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1 PORTIQN, ' ' I f l ' -1 I . ( . : BEi-NG - · -, , .A Second Part df ) ~ PIN iJ I c· I lE, P l ,BTAi i s ~ · . , i ' to'iidon, Printed .Anno· Doniini. - , : ' • -,.. .• ' J • I ,_ ' • . ' \ '
I I • ' I I- ' • t' • .i ' I ... . ~- - ... ~ .. --- -,.. ., ,_ ... ;
( Tlie· C ~oNT E ~ ~TS• . ' ~HE Principal Doctrine, ·TEofe that o- . ~. ~ bey tht!_ GoJPel, what.focver or whenfoe~ ver they want:> fhfi.U e11er abide in a peaceful iJnd blej]ed condit~on. - / , R~af. 1. The God of· Peace jhtrll be fvith the lit • .The Riches of this Prontifeopened. , I; God is in the Promi.fe. < I.God is in the Pro·mife tH the God.ofPeace. 2. He thJJt h the God 'Of Peace, is the God · · . ofPower. · . , , 3· He that 1s the God of Peace, 11 the God . ofPa·tience. . · · 4· ·He that is the Goq ofPeace, -is ·the God, of Hope·. · . . ~.God's being t.viththem,jignijie1, I. The Heart of Godwith them. · · 2. The Help ,of God with th~lJt. . I 3· The Prefciice ofGodwith ·.tbe11t. · · .: Reaf. 2. If God be with the111, all thingJjhall - mak.._e for thenJ. · . ~ .Rum. 8. 28 . 'opened at large•. , . . ·;, I. What things th~y · are eJPeciallj , that · foal/ wurftfor good. : . · v A 3 To • I
- " ·· The Cot1tents. ' _2. To tt'hat good they foal/ worl{~ 3· To who111. 4· How theyjhall(wol·ftfor good. . . 5. That they fhaU _work. fot· gold to thent ·that lo~Je God. ~ ' Proved in 3 Propofitions. _ ' I. T~e Providence ofGodgov_ertt.r the world. 2. The ,dejign ifPro·videttc.e (M _tl 'the Elell) is' the 4:cco!'lplijbment of GodJ good pur- , pofe a.1td Pro'mije, --- · 1 . -B· ~rpvidence fJall not fail of ttcco?Jtplijhing itJ end. - Tw(} Cautions. · , Two objet1infti ·anfnlered. , . . / . Ob .. 1. How can the re1JJOV4l of the Go:fp~l, and the Milti}lry ofit, be imagined to worft for goor:/? . .. Anfwered. ' · . / .. Ob. 2. Suppofe a ,y4int to fali into diflratli · · 011, and .fo live and die, what good caH. pojfiblJ be wrought out of this ? . ,.- Anfwered: · - Twoparticular Inferences. . 1. Rejoice in the Pronlife· of Goc_l.. . . ~.• Lay yourje_lves down quietly· andpeacea· b.~ l.J under it. - _ . · . The General A_pplica tioti. _: .• .I• 7'o the ungodlJ, per[wading tbem, _and ai· ' refJ.ing tbenJ how tQ g't within lhk Promife. . , . -- of • i ' • '
/ ·The Contet1ts~ ·of thefe, - , · · . · . ·. ~. Som.e a_re,far froiJt the l(tngdom ofGod. To thenJ,after a wora o.f' .Convill_ion,_ an4 f-~poflulation, are t,iven 7~· Dtreliton.r. t. Other·.r are near. the Kit.tgdont of God~ \-.. ~lmoft ~ hriflianJ. · .· . ~i~ W()rd,t of ~ounfel to thel{t . ~. To the Godlj . . 0 · The ExhortatitJn to· the;n bot1p!l~ed o·, ~htltp~ \ ' . ~· 27, 28. And k, ·1 ·aenera!; ' · · · · 2 Special. The General Exhortation, Let yottr C~n. · · ver[ation be m becontmeth, the Gojjel. Let i.t · an.fwer and-be fttilt!ble to. · ' . I The Ends of. t~e G~Jj>el. .· - / , . 2 The Dignitier the G·oJPel il!vefl.rJ ou with. 3 T~e ' 1-James rPhl ch the G'ojpel p11t1 l!pon JO.H• . 4T~e ReU?arcJ a~~;d R)c~es which t~e Gojpel . . prO.mifes. · . S The Supports which the Gojpel ,gives .e The. Spirit of holinejt which,the Goff.(l poursforth upon;o_u. Th~ Special Exhortation_, containinf{ dire~ llionsfor a C ~rijlian~s daily W a.lk. ~ el this Go.ffiel~ Con:per)ation 'be c~rried on, ~ . In· 41! ~oly 111~io~ , · ' • I ' (. • ' '• ~ Di · t: '1.
