A lifting up for the downcast - Bridge - X - Sermon 10

Required reading
A lifting up for the downcast by William Bridge (Available from Amazon or free here) - Read Sermon X (A lifting up in case of affliction).

My summary
Today we read Bridges' tenth sermon on Psalm 42:11.

In this sermon Bridges teaches us that sometimes the discouragements of the saints are drawn from their outward afflictions and relations.

Yet Bridges suggests there is no need for discouragement because the afflictions:
(i) are part of Christ's purchase for you;
(ii) are the gift of God;
(iii) are but seeming evils;
(iv) come from divine love;
(v) come with much supporting grace;
(vi) benefit you.

Next Bridges answers possible objections the readers might have as to why their particular affliction is a good reason for discouragement.

Then Bridges encourages you to:
(i) remember much your fellowship with Christ in his sufferings;
(ii) labour more and more to be strangers to the world and to be acquainted with the ways of God under affliction;
(iii) consider what Christ hath borne and left you to bear;
(iv) consider what abundance of good you and others get by your afflictions.

What grabbed me
Wise advice: 'Whenever any affliction comes, do not stand poring on the evil of it, but be sure that you look as well and as much upon what is with you, as upon what is against you: there is no mercy which you can lose, but hath some burden with it: there is no misery that can befal you, but hath some mercy with it.  When men lose a mercy, they only consider the sweetness of a mercy lost, and not the burden that they do lose withal.'

Mercies do come with burdens and when they are removed the burdens associated with them are removed. 

The classic example being money.  If you don't have it, greed can be significantly diminished.

Next week's reading
Read Sermon XI (A lifting up in case of unserviceableness).

Now it's your turn
Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.