The Worst Things
An excerpt from Thomas Watson's "A Divine Cordial" 1663
"And we know that all things work together for good to those who love
God, to those who are the called according to His purpose." Romans 8:28
We shall consider, first—WHAT things work for good to the
godly; and here we shall show that both the best things and
the
worst things work for their good.
Do not mistake me, I do not say that of their own nature,
the worst things are good, for they are a fruit of the curse. But
though they are naturally evil—yet the wise overruling hand of God disposing
and sanctifying them—they are morally good. As the elements, though of
contrary qualities—yet God has so tempered them, that they all work in a
harmonious manner for the good of the universe. Or as in a watch, the wheels
seem to move contrary one to another—but all carry on the motions of the
watch. Just so, things that seem to move cross to the godly—yet by the wonderful
providence of God, work for their good. Among these worst things, there are
four sad evils which work for good to those who love God.
1. The evil of AFFLICTION works for good, to the godly.
It is one heart-quieting consideration in all the
afflictions which befall us—that God has a special hand in them: "The
Almighty has afflicted me" (Ruth 1:21). Instruments can no more stir until
God gives them a commission, than the axe can cut, by itself, without a
hand. Job eyed God in his affliction: therefore, as Augustine observes, he
does not say, "The Lord gave—and the devil took away," but, "The Lord has
taken away." Whoever brings an affliction to us, it is God who sends it.
Another heart quieting consideration is—that afflictions
work for good. "I have sent them into captivity for their own good." (Jer.
24:6). Judah's captivity in Babylon was for their good. "It is good for me
that I have been afflicted" (Psalm 119:71). This text, like Moses' tree cast
into the bitter waters of affliction, may make them sweet and wholesome to
drink. Afflictions to the godly are medicinal. Out of the most
poisonous drugs God extracts our salvation. Afflictions are as needful as
ordinances (1 Peter 1:6). No vessel can be made of gold without fire; so it
is impossible that we should be made vessels of honor, unless we are melted
and refined in the furnace of affliction. "All the paths of the Lord are
mercy and truth" (Psalm 35:10). As the painter intermixes bright colors with
dark shadows; so the wise God mixes mercy with judgment. Those afflictive
providences which seem to be harmful, are beneficial. Let us take some
instances in Scripture.
Joseph's brethren throw him into a pit; afterwards
they sell him; then he is cast into prison; yet all this did work for his
good. His abasement made way for his advancement, he was made
the second man in the kingdom. "You thought evil against me—but God meant it
for good" (Gen. 50:20).
Jacob wrestled with the angel, and the hollow of
Jacob's thigh was put out of joint. This was sad; but God turned it to good,
for there he saw God's face, and there the Lord blessed him. "Jacob called
the name of the place Peniel, for I have seen God face to face" (Gen.
32:30). Who would not be willing to have a bone out of joint, so that he
might have a sight of God?
King Manasseh was bound in chains. This was
sad to see—a crown of gold changed into fetters. But it wrought for his
good, for, "So the Lord sent the Assyrian armies, and they took Manasseh
prisoner. They put a ring through his nose, bound him in bronze chains, and
led him away to Babylon. But while in deep distress, Manasseh sought
the Lord his God and cried out humbly to the God of his ancestors. And when
he prayed, the Lord listened to him and was moved by his request for help."
(2 Chron. 33:11-13). He was more indebted to his iron chain—than to his
golden crown. The one made him proud—the other made him humble.
Job was a spectacle of misery; he lost all that he
ever had; he abounded only in boils and ulcers. This was sad; but it wrought
for his good, his grace was proved and improved. God gave a testimony from
heaven of his integrity, and did compensate his loss by giving him twice as
much as ever he had before (Job 13:10).
Paul was smitten with blindness. This was
uncomfortable—but it turned to his good. God did by that blindness, make way
for the light of grace to shine into his soul; it was the beginning of a
happy conversion (Acts 9:6).
As the hard frosts in winter bring on the flowers in the
spring; as the night ushers in the morning star: so the evils of affliction
produce much good to those who love God. But we are ready to question the
truth of this, and say, as Mary did to the angel, "How can this be?"
Therefore I shall show you several ways how affliction works for good.
(1). Affliction works for good—as it is our preacher and
teacher —"Hear the rod" (Micah 6:9). Luther said that he could
never rightly understand some of the Psalms—until he was in affliction.
Affliction teaches what sin is. In the word
preached, we hear what a dreadful thing sin is, that it is both defiling and
damning—but we fear it no more than a painted lion; therefore God
lets loose affliction—and then we feel sin bitter in the fruit of it. A sick
bed often teaches more than a sermon. We can best see the ugly visage of
sin in the looking-glass of affliction!
Affliction teaches us to know ourselves. In
prosperity we are for the most part strangers to ourselves. God afflicts
us—that we may better know ourselves. We see that corruption in our hearts,
in the time of affliction, which we would not believe was there. Water in
the glass looks clear—but set it on the fire, and the scum boils up. In
prosperity, a man seems to be humble and thankful, the water looks clear;
but set this man a little on the fire of affliction, and the scum
boils up—much impatience and unbelief appear. "Oh," says a Christian, "I
never thought I had such a bad heart, as now I see I have! I never thought
my corruptions had been so strong, and my graces so weak."
(2). Afflictions work for good—as they are the means of
making the heart more upright. In prosperity the heart is apt to
be divided (Hos. 10:2). The heart cleaves partly to God—and partly to the
world. It is like a needle between two loadstones: God draws, and the world
draws. Now God takes away the world—that the heart may cleave more to Him in
sincerity. Correction is a setting the heart right and straight. As we
sometimes hold a crooked rod over the fire to straighten it; so God holds us
over the fire of affliction to make us more straight and upright. Oh, how
good it is, when sin has bent the soul awry from God, that affliction should
straighten it again!
