Affliction Christian, why weepest thou? Look up! heaven is smiling above you! Look on! heaven is opening before you! Let your tears, if they must fall, be as the drops of rain which fall in the sunshine, and reflect the colours of the rainbow. The last tear of earth will soon be wiped away, amid the first smile of heaven; and that smile will be eternal. John Angell James I doubt not but that I have been laughed to scorn when I have preached that the way to get riches is to give away to the poor what we have. They have called me an old doating fool; but what then? We must be content to be despised with Christ in this world, that we may be glorified with Him in yonder world. Hugh Latimer When Job has to deal with men, he maintains his integrity against their accusations, Job 27:4-6, but when he has to deal with God, he acknowledges his sin, and will not stand upon his own justification; he will not plead but supplicate. John Oldfield Endure hardness. Never dream of a delicacy. Think not to find God in the gardens of Egypt, whom Moses found not but in the burning bush. Many love Canaan, but loathe the wilderness; commend the country, but look upon the conquest as impossible: would sit in the seat of honour with Zebedee’s children, but not drink the cup of affliction. John Trapp It is one heart-quieting consideration in all the afflictions that befall us, that God has a special hand in them “The Almighty hath afflicted me” (Job 30:11). Instruments can no more stir till God gives them a comission, that the axe can cut of itself without a hand. Job eyed God in his affliction: therefore, as Augustine observes, he does not say, “The Lord gave, and the devil take away,” but “The Lord hath taken away” (Job 1:21). Thomas Watson The believer’s afflictions are the chastisements of a loving Father not the strokes of an angry Judge. Unknown