On Affliction & Suffering

“It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes.”

Ps. 119:71

“That which thou sowest is not quickened, except it die”

1 Cor. 15:36

“…and he was there in the prison.  But the Lord was with Joseph…”

Gen. 39:20-21

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Subsections

Bereavement
Submitting to Providence

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Order of Contents

Articles  9+
Books  3
Anthology  1
Quotes  2
Historical  1

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Articles

1500’s

Melanchthon, Philip – 32. ‘Of Bearing Tribulation & the Cross’  in Melanchthon on Christian Doctrine, Loci Communes, 1555  tr. Clyde L. Manschreck  (1555; NY: Oxford Univ. Press, 1965), pp. 286-96

Vermigli, Peter Martyr – The Common Places…  (d. 1562; London: Henrie Denham et al., 1583), pt. 3, ch. 12, ‘Of Liberality & Magnificence’

‘Of Fortitude, Mortification, Enduring the Cross & Affliction’  270

‘Whether the holy men were inferior to the ethnics in abiding adversities and in repressing affections’  296

Musculus, Wolfgang – Common Places of the Christian Religion  (1560; London, 1563)

‘Afflictions’  509.a

Of whence afflictions do come  510.b
Of what purpose of God afflictions be sent  511.a
How many manner ways afflictions be sent  512.a
What is the profit of afflictions  512.b
How afflictions ought to be suffered, borne and overcome  513.b
How men must deal with the afflicted folk  515.b
How God uses Himself with the afflicted  516.b

Beza, Theodore – 51. Wherefore the Holy Ghost is called the Consolator or comforter and to what purpose and end the afflictions of the faithful serve  in A Brief & Pithy Sum of the Christian Faith made in Form of a Confession  (London, 1565), ch. 4

Ursinus, Zachary – The Sum of Christian Religion: Delivered…  in his Lectures upon the Catechism…  tr. Henrie Parrie  (Oxford, 1587)

Of Afflictions

1. How many kinds there be of afflictions
2. What are the causes of afflictions
3. What are the comforts and consolations, which are to be opposed against afflictions

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1600’s

Perkins, William – The Whole Treatise of the Cases of Conscience…  (Cambridge: Legat, 1606), bk. 1

ch. 7, How a man being in distress of mind may be comforted and relieved?

ch. 9, Of the second special Distress arising from outward Afflictions

sect. 1, How the Trouble of mind arising of Afflictions may be remedied?
sect. 2, How the mind of the party distressed may be stayed when the Lord defers deliverance?

Baxter, Richard – Direction 54, ‘Learn to suffer by ministers and good people, and not only by magistrates, nor only by the ungodly’  in The Cure of Church Divisions…  (London, 1670), pt. 1, pp. 245-48

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1800’s

Alexander, Archibald – “Weep with them that Weep”,  a Discourse Occasioned by the Burning of the Theatre in the City of Richmond, Virginia on Dec. 26th, 1811  (1812)  21 pp.

Buchanan, James

The Bible & Consolation  no source info, three paragraphs

The Work of the Spirit as the Comforter, p. 505, 14 pp.  from his The Office & Work of the Holy Spirit

Girardeau, John – The Suffering Seaboard of South Carolina  (1876)  29 pp.

A chronicle of the sufferings of Charleston, SC, “our Southern Zion”, after its occupation by the Northern army during the War between the States.  Peer here into the sufferings of a part of Christ’s church, and the labors of her faithful pastors.

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Books

1600’s

Brown of Wamphray, John – The Life of Faith in Times of Trial & Affliction, Cleared up & Explained from Hebrews  (Printed for Author, 1679-1680)  ToC 1, 2

Flavel, John – Preparations for Suffering  in Puritan Paperbacks  (Banner of Truth)

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1700’s

Boston, Thomas – The Crook in the Lot  180 pp.

“Consider the work of God: for who can make that straight, which He hath made crooked?” – Eccl. 7:13

Willison, John – The Afflicted Man’s Companion  †1750  350 pp.

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2000’s

Sproul, R.C. – How Should I Approach Suffering?  (Ligonier Ministries)  91 pp.

Cooper, Wesley C. – The Fruit of Godly Suffering: 30 Truths every Christian ought to Lay Hold of when Trials Come  Ref  (Free Grace Press)  176 pp.

Wolfe, Paul D. – Suffering: God’s Purpose in Our Pain  in Mini Guide  (Banner of Truth)  120 pp.

Leake, Mike – Torn to Heal: God’s Purpose in Suffering  (Cruciform Press)  94 pp.

Tanner, Jacob – Wait & Hope: Puritan Wisdom for Joyful Suffering  (RHB)  200 pp.

Butler, Kathryn – Glimmers of Grace: A Doctor’s Reflections on Faith, Suffering & the Goodness of God  (Crossway)  224 pp.

Beeke, Joel & Paul Smalley – The Lord of Endurance & Encouragement: Suffering & the Sovereignty of God  (RHB)  200 pp.

Selvaggio, Anthony T. – Considering Job: Reconciling Sovereignty & Suffering  (RHB)  184 pp.


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Anthology

2000’s

Guthrie, Nancy – Be Still, My Soul: Embracing God’s Purpose & Provision in Suffering: 25 Classic & Contemporary Readings on the Problem of Pain  (Crossway)  175 pp.

Under three headings (1) God’s Perspective on Suffering, (2) God’s Purpose in Suffering, and (3) God’s Provision in Suffering, this work contains readings from:

(1) Tim Keller, Philip Yancey, Joni E. Tada, Os Guiness, R.C. Sproul, John Calvin, Wilson Benton Jr., Dietrich Bonhoeffer, John Newton;

(2) Abraham Kuyper, Helen Roseveare, A.W. Tozer, Martyn Lloyd-Jones, Augustine, Charles H. Spurgeon, Jerry Bridges, D.A. Carson;

(3) Corrie ten Boom, Sinclair Ferguson, J.I. Packer, Thomas Manton, John Piper, Martin Luther, Jeremiah Burroughs, Jonathan Edwards.

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Quotes

1600’s

John Flavel

Keeping the Heart

“Though God hath reserved to Himself a liberty of afflicting his people, yet He hath tied up his own hands by promise never to take away his loving-kindness from them.”

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1800’s

John ‘Rabbi’ Duncan

“If we have not got a cross, alas! we may conclude that we have not got Christ, for it is the first of his gifts.”


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Historical

On the Post-Reformation

Cosby, Brian H. – Suffering & Sovereignty: John Flavel & the Puritans on Afflictive Providence  ()

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“But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good”

Gen. 50:20

“I shall be his father, and he will be my son; if he commit iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men, and with the stripes of the children of men: Nevertheless, my mercy shall not depart away from him.”

2 Samuel 7:14

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Related Pages

Depression

On Mourning & Bereavement

On Spiritual Desertion & Despair