--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is the Lord's kindness that he will…" description: "\"It is the Lord's kindness that he will take the scum off us in the fire. Who know how needful winnowing is to us and what dross we have before we enter..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f10/samuel-rutherford-3289_affliction_it-is-the-lord-s-kindness-that-he-will-t_1436345.jpg" --- # It is the Lord's kindness that he will take the scum off… ![“It is the Lord's kindness that he will take the scum off us in the fire. Who know how needful winnowing is to us and what dross we have before we enter the kingdom of God? So narrow is the entry to heaven that our knots, lumps of pride, self-love, idol-love, and world-love must be hammered off us…” quote by Samuel Rutherford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f10/samuel-rutherford-3289_affliction_it-is-the-lord-s-kindness-that-he-will-t_1436345.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f10/samuel-rutherford-3289_affliction_it-is-the-lord-s-kindness-that-he-will-t_1436345.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f10/samuel-rutherford-3289_affliction_it-is-the-lord-s-kindness-that-he-will-t_1436345.jpg) > “It is the Lord's kindness that he will take the scum off us in the fire. Who know how needful winnowing is to us and what dross we have before we enter the kingdom of God? So narrow is the entry to heaven that our knots, lumps of pride, self-love, idol-love, and world-love must be hammered off us, that we may stoop low and creep through into that narrow entry.” [Samuel Rutherford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-rutherford/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Spiritual purification requires divine grace to remove sin before entering God's kingdom. **In simple terms:** God cleanses us before heaven. Key Takeaway Seek humility and divine help. Themes humility spirituality purification Mood reflective solemn Type theological inspirational When to use this quote - confession - prayer - self‑examination - church service Key Concepts grace winnowing pride Questions to Reflect On - How do you recognize your own pride? - What practices help you stay humble? A Different Perspective Human effort alone cannot achieve true cleansing. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Affliction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/affliction/) [Fire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fire/) [Heaven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heaven/) [Idols](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/idols/) [Kindness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kindness/) [Kingdom of god](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kingdom-of-god/) [Kingdoms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kingdoms/) [Lord](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lord/) [Pride](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pride/) [Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self/) [Self love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-love/) [Suffering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/suffering/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [It is a serious mistake to judge God within the narrow limits of our own understanding and abilities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sterling-w-sill/it-is-a-serious-mistake-to-judge-god-within-the-narrow-limits-of-our/) [Sterling W Sill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sterling-w-sill/) > [“The Lord, in his kindness He gives me what you always wanted He gives me more-”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lin-manuel-miranda/the-lord-in-his-kindness-he-gives-me-what-you-always-wanted-he-gives/) [Lin-Manuel Miranda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lin-manuel-miranda/) > ['T is heaven alone that is given away; 'T is only God may be had for the asking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-russell-lowell/t-is-heaven-alone-that-is-given-away-t-is-only-god-may-be-had-for-the/) [James Russell Lowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-russell-lowell/) > [The man who dies leaving behind him millions of available wealth, which was his to administer during his life, will pass away unwept, unhonoured…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-carnegie/the-man-who-dies-leaving-behind-him-millions-of-available-wealth/) [Andrew Carnegie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-carnegie/) > [At fifteen one is first beginning to realize that everything isn't money and power in this world, and is casting about for joys that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-benchley/at-fifteen-one-is-first-beginning-to-realize-that-everything-isn-t/) [Robert Benchley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-benchley/) > [You cannot make steel until you have made the iron white-hot in fire. It is not meant for harm. Trouble and disease have a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paramahansa-yogananda/you-cannot-make-steel-until-you-have-made-the-iron-white-hot-in-fire/) [Paramahansa Yogananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paramahansa-yogananda/) > [The sense itself was I. I felt no dross or matter in my soul, no brims or borders, such as in a bowl we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-traherne/the-sense-itself-was-i-i-felt-no-dross-or-matter-in-my-soul-no-brims/) [Thomas Traherne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-traherne/) > [We may scavenge the dross of the nation, we may shudder past bloody sod, But we thrill to the new revelation that we are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-haven-schauffler/we-may-scavenge-the-dross-of-the-nation-we-may-shudder-past-bloody/) [Robert Haven Schauffler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-haven-schauffler/) > [Men that hazard all Do it in hope of fair advantages: A golden mind stoops not to shows of dross.