Remarks on the Uses of Chastisement [pp. 342-357]

The Uses of Chastisement.
6. Finally. Chastisement is useful, because it leads the
believer to look for complete happiness in Heaven only.
And at this stage of our reflections, let us rejoice, dear
brethren, that the consolation offered is liable to no exception or abatement; it is adapted to every case; perfect and entire. If the comfort which you need depended upon the hope
of deliverance in this world, there would be many cases which
we should be forced to leave as hopeless: for there are many in
which no expectation of exemption in this life can be indulged.
But let the worst, most lingering, and most aggravated( instance
of suffering be presented, and the hope of heaven is still sufficient to mitigate its ills. You may have been reduced to
hopeless poverty; you may have suffered from the treachery
and ingratitude of sutpposed friends, from crtlel mockings and
persevering calumny; you may labour under incutrab)ledisease,
or follow to the grave beloved objects of your affections, who
can never be replaced in this world. Still, there is a country, and you are rapidly approaching it, " where the wicked
cease from troubling and the weary are at rest." It is well if
you have learned to look beyond all secondary, earthly, imperfect comforts, to God, the source of good, and to that world
where all tears are wiped away. It is well if the trial of
your faith has enabled you to say "I know in whom I have
believed, and that he is able to keep that which I have committed to him against that day."
This is a benefit of affliction, which is striking and great in
proportion to the failure of earthly consolation. For it may
be doubted, whether any man fully yields himself up to the
view and prelibation of heaven, until he is disentangled and
rent away from all hope of blessedness on this side the grave.
It is natural to seek resting-places by the way; and trials,
losses, sufferings, bereavemients, are thrice blessed when they
engrave upon our hearts that we have here no continuing
city, but must seek one above. So long as we can flatter ourselves with any refuge in this world, we are prone to lean on
an arm of flesh, and to look upwards only for the supply of
what is deficient here. But let all expectation of worldly
peace and satisfaction be cut off, and the released soul, which
is truly sanctified, and full of faith, rises, like a bird from
the snare, and rejoices to say "Moly soul, wait thou only
upon God, for my expectation is from him. Then shall
I be satisfied when I awake in thy likeness!" Think not,
however, to enjoy this fruit of chastisement, while you cast
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