The Benefits of Affliction

It is good for me that I have been afflicted.— Psa. cxix. 71.

" Man is born unto trouble as the sparks fly upward." Manifold are the afflictions incident to humanity; and from these the pious are not exempt. " Many are the afflictions of the righteous.,, Christ said to his disciples, " In the world ye shall have tribulation. " The rich spiritual blessings to which believers have become heirs, are consistent with much suffering; yea, the afflictions of the righteous are a part of their heritage. They are necessary, as a means, to their greatest improvement and happiness. Therefore, it is written, " Blessed is the man whom thou chastenest." "Behold, I have refined thee, but not with silver. I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction. "

Let us, then, inquire what are the benefits which may be derived from affliction.

1. Afflictions have often been made the means of bringing careless and impenitent sinners to.serious consideration, which leads them to repent- ance. and a thorough reformation of life. This effect is produced by cutting off the person from his sinful indulgences. A spell of sickness, or a sore bereavement, interrupts the man in his course of worldly pursuits. It has a tendency to show him the unsubstantial nature of all earthly possessions and enjoyments. Under the pressure of affliction, he feels his dependence. Pain urges him to seek relief; but human help is vain. When sorely distressed he begins to cry unto God. Multitudes now in heaven can say, " It is good for me that I was afflicted; for before I was afflicted, I went* astray." We know, indeed, that affliction, like other means of grace, does not of itself produce any beneficial effect on those who are the subjects of it. It requires the influence ot the Holy Spirit to render it effectual to the coimctiuL and conversion of sinners. But its tendency is to lead to serious reflection and to a change of life; and often, we believe, the Spirit of God does accompany his chastening rod, so that it is made the means of bringing men and women, not only to consideration, but to a repentance not to be repented of. One instance from Scripture is that of Manasseh. The case is very remarkable on two accounts; first, because he was one of the greatest sinners who ever lived; and secondly, he was an old man, when his conversion took place. The history of this event is found in 2 Chron. xxxiii. 12, 13; "Wherefore the Lord brought upon them the captains of the host of the king of Assyria, who took Manasseh among the thorns, and bound him with fetters, and carried him to Babylon. And when he was in affliction, he besought the Lord his God, and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers, and prayed unto him; and he was entreated of him, and heard his supplication, and brought him again to Jerusalem, into his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the Lord was God."

2. Afflictions are made eminently beneficial to the pious, by preventing them from fixing their affections unduly on earthly things. There is in all minds too strong a tendency to the things which are present and visible. These worldly objects become a snare to many, and by the too ardent pursuit of riches or honours, they become involved in many embarrassments, and often pierce themselves through with many sorrows. A season of sore affliction, by preventing an inordinate attachment to the world, may be a real blessing. Or, when the affections are already placed too strongly on any earthly object, it is often the method of Providence to remove that object. Even the dearest earthly relatives may become snares to the soul of the pilgrim. Children may be too much loved, in comparison of our Saviour, and if they are snatched away from the tender embrace of their parents, the discipline, though painful, is often salutary, and even necessary. When God thus disciplines his children, he causes them' to see why he thus afflicts them; and commonly, they are enabled, after a while, to say, "It was good for me, that I was afflicted." For, although " no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous; yet afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them who are exercised thereby."

3. As affliction is often employed to prevent the saints from wandering; so, also, it is the usual method by which backsliders are reclaimed. When Christians have considerably declined from the lively exercises of religion, they are but little affected by the warnings of the word. It is to them like a tale often told. They are asleep, and have only a dreamy notion of the realities of eternity. From this sleep of carnal security into which even the pious are liable to fall, they are commonly awakened by the application of the rod. Some severe dispensation of Providence overtakes them, and they are brought to a stand. Serious reflection is, as it were, forced upon them, and their eyes are opened to see how far they have wandered from the right path. By affliction the heart is softened, and the truths of the word now sink deep into the inmost soul. Deep contrition is produced, the soul lies humbled in the dust, under the chastising strokes of its Father in heaven. It mourns in bitterness over its folly and unfaithfulness, and writes bitter things against itself; scarcely believing that God can be reconciled to such an ungrateful wretch. And when he speaks in the language of loving-kindness, Return unto me, ye backsliding children, and I will heal your backslidings; take unto you words and return unto the Lord; say unto him, Take away all iniquity, heal our backslidings and love us freely, and let thine anger be turned away from us, the forgiving mercy of the Lord appears even more wonderful in receiving the backslider on his return, than in his first conversion. At length convinced of the loving- kindness and tender mercy of the Lord, the penitent backslider responds to the kind invitation of the Lord, " Come, let us return unto the Lord; for he hath torn and he will heal us; he Lath smitten, and he will bind us up."