-. The Contents. PireEiionJ for the promoting an holy Vnio1t hetwixt .all Saints,tho,ugh ofdifferent per· .fwafionf. ' 2 In an u11ited Cont~tttion. \ .: , , tr. · 3 I~;t a1z ~aly . BoldneJ. , ... , ,I Argument r preffing the ExhoriatitJn. J 1 · 1 Thh jball be.to your .Adverfariet an ev i· dent to/ten of'ferdition. . . ~ . 2 To JOU of S alvati()n.' , · · · 3 The \ Argu~ent of the Text fart~er urg~d . · in two particul~rs.. ' I If God ,be witb JO~, all fball work .jfr. ,. jour good. · · ~ If God be withyou, JOU ]ha!I· fo.ortly h-~ with God. ' ,._ . ,. "- 'r,be Co;:-cli!Jio~ and .V4l~di?lion. -. ·. . ~ . ' . , . ' ' ... t! • t' .\\ : '(. .• *. .• ' ' " • • 'I' ., . .. '· . '!... • \ ' • • • • r. .. ~-~--~·,.,.._-......-~- .. - --·--·------11 -- '---~ ' I ) . - I ; ' . .... /' t 1 .. ; 1 \ .. j ... : , L . ~ ' . ~ /
( I j ' . ' \ . . ,• . ~ " / I • '- pH I L-. 4· 9. . / ' 1•. Thife things "J)Jhich fiiu have 6o~h yletJrneJ, I and rtceivul, 4nd heard, 11ndfien in. m~,._ , do, andthe God ofPeacefhalthcltJ_ith.Tou. W-· Hat the particular Reafon of. rriy choic~ of this Scripture this day i c, If ybu corn-. . pare my prefent flation, witb the intent df , ' · t'bc Apoftl~, i~ t}iefe wor~s, you will ea~ly _ un9er- "' l1/Jand. · " There words of the ~pofiie, being.part of the tClofe of his Epiftle to the Phitippians, are his !Tale– diction, or Farewel eo chem : lt is not unknown to you,thati muflnow be parted from you; and I have pitched o_ti this -Scri'pture,. to be the Clofeofmy Tv\•enty Yea~s Miniltry among you. . . God hath ferit me among yotJ to be 'a But.lder; and I have ch0fen this Text to be an Hd~mer to faH~n, and drive home lhofe Nails oflnflructiort and Con~ folation, wh.ich·r have been fo long endeavou1~ing td eilter into you. · / . 'Cod hat h. ftrit me ainotig yoti as a izijh.Jr.-man ~ . and I ha V'; chofen thefe Words to be ns the c!O{ing ()f ,' he Net. Behold I once more the Net is fpread, .. d I am nowmaking my IaH 01att~ht;and ofi that ) B . it . \ . ) I ( ·'
. . ' \ . ' . , [ 2] it might have the fame good fpeed, as Peter's' lafl had, I.~ul(e 5. 6. le would then .pay the Charoes • j ::i) , though the Net break. . , · God bath fent t~e among yeu ~s an Husbandmttn, , to plough, ~nd to fow ; and lam nowcome ~eo elver "'hat ha_th beep fdwn. . . · What is my aim in Preaching, let be yours in Hearing : Oh that ·both Preacher and He~trers . might heartily joyn in this Deftre ! "This enee more,Godfpeedthe Plough. . 'i In thi~ Deftre·and -hope I drive on. In the Text obferve, . · ~ , A Promife, ' . ,. ~A. Precept" · , , An Entail of the Premife on the Precept~ ~In the Precept we have, . t. An ACt ; [ <_Do. ·] , 2. An Obje.&; [Th'e things that ye have harned, received, heard, and feen.] · ' The Promife is in thefe words,[The God of Peace {h-all 6e W!.th you,] TheEntail,of the Promife on the Precept:youhave in the Connectrye Particle [ ~nd] which knits t~em up wgether. Do the Work, and have the R.e- ) , ward ; Ob~y the P!·ecepc, and enjoy the P~omife ; Do -whl:lt you ~~ve received and heard, and the Gpcl of Peace jhall be withyou. Be careful of the former, and be not . .:arefull ::'·oout the latter ~If the Precept 1 ,be performed, the 'Promife fh2ll ' Je made good. Doff;I.. ChriH:ii<nS a1ul~ be Learners before they can lie Doers. [whatyou /utVe Let(lrned, that, do.] D'Oct. i. He hath.learn<::d well, that bath ~earned to do welt ' . ' I • ' \ I • -T Doe&, j,
[ 3] , Doff. 3. Chrifl:ians Eyes, as -~ell as their Ear~~ may help them on in Relig ion ; Or, The Holy_ Ex... amples of Minilters, thould be living Sermons to J?eople~ [whatyou ~ave[etn in, mt] Therefor.e the Apoflle exhorts, Phd. 3. I 7. lWarf<. them. w~1ch fa -wall(, asyou have ut for 4n Example;and. I ··C?r• I!. I ·. Beye f olltrwers ~fme, as lamofChrift ; that 1s, I ~iche r I have'been a Foilower o£Chrift, be ye1 there- .fare Foll0wers of .me,!',; or elfe, Be"Ye FoUower.s of me; as far torch as'I have been a Follower of Chrilt. . Tho~Miniflers may go off the Stage with Honour and C6Qlfort,.who have Jefc behind ·chem the good, feed of follnd Do61:rine, and the good favoHr of "ui Holy. E~a mple. · · For _mine ownpan, what my :b~chirie and man-. ner of life hath been among you, you are witneffes; andGod alfo.. And however, I have great.reafon to judge and condemn my fdfbefor~ ~e ~ord-,- and to ·bewail it, th~t my Cop.verfati9n ha~h been. lefs ex-: empla ryand ufefull, than, oh that it had bee.tl! yet r go off from yo11, with this Tefiimony upon my hearr, that 1have not been of thofe who bind heavy Bunhens~ and lay themon.other mens G1oulders,but vv.ill not touch them with one of their fingers ; but , ruy endeavour hath been,to prefs' on mine own SouJ~ and to hold out in my own praCtice, that Wor~ of, tife which I J:tave preached to .you; and therefore ~m bold, in this fenfe, to exhort you, in the yvords of the Apo(tle, Be ye f?llowers of me, asfa~fvrth M ' )O?J have feen me a follow-er ofChrift. . DoEf. 4· Godly 1\-lini fic rs., when they are p~rr- ·· ingfrom their People, woul~ f2. in leave God behind . d 11em ...Tho11gh it be not: unufuaL,when the l.ord fends them.away, he.goes 'wi th them ; God and hi~ MefB ::. · fcnge rs I t ' 1 ' ' /