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/men-that-hazard-all-do-it-in-hope-of-fair-advantages-a-golden-mind/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [What thou lovest well remains, the rest is dross What thou lov'st well shall not be reft from thee What thou lov'st well is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-pound/what-thou-lovest-well-remains-the-rest-is-dross-what-thou-lov-st-well/) [Ezra Pound](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-pound/) > [Fiction, I believed, was the transmutation of experiential dross into linguistic gold. Fiction meant taking up whatever the world had abandoned by the road…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-franzen/fiction-i-believed-was-the-transmutation-of-experiential-dross-into/) [Jonathan Franzen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-franzen/) > [The scholar only knows how dear these silent, yet eloquent, companions of pure thoughts and innocent hours become in the season of adversity. When…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/washington-irving/the-scholar-only-knows-how-dear-these-silent-yet-eloquent-companions/) [Washington Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/washington-irving/) > [A golden mind stoops not to shows of dross.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/a-golden-mind-stoops-not-to-shows-of-dross/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [I also have in mind that seemingly wealthy, but most terribly impoverished class of all, who have accumulated dross, but know not how to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/i-also-have-in-mind-that-seemingly-wealthy-but-most-terribly/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [It is hard to know what other way men can come to truth, to lay hold of it, if they do not dig and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-locke/it-is-hard-to-know-what-other-way-men-can-come-to-truth-to-lay-hold/) [John Locke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-locke/) ## More by Samuel Rutherford > [The cross of Christ is the sweetest burden that I ever bore; it is such a burden as wings are to a bird, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-rutherford/the-cross-of-christ-is-the-sweetest-burden-that-i-ever-bore-it-is/) [Samuel Rutherford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-rutherford/) > [Well's them who are under crosses, and Christ says to them, "Half Mine."](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-rutherford/well-s-them-who-are-under-crosses-and-christ-says-to-them-half-mine/) [Samuel Rutherford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-rutherford/) > [O, what I owe to the file, the hammer, and the furnace of the Lord Jesus! I know that he is no idle husbandman…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-rutherford/o-what-i-owe-to-the-file-the-hammer-and-the-furnace-of-the-lord-jesus/) [Samuel Rutherford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-rutherford/) > [If so be that freewill were our tutor, and we had our heaven in our own keeping, then we would lose all. But because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-rutherford/if-so-be-that-freewill-were-our-tutor-and-we-had-our-heaven-in-our/) [Samuel Rutherford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-rutherford/) > [“...whether God come to his children with a rod or a crown, if he come himself with it, it is well. Welcome, welcome Jesus,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-rutherford/whether-god-come-to-his-children-with-a-rod-or-a-crown-if-he-come/) [Samuel Rutherford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-rutherford/) > [Faint not; the miles to heaven are but few and short.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-rutherford/faint-not-the-miles-to-heaven-are-but-few-and-short/) [Samuel Rutherford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-rutherford/) > [I perceive we postpone all our joys of Christ, till He and we be in our own house above, thinking that there is nothing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-rutherford/i-perceive-we-postpone-all-our-joys-of-christ-till-he-and-we-be-in/) [Samuel Rutherford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-rutherford/) > [The night will close the door & fasten my anchor within the veil and I shall go away to sleep.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-rutherford/the-night-will-close-the-door-fasten-my-anchor-within-the-veil-and-i/) [Samuel Rutherford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-rutherford/) > [There is nothing left to us but to see how we may be approved of Him, and how we may roll the weight of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-rutherford/there-is-nothing-left-to-us-but-to-see-how-we-may-be-approved-of-him/) [Samuel Rutherford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-rutherford/) > [I wonder many times that ever a child of God should have a sad heart, considering what their Lord is preparing for them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-rutherford/i-wonder-many-times-that-ever-a-child-of-god-should-have-a-sad-heart/) [Samuel Rutherford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-rutherford/) > [The hope of heaven under troubles is like wind and sails to the soul.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-rutherford/the-hope-of-heaven-under-troubles-is-like-wind-and-sails-to-the-soul/) [Samuel Rutherford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-rutherford/) > [My desire is that my Lord would give me broader and deeper thoughts, to feed myself with wondering at His love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-rutherford/my-desire-is-that-my-lord-would-give-me-broader-and-deeper-thoughts/) [Samuel Rutherford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-rutherford/) > [When I am in the cellar of affliction, I look for the Lord's choicest wines.