[b]God's file and flail
(Thomas Watson, "The Lord's Prayer")
"God disciplines us for our profit." Hebrews 12:10
What profit is in affliction? Afflictions are
disciplinary. Afflictions teach us--they are the
school of the cross.
Affliction shows us more of our own hearts.
Water in a glass looks clear--but set it on the fire,
and the scum boils up. Just so, when God sets us
upon the fire--corruption boils up which we did not
discern before. Sharp afflictions are to the soul, as
a soaking rain to the house; we do not know that
there are holes in the roof until the shower comes
--but then we see it drop down here and there. Just
so, we do not know what unmortified lusts are in
the soul, until the storm of affliction comes--then
the hidden evils of the heart come dropping down
in many places. Affliction is a sacred eye-salve, it
clears our eye-sight. Thus the rod gives wisdom.
Affliction quickens the spirit of prayer. Jonah
was asleep in the ship--but at prayer in the whale's
belly. Perhaps in a time of health and prosperity we
prayed in a cold and formal manner, we put no coals
to the incense. Then God sends some affliction or
other--to stir us up to take hold of Him. "They
poured out a prayer--when Your chastening was
upon them." Isaiah 26:16. In times of trouble
we pray feelingly and fervently.
Affliction is a means to purge out our sins.
Affliction cures the pestilence of pride--and the
fever of lust. Affliction is God's file--to scrub off
our rust. Affliction is God's flail--to thresh off
our husks. The water of affliction is not to drown
us--but to wash off our spots.
Affliction is a means to wean us the world.
The world often proves, not only a spider's web--but
a cockatrice egg. Corrupting worldly things, are great
enchantments. They hinder us in our passage to heaven.
Affliction sounds a retreat, to call us off the immoderate
pursuit of earthly things. When two things are frozen
together--the best way to separate them is by fire; so,
when the heart and the world are together--God has no
better way to separate them than by the fire of affliction.
Affliction is a means to purify us. It works us up to
further degrees of sanctity. "God disciplines us for our
profit--that we may share in His holiness." Hebrews 12:10.
The vessels of mercy are the brighter for scouring. As you
pour water on your linen when you would whiten it--so
God pours the waters of affliction upon us to whiten our
souls. Afflictions are in themselves bitter--but they bring
forth the sweet fruits of righteousness. Hebrews 12:11.