"
Our afflictions work out for us a far more exceeding and eternal
weight of glory. Our afflictions do it, not only because there is
laid up a reward for the afflicted according to the measure of
affliction, but because afflictions, and so every service of God,
make the heart more deep, more experimental, more knowing and
profound, and so, more able to hold, to contain, and bear more.
Let Christians beware that they set not times for God, lest all men
see their folly. "It is not for you to know the times and the
seasons which the Father hath put in his own power;" yea, I say
again, take heed lest, for thy setting of God a seven-day's time, he
set thee so many as seven times seven.
God's time is the time, the best time, because it is the time
appointed by him for the proof and trial of our graces, and that in
which so much of the rage of the enemy and of the power of God's
mercy, may the better be discovered unto us. "I the Lord do hasten
it in his time;" not before, though we were the signet upon his
hand.
Afflictions are governed by God, both as to time, number, nature,
and measure. In measure, when it shooteth forth, thou wilt debate
with it: "He stayeth his rough wind in the day of his east wind."
Our times, therefore, and our conditions in these times, are in the
hand of God, yea, and so are our souls and bodies, to be kept and
preserved from the evil while the rod of God is upon us.
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