And, therefore, my dear friends, those words which we read in the
Visitation of the Sick about this matter are not mere kind words, meant
to give comfort for the moment. They are truth and fact and sound
philosophy. They are as true for the young lad in health and spirits as
for the old folk crawling towards their graves. It is true, and you will
find it true, that sickness and all sorts of troubles, are sent to
correct and amend in us whatever doth offend the eyes of our Heavenly
Father. It is true, and you will find it true, that whom the Lord loveth
He chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom He receiveth. It is true,
and you will find it true (though God knows it is a difficult lesson
enough to learn), that there should be no greater comfort to Christian
persons, than to be made like Christ, by suffering patiently not only the
hard work of every-day life, but adversities, troubles, and sicknesses,
and our Heavenly Father's correction, whensoever, by any manner of
adversity, it shall please His gracious goodness to visit them. For
Christ Himself went not up to joy, but first He suffered pain; He entered
not into His glory, before He was crucified.
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