Stars shine brightest in the darkest nights ~ Thomas Brooks

[b]He bruises His spices [/b]
Thomas Brooks

"God disciplines us for our good, that we may share
in His holiness." Hebrews 12:10

Grace always thrives most when saints are under the rod.

When Christians are under the rod, then their graces do
not only bud, but blossom and bring forth fruit, as Aaron's
rod did. The snuffing of the candle makes it burn the brighter.
God beats and bruises His children, to make them burn the
brighter; He bruises His spices, to make them send forth
the greater aromatic fragrance.

The Jews were always best when they were in an
afflicted condition.

Stars shine brightest in the darkest nights.

Vines grow the better for bleeding.

Gold shines the better for scouring.

Juniper smells sweetest when in the fire.

By afflictions, God many times revives, quickens, and
recovers the decayed graces of His people. By afflictions,
God many times inflames that love which is cold; and He
strengthens that faith which is failing; and he puts life into
those hopes which are languishing; and new spirits into
those joys and comforts which are withering and dying.
Sharp afflictions recover and revive our decayed graces.

The smarting rod abases the loveliness of the world,
which entices us; it abates the lustiness of the flesh
within, which incites us to vanity and folly.

[b]Fetch out the dirt and spots [/b]
Thomas Brooks

"I will turn my hand against you; I will thoroughly
purge away your dross and remove all your
impurities." Isaiah 1:25

By severe providences and by fiery trials, God designs
the growth of His people in grace. Usually the graces of
the saints thrive best—when they are under a smarting
rod. Grace usually is in the greatest flourish—when the
saints are under the greatest trials. The trimming of the
candle—makes it burn the brighter. God bruises His
spices—to make them send forth the sweeter fragrance.
Fiery trials are like the brush, which, though it is sharp
and scratching—it makes the cloth more pure and clean.
God would not rub so hard, were it not to fetch out
the dirt and spots which are in His people.

[b]Stars shine brightest in the darkest nights; and so do
the graces of the saints shine brightest in the darkest
nights of affliction and tribulation.[/b] God will sometimes
more carry on the growth of grace by a cross than by
a mercy. Yes, the Lord will, sooner or later, more or
less—turn all fiery trials into blessings for the helping
on the growth of grace in His people's souls. Though
fiery trials are grievous—yet they shall make us more
gracious. Though for the present they appear to harm
and damage us; yet in the outcome we shall find that
God will turn them into the spiritual and eternal
advantage of our precious souls.

Thrice happy will afflicted Christians be, if under all
their crosses and losses they grow into a more deep
acquaintance with God and His holiness; with the
vanity, mutability, impotency, and uncertainty of
the world; and with the deceitfulness, vileness,
baseness, and wretchedness of their own hearts!

If under fiery dispensations, we grow . . .
more holy than ever,
more humble than ever,
more heavenly than ever,
more meek and lowly than ever,
more tender and compassionate than ever,
more faithful and fruitful than ever,
more patient and contented than ever,
then we may be confident that the grand design
of God in bringing all those fiery trials upon us, was
for His glory, and our own spiritual and eternal good.

"God disciplines us for our good, that we may
share in His holiness." Hebrews 12:10

Thanks Joy, I find these very comforting while I am going through some severe testing of my own right now. He is the potter and we are the clay and we can rest in this knowing all things work for good to those who love God.

Hebrews 4:9-10

9There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God.

10For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his.