I, [4] \ fengers·, do not feldom take.their farewell of People togethe r ; yet their e~rndl: deft re is, that though they muft ~. way, yet the Lord would Hay; Dot!:. f. Faithful Minifters would- be Meffenger's of Peace, going,. as w~ll -as cotriming. · As the .t~poflle§ firfl: words were to be, Peace be unto you, ·Jv1atth. 10. fo fome ofthis Apofl:les laft Words were, The ,God ofPeace fhall he withyou• . Dof1. 6. When 'ever Miriifiers part with their People, 1f they can but leave Godl.ineffe in them; they ihqll certainly leave God with them. Or, !qofe thac obey the GofpeJ, whatfoever, or · whomfoeve'r theywant,tball ever be in ·a peaceful,and bldfed cot1dition. ' · ' Thefe th'ings do, that is,. live in the practice and · power of that Doctrine ofGodiine[s,which you·have. received, anel heJtd ; and then~ fe.tr not,. the God of Peace !haiJ be with you. · This Dochine, I i11all fwfy prove -to-you; afcer I have ·premifed, . That the Dothine which I have preached to you, is the D·oElrine of God!inefs; the fumme whereof take in there four panidllars : , I. That Jefus Chri{t, who came into the W0rld to rave fi.nners,came al[o to fanchfie and purge them· from their fins. ' . · 2. That thofe that. be.lieve in}:fus, mull be careful to maindin good Works,_ or t.o live a Godly . L,ife. · That thi~ Godlinefs is n0t (uc.h a t1ight and ea fie, and emrty thi·ng> as rhe miHaken World ima– gine; but fhnds in an exaCt ·Conformity of the whcle Man, Heart, and Life, to- the whole Will of God.. . . <' ·' /
' (;] / · 4·: That as whofoever believes not in Jef~ts,· fd whofoever is 01')rt of this true fincere Godlinefs, ·canno~ be faved. · . , , ~ . /> This is che fumme of that Do&rine; which r have preached unto you '; wh.Jch being the Etern~l Truth of God, I herein imbarque my own Soul and Life, defiring to be found. in . tha~ Came Jeru~, and t~ be foun-d\walkiRg in that fa\lle way of Rtghteoufnefs; \ which I have declared unto yo11. . ' z. That my Deftgn and Aim, in preachiAg this · Dochi~e to you, . hath been, to beget in yot~., and through the influen.~.e . and.affiltan{:e .of.the Eternal Spirit, to bring you ~o this true .Godlin.efs. I hav.t! travailed in ~irth with you,that Chrift inight be for..; med i~ you·;-that I might: f~ave you poHHfors and ( partakers of that Grac.e, which a~companies Salva- , .tion ; tl>iat your Faith might Jhnd not in the Wif. domof Men, but in the .power of G·od ;. That your Repentance might be Rep:ntari.ce unto Life, not to ·be repented of;t-hat you might obey from the heart, that Forrn{)fDoc1dne that hath been deliv.er'd ·unt.o _you ; tha~ you might lland <ompleat' in ·all the Wili of Go-.4 ;,t~a~ you m>ght be holy, and harmleffe, the , Children of God wich,out rebuke, in ·,the midfi of a cro<?ked Gener1tion, al11_ongll whom y0u murl: thine. as Lights .~_n the World, holding forth the Word of ·Life; that being rooted, and grounded in love, you might comprehend with all Saints, what is the hei.ghr, anddepth, anq length, and breadth,and mig!.Jt know the love of Chrift,whi<;-h paffeth knowMdgr, and.be ·6lleq with all the fulndfe of God : To this end have J .raug\:lt ev,ery one, and warneq every one, that I . l m1ght prefent you perfetl: in Chrifl J ~fus. - .B 3 3. Tlpt ,
I , f (6) . 3-. That as far ·forth, as the [ucce[s hath anfwerd · ~ny Defign, and aim, upon any of your Sou1s, fo far forth Han'd you intitled to this glorious promife in the Text,theGod ofJu,;tce Jhal be wit'h'you.Look how many Souls there are amongit you, that live ih the I pc>wer and obedience of thofe troths you have re., ceived; to (o many can I with confidence give this. farewell of the Apoflle, without Ifs ox Ands, ~he God ~f Peace ilia!l be with you. -To ,who.t?Jfoever the Lord 'ha.th been a God of Gr~tce,to them will he – be a God of Peace. Whoever amongfl: you have this God ofGracedwellinz a,nd ruling in you, {hall certainly find thi~ God of Peace dwelling and abi~ ding with you ! As for all others, though I ~an hea~tily make this rpy parting Prayer, the Lord be with you, the God of Peac~ be ,with you ; yet I cannot ,turn this Pr4yer .into a Pr.o~nife, nor give yoti any affurancc, that the God ~:£Peace Will be w!th·you. , Thefe thing, premifed ~ I Gulf now give you the full proof of the Doctrine in the following Reafon~. The Doctrine you emember .is; thofe that obey thq CofpeU, whadoever, o~ whomfoever they want,tb,all ever be in apeacefull and bleffed Condition. · The Reafons arc, . I •. The God of ~Peace lhall be with .them~ : z~ lf God be with them, _all things wRatfo~ver . bef::dl them, !hall inake for their good. , , · . -~af, 1 -~ The God· of Peace tball b,e with them; thefe things do,li vein theobedience of the holy p.o– cSthne which you have received, a~d the God of Peace '{hall be, with you. This glorious Promife is pregnant wtth all, the blcffings· tha~ Heaven and Earth can afford.. . · ··· Uyo~ ask, why, what is there in it ?I ~ernanded -· , ef
