God chastens His people that He may delight in them, and that they may delight in Him. He embitters the breast of the world to wean them from it. He suffers them not to settle upon it and fall into complacency with it, but makes it unpleasant to them by many and sharp afflictions, that they may with the more willingness come off and be untied from it, and that they may remember their true home the more, and seek their comforts above; that finding so little below they may turn unto Him, and delight themselves in communion with Him. That the sweet incense of their prayers may ascend the more abundantly, He kindles fires of trials to them. For though it should not be so, yet so it is, that in times of ease they easily grow remiss and formal in that duty.

God is gracious and wise; He knows what He doth with them, and the "thoughts that He thinks towards them" (Jer. 29:11). It all is for their advantage, for the purifying them from their iniquities. (See Heb. 11:6-11.) He purges out their impatience, their earthliness, their self-will and carnal security; and thus refines them for vessels unto honor.

In a jeweler's shop we see that as there are pearls, and diamonds, and other precious stones, so there are files, cutting instruments-many sharp tools for their polishing; and while they are in the work-house, they are continual neighbors to them, and often come under them. The Church is God's jewelry, His work-house, where His jewels are a-polishing for His palace and dwelling; and those He especially esteems and means to make most resplendent, He hath oftenest His tools upon.