"He is Faithful that Promised."
"As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten."--REV. iii. 19.
Love in Chastisement.
Sorrowing Believer! what couldst thou wish more than this? Thy furnace
is severe; but look at this assurance of Him who lighted it. Love is the
fuel that feeds its flames! Its every spark is love! Kindled by a
Father's hand, and designed as a special pledge of a Father's love. How
many of his dear children has He so rebuked and chastened; and all,
_all_ for one reason, "_I love them!_" The myriads in glory have passed
through these furnace-fires,--_there_ they were chosen,--_there_ they
were purified, sanctified, and made "vessels meet for the Master's use;"
the dross and the alloy purged, that the pure metal might remain. And
art thou to claim exemption from the same discipline? Art thou to think
it strange concerning these same fiery trials that may be trying thee?
Rather exult in them as thine adoption-privilege. Envy not those who are
strangers to the refining flames,--who are "_without chastisement_;"
rather, surely, the severest discipline _with_ a _Father's love_, than
the fullest earthly cup without that Father's smile. Oh! for grace to
say, when the furnace is hottest, and the rod sorest, "Even so,
_Father_!" And what, after all, is the severest of thy chastisements in
comparison with what thy sins have deserved? Dost thou murmur under a
Father's correcting love? What would it have been to have stood the
wrath of an unpropitiated Judge, and that, too, _for ever_? Surely, in
the light of eternity, the heaviest pang of earth is indeed "a light
affliction!"
"REMEMBER _THIS_ WORD UNTO THY SERVANT, UPON
WHICH THOU HAST CAUSED ME TO HOPE!"