Affliction: Increased With Our Strength
Affliction: Increased With Our Strength [1]
'I had,' said Latimer, describing the way in which his father trained him as a yeoman's son, 'my bows bought me according to my age and strength; as I increased in them so my bows were made bigger and bigger.' Thus boys grew into cross bowmen, and by a similar increase in the force of their trials, Christians become veterans in the Lord's host. The affliction which is suitable for a babe in grace would little serve the young man, and even the well-developed man needs severer trials as his strength increases. God, like a wise father, trains us wisely, and as we are able to bear it he makes our service and our suffering more arduous. As boys rejoice to be treated like men, so will we rejoice in our greater tribulations, for here is man's work for us, and by God's help we will not flinch from doing it.
