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  HOWEVER HARSH HIS HAND MAY BE
  by Thomas Brooks
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Summary: God's love for His people remains constant and unchanged
despite afflictions, and is based on His own free grace and goodness.

Topics: "God's Love", "Affliction and Grace"
Scripture References: Jeremiah 31:3, Romans 8:38

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DESCRIPTION
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Thomas Brooks emphasizes that God's afflictions do not alter His
unwavering love for His people. Despite the harshness of His hand, God's
affections remain constant, as His love is rooted in His own grace
rather than in our worthiness. He illustrates this with the example of
Munster, who viewed his suffering as God's precious adornments. Brooks
reassures that God's love is everlasting and not dependent on our
actions, affirming that He loves us simply because He chooses to love
us.

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CONTENT
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("A Heavenly Cordial" 1665)

None of God's afflictions upon His people ever make

any change or alteration of God's affections towards

His people.

However harsh His hand may be against them--

yet His love, His heart, His favor, His affections--are

still one and the same to them.

When Munster lay sick, and his friends asked him how

he felt? He pointed to his sores and ulcers, whereof he

was full, and said, "These are God's gems and jewels

with which he decks His best friends; and to me they

are more precious than all the gold and silver in the

world!"

God's dear love to His people is not founded upon

anything good in His people, nor upon anything good

which is done by His people--but only upon His own

free grace and goodness!

What could move the holy God to love us, who are poor,

worthless, fruitless sinners? This question is best resolved

in these words, "He loves us because He loves us!" The root

of His love to us lies in Himself! God's love to His people is

a lasting love, yes, an everlasting love! It is a love which

never decays nor waxes cold. "I have loved you with an

everlasting love; I have drawn you with loving-kindness."

Jeremiah 31:3

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Source: https://sermonindex.net/speakers/thomas-brooks/however-harsh-his-hand-may-be/
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