Precious Promises of the Gospel

Many of the precious promises of the Gospel suppose troubles and conflicts. As it is written: “When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee; when though walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shalt the flame kindle upon thee. For I am the LORD thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Savior. I gave Egypt for thy ransom, Ethiopia and Seba for thee.” (Isaiah 43:2-3)

We must have both watery trials and fiery trials and both go into and through them, in order to enjoy the presence of the LORD therein and to enter feelingly and Spiritually into the blessedness of this promise. And thus we shall find many of the exceeding great and precious promises of God connected with great troubles and sometimes exceedingly great troubles. But when, like Moses, we are enabled to choose rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season, we are doing the will of God; for this is one branch of the work of Faith: Hebrews 11:24-26.