You Have Been Long A-Gathering Rust
Thomas Brooks emphasizes that personal afflictions are often a necessary part of God's discipline to purify and humble our hearts.
Thomas Brooks emphasizes that our afflictions may be greater than others due to our own sins and the hardness of our hearts. He argues that if we have received more light, love, and mercy, we have more reason to be silent rather than to murmur against God. Brooks explains that God, as a wise physician, administers stronger remedies for those whose hearts are more stubborn or impure, and thus, we should not complain about our trials. He reminds us that afflictions serve a purpose in breaking and humbling us, ultimately leading to our spiritual growth. The sermon concludes with the assurance that God's discipline is a sign of His love for us.
Text
Oh! but my afflictions are greater than other
men's afflictions are! Oh! there is no affliction
like my affliction! How can I not murmur?
It may be your sins are greater than other men's
sins. If you have sinned against . . .
more light,
more love,
more mercies,
more promises,
than others--no wonder if your afflictions are
greater than others! If this be your case, you
have more cause to be mute than to murmur!
It may be that the Lord sees that it is very needful
that your afflictions should be greater than others.
It may be your heart is harder than other men's
hearts, and prouder and stouter than other men's
hearts, it may be your heart is more impure than
others, and more carnal than others, or else more
selfish and more worldly than others, or else more
deceitful and more hypocritical than others, or
else more cold and careless than others, or more
formal and lukewarm than others.
Now, if this is your case, certainly God sees
it very necessary, for . . .
the breaking of your hard heart, and
the humbling of your proud heart, and
the cleansing of your foul heart, and
the spiritualizing of your carnal heart, etc.,
that your afflictions should be greater than
others; and therefore do not murmur!
Where the disease is strong, the remedy must
be strong--else the cure will never be wrought!
God is a wise physician, and He would never
give strong medicine--if a weaker one could
effect the cure!
The more rusty the NAIL is, the oftener we put it
into the fire to purify it; and the more crooked it
is, the more blows and the harder blows we give
to straighten it.
You have been long a-gathering rust; and
therefore, if God deal thus with you, you have
no cause to complain.
"For the Lord disciplines the one He loves, and
punishes every son whom He receives." Heb. 12:6
Sermon Outline
- I points: - Understanding Personal Afflictions - Comparative Suffering - The Nature of Sin
- II points: - God's Purpose in Affliction - The Need for Humility - The Role of the Heart
- III points: - The Strength of the Remedy - God as the Wise Physician - The Process of Purification
- IV points: - The Consequences of Rust - The Importance of Discipline - Trusting God's Plan
Key Quotes
“Where the disease is strong, the remedy must be strong--else the cure will never be wrought!” — Thomas Brooks
“The more rusty the NAIL is, the oftener we put it into the fire to purify it.” — Thomas Brooks
“For the Lord disciplines the one He loves, and punishes every son whom He receives.” — Thomas Brooks
Application Points
- Reflect on your own heart and consider how God might be using your afflictions for your growth.
- Embrace the discipline of God as a sign of His love and care for you.
- Trust that the process of purification, though painful, is essential for your spiritual health.