The Glorious Rod

From the"Mute Christian under the Smarting Rod" or,
"The Silent Soul with Sovereign Antidotes" by Thomas Brooks, 1659, London

Q. Why must Christians be silent under the greatest troubles, the saddest providences, and sharpest trials that they experience in this world? I answer,

A. That they may better hear and understand the voice of the rod. As the Word has a voice, and the Spirit has a voice, and the conscience has a voice, so the rod has a voice. Afflictions are sometimes the rod of God’s displeasure, as well as His rod of sanctification. God's rods, in a band of branches, are all speaking and pruning; every branch with a unique voice.

One branch urges, “wasn’t it best with you when you were drawing near to God, and when you were humble, watchful, and close in your walking with God? Another branch pleads, will you more eagerly subdue the sin in your heart, and die to this world more than ever, and to your own desires more than ever? And yet another branch exhorts, will you hold Him closer to you than ever and venture further for Christ than you ever have before? And will you, one more branch advocates, love Christ with a more inflamed love, and hope in Him with a more fervent hope, and depend upon Him with a greater confidence, and wait upon Christ with more invincible patience, and trust Him as you heal under the rod? Oh my soul, be content to be mute and silent so I can hear the voices of all the branches leading me to turn from lesser things and prefer Christ before all things. Thank Him for the rod and Kiss the Son.