Truly, truly, I say to you, whatever you ask of the Father in my name, he will give it to you. John 16:23
The love of Christ daily loads us with benefits. He gives us nothing but what is good. He blesses our curses, temptations, afflictions, sin and death, and they all prove good to us. Even all his ways prove good to us; and not only all the ways of God, who loves us in Christ, but all the ways of those who hate us, whether reprobates or devils (Romans 8:28). This is the great privilege of those whom Christ loves; nothing shall befall them, but what shall prove good for them. They may conclude, in whatever condition they are in, it is the best for them, and if it had not been so, they would never have been brought into it; and whenever it shall cease to be so, they shall be removed out of it. This is the sweetest privilege, yet the most difficult to believe at all times, since there is often great opposition to it by our sense and reason, yet it is most true. Christ's love gives us whatever is good; 'No good thing does he withhold from those who walk uprightly' (psalm 84:11). 'The young lions suffer want and hunger; but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing (Psalm 34:10). Take a survey of heaven and earth, and all things therein, and whatever upon sure grounds appears good, ask for it confidently from Christ, for his love will not deny it. If it were good for you that there was no sin, no devil,no affliction, no destruction, the love of Christ would instantly abolish these, Nay, if the possession of all the kingdoms of the world were absolutely good for any saint, the love of Christ would instantly crown him the monarch over them. Christ's love will give you whatever you can desire. For what reasonable man can desire that which is not good? All that is good the promises of God have already assured you. (Psalm 37:4)
From David Clarkson, Works, iii:8-9 as printed in Voices From the Past, Edited by Richard Rushing, Banner of Truth, page 29.
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