C. M. Sheffield
Puritan Board Graduate
Take heed that you do not measure God’s eternal affection by some present dispensation. There is an eternal displeasure against a man; and there is a present displeasure with a man. Eternal displeasure, or hatred, cannot stand with eternal love; but eternal love, and present displeasure, may stand together. A father may be displeased with his child for the present, and yet may love him with paternal love. So God may and does love, though for the present he is displeased. But when men measure eternal affection by present dispensation, then they are quite discouraged; and you will find that all your discouragements in this case arise from hence. Some there are that walk by particular providences, experiences, words, manifestations, and incomes of love; when they have them, they are much refreshed; if they lack them, then they are much discouraged, and say, Ah, Christ loves me not; God is gone, and will return no more. Why? Because they measure God’s eternal love by some present dispensation. But if God’s present dispensations seem to run cross to his eternal purpose, why then should they be discouraged, and say, He is gone forever? Now so it is, he may hide his face, he may withdraw and deny particular comforts and manifestations, yet love me eternally. Oh, that people would not measure God’s eternal affection by some present dispensation; so should they never be much discouraged.—William Bridge, A Lifting Up for the Downcast, Banner of Truth, p. 188.
