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Sanctified affliction
(Thomas
Reade, "On Affliction")
Sanctified affliction has a twofold
effect.
Like the wintry blast, it kills the noxious
weeds of . . .
lust,
pride, and
covetousness.
While, like the genial warmth of summer, it
nourishes all the kindly graces of the Spirit . . .
humility,
purity,
and love.
When affliction renders a man humble, and
resigned to the will of God; when it tends to
wean him from the world, and produces a
change in his whole spirit and conduct; it is
because the God of all grace is employing it
as a means whereby to lead him, through
the accompanying power of the Spirit, to
true holiness.
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