Sunday, March 29, 2020

The Crook in the Lot - by Thomas Boston

"As to the crook in thy lot, God hath made it; and it must continue while He will have it so." (pg. 3)

"Since the crook in the lot is the special trial appointed for every one, it is altogether reasonable, and becoming the wisdom of God, that it fall on that which of all things doth most rival him." (pg. 12)

"The truth is, the crook in the lot is the great engine of Providence for making men appear in their true colours, discovering both their ill and their good: and if the grace of God be in them, it will bring it out, and cause it to display itself." (pg. 30)

"The truth is, the crook in the lot of a believer, how painful soever it proves, is a part of the discipline of the covenant, the nurture secured to Christ's children by the promise of the Father." (pg. 35)

"In managing of which exchange, God first puts out His hand and takes away some earthly thing from us: and it is expected we put out our hand next, and take some heavenly thing from Him in the stead of it, and particularly his Christ." (pg. 49)

"A serious view of death and eternity might make us set ourselves to behave rightly under our crook while it lasts." (pg. 55)

"A humble spirit is better than a heightened condition." (pg. 67)

"As you meet with crosses in your lot in the world, let your desire be rather to have your spirit humbled and brought down, than to get the cross removed.  I mean not but that you may use all lawful means for the removal of your cross, in dependence on God; but only that you be more concerned to get your spirit to bow and ply, than to get the crook in your lot evened." (pg. 84)

"Prosperity puffs up sinners with pride; for it is very hard to keep a low spirit with a high and prosperous lot." (pg. 93)

"Pride at every turn finds something that is below the man to condescend or stoop to, measuring by his own mind and will, not by the circumstances God has placed him in.  But humility measures by the circumstances one is placed in, and readily falls in with what they require." (pg. 96)

"Will nothing please you but two heavens, one here, another hereafter?  God has secured one heaven for the saints, one place where they shall get all their will, wish, and desire; where there shall be no weight on them to hold them down; and that is in the other world." (pg. 107)

"And so it is, that while the proud, through their obstinacy, do but wreath the yoke faster about their own necks, the humble ones, by their yielding, make their relief sure." (pg. 111ff)

"To conclude: we may assure ourselves, God will at length break in pieces the proud, be they ever so high; and He will triumphantly lift up the humble, be they ever so low." (pg. 143)

Thomas Boston, The Crook in the Lot (Choteau, MT: Old Paths Gospel Press)