Thomas Boston, Works, 3:640:
Those who, by reason of their afflictions, seem to themselves to be laid by as useless, are mistaken; they have a most precious opportunity put into their hand, to be serviceable to Christ and the members of his body; Col. 1:24, “Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh, for his body’s sake.” God has brought them forth on the stage, to take trial of their suffering graces, for the instructing, exciting, strengthening, and edifying of others. Job was a man who did much for God in his day; but the suffering part of his life has been of the greatest use in all ages since, and will be to the end. The Psalmist David complains, Ps. 31:12, that he was like a broken vessel; but every sherd of that broken pot has been of good use to the church of Christ since, and has helped to heal many.
Those who, by reason of their afflictions, seem to themselves to be laid by as useless, are mistaken; they have a most precious opportunity put into their hand, to be serviceable to Christ and the members of his body; Col. 1:24, “Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh, for his body’s sake.” God has brought them forth on the stage, to take trial of their suffering graces, for the instructing, exciting, strengthening, and edifying of others. Job was a man who did much for God in his day; but the suffering part of his life has been of the greatest use in all ages since, and will be to the end. The Psalmist David complains, Ps. 31:12, that he was like a broken vessel; but every sherd of that broken pot has been of good use to the church of Christ since, and has helped to heal many.
