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Our apostle in these words seems to obviate an objection against a compliance with his exhortation to bear divine chastenings with silence and submission; and this is taken from the trouble and sorrow wherewith chastisement is accompanied; this he takes for granted is so, but takes off all the weight of the objection, by opposing the benefits of affliction thereunto.
Learn hence, 1. That all afflictions for the present are grievous to the flesh, and painful to human nature.
Learn, 2. That though afflictions are grievous, yet their fruits are gracious to a believer; God in his sovereign wisdom doth so dispose and manage his people's afflictions, that he makes them end in an happy fruit even in the fruits of holiness and sanctification; and after affliction has done its work, and wrought kindly God comes in with comfort and joy, and cheering cordials follow bitter physic.
Observe farther, How the benefit of chastisement is expressed in a threefold gradation.
Affliction yieldeth fruit; it is no dead and dry thing, but this rod blossoms and brings forth almonds.
The fruit it yieldeth is the fruit of righteousness, namely, patience, submission to the will of God, weanedness from the world, mortification of sin, purity of heart, holiness of life, farther readiness and greater fitness for suffering; these are the sweet fruits which God enables his to gather from the sour tree of afflicton.
And this fruit of righteousness, which affliction yields, is peacable fruit, because it is a pledge and evidence of our peace with God, and because it brings peace into our own minds.
By these fruits of righteousness our hearts are quited, our minds composed, all tumults allayed, and we enabled to possess our souls in patience. O happy fruit of affliction! Blessed is the man whom thou chastisest.
Observe lastly, Who they are that are blessed with these special benefits of afflictions, only those that are exercised thereby. The original word is an allusion to those in the public games, who stripped themselves naked, and put forth all their strength for mastery. To be exercised by chastisements, is to have all our spiritual strength put forth, all our faith and patience tried to the utmost.
Learn hence, that a christian can never find any benefit in chastisements, unless he be exercised by them, that is, unless his graces be stirred up by them to an holy and constant exercise, for hereby alone do they yield the peaceable fruit of righteousness.