'i ' ' ( 7) ' of you, WHat is there inGod ?· God is 'in .t~e Pro– niife, all that is in. God, is here affured to theGodly. The Phzlofophers of ola attained to fo1ne glimmer– ings of the exccllencie5 th.at are in God, by thefe ,3. way~ · · . I. Per _ vi~m NegationU., coqceiving of him as a Being, re1nove4. from all things, fignifyi~g imper– feCtion: a,s ignorance, impotence, in,iquity, corrup– tibility , co~pofition, alteration , o_r any limits or bounds of th1s Effence, Power and Glory·. · , . z. Per viam caufatitath·~ conceiving of him, -as the .F,ountain of all other ~eings ; and thence cot).. duding, that whatfoever Ex~ellencies, or per.fe6l:i– ons are fcattered ur and down 'in the wholc''Crea– tion, are · all u'nited in him, frol)l whom they had , their Originall. · ··;) · ~" , · · ; ·. Per viam eminentite, by way efExcellency; fo tlia~ whatever perfections, wha·tever goodnefs is to be found in any Creature, though i.t be· n0t to be foundjn God,form~tliter,yet there is that ii1 hiln(be being the firfl: ·caufe ofall) that cloth infinitely_, fu– perabund~ntly anfwer them all. Though there be not , the fame Specifick Excellencies \n him, nor thofe , very pleafures anJ ddights ifii.ting from. him, which ' the creatures yield ; yet there are fucb Excellen_cies, . , ,fuch perfeCtions as ~ranfcend and ,lurpa.{fe .them all. The Scriptures tell ,u5 more pohtively , . a'nd plainly ; ,that God is Aimighcy, Omnifcient, O;n– niRre[ent, Infinite, Ecernal,Unchan9"eablc,Ail-fuffi- • I D .. ' bent, Holy, Righteous, Gracious; the Portion, the Protetbon, the Rewarder, ye~ the exc~eding great ~{eward of them that dilig;:ntly feek him. And this . is hr, that is in the _pr01;nite. ,God is _in the.pron1ife. I mutt not inlarge in this fpatious Field ; I fhall k~ep nearer the Text , and fhall confine my B 4 felf
I ( 8'} . f~lf to thefe four particulars. · , I , • 7 I. God is in the Promiie as the God of Pe11ce, as- ~ ~he A~thour and bellowcf of Pea,e. The greateH: of ~leffings, is the Bleffing of Peace , Peac;e hath all / ~ bleffings included in it. It hath po!felfton ,- fr~icion, . a~d fecurity;it hath p1enty,pleafure andJafety:where there's no peace, there's no fecurity for the holding, nor ~pportur{iti of enjoying what we have. ·What- . ~ver we have, we haye it 'ls)f we had it not.Peace is the greatdt of"Bleffings. ~ "Peace with God 'is the tnolt glorious 9f Peace. Wha~ is there i that's e~cellent. , what is there that's ' defirabie ; that is not comprchenqed in th)s Peace · with God? ·Where there's Peace, there's Pardon: guilt cannot confilt with this Peace;6eingjuftified6y~ · Faz"th,we httve p(.P!Ce withGod.Where tht"rc's, Peace, there sGra(:'e,,and holine(s: there's n.oPed~e,far.th ' rnJ God,to t~e rvickf_d. Where there's :peace, ther~'s Love, and good will. As love, fo pea~e is.the union ·~ ?f ~earts> The ~od of Peace)l with yo'u , flgnifie~ no l,effe then ~h1s; ~he. Almfghty God bears you good vvil1. Thefe two , peace and good will, are 1 .· .,Twins:O,n£arthpeace,good will towards r,nen. Where . -there's peace, rhere'~ bfe, everlalHng life ;, Internal,. . r. ls the feed .of et~'rnal peace~ · · , · l This peace i~, a Portion ; peace with Goq is our : po{fefilon· of the G?d of Pectce = This I;>~ace is a Saniluary; ifthe Ood of Pea~e be with us , the · .:Peace of God will keep our hearcs. . Chrijh'ans, in the World you mu(t have trouble; . .~ fuppofe you have, yet in h;myou ihall have pea~e, . who hath overcome the World. Ifa. 26. ~. Tho.u < . lf'!lilt /z_up him inperfeEl p~ace,(in peace,peace aq 'tis · ¥n tne Qrjz~n;tJ.) -n:hofe ~ind .uflayed ~n thee, P,fal. . , . , . . S5. 8. • I r .
"(9) . 85.8. I will hear whatthe Lord God will[peal(, he 1 willfPePJk.peace to thePeople,and to hu Saints.lNhat a Clattering is there in the W o~ld ? what tumules, artd commotions, are railed about the fo-llowers of Chrilt, as if- the yYorld were faliing abom their ears? The Devil fpeaks wrath, ev)l men fpeakdeath, ·and bonds t<l> them ; breathing ou: thre:nnings, re– proaches, perfecutions again!t them. In the midH of · all this fe.arfu!l noife, I'fe he-a.Pken, faith the 'P[til- · miff, what the Lord God will fpeak. Whatfoever n1en or Devils [peak , l'le hearken, if the .Lord God 1peakat the [:une t;ate. Oh no, he will /fpeak peace t'o his Saints : L~t the Sons of contention. do what theycan,the Sons of God lball be the Sons of Peace; they lhall live in peace, rhey lhaH dye . in peace, they lball dwell in peace for ever.Ifa. 3 2 • .I 7,J: 8.Th~ wor"'of R1'ghteou[rufs (halt be Peace, and the ejfeil , of Rzg~teoufnefs foa!l be quietnefs, and aj[urance f~r; ever..And.my people(hall dwell in apeacea6!efla– lntRZ:ion,& in fure dwel{ings,&, ·inquiet refli;tg plot... ces : Oh howgreat is the peace that they have, who love thyLaw.Chrifl:iansfear not to follow God.: let not that fad word ' npr the fulfilling of ir,fcare you ' out ofyour duty. All that w:'t( live godly in Chriff Je[r1J , (hall fuffer per(ecuttan. What if they do? .whilefl you are ~bJe tot {ay, I ~m perfecuted ,' but I h~v.e peace ; ! am poor, but I have pe:1ce ; in a Pnfon , but I have peace : in a Wildern~fs, but { ,have peace~ though all the World be againH me, ·God is at peace ., my Soul is in,peace; what difcon– l·agement 1nou!d all that be tofyou? , -z. He that is the (~od of pea~e, is the God of power. He protn1fes peace, ,and he promifcs no more , then he c1n pc1-f6rm• . He can 5 create peac~, hc ,can make ' / ,. ) ,