4. Affliction serves as a furnace to purge out the dross which still lurks in the regenerate heart. Just as the precious metals are separated from their dross, by being cast into the furnace heated seven times; so the people of God are purified as by fire. But the furnace not only serves to purge out the dross, but to test the genuineness of the metal. Not every thing which glistens is gold, says the proverb. The ore must be tried in the fire, and if it contain pure gold, while the dross is consumed, the precious metal will shine forth brightly. Thus afflictions also answer the purpose of a test of the genuineness of our piety. If there be. nothing in us that will stand the fire, then we may be certain that our religion is no better than a counterfeit. The apostle Peter makes a striking use of this similitude, when he says, " That the trial of your faith being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory, at the appearing1 of Jesus Christ."

Affliction not only serves as a test to try the genuineness of our religion, but affords an opportunity of exercising some of the most excellent graces of the pious heart. Faith, before it is tried, cannot certainly be known to be faith; but when the dark cloud of adversity lowers over the sou), faith, when it has existence in the soul, comes forth with vigour, and supports the soul ready to sink, by laying hold of the promises of God. Submission to the will of God has also an opportunity of being manifested. It is easy to say, " Thy will be done," while we bask in the sunshine of prosperity; but when the pressure of affliction is sorely felt, there will be at first a struggle. Self-love makes us restive, and endeavours to throw off the burden; but where there is a principle of piety, the soul after a short conflict bows in submission, and its language is, " It is the Lord, let him do what seemeth him good." Though a spirit of rebellion was felt, it is subdued, and the soul quietly acquiesces in the divine appointment. It even kisses the rod by wThich it is smitten, saying, " It is good for me that I have been afflicted." And even when it does not see the good to be derived from some bereaving dispensation; like Aaron, when his two oldest sons were smitten dead before his face, held his peace; so the believer is still, knowing from whom the stroke has proceeded.

Patience is another excellent Christian virtue which has no room for exercise, except in a state of suffering. This grace is often and strongly inculcated in the Holy Scriptures; and its exercise tends to exhibit to all observers, the excellency of true religion. The saints never glorify God more, in any circumstances, than when they let patience have its perfect work, while they are suffering in the furnace of affliction. Paul gloried in tribulation, because it wrought patience. "In you! patience," says Christ, " possess ye your souls." And Paul exhorts to be " patient in tribulation."

"Be patient," says James, "unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain. Be ye also patient."

Affliction being in its nature painful is the opposite of joy, and might seem, at first view, to be inconsistent with this state of mind. But while we suffer tribulation we may rejoice. Paul says, 11 1 glory in tribulation, for tribulation worketh patience, and patience experience, and experience hope, and hope maketh not ashamed, because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost." Now that heart in which the love of God is shed abroad must be full of joy; and this experience is had in the midst of tribulations. We are commanded to rejoice always, and therefore, we are bound to rejoice in the midst of affliction. Internal peace is often most perfect, when the person is under the pressure of external affliction. The experience of real Christians testifies, that their seasons of richest spiritual enjoyment, are not their days of external prosperity; but the dark and cloudy day of adversity. Indeed, in order to be a proper recipient of spiritual peace, it seems necessary that the heart should be reduced from that state of hardness or indifference which prosperity naturally induces, to a state of sensibility; which effect is often the result of affliction. The joy of the Lord requires a heart deeply sensible of its own weakness and un worthiness, which state of mind, in the truly pious, is produced by having it pierced and wounded, by the shafts of adversity.

One effect of affliction on most men is, that it urges them to seek God, that they may obtain his help. Even the ungodly will often pray earnestly for deliverance from a painful affliction; but in the case of the sincerely pious, this effect of affliction is seldom wanting. Such pray in prosperity, but often their prayers become formal, and their souls are not stirred up from the bottom, and do not go forth in warm desires; but the rod arouses the soul from its apathy, and stimulates it to call upon God with fervent cries and supplications. The spirit of prayer which is excited by adversity, is not merely for deliverance from the pressure of the particular affliction under which it now labours; but by this means, it is brought to a lively feeling of its own sinfulness, and its urgent need of stronger faith, and more perfect patience and submission. It is led to inquire into the reason why it is thus afflicted. It searches for LiJden and neglected sins, and can commonly see reason enough for the severity of the divine dispensations; and often can trace the affliction to some particular transgression, or the neglect of some particular duty.

