The more bitter the cup of discipline, the more reason for our thankfulness. If we be not thankful, let us give God no rest, nor ourselves, until He make us so. Correction despised brings sharper correction. When God visits us with certain special discipline, it is our wisdom to accept the cup and drink it cheerfully, however bitter, for health is in it. Let us have no reserves of conscience. When God gives us light, let us follow it whithersoever it may lead; for, while God has no judgments of curse for His children, He has judgments of displeasure of love because of disobedience. Be more desirous of inward help and deliverance, than the removal of God's hand, when He lays affliction upon you. Impatience under God's corrections only shows our need of the discipline He is pleased to visit us with. We can least bear correction when we most need it. One of the evil fruits of long-continued spiritual negligence, is the soul's ignorance of its own state. How often, under discipline, are the children of God struggling amidst the thickets and briers of circumstances, instead of judging the state of their hearts! This lack of pondering their ways, prevents their seeing the equity of God's dealings with them. Discipline Wherefore all the discipline with which Job was exercised? He could say in truth, "I know that my Redeemer liveth" (Job 19:25). As God's witness there was none like him in all the earth. He walked in uprightness, humility, patience, and wisdom; a perfect and upright man, fearing God and eschewing evil. Why then his afflictions and humiliations, before unheard-of among the saints? There was the flesh in Job; and the sifting discipline went on, until Job had learnt so to know both God and himself as to abhor himself, and justify God. I seek to keep short accounts with God: this saves not only much trouble and time, but also much sharp discipline. "A reproof entereth more into a wise man than an hundred stripes into a fool." (Prov. 17:10.) It is indeed rare, when judgments come upon men, that those judgments yield their due profit. Those who walk with a tender spirit before God profit more by a word or gentle rebuke of His love, that none but themselves know of, than do others, who are careless walkers, by heavy judgments. If, however, great afflictions come, the heart being prepared, the end will be the double blessing. (Job 42) The cry of "Abba, Father!" in the time of trouble, is often a sign of quick deliverance. When we kiss the hand that smites, the rod drops. Is it not to resist the will of God when we flee from those trials which He sends to prove our faith? As children we may ask for understanding of our Father's will; but it belongs not to us to think for Him.