(3). Afflictions work for good—as they conform us to
Christ. God's rod is a pencil to draw Christ's image more lively
upon us. It is good that there should be symmetry and proportion between the
Head and the members. Would we be parts of Christ's mystical body, and not
like Him? His life, as Calvin says, was a series of sufferings, "a man of
sorrows, and acquainted with grief" (Isaiah 53:3). He wept, and bled. Was
His head crowned with thorns, and do we think to be crowned with roses? It
is good to be like Christ, though it be by sufferings. Jesus Christ drank a
bitter cup, it made Him sweat drops of blood to think of it; and, though He
drank the poison in the cup (the wrath of God) yet there is some
wormwood in the cup left, which the saints must drink: only here is the
difference between Christ's sufferings and ours; His were atoning, ours are
only chastening.
(4). Afflictions work for good to the godly, as they are
destructive to sin. Sin is the mother, affliction is the
daughter; the daughter helps to destroy the mother. Sin is like the tree
which breeds the worm, and affliction is like the worm that eats the tree.
There is much corruption in the best heart: affliction does by degrees work
it out, as the fire works out the dross from the gold, "The Lord did this to
purge away his sin" (Isaiah 37:9). What if we have more of the rough file—if
we have less rust! Afflictions carry away nothing but the dross of sin. If a
physician should say to a patient, "Your body is distempered, and full of
bad humours, which must be cleared out, or you will die. But I will
prescribe physic which, though it may make you sick—yet it will carry away
the dregs of your disease, and save your life." Would not this be for the
good of the patient? Afflictions are the medicine which God uses to carry
off our spiritual diseases; they cure the swelling of pride, the fever of
lust, the cancer of covetousness. Do they not then work for good?
(5). Afflictions work for good—as they are the means of
loosening our hearts from the world. When you dig away the
earth from the root of a tree, it is to loosen the tree from the earth.
Just so, God digs away our earthly comforts to loosen our hearts from the
earth. A thorn grows up with every flower. God would have the
world hang as a loose tooth which, being twitched away does not much trouble
us. Is it not good to be weaned? The oldest saints need it. Why does the
Lord break the conduit pipe—but that we may go to Him, in whom are "all our
fresh springs" (Psalm 87:7).
(6). Afflictions work for good—as they make way for
comfort. "In the valley of Achor, is a door of hope" (Hos.
2:15) Achor signifies trouble. God sweetens outward pain with inward
peace. "Your sorrow shall be turned into joy" (John 16:20). Here is the
water turned into wine. After a bitter pill, God gives sugar. Paul had his
prison songs. God's rod has honey at the end of it. The saints
in affliction have had such sweet raptures of joy, that they thought
themselves in the borders of the heavenly Canaan.
(7). Afflictions work for good—as they are a magnifying
of us. "What is man, that you should magnify him, and that you
should visit him every morning?" (Job 7:17). God does by affliction magnify
us three ways.
(1st.) In that He will condescend so low as to take
notice of us. It is an honor that God will mind dust and ashes. It is a
magnifying of us, that God thinks us worthy to be smitten. God's not
striking is a slighting: "Why should you be stricken any more?" (Isaiah
1:5). If you will go on in sin, take your course—sin yourselves into hell.
(2nd.) Afflictions also magnify us, as they are ensigns
of glory, signs of sonship. "If you endure chastening, God deals with you as
with sons" (Heb. 12:7). Every print of the rod, is a badge of honor.
(3rd.) Afflictions tend to the magnifying of the saints,
as they make them renowned in the world. Soldiers have never been so admired
for their victories, as the saints have been for their sufferings. The zeal
and constancy of the martyrs in their trials have rendered them famous to
posterity. How eminent was Job for his patience! God leaves his name upon
record: "You have heard of the patience of Job" (James 5:11). Job the
sufferer, was more renowned than Alexander the conqueror.
(8.) Afflictions work for good—as they are the means of
making us happy. "Happy is the man whom God corrects" (Job 5:17).
What politician or moralist ever placed happiness in afflictions? Job does.
"Happy is the man whom God corrects."
It may be said, How do afflictions make us happy? We
reply that, being sanctified, they bring us nearer to God. The moon in the
full is furthest off from the sun: so are many further off from God in the
full moon of prosperity; afflictions bring them nearer to God. The magnet
of mercy does not draw us so near to God as the cords of affliction.
When Absalom set Joab's corn on fire, then he came running to Absalom (2
Sam. 16:30). When God sets our worldly comforts on fire, then we run to Him,
and make our peace with Him. When the prodigal was pinched with need, then
he returned home to his father (Luke 15:13). When the dove could not find
any rest for the sole of her foot, then she flew to the ark. When God brings
a deluge of affliction upon us, then we fly to the ark, Christ. Thus
affliction makes us happy, in bringing us nearer to God. Faith can make use
of the waters of affliction, to swim faster to Christ.