Affliction often opens up to a person's view, a depth of iniquity not before perceived. And thus it serves to humble the soul in deep penitence, which is the very temper suited to prayer. " The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and a contrite heart, O Lord, thou wilt not despise.,, Affliction not only is a powerful means of promoting the knowledge of our own hearts, and of the depth of iniquity which lodges within them; but it furnishes an opportunity for a more experimental knowledge of the wisdom, faithfulness, and mercy of God in his treatment of his children. He brings them into deep waters, that he may manifest the truth of his promises, " which are all yea and amen in Christ Jesus." Man's extremity is God's opportunity, saith the proverb. When hope is nearly extinct, and the distressed soul is sinking as in miry clay, where there is no standing, help from God is experienced. It is delayed, for the purpose of letting the person try his own wisdom and strength to obtain relief, but when all other resources fail, then God is pleased to speak comfortably to the troubled heart. He, as it wrere, takes him by the hand, and extricates Lim from the horrible pit and miry clay, sets bim upon a rock, establishes his goings, and puts a new song into his mouth, even of praise to God, for delivering mercy. Knowledge of the faithfulness and loving-kindness of our heavenly Father, thus obtained, is far more valuable than the mere theory respecting these truths, without experience. An eminent theologian, on his death-bed, said to those around him, " I have learned more of God in these few days that I have been confined to this bed of sickness, than I ever knew before, with all my laborious study."

Affliction is not always of the nature of chastisement. It is sometimes for trial, and to give a manifestation of the power of faith, to endure with patience the burden which may be laid upon it. Thus, in the case of Job, his overwhelming calamities were sent for the trial of his sincerity and faith. And so, in the case of Abraham, when required to offer up his beloved son Isaac. And we have no right to infer, as the friends of Job did, that, when God sends grievous affliction on any person, it is an evidence that he is a great sinner.

Afflictions — which may seem severe — are often the means of preventing much greater evils. The negative benefits which arise from various means of grace, are incapable of being fully appreciated by us. Yet we may know, by serious reflection on our own experience, that when we have been gradually approaching some dangerous temptation, which would in all probability have overcome and ruined us, Providence has interposed, and prevented the fall, by laying us on a bed of sickness; or by some sore bereavement has broken the snare in which we were entangled, and has opened our eyes to see the danger to which we were exposed. Not only may affliction be the means of preventing the believer's fall into sin, but one affliction may be the occasion of warding off another of much greater magnitude. How often such deliverances occur no mortal can tell, because we cannot know what would have occurred on certain conditions which never took place. God only knows how much we are all indebted to our afflictions for our escape from awful crimes or overwhelming calamities. The children of God would undoubtedly apostatize, were it not for the restraints laid upon them by the external dispensations of his providence, and by the internal operations of his grace.

Once more, afflictions are made use of, in many cases, to prepare the saints for heaven, by causing them to desire rest from their protracted sufferings. Our affections are naturally attached to earthly objects, which are present to our senses; and although grace changes the current of our thoughts, yet still their exists an undue attachment to the objects of sense. Here we have a home, to which we have been long habituated; and every object around us, by association, is prized above its real value. Besides, we are surrounded by dear relatives, with whom we are naturally unwilling to part; a feeble, helpless wife, it may be, and young, dependent children. These also may, as we suppose, need our assistance, and we cannot see how they can be provided for, and rendered comfortable, if we should be taken away from them. We naturally ask, What will become of them? Who will take care of them, when we are gone? In addition, the future is covered with darkness. We cannot comprehend how we shall exist, with what objects and persons we shall be conversant, and what our emotions will be in that untried state. A strong faith will, indeed, counteract these earthly influences; but such a faith is aided by afflictions which show us the emptiness of all worldly possessions and enjoyments; and. under the pressure of long continued disease, the desire of deliverance and rest, becomes strong enough to counteract our attachment to earth, and to make us willing to leave friends and possessions, that we may be free from the pains which we endure.

Some Christians have been distressed because they have been so little afflicted; fearing lest they were not the children of God, as the Scripture says, all sons receive chastisement. Let such not be troubled on this account, for their time of adversity may not have yet arrived. Some families, for many years, appear exempt from the strokes of adversity; numerous children grow up in health, and there is no breach among them. But this cannot last. The longer adversity is in coming, the broader is the mark for its arrows. These children, however healthy for a season, will sicken and die. Be not impatient for affliction, it will come soon enough.

It has already been remarked that there are internal afflictions, which fill the soul with unspeakable anguish, when no external cause exists. These are often among the severest afflictions, and are as real as those which are the effect of external afflictive dispensations.

The use which I would make of what has been said is, to exhort the sons and daughters of affliction, 1. To recognize the hand of God in every affliction. Look not to second causes — look not to the persons who may have been the instruments of your sufferings. If the wicked have reviled and slandered you, follow the example of David, and say, " The Lord hath bidden them," that is, the Lord has permitted this affliction for your chastisement.

2. Never murmur at the dealings of divine Providence. Nothing can befall you without the ordering of God. Repine not, therefore, at what he does, for however dark the dispensation, wisdom and mercy guide the stroke. Say then, " I know that in faithfulness, thou hast afflicted me."

3. Try to improve your afflictions by exercising patience and submission. God has a sovereign right to dispose of you and yours. Rebel not against him. He has promised that all these things shall work together for your good. More, he has declared that these light afflictions, which are but for a moment, work out for as a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.

4. Consider that this is not your state of rest; that is to come. Here you are subjected to various trials, but when you have suffered a while, you shall have an abundant entrance administered to you, into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.