'Voices From The Past' Vol. 1 — November 21

When the Word of God and the rod meet together, they are the fruit of a father's affection. Affliction is sanctified through its instruction, and is a seal of God's lovingkindness. Chastisement considered by itself is common to all the children of Adam, but that which brings instruction is a mark of his distinguishing love. It is an unquestionable truth that God's love and God's rod may stand together. Evidence of grace consists in inward impressions and not outward dispensations. It is good to be thankful for a bare deliverance, but it is dangerous to be contented with it without added understanding. If you can be assured in your own soul that God has taught you as well as chastened you, you are a blessed man. O brethren, it is sad when men come out of affliction the same as they went in—when they continue to be just as ignorant, proud, worldly, impatient, unsavoury, and as much strangers to Christ and their hearts as before—how exceedingly sad! When affliction does not lead to correction, men come out of the furnace with the dross intact. There are many blessings to be learned in the furnace of affliction. It teaches us compassion for others in a suffering condition, and to value our earthly comforts more without doting upon them. We are blessed when sufferings conform us to Jesus Christ, and lead us to prayer. Man is never in a happier condition than when his heart is in a praying frame. Affliction makes us more acquainted with the Bible, and teaches us to weep over grieving God's Holy Spirit. Affliction teaches us to long for heaven, and to redeem the time. A teaching-affliction is a part of the covenant of grace. It does not contain freedom from affliction, but from the evil of sin. The rod and Word are blessed.

Devotional Readings taken from Puritan Devotional Readings 'Voices From The Past Vol.1.'
Thomas Case, Select Works, A Treatise of Afflictions, pp. 110-127
Banner of Truth has granted permission for the use of this material.