AFFLICTION MAKES SIN MORE SINFUL

“The rainbow can only be seen painted against the backdrop of clouds” Charles Spurgeon (ref#34, Aug 12^th PM).

“Before I was afflicted I went astray” (Ps 119:67 ESV).

“Think of your sufferings as a weaning from that old sinful habit of always expecting to get your own way” (1 Pet 4:1-2 MSG).

“Oh, how often does the season of trial detect the secret state of our souls! We are not aware of our impaired strength, of our weak faith, of our powerless grace; of how feeble our hold on Christ is; of how legalistic our views of the gospel are; of how clouded our minds may be; of how partial our acquaintance with God is, until we are led into the path of trouble” Octavius Winslow (ref#135, Jan 25^th).

“God is testing [the children of man] that they may see that they themselves are but beasts” (Eccl 3:18 ESV).

“What hard, knotty timber must we be, that the Lord hath to hack us so much, in order to render us plain and smooth” John Brown of Haddington (ref#333, p289).