(9). Afflictions work for good—as they put to silence
the wicked. How ready are they to asperse and calumniate the
godly, that they serve God only for self-interest. Therefore God will have
His people endure sufferings for religion, that He may put a padlock on the
lying lips of wicked men. When the atheists of the world see that God has a
people, who serve Him not for a livery—but for love, this stops their
mouths. The devil accused Job of hypocrisy, that he was a mercenary man, all
his religion was made up of ends of gold and silver. "Does Job serve God for
naught? Have not you made a hedge about him?" Etc. "Well," says God, "put
forth your hand, touch his estate" (Job 1:9). The devil had no sooner
received a commission—but he falls a breaking down Job's hedge; but still
Job worships God (Job 1:20), and professes his faith in Him. "Though he
slays me—yet will I trust in him" (Job 13:15). This silenced the devil
himself. How it strikes a damp into wicked men, when they see that the godly
will keep close to God in a suffering condition, and that, when they lose
all, they yet will hold fast their integrity.
(10). Afflictions work for good—as they make way for
glory (2 Cor. 4:17). Not that they merit glory—but they prepare
for it. As ploughing prepares the earth for a crop, so afflictions prepare
and make us fit for glory. The painter lays his gold upon dark colors—so
God first lays the dark colors of affliction, and then He lays the golden
color of glory. The vessel is first seasoned before wine is poured into it:
the vessels of mercy are first seasoned with affliction, and then the wine
of glory is poured in. Thus we see afflictions are not harmful—but
beneficial, to the saints. We should not so much look at the evil of
affliction, as the good; not so much at the dark side of the cloud, as the
light. The worst that God does to His children, is to whip them to
heaven!
2. The evil of TEMPTATION is overruled for good to the
godly.
The evil of temptation works for good. Satan is called
the tempter (Mark 4:15). He is ever lying in ambush, he is continually at
work with one saint or another. The devil has his circuit that he walks
every day: he is not yet fully cast into prison—but, like a prisoner that
goes under bail, he walks about to tempt the saints. This is a great
molestation to a child of God. Now concerning Satan's temptations; there are
three things to be considered:
(1). His method in tempting.
(2). The extent of his power.
(3). These temptations are overruled for good.
(1). Satan's METHOD in tempting. Here take
notice of two things. His violence in tempting; and so he is the
red dragon. He labors to storm the castle of the heart, he throws in
thoughts of blasphemy, he tempts to deny God. These are the fiery darts
which he shoots, by which he would inflame the passions. Also, notice his
subtlety in tempting; and so he is the old serpent. There are
five chief subtleties the devil uses.
(1.) He observes the temperament and constitution—he lays
suitable baits of temptation. Like the farmer, he knows what
grain is best for the soil. Satan will not tempt contrary to the natural
disposition and temperament. This is his policy—he makes the wind and tide
go together; that way the natural tide of the heart runs, that way the wind
of temptation blows. Though the devil cannot know men's thoughts—yet he
knows their temperament, and accordingly he lays his baits. He tempts the
ambitious man with a crown, the lustful man with beauty.
(2.) Satan observes the fittest time to tempt—as a
cunning angler casts in his angle when the fish will bite best.
Satan's time of tempting is usually after an ordinance—and the reason is, he
thinks he shall find us most secure. When we have been at solemn duties, we
are apt to think all is done, and we grow remiss, and leave off that zeal
and strictness as before; just as a soldier, who after a battle leaves off
his armor, not once dreaming of an enemy. Satan watches his time, and, when
we least suspect, then he throws in a temptation.
(3.) He makes use of near relations; the devil tempts by
a proxy. Thus he handed over a temptation to Job by his wife. "Are
you still trying to maintain your integrity? Curse God and die!" (Job 2:9).
A wife in the bosom may be the devil's instrument to tempt to sin.
(4.) Satan tempts to evil by those who are good; thus he
gives poison in a golden cup. He tempted Christ by Peter. Peter
dissuades him from suffering. "Master, pity Yourself!" Who would have
thought to have found the tempter in the mouth of an apostle?
(5.) Satan tempts to sin under a pretense of religion.
He is most to be feared when he transforms himself into an angel of light.
He came to Christ with Scripture in his mouth: "It is written." The devil
baits his hook with religion. He tempts many a man to covetousness and
extortion under a pretense of providing for his family; he tempts some to do
away with themselves, that they may live no longer to sin against God; and
so he draws them into sin, under a pretense of avoiding sin. These are his
subtle stratagems in tempting.
(2). The extent of his POWER ; how far Satan's
power in tempting reaches.
(1.) He can propose the object; as he set a wedge of gold
before Achan.
(2.) He can poison the imagination, and instill evil
thoughts into the mind . As the Holy Spirit casts in good
suggestions, so the devil casts in bad ones. He put it into Judas' heart to
betray Christ (John 13:2).
(3.) Satan can excite and irritate the corruption within,
and work some kind of inclinableness in the heart to embrace a temptation.
Though it is true Satan cannot force the will to yield consent—yet he being
a cunning suitor, by his continual solicitation, may provoke to evil. Thus
he provoked David to number the people (1 Chron. 21:1). The devil may, by
his subtle arguments, dispute us into sin.
(3). These temptations are overruled for good to the
children of God. A tree that is shaken by the wind is more
settled and rooted. Just so, the blowing of a temptation does but settle a
Christian the more in grace. Temptations are overruled for good in eight
ways:
(1.) Temptation sends the soul to prayer. The
more furiously Satan tempts, the more fervently the saint
prays. The deer being shot with the dart, runs faster to the water. When
Satan shoots his fiery darts at the soul, it then runs faster to the throne
of grace. When Paul had the messenger of Satan to buffet him, he says, "For
this I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me" (2 Cor.
12:8). Temptation is a medicine for carnal security. That which makes us
pray more, works for good.
(2.) Temptation to sin, is a means to keep from the
perpetration of sin. The more a child of God is tempted, the more
he fights against the temptation. The more Satan tempts to blasphemy, the
more a saint trembles at such thoughts, and says, "Get you hence, Satan."
