Perhaps trial presses on you today. I read one of the daily readings from Octavius Winslow's Morning Thoughts (June 13) in which he quoted Martin Luther's words of determination in the face of trial. Luther faced relentless vertigo, ringing ears, and the constant harassment of his soul's enemy.
Thomas Brooks (see Smooth Stones from Ancient Brooks; Charles Spurgeon) also quoted Luther's remarks on trial: "It was good for me to be afflicted!" (Psalm 119:71) God afflicts you, O Christian, in love! Therefore Luther cries out, 'Strike, Lord, strike, Lord! and spare not!' I believe the quote continues,"now my sins are gone; strike as hard as thou wilt if transgression be covered."
His grasp of justification and forgiveness ran deeper than the pain of trial. How do you fare? I find this is the battleground - this and the pride Brooks refers to below. Are we willing to let Him strike? Do we see His striking, with forgiveness, can do us no harm but only good? Change my heart, O, Lord.
Some further thoughts from Thomas Brooks, The Mute Christian Under the Smarting Rod:
Some further thoughts from Thomas Brooks, The Mute Christian Under the Smarting Rod:
Oh! labor every day to be more humble and more low and little in your own eyes. 'Who am I,' says the humble soul—'but that God should cross me in this mercy, and take away that mercy, and pass a sentence of death upon every mercy? I am not worthy of the least mercy, I deserve not a crumb of mercy, I have forfeited every mercy.'
Only by pride comes contention. It is only pride that puts men upon contending with God and men. A humble soul will lie quiet at the foot of God, it will be contented with bare necessities. A dinner of green herbs relishes well with the humble man's palate; whereas a stalled ox is but a coarse dish to a proud man's stomach. A humble heart thinks none less than himself, nor none worse than himself. A humble heart looks upon small mercies as great
mercies; and great afflictions as small afflictions; and small afflictions as no afflictions; and therefore sits mute and quiet under all. Do but keep humble, and you will keep silent before the Lord.
Pride kicks, and flings, and frets; but a humble man has still his hand upon his mouth. Everything on this side of hell is mercy—much mercy, rich mercy to a humble soul; and therefore he remains mute under the smarting rod.
mercies; and great afflictions as small afflictions; and small afflictions as no afflictions; and therefore sits mute and quiet under all. Do but keep humble, and you will keep silent before the Lord.
Pride kicks, and flings, and frets; but a humble man has still his hand upon his mouth. Everything on this side of hell is mercy—much mercy, rich mercy to a humble soul; and therefore he remains mute under the smarting rod.
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