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Accepting Adversity as well as Prosperity
In short, knowing that whatever may happen is ordained by the Lord, he will receive it with a peaceful and thankful heart, that he may not be guilty of proudly resisting the rule of him to whom he has once committed himself and all his belongings.
Far be it from the heart of a Christian to accept the foolish and wretched consolation of the heathen philosophers who tried to harden themselves against adversity by blaming Fortune, or Fate for it.
They thought it was foolish to be displeased with our lot, because there is a blind and cruel power in the world which deals blows to everyone, worthy and unworthy.
But the principle of true devotion is that God alone is the Guide and Ruler of all prosperity and adversity, and that he is never in undue haste, but distributes all good and evil with the most equal justice. [Psalm 79:13]
Posted by Deejay May29, 2008@23:41
Growing in adversity
If we shall be afflicted with illness, he will not be broken down with bitterness and give way to impatience and complain against God, but he will consider the justice and goodness of his Eternal Father and growin patience while he is being chastened and corrected.
Posted by Deejay May21, 2008@22:55
Faithfulness in adversity
But a faithful believer will in all circumstances meditate on the mercy and fatherly goodness of God.
If he sees his relatives taken away from him and his home made lonesome, he must not cease to bless the Lord, and he had rather consider that the grace of God, which dwells in his home, will not leave it desolate.
Or, if he sees his grain fields and vineyards, destroyed by frost or hail, and famine threatening him, he will not become discouraged and disastisfied, but he will persist in this firm confidence: we are under the guardian care of our God, we are 'the sheep of his pasture' and therefore, he will supply us with the food we need. [John Calvin]
Posted by Deejay May16, 2008@22:15
God is just in all his ways even in the worst of times.
How necessary it is to train ourselves this way will become clear if we consider the numerous accidents to which we are exposed.
Diseases of all kinds come upon us, the one after the other: now the pestilence engulfs us, now the disasters of war are harassing us.
At another time frost or hail devours our crops, and we are threatened by scarcity and poverty.
Sometimes our dearest ones--husband, wife, parents, children and other relatives--are snatched away by death, or our home is consumed by fire.
On account of such events people will curse their life and the day of their birth; they will blame the sun and the stars, and even reproach and blaspheme God as if he were cruel and unjust. [John Calvin]
Posted by Deejay May11, 2008@18:35
The Lord Just in all His ways
This is not only the case in which God-fearing people should be quiet and patient, for they ought to try to live that way in all circumstances in life.
No one has rightly denied himself unless he has wholly resigned himself to the Lord and is willing to leave every detail to his good pleasure. If we put ourselves, in such a frame of mind, then, whatever may happen to us, we shall never feel miserable or accuse God falsely beause of our lot.
Posted by Deejay May 9, 2008@15:02
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