When Joseph's mistress tempted him to folly, the stronger her temptation
was, the stronger was his opposition. That temptation which the devil uses
as a spur to sin, God makes a bridle to keep back a Christian from it.
(3.) Temptation works for good—as it abates the swelling
of pride. "Lest I should be exalted above measure, there was
given me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to buffet me" (2 Cor.
12:7). The thorn in the flesh was to puncture the puffing up of pride.
Better is that temptation which humbles me—than that duty which makes me
proud. Rather than a Christian shall be haughty minded, God will let him
fall into the devil's hands awhile, to be cured of his swelling pride.
(4.) Temptation works for good—as it is a touchstone to
try what is in the heart. The devil tempts, that he may deceive;
but God allows us to be tempted, to try us. Temptation is a trial of our
sincerity. It argues that our heart is chaste and loyal to Christ, when we
can look a temptation in the face, and turn our back upon it. Also it is a
trial of our courage. "Ephraim is a silly dove, without heart" (Hosea 8:11).
So it may be said of many, they are without a heart; they have no heart to
resist temptation. No sooner does Satan come with his bait—but they yield;
like a coward who, as soon as the thief approaches, gives him his purse. But
he is the valorous Christian, who brandishes the sword of the Spirit against
Satan, and will rather die than yield. The courage of the Romans was never
more seen than when they were assaulted by the Carthaginians: the valor and
courage of a saint is never more seen than on a battlefield, when he is
fighting the red dragon, and by the power of faith puts the devil to flight.
That grace is tried gold, which can stand in the fiery trial, and
withstand Satan's fiery darts!
(5.) Temptations work for good—as God makes those who
are tempted, fit to comfort others in the same distress. A
Christian must himself be under the buffetings of Satan, before he can speak
a word in due season to him that is weary. Paul was well-versed in temptations.
"We are not ignorant of his devices" (2 Cor. 2:11). Thus he was able to
acquaint others with Satan's cursed wiles (1 Cor. 10:13). A man that has
ridden over a place where there are bogs and quicksands, is the fittest to
guide others through that dangerous way. He who has felt the claws of the
roaring lion, and has lain bleeding under those wounds, is the fittest man
to deal with one who is tempted. None can better discover Satan's subtle
devices, than those who have been long in the fencing school of temptation.
(6.) Temptations work for good—as they stir up fatherly
compassion in God, to those who are tempted. The child who is
sick and bruised is most looked after. When a saint lies under the bruising
of temptations, Christ prays, and God the Father pities. When Satan puts the
soul into a fever, God comes with a cordial; which made Luther say, that
temptations are Christ's embraces, because He then most sweetly manifests
Himself to the soul.
(7.) Temptations work for good—as they make the saints
long more for heaven. There they shall be out of gunshot; heaven
is a place of rest, no bullets of temptation fly there. The eagle which
soars aloft in the air, and sits upon high trees—is not troubled with the
stinging of the serpent. Just so, when believers are ascended to heaven,
they shall not be molested by the old serpent, the devil. In this life, when
one temptation is over, another comes. This makes God's people wish for
death—to call them off the battlefield where the bullets fly so quick—and to
receive a victorious crown, where neither the drum nor cannon—but the harp
and violin, shall be eternally sounding.
(8.) Temptations work for good—as they engage the
strength of Christ. Christ is our Friend, and when we are
tempted, He sets all His power working for us. "Since he himself has gone
through suffering and temptation, he is able to help us when we are being
tempted" (Heb. 2:18). If a poor soul was to fight alone with the Goliath of
hell, he would be sure to be vanquished—but Jesus Christ brings in His
auxiliary forces, He gives fresh supplies of grace. "We are more than
conquerors through him who loved us!" (Romans 8:37). Thus the evil of
temptation is overruled for good.
Question. But sometimes Satan foils a child of God.
How does this work for good?
Answer. I grant that, through the suspension of
divine grace, and the fury of a temptation, a saint may be overcome; yet
this foiling by a temptation shall be overruled for good. By this foil God
makes way for the augmentation of grace. Peter was tempted to
self-confidence, he presumed upon his own strength; and Christ let him fall.
But this wrought for his good, it cost him many a tear. "He went out, and
wept bitterly" (Matt. 26:75). And now he grows less self-reliant. He dared
not say he loved Christ more than the other apostles. "Do you love me more
than these?" (John 21:15). He dared not say so—his fall into sin broke the
neck of his pride!
The foiling by a temptation causes more circumspection
and watchfulness in a child of God. Though Satan did before decoy him into
sin—yet for the future he will be the more cautious. He will have a care of
coming within the lion's chain any more. He is more vigilant and fearful of
the occasions of sin. He never goes out without his spiritual armor, and he
girds on his armor by prayer. He knows he walks on slippery ground,
therefore he looks wisely to his steps. He keeps close sentinel in his soul,
and when he spies the devil coming, he grasps his spiritual weapons, and
displays the shield of faith (Eph. 6:16). This is all the hurt the devil
does when he foils a saint by temptation—he cures him of his careless
neglect; he makes him watch and pray more. When wild beasts get over the
hedge and damage the grain, a man will make his fence the stronger. Just so,
when the devil gets over the hedge by a temptation, a Christian will be sure
to mend his fence; he will become more fearful of sin, and careful of duty.
Thus the being worsted by temptation works for good.
Objection. But if being foiled works for good, this
may make Christians careless whether they are overcome by temptations or
not.
