upon the Epiflle of J A M E s. VERS.l2. that evidenceth our intereft in them, as Jam. 2. 5. The Kingdom which he hath promifed to them th.zt love him: He ~oth not fay fear him, or truft in him, t~ough thefe graces alfo are 1mplyed, but chiefly to them that love hzm: So Rom. 3. 28. All thmgs WClrk,. together for good to them that love God, to them that. are called · ~ccording to hu purpofe: where love of God (you fee) IS made the difcovery both of EjfeElual Calling and Elertion. 3· Becau(e Patience is the fruit of Love: Nihil eft quod non tolerat qui per– {:He dtligit; He that /oveth mucb, willfufft.r much: and there– fore when the Apoftle fpeaketh of nzduring temptations, he en– couraaeth them by the Crown of life promifed to them that /~ve qfJd: b a man would not fuffer for him, unlefs he did love him. I fuall give you the Notes briefly~ I. Affiirtions do not mak,: the people ofGod miferable: There is a Obfervat. I. great deal of difference between aChriflian& am"mofthe world, *His befl effate is vanity, and a Chriffian worft is happilufs: * Pfal. s 9 • ~· He that loveth God is lik.! a"" Dye, cafi him highor low, he is fl:ill "' T 1 , upon a [quare; he may be fometimes afflicted, but he isalways @-s ~g,?"("~ happy : There is a doubleReafon for it. . ~ ; a"-Yt1f· I. Becaufe outward mifery cannot diminifh hu happinefs. r~:~,. 2. Becaufefometimes it doth encreafe it. _ I. Affiittions cannot diminiih his happinefs : A man is never miferable, till he hath loft hu happine{s. Our comfort lieth much . in the cho7ce ofour chiefeff good. -~< They that fay, Happ; u the -~< Pfa. J44· u, people that is in [t-sch a cajr; that is, where there is no-complain- x3, 14 ' q·. ing ii4 their ftreets,jheep bringing forth thou{ands, garners full, oxen flrong to labor,&c. they may be foon miferable: All thefe things may be gone, with an eafie turn of providence, as Job Iofi all £n.aninftant. But they that fay, Happy is the people whefe God is the Lord; that is, that count it their happinels to enjoy God, when they lofe all,they may behappy, becaufe they have not loft God: .Our afflictions dlfcover our choyce and affertions; when outward croffes are thegreateft evil, ~cis a fign (jod was not the c~iefeff goqd; for ourgrief,in the abfcnce of any comfort,is accordmg to the happinefs that we fancyed in the enjoyment of it: One that bath fet up his Refl inGod, can rejoyce in his interefr, though the fields foouldyeeld no meal, and the flock_ foould be cut off from the fold, and there .fhould be niJ heard in the ftall.r : Thefe are great M z evils,
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