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Through sufferings God teaches us to prize our
outward mercies and comforts more, and yet to dote upon them
less. We need to be more thankful for them, and yet to be less
ensnared by them. We can undervalue our mercies even while we
glut ourselves with them! Behold, while men fill themselves with
the mercies of God, they can neglect the God of their mercies.
[15]
Outward distractions and inward distempers
many times cause the children of God to be strangers to their
Bibles. They suffer diversions to interpose between the word and
their hearts. They pray carelessly, and they read carelessly,
and allow their Bibles to be laid aside while they are taken up
with entertainments in the world. God is forced to deal with
them as we do with our children, to whip them to their books by
the rod of correction. [25]
The least sin has the nature of sin in it just
as the least drop of poison is poison. In smaller sins there is
greater contempt for God since we offend Him for a trifle, as we
count it, and venture His displeasure for a little sensual
satisfaction. Great sins deeply wound the conscience and make
the soul go bleeding to the throne of grace to mourn and lament,
seeking rest for the soul by a fresh sprinkling of the blood of
Christ and to recover peace and communion with God. Small sins
are swallowed in silence with less regret and unknowingly
alienate and estrange the heart from Jesus Christ. [30]
We discover more of God through afflictions
than by many sermons. In the word we hear of God, but in
affliction we see Him. [40]
Make God your choice, and not your necessity.
Labour to maintain such constant fellowship with Him, that when
you die, you only change your place, but not your company.
[106]
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