Answer. There is a great deal of difference between
falling into a temptation, and running into a temptation. The
falling into a temptation shall work for good, not the running
into it. He who falls into a river is fit for help and pity—but he who
desperately runs into it, is guilty of his own death. It is madness running
into a lion's den. He who runs himself into a temptation is like king
Saul—who fell upon his own sword.
From all that has been said, see how God disappoints the
old serpent, making his temptations turn to the good of His people. Surely
if the devil knew how much benefit accrues to the saints by temptation, he
would forbear to tempt. Luther once said, "There are three things which make
a godly man—prayer, meditation, and temptation." Paul, in his voyage to
Rome, met with a contrary wind (Acts 27:4). So the wind of temptation is a
contrary wind to that of the Spirit; but God makes use of this cross wind,
to blow the saints to heaven!
3. The evil of DESERTION works for good to the godly.
The evil of desertion works for good. The spouse
complains of desertion. "My beloved had withdrawn himself, and was gone!"
(Cant. 5:6). There is a twofold withdrawing; either in regard of grace,
when God suspends the influence of His Spirit, and withholds the lively
actings of grace. If the Spirit is gone, grace freezes into a chillness and
indolence. Or, a withdrawing in regard of comfort. When God withholds
the sweet manifestations of His favor, He does not look with such a pleasant
aspect—but veils His face, and seems to be quite gone from the soul.
God is just in all His withdrawings. We desert Him
before He deserts us. We desert God—when we leave off close communion with
Him; when we desert His truths and dare not appear for Him; when we leave
the guidance and conduct of His word, and follow the deceitful light of our
own corrupt affections and passions. We desert God first; therefore we have
none to blame but ourselves.
Desertion is very sad, for as when the light is
withdrawn, darkness follows in the air—so when God withdraws, there is
darkness and sorrow in the soul. Desertion is an agony of conscience. God
holds the soul over hell. "The arrows of the Almighty are within me, the
poison whereof drinks up my spirits" (Job 6:4). It was a custom among the
Persians in their wars, to dip their arrows in the poison of serpents to
make them more deadly. Thus did God shoot the poisoned arrow of desertion
into Job, under the wounds of which his spirit lay bleeding. In times of
desertion the people of God are apt to be dejected. They dispute against
themselves, and think that God has quite cast them off. Therefore I shall
prescribe some comfort to the deserted soul.
The mariner, when he has no star to guide him—yet he has
light in his lantern, which is some help to him to see his compass; so, I
shall lay down four consolations, which are as the mariner's lantern,
to give some light when the poor soul is sailing in the darkness of
desertion, and needs the bright morning star.
(1). None but the godly are capable of desertion.
Wicked men do not know what God's love means—nor what it is to lack
it. They know what it is to lack health, friends, trade—but not what it is
to lack God's favor. You fear that you are not God's child because you are
deserted. The Lord cannot be said to withdraw His love from the wicked,
because they never had it. The being deserted, evidences you to be a child
of God. How could you complain that God has estranged Himself, if you had
not sometimes received smiles and tokens of love from Him?
(2). There may be the seed of grace, where there
is not the flower of joy. The earth may lack a crop of
grain—yet may have a mine of gold within! A Christian may have
grace within, though the sweet fruit of joy does not grow. Vessels at sea,
which are richly fraught with jewels and spices, may be in the dark and
tossed in the storm. A soul enriched with the treasures of grace, may yet be
in the dark of desertion, and so tossed as to think it shall be cast away in
the storm! David, in a state of dejection, prays, "Take not your Holy Spirit
from me" (Psalm 51:11). He does not pray, says Augustine, "Lord, give me
your Spirit"—but "Take not away your Spirit", so that still he had the
Spirit of God remaining in him.
(3). These desertions are but for a time.
Christ may withdraw, and leave the soul awhile—but He will come again. "In a
little wrath I hid my face from you for a moment—but with everlasting
kindness will I have mercy on you" (Isaiah 64:8). When it is low water—the
tide will come in again. "I will not always show my anger." (Isaiah 57:16).
The tender mother sets down her child in anger—but she will
take it up again into her arms, and kiss it. God may put away the soul in
anger—but He will take it up again into His dear embraces, and display His
banner of love over it.
(4). HOW these desertions work for good to the godly.
1. Desertion cures the soul of sloth. We find the
spouse fallen upon the bed of sloth: "I sleep" (Cant. 5:2). And presently
Christ was gone. "My beloved had withdrawn himself" (Cant. 5:6). Who will
speak to one that is drowsy?
2. Desertion cures inordinate affection to the world.
"Love not the world" (1 John 2:15). We may hold the world as a posy
in our hand—but it must not lie too near our heart! We may use
it as an inn where we take a meal—but it must not be our home.
Perhaps these secular things steal away the heart too much. Godly men are
sometimes weighed down with an overabundance of temporal things, and drunk
with the luscious delights of prosperity. And having spotted their silver
wings of grace, and much defaced God's image by rubbing it against
the earth—the Lord, to recover them from this, hides His face in a
cloud. This eclipse has good effects—it darkens all the glory of the world,
and causes it to disappear.
3. Desertion works for good—as it makes the saints prize
God's countenance more than ever. "Your loving-kindness is better
than life" (Psalm 63:3). Yet the commonness of this mercy lessens it
in our esteem. When pearls grew common at Rome, they began to be
slighted. God has no better way to make us value His love, than by
withdrawing it awhile. If the sun shone but once a year, how would it be
prized! When the soul has been long benighted with desertion, oh how welcome
now is the return of the Sun of righteousness!
