This is strange food to reason

(Letters of William Romaine, 1782)

"Behold, I will feed them with bitter food." Jeremiah 9:15

My dear friend,
Our Lord has been showing you some tokens of His singular regard for you. All whom He loves, He chastens. He has been trying you with His rod. The trial on His part was altogether love, and graciously intended for your improvement: "I will feed them," says the Good Shepherd, "with bitter food." This is strange food to reason-but rendered truly nourishing to faith. It learns to feel what sin, exceedingly sinful sin, is.

The pain says, "Sin deserves ten thousand times more than this!"

The pain continues, "Lord Jesus, may Your will be done-only let faith and patience have their perfect work, that I may love You for mortifying my corruptions."

The disorder abates, "Oh, dear Savior, keep me humble and thankful, that I may so cleave to You with full purpose of heart, as to be dying daily to other objects and be more alive to You. As the pain drove me to You-so may the removing of it keep me nearer to You that I may practically learn to set You always before me."

These and many other improvements, I hope, followed your recent painful visitation. It was sent to yield you the peaceable fruits of righteousness; yes, a harvest of blessings. May they be rich and ripe to the glory of the Giver!

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

"No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it." Hebrews 12:11