All things for good by Watson (Available from Amazon or free here) - Conclude Chapter 2 (The worst things work for good to the godly) by reading Points 3 and 4.
Firstly, this week, Watson explains how the evil of God's desertion works for good to the godly. Desertion of God:
(i) cures the soul of sloth;
(ii) cures inordinate affection to the world;
(iii) makes the saints prize God's countenance more than ever;
(iv) embitters sin to us;
(v) sets the soul a weeping for the loss of God;
(vi) sets the soul a seeking after God;
(vii) puts the Christian upon enquiry;
(viii) gives us a sight of what Jesus Christ suffered for us;
(ix) prepares the saints for future comfort;
(x) makes heaven sweeter to us.
Secondly, this week, Watson teaches us how the evil of sin works for good to the godly. We learn that:
(i) the sins of others are overrruled for good to the godly;
(ii) a sense of our own sinfulness is overruled for the good of the godly.
I appreciated Watson's warning that although sin works for our good, we are not to abuse such a truth: 'But let none ABUSE this doctrine. I do not say that sin works for good to an impenitent person. No, it works for his damnation, but it works for good to them that love God; and for you that are godly, I know you will NOT draw a wrong conclusion from this, either to make light of sin, or to make bold with sin. If you should do so, God will make it cost you dear. Remember David. He ventured presumptuously on sin, and what did he get? He lost his peace, he felt the terrors of the Almighty in his soul, though he had all helps to cheerfulness. He was a king; he had skill in music; yet nothing could administer comfort to him; he complains of his "broken bones" (Psalm li. 8). And though he did at last come out of that dark cloud, yet some divines are of opinion that he never recovered his full joy to his dying day. If any of God’s people should be tampering with sin, because God can turn it to good; though the Lord does not damn them, He may send them to hell in this life. He may put them into such bitter agonies and soul-convulsions, as may fill them full of horror, and make them draw nigh to despair. Let this be a flaming sword to keep them from coming near the forbidden tree.'
Despite God's merciful use of sin for our good, sin is always to be loathed and never embraced,
Next week's reading
Read Chapter 3 (Why all things work for good to the godly).
Now it's your turn
Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.
No comments:
Post a Comment