4. Desertion works for good—as it is the means of
embittering sin to us. Can there be a greater misery than to have
God's displeasure? What makes hell—but the hiding of God's face? And what
makes God hide His face—but sin? "They have taken away my Lord, and I know
not where they have laid him" (John 20:13). Just so, our sins have taken away the
Lord, and we know not where He is laid. The favor of God is the best jewel;
it can sweeten a prison, and unsting death. Oh, how odious then is that sin,
which robs us of our best jewel! Sin made God desert His temple (Ezek. 8:6).
Sin causes Him to appear as an enemy, and dress Himself in armor. This makes
the soul pursue sin with a holy malice, and seek to be avenged on it! The
deserted soul gives sin gall and vinegar to drink, and, with the spear of
mortification, lets out the heart-blood of it!
5. Desertion works for good—as it sets the soul to weeping
for the loss of God. When the sun is gone, the dew falls;
and when God is gone, tears drop from the eyes. How Micah was
troubled when he had lost his gods! "You've taken away all my gods—and I
have nothing left!" (Judges 18:24). So when God is gone, what more do we
have left? It is not the harp and violin, which can comfort—when God is
gone. Though it is sad to lack God's presence—yet it is good to
lament His absence.
6. Desertion sets the soul to seeking after God.
When Christ was departed, the spouse pursues after Him, she "searched for
him in all its streets and squares" (Cant. 3:2). And not having found Him,
she makes a cry after Him, "Have you seen him anywhere, this one I love so
much?" (Cant. 3:3). The deserted soul sends up whole volleys of sighs and
groans. It knocks at heaven's gate by prayer—it can have no rest until the
golden beams of God's face shine!
7. Desertion puts the Christian upon inquiry. He
inquires the cause of God's departure. What is the accursed thing
which has made God angry? Perhaps pride, perhaps sloth,
perhaps worldliness. "I was angry and punished these greedy
people. I withdrew myself from them" (Isaiah 57:17). Perhaps
there is some secret sin allowed. A stone in the pipe hinders the current of
water. Just so, sin lived in, hinders the sweet current of God's love. Thus
conscience, as a bloodhound, having found out sin and overtaken it—this Achan is stoned to death!
8. Desertion works for good—as it gives us a sight of what
Jesus Christ suffered for us. If the sipping of the cup is
so bitter, how bitter was that full cup which Christ drank to the
dregs upon the cross? He drank a cup of deadly poison, which made Him cry
out, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" (Matt. 22:46). None can so
appreciate Christ's sufferings, none can be so fired with love to Christ—as
those who have been humbled by desertion, and have been held over the flames
of hell for a time.
9. Desertion works for good—as it prepares the saints for
future comfort. The nipping frosts prepare for spring flowers. It
is God's way, first to cast down, then to comfort (2 Cor.
7:6). When our Savior had been fasting—then the angels came and ministered
to Him. When the Lord has kept His people long fasting—then He sends the
Comforter, and feeds them with the hidden manna. "Light is sown for the
righteous" (Psalm 97:11.) The saints' comforts may be hidden like seed under
ground—but the seed is ripening, and will increase, and
flourish into a crop!
10. These desertions work for good—as they will make heaven
the sweeter to us. Here on earth, our comforts are like the moon,
sometimes they are in the full, sometimes in the wane. God shows Himself to
us awhile, and then retires from us. How will this set off heaven the more,
and make it more delightful and ravishing, when we shall have a constant
aspect of love from God! (1 Thess. 4:17).
Thus we see desertions work for good. The Lord brings us
into the deep of desertion—that He may not bring us into the deep of
damnation! He puts us into a seeming hell—that He may keep us
from a real hell. God is fitting us for that time when we shall enjoy
His smiles forever, when there shall be neither clouds in His face or sun
setting, when Christ shall come and stay with His spouse, and the spouse
shall never say again, "My beloved has withdrawn himself!"
4. The evil of SIN works for good to the godly.
Sin in its own nature, is damnable—but God in His
infinite wisdom overrules it, and causes good to arise from that which seems
most to oppose it. Indeed, it is a matter of wonder, that any honey
should come out of this lion! We may understand it in a double sense.
(1). The sins of OTHERS are overruled for good to the
godly. It is no small trouble to a gracious heart to live among
the wicked. "Woe is me—that I dwell in Mesech" (Psalm 120:5). Yet even this
the Lord turns to good. For,
(1.) The sins of others work for good to the godly—as
they produce holy sorrow. God's people weep for what they cannot
reform. "Rivers of tears run down my eyes, because they keep not your law"
(Psalm 119. 136). David was a mourner for the sins of the times; his
heart was turned into a spring—and his eyes into rivers! Wicked
men make merry with sin. "When you do evil, then you rejoice" (Jer. 11:15).
But the godly are weeping doves; they grieve for the oaths and blasphemies
of the age. The sins of others, like spears, pierce their souls!
This grieving for the sins of others is good. It shows a
childlike heart, to resent with sorrow the injuries done to our heavenly
Father. It also shows a Christ-like heart. "He was grieved for the hardness
of their hearts" (Mark 3:5). The Lord takes special notice of these tears.
He likes it well—that we should weep when His glory suffers. It argues more
grace to grieve for the sins of others, than for our own. We may grieve for
our own sins—out of fear of hell; but to grieve for the sins of
others—is from a principle of love to God. These tears drop as water
from roses—they are sweet and fragrant, and God puts them in His bottle!
