Private Thoughts About Submission (2)

Suffering is an excellent preacher, sent immediately from heaven, to speak aloud in the name of God to the heart, mind, and conscience, and has saved many a soul, when humanly speaking, nothing else could. If it was not for pain, I should spend less time with God.

In affliction see the neccessity of it, and be humble; see the use of it, and improve it; see the love there is in it, and be thankful.

If we reflect on the exceeding sinfulness, desert, and horrible curse of sin, as represented in the dreadful consequences of the first man’s sin, and the necessity of Christ’s death, how comparatively light is all we suffer for our own multiplied transgressions, especially considering that suffering is a corrective, as well as a punishment; and that, in the worst of troubles, we have this hope to support us, that there is redemption from all sin by the blood of Christ.

Real heart-felt submission to the will of God in pain, sickness, crosses, every thing, never was the work of a man’s own spirit; and when it comes from above, in answer to prayer, is full amends for all we can suffer.

God’s will is blessed, and whether it be for or against me I must wait patiently, and receive all as a gift, for I find I can do nothing.

Bear a heavy cross, as from God, and you will be prepared for a heavier, and have Him bearing all with you.

God consults my interest in everything, and though I know He cannot be mistaken in what He does, I find it hard to give my consent to it.

If we do not propose to ourselves the same end in suffering which God does, self-knowledge and the purification of the heart, it must necessarily be without effect.

The very point and height of resignation is to submit quietly to the leading of God while lacking sensible support and comfort.

Till I make, through grace, a full and free surrender of myself, my heart and conscience, whole state and being, to God, in simplicity and sincerity, His will for my salvation and recovery cannot take place in me; I shall not be steady a moment in the practice of holiness.

The pain of pain is impatience under it, and apprehension of its continuance or consequences. It might be greatly alleviated, if we adverted only to the present time, and did not add to it the burden of tomorrow.

Rev. Thomas Adam (1701–1784) was a godly divine and student of John Newton, who pastored a congregation in Lincolnshire for 58 years. Like John Newton, he remained within the Anglican Church all his life.

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