Whoever heard of a calf weaning itself voluntarily? Afflictions are as nails driven by the hand of grace, which crucify us to the world. The farmer plows his land and the gardner prunes his trees to make them more fruitful. The jeweler cuts and polishes his diamonds to make them shine the brighter. The refiner flings his gold into the furnace that it may come out purer. AND GOD afflicts His people to make them better. To thank God for mercies is the way to increase them; to thank God for miseries is the way to remove them.
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