"You keep track of all my sorrows. You have collected all my tears in your
bottle. You have recorded each one in your book!" (Psalm 56:8)
(2.) The sins of others work for good to the godly—as
they set them the more a praying against sin. If there were not
such a spirit of wickedness abroad, perhaps there would not be such a
spirit of prayer. Crying sins cause crying prayers! The
people of God pray against the iniquity of the times—that God will give a
check to sin, that He will put sin to the blush. If they cannot pray down
sin, they pray against it; and this God takes kindly. These
prayers shall both be recorded and rewarded. Though we do not prevail
in prayer, we shall not lose our prayers. "My prayer returned into my
own bosom" (Psalm 35:13).
(3.) The sins of others work for good—as they make us the
more in love with grace. The sins of others are a foil to
set off the luster of grace the more. One contrary sets off another:
deformity sets off beauty. The sins of the wicked do much disfigure them.
Pride is a disfiguring sin; now the beholding another's pride makes us
the more in love with humility! Malice is a disfiguring sin, it is
the devil's picture; the more of this we see in others the more we love
meekness and charity. Drunkenness is a disfiguring sin, it turns men
into beasts, it deprives of the use of reason; the more intemperate we see
others, the more we must love sobriety. The black face of sin, sets
off the beauty of holiness so much the more.
(4.) The sins of others work for good—as they work in us
the stronger opposition against sin. "The wicked have broken your
law; therefore I love your commandments" (Psalm 119:126, 127). David would
never have loved God's law so much, if the wicked had not set themselves so
much against it. The more violent others are against the truth, the
more valiant the saints are for it. Living fish swim against
the stream. Just so, the more the tide of sin comes in, the more the godly
swim against it! The impieties of the times provoke holy passions
in the saints! That anger is without sin—which is against
sin. The sins of others are as a whetstone to set the sharper edge upon us;
they whet our zeal and indignation against sin the more!
(5.) The sins of others work for good—as they make us
more earnest in working out our salvation. When we see wicked men
take such pains for hell—this makes us more industrious for heaven.
The wicked have nothing to encourage them—yet they sin. They venture shame
and disgrace, they break through all opposition. Scripture is against them,
and conscience is against them, there is a flaming sword in the way—yet they
sin. Godly hearts, seeing the wicked thus mad for the forbidden fruit,
and wearing out themselves in the devil's service—are the more emboldened
and quickened in the ways of God. They will take heaven as it were, by
storm. The wicked are like camels—running after sin (Jer. 2:23). And
do we creep like snails in piety? Shall impure sinners do the devil
more service—than we do Christ? Shall they make more haste to go to the
prison of hell—than we do to the kingdom of heaven? Are they never weary of
sinning—and are we weary of praying? Have we not a better
Master than they? Are not the paths of virtue pleasant? Is not
there joy in the way of duty, and heaven at the end? The
activity of the sons of Belial in sin—this is a spur to the godly to make
them mend their pace, and run the faster to heaven!
(6.) The sins of others work for good—as they are
looking-glasses in which we may see our own hearts. Do we see a
heinous, impious wretch? Behold a picture of our own hearts! Such would we
be—if God left us! What is in wicked men's practice—is in our
nature. Sin in the wicked is like fire which flames and blazes forth;
sin in the godly is like fire in the embers. Christian, though you do
not break forth into a flame of scandalous sin—yet you have no cause to
boast, for there is as much sin in the embers of your nature. You have the
root of all sin in you, and would bear as hellish fruit as any ungodly
wretch—if God did not either curb you by His power, or change you by His
grace!
(7.) The sins of others work for good—as they are the
means of making the people of God more thankful. When you see
another infected with the plague, how thankful are you that God has
preserved you from it! It is a good use that may be made of the sins of
others—to make us more thankful. Why might not God have left us to the same
excess of wickedness? Think with yourself, O Christian—why should God be
more merciful to you than to another? Why should He snatch you, as brand
plucked out of the fire—and not him? How may this make you to adore free
grace! What the Pharisee said boastingly, we may say thankfully, "God, I
thank you that I am not like other men—robbers, evildoers, adulterers, etc."
(Luke 18:11).
If we are not as wicked as others—we should adore the
riches of free-grace! Every time we see men hastening on in sin—we are to
thank God that we are not such. If we see an insane person—we thank God that
it is not so with us. Much more when we see others under the power of
Satan—how thankful we should be, that this is no longer our condition! "For
we too were once foolish, disobedient, deceived, captives of various
passions and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, detesting one
another." Titus 3:3
(8.) The sins of others work for good—as they are means
of making God's people better. Christian, God can make you a
gainer by another's sin. The more unholy others are—the more holy you should
be. The more a wicked man gives himself to sin—the more a godly man gives
himself to prayer. "But I give myself to prayer" (Psalm 109:4).
(9.) The sins of others work for good—as they give an
occasion to us of doing good. Were there no sinners, we could not
be in such a capacity for service. The godly are often the means of
converting the wicked; their prudent advice and pious example is a lure
and a bait to draw sinners to the embracing of the gospel. The
disease of the patient, works for the good of the physician;
by healing the patient, the physician enriches himself. Just so, by
converting sinners from the error of their way, our crown comes to be
enlarged. "Those who turn many to righteousness, shall shine as the stars
forever and ever" (Dan. 12:31). Not as lamps or candles—but
as the stars forever! Thus we see the sins of others are overruled
for our good.
(2). The sense of their OWN sinfulness, will be overruled
for the good of the godly. Thus our own sins shall work for good.