I ' ( JC?) . I make their enemies to be at ,peace witp them. He can make a league for them, with the B~alls of the 'field; with the Lions , ~ich theWol:ves ,, .with ,the ' tnoft bruitifb among the people. , He can fay to the pro~d Windsand Waves, peace, be Hill ,and they obey hitn . . He can give them refl: [ fr~m} the dayes / ofadverfitie : he can give them reH: [in] the dayes of adverfitie ':he can gh:'e his Beloved Aeep, upon the points of Swords and Spenrs. · ' 3. He thatis the God ofpeace, is the qod of ptt– tience. This is my greqt fear, that though God giw:s, · yet Llhall break my ~ peace; The c;od of peace with me? oh! this is he ~horn I diilionour, and difo.blige daily; by my difhu!h,difcontents,irppatiencies,mur– mutings, and what peace te> fuch an heayt ?. what p~ce, fo lont;· as fuch unbelief: fo muc_h iniquity ; as l find daily within mr,-remains upon nie? Will h~, vvith whom . no iniquity can dwell ., dwell in that heart,where there is fo much iniq 1 Jity, by which he is provoked eve.ry day! but he that is th~ God o.f peace, ,is alfo the God of patience ; who though he will not bear the iniquities of'his advei{aries, yet he will bear much with the infirmities ofhis People. Pfal.89.39. ' :;,r.c.IfJJu Children forfak.J my L~t"W , anti walk..._not · inmy 1 ] udgenie--11ts; zf they break.. mj Statutes, and . , .~eep not my Commalfdements; the~r will/ vijit 'their tra11[gr~f!ion_s witha_Rod , c§· their iniquities with ·ftri]us)Vevenhelcfs,my lovingk.fndnef wil I not ut– terly ta'/z.efromhim,nor fujfer myfati·hfuln~f 'to fail ' /.4· He that is the God of peace, i~ the G'od of hope. !-have not peace in poffdTion, whatcv~r there be in the promire• . I live in the ,fire? am born a man of <;:ontention. _What 1ikelyhood is tliere, that .I fl1ould ever live to fee a go?d day? my comforts ·are bfo~en, my ~Gate is loft , my ,Iibertie is gone ; fri er~ds
. I (11) · friends I have.none,enemies I h:tve many,anQ niigh...: ty, I dwell ih lWe(ech, I hav.e my habitation in the Tents of Kedar ; I -a~·n for peace,they at,e /or War: , ' whither ever I look' tounci abou~ me,before tne~behind rne,oh the right hand,or on the lefc ., all fpeaks trouble and terrbur to me. I ha·ve no peace ; What, nor no hope of peace neither? where is thy God man ?hall thou a God in thee , 'and yet nohope 1 in thee? the <?·od of p~ace,and yet no pea~:! the.God of ~ope, & y~t no hape! the Ged of hope Jlitllyet fill thee '1f?ith /of llndpeace in. he!ieving. Rom. I 5'. I 3. whj tirt thou cajJ down ohmy S~ul, tend 'WhJ ~trt thou dif– qssietcd withinme? hopo in God, for tI fhallyet pratfe ~im;who H. ~he h~alth "f my ro~ntentt'fJCC & myrJod. ' Pfal. 43.1 11The G~d ofhope will open a window pfhope in the darkell: times,~ dot;~r- ~fhope in the ·mo!l: _~efpe ( ate cafes. The ,God of hope will-bear up the fpiri.ts of his Saints ,' in hope aga.inH hqpe ; and this . ~ hope w.ill never difappoit1t them. It lha1I .never be faid, the~e' is no peace _, ther~ is no hope, till h can be faid , there is no God in1 fracl. · · · But how , ~r in wl}at ferice,is it to be underflood) ! that this God of peace will be with us. . I anfwer ·in 3. particulars. I. The heart of qotl will be with you. Jofeph's .,ble_ffing,tpegood,wll!of·him that dwelt in ~he Bufh, witl be thy portion.Deut. 33.what was the Bufh? the Church ·, or lfrael ofGGJd . What cafe was the Bufu in ? 'twas all oR a light fire ; 'twas all in a. flame. Who was i~ that dwelt in the BuG1::> God was i'n the Bul11; A,nd that kept it from confu~ing.;th~ugh not , fr?m bltrning. T~e good wil1 of this God ihall be Wlth t:hee : his. love , his; favonr, his care. I love !/Jn!J tf;at love 1~e'- Pr9y. 8.17. The Lo.ril !oveth the " , . · Rit;htcous ' / I /
I ' · (1z) '· ' ' /j't'ghteom, P(al. 14'6.8. The love of God, is the womb of aH good. Hence fprang the·morning Star, fror}:J the·Iove of God cat·ne the Son of God : hence cat-.·e that wrnnb of the· 1}%tJrnin[, ~ he 'bleffr·~ 9ofpel ; 'J.Ihich is fo ·big with glorious, grace; with light, life, pardon, peac.e , glory, immortality ; f, on1 the love ofGod came the glorious Ci0fpel of Goc:L The upper Sprirtgs, all fpiritual and heavenly bleffings: the 11ether ,Spri;1gs;all earthly and outward biet1ings 9o 1ll rife ', and bubble up ·Oqt ·of this Fountain, the love@f God.The. pretiom thJ'ngf of !-leaven, the pre- ,tious Fruits brought forth 6J the Sun~ the pretiom Fruits put forth by the Moon; the chief thinis ofthe antient Mountain.r,th.c pretious ·things of the lafting lj ·lis; thepretiotu things 11[ the Earth.,and the{ul– nefs thereof: All theft flow in with the good ~ill of him that dwelt in the Bufo. · Love i~ all ;. the Apollle tells us, Rom:. I ; • our love to God , is the [tdfi!ting of the Law; that is, it will bring forth all that ·to God ·, all that duty , and .obedience, \Jvhich the Law requires~ I- mtJ.y tell you, that Gods love tous, is' the fu!JillifJg of the Go!pel: that is, it will powre down alllhat upon us,i.c will do all chat fotus, which the Gofpel promifcs. took over the whole G<.lpel.; read, and Hudy every precious leaf, and line of that bleff~~·Book : and if there be ~nough in aH tl1at; to q1ake thee bldfed, and to e·n– courag~ thee on in thy holy ccu( fe, all -this is thine. ~ .Thou haft that love of God wich thee; which wiH fulfill the Gofpel: · ther_e thall not one jot or tittle f:t if rhee, 0f 21'1 rbat the Gofpel promifes: The z:.ea! if the Lord oGHoftswill pnJorm this, Ifa. 9·7· 2. The help of God will be with you, the Lord f\ 1 ilt be your helper in the day of yuur difhdfe. • • • 1 - • • Heb.
