THOMAS MANTON (1620-1677)
The afflictions he brings on his
people come from love: “For whom the Lord love, he chasteneth, and scourgeth
every son whom he recieiveth” (Hebrew 12:6) “As many as I love, I rebuke and
chasten” (Rev 3:19). It is good to see whence our evil cometh. Afflictions upon
God’s own children mostly come from God’s paternal love, out of mere love, for
the increase and trial of grace. God may punish others, but he chasteneth none
but sons.
That is an affect of his fatherly love, or else from mere anger, “an
evil, an only evil.” (Ezek 7:5) In a design of vengeance, God does not fan or
purge but destroys. So, upon the reprobate, all their troubles are the beginning
of sorrow, the suburbs of hell. Or else from anger mixed with love, or fatherly
displeasure; as the corrections that follow sin. David’s child was taken away
(2 Sam 12:10-12). Anger beginneth but love tempereth the dispensation. Or else
from love mixed with anger: as Job out of love was put upon trial, that his
patience and faith maybe manifested. But Job mingleth his own corruption, and
his murmurings, and then God puts in a measure of anger, and speaketh to him
out of the whirlwind.
The Life of Faith–Thomas Manton
No comments:
Post a Comment