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-rutherford/when-i-am-in-the-cellar-of-affliction-i-look-for-the-lord-s-choicest/) [Samuel Rutherford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-rutherford/) > [Our little time of suffering is not worthy of our first night's welcome home to Heaven.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-rutherford/our-little-time-of-suffering-is-not-worthy-of-our-first-night-s/) [Samuel Rutherford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-rutherford/) > [The devil is but a whetstone to sharpen the faith and patience of the saints.-](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-rutherford/the-devil-is-but-a-whetstone-to-sharpen-the-faith-and-patience-of-the/) [Samuel Rutherford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-rutherford/) [Explore all 134 Samuel Rutherford quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-rutherford/) ## More Affliction quotes > [I don't feel insecure about any of this work anymore. Maybe I don't have what I had when I was younger. I'm not really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-norton/i-don-t-feel-insecure-about-any-of-this-work-anymore-maybe-i-don-t/) [Edward Norton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-norton/) > [Every man will have his own criterion in forming his judgment of others. I depend very much on the effect of affliction. I consider…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-cecil/every-man-will-have-his-own-criterion-in-forming-his-judgment-of/) [Richard Cecil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-cecil/) > [WHANGDEPOOTENAWAH, n. In the Ojibwa tongue, disaster; an unexpected affliction that strikes hard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/whangdepootenawah-n-in-the-ojibwa-tongue-disaster-an-unexpected/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [There is nothing in afflictions which ought to disturb our joy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-calvin/there-is-nothing-in-afflictions-which-ought-to-disturb-our-joy/) [John Calvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-calvin/) > [Come, then, affliction, if my Father wills, and be my frowning friend. A friend that frowns is better than a smiling enemy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-macdonald/come-then-affliction-if-my-father-wills-and-be-my-frowning-friend-a/) [George MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-macdonald/) > [Henceforth, I'll bear Affliction till it do cry out itself, 'Enough, enough, and die.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/henceforth-i-ll-bear-affliction-till-it-do-cry-out-itself-enough/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [New materials are one of the great afflictions of contemporary art. Some artists confuse new materials with new ideas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sol-lewitt/new-materials-are-one-of-the-great-afflictions-of-contemporary-art/) [Sol LeWitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sol-lewitt/) > [Aimee Parkison offers a distinct new voice to contemporary fiction. Her seductive stories explore childhood as a realm of sorrows, and reveal the afflictions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-anshaw/aimee-parkison-offers-a-distinct-new-voice-to-contemporary-fiction/) [Carol Anshaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-anshaw/) > [May I strike my heart's keys clearly, and may none fail because of slack, uncertain, or fraying strings. May the tears that stream down…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainer-maria-rilke/may-i-strike-my-heart-s-keys-clearly-and-may-none-fail-because-of/) [Rainer Maria Rilke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainer-maria-rilke/) > [We are infinitely more than our limitations and afflictions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-r-holland/we-are-infinitely-more-than-our-limitations-and-afflictions/) [Jeffrey R. Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-r-holland/) > [God measures out affliction to our need.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-john-chrysostom/god-measures-out-affliction-to-our-need/) [Saint John Chrysostom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-john-chrysostom/) > [Afflictions make the heart more deep, more experimental, more knowing and profound, and so, more able to hold, to contain, and beat more.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bunyan/afflictions-make-the-heart-more-deep-more-experimental-more-knowing/) [John Bunyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bunyan/) > [Religion prescribes to every miserable man the means of bettering his condition; nay, it shows him that the bearing of his afflictions as he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-addison/religion-prescribes-to-every-miserable-man-the-means-of-bettering-his/) [Joseph Addison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-addison/) > [Short-term amnesia is not the worst affliction if you have an Irish flair for the sauce.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-mailer/short-term-amnesia-is-not-the-worst-affliction-if-you-have-an-irish/) [Norman Mailer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-mailer/) > [Revolution will free society of its afflictions, while science will free the individual of his.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-vargas-llosa/revolution-will-free-society-of-its-afflictions-while-science-will/) [Mario Vargas Llosa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-vargas-llosa/) [Browse all 598 Affliction quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/affliction/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It is the Lord's kindness that he will take the scum off us in the fire. 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