Trials Sure to Visit Us.
By Thomas Manton
If because you are Christians you promise yourselves a long lease of temporal happiness, free from troubles and afflictions, it is as if a soldier going to the wars should promise himself peace and continual truce with the enemy; or as if a mariner committing himself to the sea for a long voyage should promise himself nothing but fair and calm weather, without waves and storms; so irrational it is for a Christian to promise himself rest here upon earth. Well, then, let us learn beforehand how to be abused, and how to abound. He that is on a journey to Heaven must be provided for all weathers; though it be sunshine when he first sets forth, a storm will overtake him before he come to his journey’s end. It is good to be forearmed; afflictions will come, and we should prepare accordingly. We enter upon the profession of godliness, upon these terms, to be willing to suffer afflictions if the Lord see fit; and therefore should arm ourselves with a mind to endure them, whether they come or no.—Thomas Manton, 1620–1677.