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Dear Sir,
It gave me pleasure to hear from you, but I am sensibly touched with grief for your ill state of health. May the Lord support you under the trial, increase your graces in the furnace, and bring you thence with advantage.
It is our unspeakable privilegethat in all our afflictions our dear Lord Jesus is afflicted. Our best Friend, our sympathizing Friend at God's right handhas an inexpressible fellow-feeling with us in all our miseries of soul and body. When His members on earth are sick, the Head in heaven accounts the sickness His own"I was sick." What wondrous grace is this! It is a bright displayof the Savior's goodnessof His tender mercyof His love which passes knowledge. We have in the love of Christ a sweet soft bosom to rest our weary headsan open ear to all our requestsa flowing heart to relieve us in straitsand an almighty hand to supply all our needs. No indulgent fatherno compassionate mothernor countless numbers of them, were all their affections united in one person, has or could have a thousandth part of that sympathy with a beloved child, when sickwhich Jesus has with us, His sick children. Yes, with usthough rebellious children. For we are unto Him dear, ineffably dear childrenfrom an infinity of tender mercyfrom an all-endearing lovethat has in it neither bottom, bound, nor end!
And what a joy in grief may it be to us, that all our afflictionsfor kind and degreeare measured out to us and continued upon us, by our infinite Lover's hand! Wise is our compassionate Father's loveand His medicine, to promote our health, when He sees it best for us Himself will give unto us. Not an ingredient in our bitterest potion, but is put into it by wise loveto make it just fit to work for our salvation.
Our Father, as our physician, not only prepares and gives our medicinebut His own hand also has the whole direction of its operation, to answer effectually all His wise and gracious ends designed thereby.
And as He who afflicts us is afflicted with usmeasures our afflictions to usand over-rules them for usso His love-sympathy with us in the best time and way will bring all salvation to us. He will say of us, "Is Ephraim my dear son, is he a pleasant child? For since I spoke against him I do earnestly remember him still, therefore my affections are troubled of him; I will surely have mercy upon him."
Be free then, dear Sir, with the bosom of your heavenly Father; you shall be no more bold than welcome. The grace of your sympathizing Lord is boundless! You can never come too often to His bosom, which is always openyes, the oftener you there flee the more welcome shall you be! Jesus loves you as His own, and will embrace you in love unknown! His sympathy with you in sorrow shall give you joyHis supports under pressures make heaviest burdens lightHis management of your crosses bring greatest advantagesand His gracious designs gloriously ends in your salvationby a light and momentary affliction, unto a weight of glory of eternal duration.
Great grace be with you.
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