Chastisement
To quarrel with the instruments God used for our correction is to quarrel with God Himself. It is, in fact, to say to Him, “I do not approve of Thy government, and I could order matters better if they were left to me.” What is this but to aim at casting down God from His throne, and setting ourselves thereon?
Though the Lord often spares reproof, He never spares commendation. He is slow to anger; He makes haste to be gracious. (Neh. 9:17.)
Jacob underwent discipline and chastisement for upwards of fifty years, for the withering in him the evil root of the spirit of unbelieving contrivance. God blesses His child, and in His very love withholds not the rod of correction.
The pain that God’s discipline gives us shows its wisdom: it is the diseased part that feels under the surgeon’s hand.
God never puts us to shame before the world, or even before the church, unless we compel Him.
The Lord always deals with us according to the state of our souls.
How small the knowledge of God that Job would have attained to, but for the deep and marvellous discipline whereby he was sifted and taught!
When we deal with God in prayer about the difficulties of our path, we must not set Him a time for clearing away those difficulties, but wait upon Him, who accepts the sacrifice of our willing hearts.
The Lord’s jewels need grinding, and cutting, and polishing. Why forget?
It is not of necessity that a child of God beginning well goes on well; but if he take good heed to his ways—according to Psalm 119., and like Scriptures—he will surely run well to the end of his race.
The more bitter the cup of discipline, the more reason for our thankfulness. If we be not thankful, let us give God no rest, nor ourselves, until He make us so.
Correction despised brings sharper correction.
When God visits us with certain special discipline, it is our wisdom to accept the cup and drink it cheerfully, however bitter, for health is in it.
Let us have no reserves of conscience. When God gives us light, let us follow it whithersoever it may lead; for, while God has no judgments of curse for His children, He has judgments of displeasure of love because of disobedience.
Be more desirous of inward help and deliverance, than the removal of God’s hand, when He lays affliction upon you.
Impatience under God’s corrections only shows our need of the discipline He is pleased to visit us with. We can least bear correction when we most need it.
One of the evil fruits of long-continued spiritual negligence, is the soul’s ignorance of its own state.
How often, under discipline, are the children of God struggling amidst the thickets and briers of circumstances, instead of judging the state of their hearts! This lack of pondering their ways, prevents their seeing the equity of God’s dealings with them.