This must be understood carefully, when I say the sins of the godly work for
good—not that there is the least good in sin. Sin is like poison, which
corrupts the blood, and infects the heart; and, without a sovereign
antidote, sin always brings death. Such is the venomous nature of sin—it is
deadly and damning. Sin is worse than hell. But yet God, by
His mighty over-ruling power, makes sin in the outcome turn to the good of
His people. Hence that golden saying of Augustine, "God would never permit
evil—if He could not bring good out of evil." The feeling of sinfulness in
the saints, works for good several ways.
(1.) Sin makes them weary of this life. That
sin is in the godly—is sad; but that it is their burden—is
good. Paul's afflictions (pardon the expression) were but child's
play to him—in comparison of his sin. He rejoiced in tribulation
(2 Cor. 7:4). But how did this bird of paradise weep and bemoan himself
under his sins! "Who shall deliver me from the body of this death?" (Romans
8:24). A believer carries his sins as a prisoner his shackles;
oh, how does he long for the day of release! This sense of sin is good.
(2.) This indwelling of corruption, makes the
saints prize Christ more. He who feels his sin, as a sick man
feels his sickness—how welcome is Christ the physician to him! He who feels
himself stung with sin—how precious is the brazen serpent to him! When Paul
had bemoaned his body of death—how thankful was he for Christ! "I thank God
through Jesus Christ our Lord!" (Romans 8:25). Christ's blood saves
from sin, and is the sacred ointment which kills this deadly disease
of sin.
(3.) This sense of sin works for good—as it is an
occasion of putting the soul upon six special duties:
(a) Sin puts the soul upon self-searching. A child of
God being conscious of sin, takes the candle and lantern of the Word, and
searches into his heart. He desires to know the worst of himself; as a man
who is diseased in body, desires to know the worst of his disease. Though
our joy lies in the knowledge of our graces—yet there is some benefit
in the knowledge of our corruptions. Therefore Job prays, "Reveal to
me my transgression and sin" (Job 13:23). It is good to know our sins—that
we may not flatter ourselves, or take our condition to be better than it is.
It is good to find out our sins—lest they find us out!
(b) Sin puts a child of God upon self-abasing. Sin is
left in a godly man—as a cancer in the breast, or a hunch upon the back—to
keep him from being proud. Gravel and dirt are good to ballast a
ship, and keep it from overturning; the sense of sin helps to ballast the
soul, that it be not overturned with pride. We read of the "spots of God's
children" (Deut. 32:5). When a godly man beholds his face in the
looking-glass of Scripture—he sees the spots of pride, lust and hypocrisy.
They are humbling spots—and make the plumes of pride fall off! It is
a good use that may be made even of our sins, when they occasion low
thoughts of ourselves. Better is that sin which humbles me—than that duty
which makes me proud! Holy Bradford uttered these words of himself, "I am
but a painted hypocrite"; and Hooper said, "Lord, I am hell—and You are
heaven."
(c) Sin puts a child of God on self-judging. He
passes a sentence upon himself. ''I am more brutish than any man" (Proverbs
30:2). It is dangerous to judge others—but it is good to judge
ourselves. But if we judged ourselves, we would not come under judgment"
(1 Cor. 11:31). When a man has judged himself, Satan is put out of office.
When Satan lays anything to a saint's charge, he is able to retort and say,
"It is true, Satan, I am guilty of these sins; but I have judged
myself already for them; and having condemned myself in the lower court of
conscience, God will acquit me in the upper court of heaven."
(d) Sin puts a child of God upon self-conflicting.
Spiritual self conflicts with carnal self. "The spirit lusts against the
flesh" (Gal. 5:17). Our life is a wayfaring life—and a war-faring life.
There is a duel fought every day between the two seeds. A believer will not
let sin have peaceable possession. If he cannot keep sin out, he will
keep sin down; though he cannot quite overcome—yet he is overcoming.
"To him who is overcoming" (Rev. 2:7).
(e) Sin puts a child of God upon self-observing. He
knows sin is a bosom traitor, therefore he carefully observes himself. A
subtle and deceitful heart, needs a watchful eye. The heart is like a castle
which is continually in danger to be assaulted; this makes a child of God to
be always a sentinel, and keep a guard over his heart. A believer has a
strict eye over himself, lest he fall into any scandalous sin—and so open a
sluice to let all his comfort run out.
(f) Sin puts the soul upon self-reforming. A child of
God does not only find out sin—but drives out sin! One foot he
sets upon the neck of his sins—and the other foot he "turns to God's
testimonies" (Psalm 119. 59). Thus the sins of the godly work for good. God
makes the saints' maladies—their medicines.
But let none abuse this doctrine. I do not say that sin
works for good to an impenitent person. No, it works for his
damnation! Sin only works for good to those who love God; and for you who
are godly, I know you will not draw a wrong conclusion from this—either to
make light of sin, or to make bold with sin. If you should do
so, God will make it cost you dearly! Remember David. He ventured
presumptuously on sin, and what did he get? He lost his peace, he felt the
terrors of the Almighty in his soul, though he had all helps to
cheerfulness. He was a king; he had skill in music; yet nothing could
administer comfort to him; he complains of his "broken bones" (Psalm
51:8).
And though he did at last come out of that dark cloud—yet perhaps he
never recovered his full joy to his dying day. If any of God's people
should be tampering with sin, because God can turn it to good; though the
Lord does not damn them—He may send them to hell in this life. He may
put them into such bitter agonies and soul convulsions, as may fill them
full of horror, and make them draw near to despair. Let this be a flaming
sword to keep them from coming near the forbidden tree!
And thus have I shown, that the worst things, by
the overruling hand of the great God—do work together for the good of the
saints.
Again, I say—think not lightly of sin!
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