THE fact is that the very best experience at present is only a state of divinely regulated evil, and that the occurrence of evil is one of the necessities involved in the development of saints from a race of unjustified sinners. All are sinners more or less, and, “Wherefore doth a man complain for the punishment of his sins?” (Lamentations 3:39). While all are sinners, more or less, some are forgiven sinners – those who fear and obey God, confessing their sins and forsaking them. All things work together for the final good of this class; but amongst these “all things” evil itself has a place. God is the judge of when and how much it is needed.

ROBERT ROBERTS, The Ways of Providence, page 77.