The consolation of believers',

Back to John Flavel's "The Method of Grace"

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"As many as I love I rebuke and chasten." Revelation 3:19

Are outward afflictions the ground of dejection and trouble? 
How do our hearts fail and our spirits sink, under the many 
smarting rods of God upon us! But our relief and consolation 
under them all is in Christ Jesus; for the rod that afflicts us 
is in the hand of Christ who loves us! His design in affliction 
is our profit. Hebrews 12:10. That design of His for our good 
shall certainly be accomplished—and after that no more 
afflictions forever! "God shall wipe away all tears from 
their eyes." Revel. 21:3. Thus two things are most evident: 

1. Nothing can comfort the soul without Christ. He is the soul 
that animates all comforts; they would be dead without him. 
Temporal enjoyments, riches, honours, health, relations, yield 
not a drop of true comfort without Christ. Spiritual enjoyments, 
ministers, ordinances, promises, are fountains sealed and springs 
shut up until Christ opens them; a man may go comfort-less in
the midst of them all. 

2. No troubles or afflictions can deject the soul which Christ 
comforts. "As sorrowful, yet always rejoicing." 2 Cor. 6:10. 
A believer may walk with a heart full of comfort amidst all the 
troubles of the world. So that the conclusion stands firm—that 
Christ, and Christ only, is the consolation of believers.