-: \ (13) .. He/J. r 3. 5, 6 .. He hathfaid, I will nevn·leave thee norforfd~ thee.So that we may b Idly iay,TheLord.· ' Z:s my helper' 1 will nrJt fear wha~ nttllf caifdo unto " -me. ·He·hath ·fa:id, l1fill not leave thee: and there– fot~e we m_ay fay, I wilfnot fear: He hath faid,Jwill · he, ~nd thel'efore we may boldly fay, th.e Lord iJ mJ 'helper.: He ha th faid , He-will not forfake , he will heJp·; a~1d 'who is he that lha_ll fay~ There is no help for thee in thy God. . . There,s rio man, whofe Cafe may not be ~defperate, as to be above all humane. help. · If he lhould '– cry.t~ut; as Ehe wot~an: to the King oflfrdle/: Help ·0 J(ing; .the Kingmuft an~wer;!(the Lord do no! ·help t-hee~ whenceJh4ltl help thee? lf he fhculcl cry OUt' rle!p 0 MPin of God: the Man of G1 od muft anfwer, ifrhe Lord do not help the~, whence 1halt ~ 1 help thee? If he c:.ry out? Help 0 my Friends, I.~Y Wit, £11Y Policy, my Purfe; all thefe mult anfwer, If the Lord do not help the,e, whence lhall '1ve help , thee? But _what cafe is ~ther~, wherein an [Help Lord] \J\\ill not do? Foolifn men count their care defp~rate, when they_ come ~o their [ GrJd 1Je(p,l that's an ufuall ~1Cprel110n, to fet forth the extremity and he1p1efnefs of any mans cafe. When we fee n1en even Iofi in any rnifery, ' and their 1 ea[~ even Utterly hopclefs, the.il' to fignifie our fenfe of fq_ch mens Iofr condition, we· cry out, ,God help that ' nJan, God help that won1~n,.: they are loft Creaturds. [,.but if men did underlland and confider what the lleJp of the Lord is, they would fee there ' coul~ be no cafe fo defper~te, but an Help Lo.rd , might recover all : . I. Sam~ 3o. 6,.. when Davzdwas greatly dilhetTed,3nd all wa?·oo~e, -be f!JConrafi~ed b/mfelf in the Lord his Gr;d. 0 . . Confider ' . I r . . r
\ . . \ ( 14) ' . Con!lder here two things. · . , · l. What his Cafe thet;l was; he was in great di~refi; he h?d,lofl: a~l, that ' ever he had; hjs ipoils that·· he had taken were all ~gone, his ~oni, and his ., G~tte'Il, his W~ves , and his City were all loll:; he had not an habitation in all the World; he had no– thing left him but a po0r Arn?Y , and thefe'were v:or1e then lofi, they vvere eve? rea?y "tO fall upon htm. The·people fpaks offlom.ng hvm , but he en.. ~oHraged himfelfin the Lord his GfJd. . 2. What the ,event hereupon was ,; why Gbd help' d him to all he had again =verf. I 9. There '.gM ' nothing lack,ivg to them , neither f malt nor-great, - ne~ther fons, nor daughter~, ; neither Jpail, nor anJ thing they bad tak.fn, Davtd recovered all. Hence note, · · I. That a Chrifiian whel) he hath loll all, haeh yet a Gpd to go to at lafl-. ' 2.. Whi1d1: a C·hrifl:ian hath a God to go to, hi~ cafe is ncve1~ defperate; le~ him but encou~ag·e him– felf in hi3 God, and all will be recoYered. I ·) . · Sinners, triumph not over the poor people of . God ; wh~n they are at their worfr; when they are brought as low as your Pricle and Malice can lay them ; though they fhould be fhipt nakrd, and lefc d~ltitue of all their cblnfons, though all the World·· fhould 1ide on their backs, and tread on their necks; yet rejoyce not ·againfi them: though thev fall, they lball a,rife; w~en ~h~y !re ,at their worfl, theres Hill help for them tn their l:1od. 3. The prefence of the LordChall be with them. Whither foe.ver they may De fcattered, they fiull not be fcattered from their God That Promife. made tqMofes';-E.xQJ. 33• I 4. MJpr(fen<eJhall _t(). ~ ' , , w~h \ \
( I)) with thee, belongs toall the . lfr~tel of God. [Mypre– fenee] in the' Original "tis mJ fttce ; in the Septwa• ' ginr, myfelffha/1go lpitb thee• . The prefenceof God is either, Genera 11, or · Speciall. . I . By his gencrall prefe~ce, he is ev.ery where : ·1. ~er ,effentiam, he fills all things. ' 2 .• Per: C()gnitione~, he behol9s 'all things. 3•. Per Stif/entittionem, he upholdsall things• ..q.. Per Do~inium, he g0vernsall ~:hil(gs.. But to let this palfe, as not fo proper to ·our pt,.t,r... pofe. . · ' . · . 2: Tpere is hisSpecia!t;or his ·grad 0~: s Prrfence; \whereby he 11an i fd~s himfelf to be with his p ~ople. · I. In fome-vifible, ttndftanding- to/zens ofhis pre- · (ence; as i thole exr.!:aord·.nary , theP il!J rs,of.the Clqud, and of the Fire: and in t~ofe cnHn~ny, the Atkand the 1~emple, of vlq , and the Ordinp'nce' of ~h,e ~fpelnow. ' , ~ ·z. In fom~ inward influences, and irradiations 1 upan the hearts of h.speopk. . 3. In f01-ne vi(ible and jignall ejfeEls of this pre- ' , fence, whereof there are very many. There are,. amongfl: others; thefe two notabte effe&s, of Gods . .gracious 'prefence; .which his people, by venue of this Promife, may with confi.dence c:xpeet·, < : I • ~ Condu~ion, . , ' t Covering : · . they tbatl be Led in their way; 3nd they !hall be Hilt in their way. . · 1. ConduEfion .~ the Lord will be wich them , to lead the~n and guide them in the way 'tlu~ they ' ilio.u!d go. Pfa!.' 'l5 0 9> I 2 o,Tht M~el{.wilt hegttid~ ) i~t, I. I t •
, , , ) ' (rl)) ;n JuJgcmcnt.,them/ek_.witl he teach in hisw;j.PfaL .: I o'7.7.He led themforth by the rigpt way,that thej migh~go to a City of habt'tatlo~•.Pfa1.5.8.L~adme, q ~ord, in thy rt'ghteoufn~fS, , be'tau.[e of1!Jine Ene.. mtes, mak! thy wayftrait before 'IJI} facr. , The ~ord leaqs his people in their .way, chie~y PJ his Word, whkh is a light to thd'r feet, and a Lanthorn to their paths: And fometimes alfoby hi.t l~roYidenccs, hedgn1g up all by-wtyes,, anclleaving bm one w~y open to them,that hath the leall appea.- ' ranee of the way -0f 9od. So ordering the matter, that any other way that i$ before them, looks with too foul a face, ·to leav~ anv d0ubt upon 'them, whe..o ther that be the way of G~d or not. It's never uncomfortable to the p"ople of God, ·while they fee their way before them: 'JJoubts about: · their V·Jly , are more perplexing ', than dvtngers in their way., · When they knowwhat God would have them do, they can ch~arfully qu(! in ~im ~r any thing .they are like to iuffer. Dofl: thou meet wit_h Wolves or Lions in thy 'Xay? thou nrai!~. bldfe God 'cis there thou tiiceteft them, · 'cwould, be ill meeting them clfewhcre. . - --. . 2. Covering nr Protec1ion in'thei'r ,A,ay: P/al. 3 r • . zo.Thoufhalt hidK them in the fecret ~fthyprefence, .from the pride of man; thouJha!t keep them fetretlj in apavilion, from the firife oftongues. [Thou {hale hide them in thy prefence] or face: thy llgbt {hall be their da1 kpla,ce·to cover th~m:Thou ~trt my hiding place, Pfal.3 2.7. · [In the.\eCI'ct of thy prefence] the Saints hiding place is a feet·et : Such, .where neithet• the·p ~ idc of m.en can find them,nor can .they Ulidcr- . -Hand what it ,is. · Rc'proaches lballnot find them 1 pclfecuci~ns Qull uG·t fittd them, wbofe Souls are hid . . ... ' .
