Puritan Nuggets of Gold

Adversity: 

Adversity is the diamond dust Heaven polishes its jewels with.

(Robert Leighton)

Affliction:

One son God hath without sin, but none without sorrow.

(John Trapp)

Adoption:

A man adopts one for his son and heir that does not at all resemble him; but whosoever God adopts for His child is like Him; he not only bears His heavenly Father's name, but His image. (Colossians 3:10)

Afflication:

Affliction may be lasting, but it is not everlasting. 


Affliction has a sting, but withal a wing: sorrow shall fly away.

There is more evil in a drop of sin than in a sea of affliction.

(Thomas Watson)

The Lord does not measure out our afflictions according to our faults, but according to our strength, and looks not what we have deserved, but what we are able to bear.

(George Downame)

He is not drowning His sheep when He washeth them, nor killing them when He is shearing them. But by this He showeth that they are His own; and the newborn sheep do most visibly bear His name or mark, when it is almost worn out and scarce discernible on them that have the longest fleece.

(Richard Baxter)

Whatsoever is upon you is from the Lord, and whatsoever is from the Lord, to you it is in mercy; and whatsoever comes in mercy ought not to be grievous to you. What loss is it when the losing of earthly things is the gaining of spiritual things? All shall be for your good, if you make your use of all.

(Richard Greenham)

Take note that when men oppress and persecute most unjustly, yet there is cause to justify God in suffering it to be so. God's justice is executed upon us by their injustice; if men falsely accuse us, yet God can truly charge us. 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)