Though the way to heaven be but one, yet there are many crooked
lanes and by-paths that shoot down upon it, as I may say. And again,
notwithstanding the kingdom of heaven be the chief city, yet usually
those by-paths are most beaten, most travellers go those ways; and
therefore the way to heaven is hard to be found, and as hard to be
kept in, by reason of these. Yet, nevertheless, it is in this case
as it was with the harlot of Jericho; she had one scarlet thread
tied in her window, by which her house was known: so it is here; the
scarlet streams of Christ's blood run throughout the way to the
kingdom of heaven; therefore mind that: see if thou do find the
besprinkling of the blood of Christ in the way; and if thou do, be
of good cheer, thou art in the right way.
XIV. TRIALS OF THE CHRISTIAN
AFFLICTION--ITS NATURE AND BENEFITS.
The school of the cross is the school of light; it discovers the
world's vanity, baseness, and wickedness, and lets us see more of
God's mind. Out of dark afflictions comes a spiritual light.
In times of affliction, we commonly meet with the sweetest
experiences of the love of God.
The end of affliction is the discovery of sin; and of that, to bring
us to a Saviour.
Doth not God ofttimes even take occasion, by the hardest of things
that come upon us, to visit our souls with the comforts of his
Spirit, to lead us into the glory of his word and to cause us to
savor that love that he has had for us even from before the world
began till now? A nest of bees and honey did Samson find even in the
belly of that lion that roared upon him.
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