Hammer, anvil, file and fire!

("A Song Concerning Lovingkindnesses" #1126,
delivered on August 10th, 1873 by C. H. Spurgeon)

"I know, O Lord, that Your judgments are righteous,
 that in faithfulness You have afflicted me." Ps. 119:75

O, my brethren, how much we owe to the hammer
and the anvil and the file and the fire! Thanks be to
God for the little crosses of every day; yes, and for the
heavy crosses which He sends us at certain seasons. He
does not gather the twigs of His rod, on the 'mountains
of wrath'--but He plucks them in the 'garden of love'!
Though He sometimes makes blue marks upon us as
He smites us heavily--yet His strokes are fewer than
our crimes, and lighter than our guilt.

Love bathes all the wounds which it makes--and kisses
away the hurt. Blessed be a chastening God! Set down
your chastenings among your choicest mercies!

"The Lord disciplines the one He loves, and chastises
 every son whom He receives." Hebrews 12:6