bastards and not sons:—they are indeed within the compass of his universal providence, but not of that peculiar care that belongs to his sacred and select progeny. His corrections are an argument of his authority as our Father, and an assurance that we are his children. This should induce us not only with a submissive temper of soul, but with thankfulness, to receive the sharpest correction from the hands of our heavenly Father. This was the reason of our Saviour's meek yielding himself to the violence and enmity of his enemies: The cup which my Father hath given me, shall I not drink it?

2. Chastisement is the effect of his paternal love. He is the Father of our spirits, and that divine relation carries with it a special love to the spirits of men, and in that degree of eminence, as to secure and advance their happiness, though to the destruction of the flesh. The soul is of incomparable more worth than the body, as the bright orient pearl than the mean shell that contains it. This God most highly values; for this he gave so great a price, and on it draws his image. If temporal prosperity were for our best advantage, how willingly would God bestow it on us: He spared not his own Son, but gave him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? Which words, among all that the Holy Ghost hath dictated to the interpreters of God's heart to his people, are most expressive of his love and bounty, and most for their comfort. He that gives grace and glory, the most real testimonies of his love, certainly withholds no good thing from them. I shall produce one convincing instance of this. St. Paul, who by an incomparable privilege was caught up to the celestial paradise, and heard ineffable things, yet was tormented by the angel of Satan, and his earnest repeated prayer for deliverance not presently granted. Did not God love that blessed apostle, whose internal love to Christ almost equalled the seraphim, those pure everlasting flames, and was expressed in the invariable tenor of his life by such miraculous actions and sufferings for the propagating and defense of the name of Christ, and the glory of his name? If we love him because he first loved us, as St. John testifies, certainly he that returned such a superlative affection to Christ, received the greatest love from him. Now if Christ did love Paul, why did he not upon his earnest repeated prayer, deliver him from his wounding trouble, whatsoever it was? That permission was a demonstration of the love of Christ to him, as it is acknowledged by himself: Lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of revelation, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, and the messenger of Satan to buffet me.

"How happy the sorrowful man, Whose sorrow is sent from above!

Indulged with a visit of pain,— Chastised by omnipotent love; The Author of all his distress He comes by affliction to know, And God be in heaven shall bless, That ever be suffer'd below."