There is divine wisdom in every trial--and divine love in every cross!

  ~  ~  ~  ~  ~

(James    Smith, "The Love of Christ! The Fullness, Freeness, and  Immutability of the Savior's Grace Displayed!")

Jesus is infinitely wise and immutably holy--therefore  His love is a wise and holy love. He wisely manifests  His love, so as to . . .

  discountenance sin,

  encourage holiness, and

  further His people in their heavenly way and work. He . .  .

visits in trials,

reproves for folly,

smites for sin, and

withholds the light of His countenance, to testify His  disapprobation of our ways--and yet, all this is in love!

He will not caress the believer--when he is indulging  in pride, worldliness, and backsliding from Him. Those whom He  loves--He wisely corrects! He never spares the rod--to the  spoiling of the child--but says, "I will correct you in  measure--but will not leave you wholly unpunished."

His wisdom and holiness shine in every part of His works--but in  none more than in His dealings with His people. Was He less  wise, we might have more comfort--but it would injure  us. Was He less holy, we might have fewer trials--but we  would assuredly be losers. Divine love, wisdom, and holiness  combined--drew the plan of the Christian's lot; and the  same divine love, wisdom, and holiness--executes that  plan.

All the wisdom of Deity, under the guidance of Almighty  love--shines in our path, our portion, and our circumstances;  and when we enjoy the clear light of eternity--we shall see that  this was the case. O if we really believed this now--how  different would be our feelings and our practices often! How  quietly would we submit to every painful dispensation of divine  providence; how cheerfully would we acquiesce in every  intimation of our Father's will; and how readily would we take  the cup which He has prepared for us, and drink it saying, "The  cup which my heavenly Father gives me--shall I not drink it?"

There is divine wisdom in every trial--and divine love in every cross! Holiness and wisdom in Jesus,  demand that our way should at times be hedged up with thorns.  The infinite love of Jesus, shines in every painful discipline.  He is no indulgent parent, no foolish friend, no unholy  companion; He will not tempt us to evil, nor with evil--neither  will He indulge us to our injury. He would rather close  His ears to our cries--than His heart to our  best interests; and the day is coming when we shall see that all    our trials were needful--and not a trial could have been  omitted, consistently with the wisdom and holiness of His love.  May His love shed abroad in my heart--lead me to love, seek, and  pant for holiness!

   ~  ~  ~  ~  ~