. . ' ' (t7) ' ' ' !, J1rd in God: ~hey are not found, when they ate, ~ found ; they are .hid when they fce'm t0 Iye_ moH: , open , and mofl: expofed to mens will , and luft.· ~. Sinners do not underftand what refuge the Saint's have,in God. It is agreat fecret,a myffery to them : r as tQe joyof the,Saints, the comforts of the .Saint~, . are a 1eCret; Aflranger [hall not meddle "With h~ joy : So is their fafety ot fe'curity ; they do not un– derltand what kind, norbow grea-t fecurity; what 'fure, nor what fweet repofe, the S~lints find in Cod. The feCl·et of G0d's ~prefence is a fure ' ~ and a fweet: refiing place, for all his Saints ; but how fure, ahd how fweet, no tnan knows~ but they that enjoy·it. Thefecre-t t'ntimatir>nj,of the care ofGod for them;· of hi's everlalling kindne(s to them ·; of his govern. ing hand,in all that befalls them, working it to their greater good ~ the fecret (apports and refreiliings darted in, as the beams of his Countenance; their fecretfence, that their head, thei~ main, is in fafety, · though ·they have bruifes in their heel, will yield fuch reft in the day of greatefl adve,r(lty, as men can neither fee, nor take frot.n thern. ThePill.ar of che Cloud interpofed , did both hin·der · the Eg;ptians pur[uir., and ,hide fr~tn t-heir eyes; the comfort of · · that light Which !hined upon the Catnp ,of lfrael~ MtJfes .knew what the co'mfort of ("icd'£ preCence meant, when he fa id', Exod.3 3. 't 5. Ifthjprefence go not w~'th us,catrj us not hence.'Tis(if cpnfideredj '-- a great word. Ifr~tel vvas then ina Wilderndfe; amqng wil~ bea11s, amongbriars, and thorns, in a · weary pilgrimage ; hut they had God among them? The Lord was carryipg t.hem to Canaan- ,the Land , of t.hcir refi ,a L3nd flowing vvich milk& hon~y:buc J,.!ofts p rayes,ffthy~prefente go not with us ,carry us / c; jj!().- , . \ I . '
( I 'I (i8) ,not hence. We had ~ather be where we are, in a Wil.. dernefs with God, than to go toCanaan, & leave our God behind us. If thy pre[ence go with us, we are willing to go, when th?u wilt, wl}hher thou wilt, whi~h vvay thou wilt; though by the Tents of E4o– mites, l(hmdelites, Maitbites, H ag~trens; though through the Armies of A nak..i·ms, Z .llJ»ZJHmmim$ : wee'J go any whither, fo God go with us. The ab.. fence of God makes a (tJtnaan worfe t~an a Wilder– nef :the prefence of God makes a Wilderne[S_ better then a Canaa11 : Apd this prefence of G.od, lhall be the Lot of all his Saints. I ' . I ?.V. a f. 2. If God be with you, all ihall make for you : All Provideptial Occurrences, and Events vvhatfoever: All nifficulties, Straits, Difa!lers, Dif– appointments ,. whatfoever, that may come· upon you, {hall make for your good. Rom. 8. 3I. ![God be with m,wha can be againft us?Who~an be againft us ! that ]s, None can be again'ft us: Or if any be~ yet thofc t~at are again!t you fi1all be for you. Gen. 42. 36.Jofeph is not,andSi1non is not (fa id old J~r~ cob) and mufi Benjamin away too! all thefe things are agajnfltne;but yc;t as old as he was,he lived to fee alJ making for him. Rom. 8. 26. We k.now all thing1 JlMll wor/z together for good to thofe that love God. This is fuch a Promife, as , if it were throughly be. lieved , would fet our feet on the necks of all our ' feats and dangers, and will prove the truth of s ~tmpfon~s riddle., Out of the eater came meat, _andout of theflrang,'[weetnej. . Now becaufe there is fo grea.t encouragement to godlinefs in it , ·I !hall fp~nd the more time in inlarging upon ir.; and iliall L11ew, . 1'. J yvhat thofe things are whi~h are efpecially ifil-:– , · , c~ded, I I (
(19) '· tended, in that compreheplive terh1e (allth,~ngi) 2~ What th~t good is) which thefe things lhall worK-to. - . ' . j. To'whom thefe things fl1all work for good. 4· Hovv thefe things lhall work for good. 5. That they lhall undoubtedly work for good; t o them that love God. · :r. What thofe thin·gs are~ which ar~ efpedally iintended, in that ·comprehenfivc term[.All things.] Som·e there ar~,as A uguftip~ with others , who un.. d~rfia·nd it Nniver[afq,of all th ingswhatfoever,,whe~ ther good or evil, ex~ending it even to the Sins of the Saints. l es true; God'dothoften bringgood out of tbefe evils, making ufe of former lin5, to be for•. · 'ces againH future : as the thorn,~hat did ·. hurt in the Garden , will be of ufe in theHedge: fin 'oft eh be• cotnes it's _own de~th , whiCh was in~ended t to be ~he death of the Soul: There's ' nothing that dot~ tnake the Sinner more weary, and wary of fin, than Sin it fel~: the reviewof what w~ have done'· ~oth oftenefi fright us of doing fo any n1ore. When you look:back on fin, and fee·it's face (for fin carries it's face in it's back) you;Ifear it the more;when ever you meet it again. ·There's no argument doth more effeCtually 1 humble, at1d break t}1e heart:; and maka it more fea.rfull, and ·watchfull,again!l: fin, th~n the · lhame,and the fmart of thorefins we have fallen .by,f he that hath felt the wouhd, will take heed how he. pia yes with edge-tools. Thi~ is true, God cloth often make this ufe of fin; to be it's own cure~ and ther~fore '_tis not fddome feen,t~at the chief of St"n– hers have tome to be the chief~{Saints. Yer,b~fide·s, that this is not the fubjeet mat 1 ter that the Apofile is h~re treating of; let thofe that bring fin. within the C ~ corn~ ,. ' . ' · ' ' ,•
