The sharpest dealings of God with you – Thomas Brooks

“Why should any living man complain when punished for his sins?” Lamentations 3:39

To move you to silence under your sorest and your sharpest trials, consider, that you have deserved greater and heavier afflictions than those you are under.

Has God taken away one mercy? You have deserved to be stripped of all.

Has he taken away the delight of your eyes? He might have taken away the delight of your soul.

Are you under outward wants? You have deserved to be under outward and inward wants together.

Are you cast upon a sick bed? You have deserved a bed in hell.

Are you under that ache and that pain? You have deserved to be under all aches and pains at once.

Has God chastised you with whips? You have deserved to be chastised with scorpions. 1 Kings 12:14.

Have you fallen from the highest pinnacle of honor to be the scorn and contempt of men? You have deserved to be scorned and condemned by God and angels.

Are you under a severe whipping? You have deserved an utter damning.

Ah Christian! let but your eyes be fixed upon your demerits and your hands will be quickly upon your mouths! Whatever is less than a final separation from God, whatever is less than hell is mercy! Therefore  you have cause to be silent under the sharpest dealings of God with you.