Great Encouragement in Christ JESUS for Suffering Saints
" For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me." — II Corinthians 12:8 [KJV] Our Saviour represents God's own elect as crying day and night to him— Luke 18:7 . Sore temptations, soul-burdens, Satan's buffetings, are peculiarly felt by them. Their crying under them is a proof of spiritual life; their crying to the Lord only, is an evidence of the faith of God's elect; their entreaties to be delivered from them, shew the sanctified, holy disposition of their souls. Thus the Lord draws out into exercise the graces of His children. His eyes are ever upon them, His ears, open to their prayers, and His almighty power and grace sufficient to deliver them. But "he that believeth, must not make haste." We must tarry the Lord's leisure, and be strong in hope. His time is best. It is God's will we should tell Him of our trials and temptations. After we have done this, "we have need of patience;" we must wait for t