God would not rub so hard – Thomas Brooks

“I will turn My hand against you and will burn away your dross completely; I will remove all your impurities.” Isaiah 1:25

Afflictions cleanse and purge away the dross, the filth, and the scum of the Christian.

All the harm the fire did to the three children, or rather the three champions was to burn off their cords. Our lusts are cords of vanity, but the fire of affliction shall burn them up. Sharp afflictions are a fire to purge out our dross, and to make our graces shine; they are a potion to carry away ill humours; they are cold frosts to destroy the vermin; they are a tempestuous sea to purge the wine from its dregs; they are a sharp corrosive to eat out the dead flesh.

Afflictions are compared to washing which takes away the filth of the soul, as water does the filth of the body. God would not rub so hard, were it not to fetch out the dirt and spots that are in His people’s hearts.