Puritan Wisdom

"Afflictions are far from being signs of Christ's hatred. Many times they are evidence of his love (Heb. 12:6-11). The people of God only lack what is bad for them. God has promised to withhold no good thing. A father who loves his child only keeps things from him for his good, because he loves him. You can conclude that if you lack something of enjoyment, it is withheld. Since it is not best for you. It is no defect in the love of Christ, the defect in what you are asking for. Gods love is infinite and eternal, without beginning and without end. It has no limits to its endurance. How shall we enter into Christ's love? Seek to be like him in holiness and obey all his commands. Avoid all the Christ hates and have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness. When Christ speaks, do not act as if you did not hear. Where there is disobedience, there is a covenant with Hell and the league with Satan. Oh what madness it is to prefer a lust before the love of Christ. Use all means to know his will, and obey it immediately and cheerfully. God loves a cheerful doer" – David Clarkson, in Voices From the Past, 77.