A Fort for the Afflicted

The sons of God know that both prosperity and adversity are the gift of God only, as Job doth witness; and, therefore, in prosperity commonly they are not insolent nor proud, but even in the day of joy and rest they look for trouble and sorrow. Neither, yet, in the time of adversity are they altogether left without comfort, but by one mean or other God shows unto them that trouble will have an end.

David and Job often complained that God had left them; was become their enemy; regarded not their prayers; and took no heed to deliver them; and yet it is impossible that God should either leave His chosen, or that He should despise the humble petitions of such as implore His support. But such complaints are the voice of the flesh, wherewith God is not offended so as to reject His elect, but pardons them among their other innumerable sins and infirmities; and therefore, beloved, despair not, although the flesh sometimes burst forth into heavy complaints, as it were, accusing God.

I remember that you have often complained of the grudging and murmuring that you find within yourself, fearing that it provoked God to more displeasure. Behold and consider, dear mother, what God has borne with in His saints before; will he not bear the same with you, being most sorry for your imperfections? He cannot do otherwise.

But to our purpose: dearly beloved, accept this cup from the hands of our heavenly Father, and although your pains are almost intolerable, yet cast yourself, because you have no other refuge, before the throne of God’s mercy, and, with the prophet David, being in like trouble, say unto Him, “Have mercy upon me, O Lord, for I am weak! Lord, heal me, for all my bones are vexed!”

I confess, indeed, that if our troubles come by man’s tyranny, then the most sure and most easy way is to run to God for defence and aid. But if God appear to be our enemy, to be angry with, and to have left us, how hard and difficult it is then to call for His grace and for His assistance none knows, except such as have learned it by experience, neither yet can any man so do, except the elect children of God. For so strong are the enemies who, with great violence, invade the troubled conscience in that troublous battle, that unless the hidden seed of God should make them hope against hope, they could never look for any deliverance or comfort.

The flesh lacketh not reasons and persuasions to bring us from God. The devil, by himself and by his messengers, dares boldly say and affirm that we have nothing to do with God. And a weak faith is often compelled to confess both the accusations and reasons to be most true.

For at such time as the flesh, natural reason, the law of God, the present torment, and the devil, at once do cry, God is angry, and therefore is there neither help nor remedy to be hoped for at His hands. At such time, I say, to sob unto God is the demonstration of the secret seed of God, which is hid in God’s elect children; and that sob alone is a more acceptable sacrifice unto our God, than, without this cross, to give our bodies to be burnt, even for the truth’s sake.

You think, peradventure, that you will gladly call and pray for mercy, but the knowledge of your sins hinders you. Consider, dearly beloved, that all physic or medicine serves only for the patient; so does mercy serve only for the sinner, yea, for the wretched and most miserable sinner.

Scotland’s leading Reformer, John Knox (1515–1572), was educated at St. Andrews University and became a priest until converted to the Reformed faith in 1545. After escaping to the continent under Mary Tudor’s reign in England, Knox met and was influenced greatly by John Calvin. Until 1559, Knox spent the bulk of his time writing and pastoring English congregations in Europe. In 1559 Elizabeth I acceded to the throne and Knox was recalled to Scotland to lead the Protestant revival. From 1561–1567 Knox was in constant conflict with another queen, Mary, Queen of Scots, who feared his prayers more than an army. Knox’s last years (1567–1572) were relatively peaceful, and focussed on completing his renowned History of the Reformation in Scotland.

Knox’s complete works were published in Edinburgh in six volumes (1846–1864; reprinted, 1895). The above thoughts are extracted from his exposition of Psalm 6 which was written to his mother, and entitled, “A Fort for the Afflicted.”

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