and "when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold."2 The heat of
is just God's voice, saying, "I have found iniquity upon the earth." Its infliction on an individual is God saying, "I have seen sin on thee." I do not take up the question as to particular trials being the result of particular sins in individuals. In many cases we know that this is the case. In others it is more doubtful. And hence, though it is well in affliction to ask what special sin or sins God is pointing at, it is wrong in us to fix exclusively upon one or two instead of turning our attention to the whole body of sin and directing our efforts against that.
But chastisement supposes also a determination on the part of God to get rid of sin. It is the expression of His hatred of it, and of His settled purpose to deliver from it. To purify us is what He seeks; and this He is resolved to accomplish at whatever cost. It must be done, for He cannot look upon iniquity. And what is pain if it expel sin? What is sorrow, if it help to purge away the evil of our nature—a lifetime of accumulated dross?
There are several figures which God employs for pointing out His designs in chastising us. Let us enumerate these:
1. It is a refining. The saints are "chosen in the furnace of affliction," and "when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold."2 The heat of the furnace burns out the dross and leaves the pure metal behind. It is in the furnace that the flesh is destroyed and the old man gets his deathstroke. It is in the furnace that self-confidence is uptorn, unbelief is broken, and faith is strengthened and purified. Were it not for the furnace, what would become of our dross and alloy? And then when the silver is in the crucible, the Refiner himself comes near. Hear how the Lord hath spoken concerning this: "Thus saith the Lord of hosts, Behold, I will melt them and try them, for how shall I do for the daughter of my people?" "I will turn my hand upon thee, and purely purge away thy dross, and take away all thy tin."4 "When the Lord … shall have purged the blood of Jerusalem from the midst thereof by the spirit of judgment and by the spirit of burning."