' I /. .. ( 20) . I_ compafsof this promife, and make ·this to run irtto the fence of it ; that even all the fins of che Saints • l ' fba.u work for their good, l~t fuch tell us, how, or in what way it's imaginable,that the ~nful du:ayes ,o£ fuch who backflide from God,and never recover to their former life, and vigbur, ~ut 11 ve and dye in a bnguilhing Gate of Soul ; let them tell us, how fuch fins · can pe im:agincd to work for their good: till then, we mufl enter our diffent from this Interpreta– tion. This then is not the fence of the promife, that all fins lhall work together for good. ' .. And,yet ifi't were, it would be but a po0r argu... 1nent, to take the more Iibe'rty to iln, beca·ufe God will turn it to good ; this would be even as rational, as for a man to tear his fletb, break his bones, p1uck out·his eyes, l?urn his houfe, &c. becaufe God 'will _ turn all his fufferings to go'Dd: he is little better than inad,that wou19 not conclude fuch a man out of -h:s ' Wi ts. Others rcftrain it to the evt'fthin!'S that befall the Saints, notthe turpia,;but the trifti;, their fuffqjngs and affiit1:ions; to that vanity,atnd thofe vexations, they arc in bondage under, arid under which with the,who·le Crea_tion, they grean and t ravail in pain, waiting for their rederpption :· 1 of which, the Apofile had ,been tre~cing in the former par-t of the Chapter. I And ycc while they pitch the fence, erpecially on (uch things as thefe:~they grant it may be extended to all other things~ {in only exc:epted ; ad omnes re,s, crea~urll•S eventus' tumJecund~s, tum adverfos : To all things and event'>, whether p,rofperous or affii&· i,ng. So Parceus·, with ())thers. · · , · And thefe I take to have hit the.righc. All heavy - · · th'in~s,
. (li) ~ t,bings, all the fufferings and affii£tions of t~e~aiQ.~s; ~nd not onely tbefe, but all things elfe whatfoever, I that in the .whole courfe of prov~dence be.rtheir lot: or portion : all the dealings of God with them , all the difpenfatiofis of Providence towa'rds them, iball all work for thei.r good. ' J 2. What is tha~ good , which thefe .things work to the Saint§; or in what fence all things may be faid ,to work good to them. The fence in general is this; They lh,all all wor~ t9 their welfare ', >-hey £ha~l all happen to then{ for the better : there lhali nothingbefall them,but o9e time or other, they iliall ha.v.e reafon to fay; 'Twas wcll 'for me, tha.t it was thus with me. The wifdorne and goodne(s ofGod, -did cue out fuch portions continually for me, did lead me thorow fuch a (eries and fuccdllon of caf{s and events, which though I couLd not ut1derltand, yet now I fee thac e'very conqicion, every contin– gency .and bccurrence of my life, through which ~ ' Providence led me,- was ufefull , and could not well ' have bee!l wanted, but it would have been . ~he worfe for me. l"hus- in the general. . .: · Particularly, for the fuller underllanding what good it i$ that all thing~, to con(lder; That.there is a,Twofold good of the Saints; Sttch as they obtain and enjoy, whilelt 'they are in via, in their way or . Courfe ; or fuch as they D.ull ob-tain , when they ar~ ;;~ termino: whef.l theyaregonen to the end 'of their way, when they are come t? their place. Or thus, There is a Three-fold good of the Saints, ·~emporal. ,Spiritual~ , , Eternal~ .· , . , I. Temporat'good, or our hon/t corpa,ris, the out- . C j war<i . . . - l .
1. (2. z) -' watd good things of this life ~ which -may ferve~ and ·pleafe , and delight us in thefe dayes ofour pil– griniage ~ wh~~h may abide with us , and attend us to our graves, but there will take th~ir leave ~£ u~ . . . ·3. Spiritttafg0:o.d,or our h~na tl':l:im.te , ag,d thofe are either, I. External, as the Ordinances of God ; the' Lizht, Liberties, and ·priviledges .of the Gofpel; ~he Satiety , and Commun~on of ~aints , and ol1t peacefull and plentifull enjoying ·of them. . z. In.. ternal, as fpirhual Gn\(;e , faith~ Love, flopc, Patience, &c. r · 3. Erer11algoo_d,or that glory and joy,that ever.. lafii ng.relt and peace, thepoffeffion of ~hac Inheri. tance incorruptible, and undefiled , that is refe.rved in Heaven for us. / · Now here note thefe things. r, . ~. That dur ~~nd torpor~, our ou;ward good ~hin g~,a~ on~l¥ goodfor 1,#, as they ar~ conducible t(lil bonum [plrtt~ale,to the goocl ofo~r ~ouls. The bonavitt,are onlygood in the event,when they tend to the ~o.num Pat rid!. This World i~ bm a Nurferie for Eternity ; we are plant~d in ,this, in order to ~urtr.anfplanting ~nto the other Wolld: and what~ ever VJJC have here , is either good, or evil, accord– ing f'O t~ r~f.pett that ~t bears to ~:ereafter: As fa~ forth as pur il'prnoqa l pan is impro-ve~! by thefe pe 7 riihing things '[o far' forth one!y are ~hey good fot ~s. .He that hath this vVorlds goods, and is not hereby made more rich tbyyat ds 9o~ ; he wh~ profpers in this vVorld , and yet his Soul doth not p1 pfper : mu~h more, he; whofe wor~Hy fulndfe be– comes the emptinefs, apd leanncfs of hi$ ~oui: ~r~ th~fe gpod ~hings good for hu~ ? ~s he in pro~ , . · · · fperi:cy ' l I • ~
(~' {) good . ~ Ho t11al1 be depriv,ed or k~pt thort o( no~ , th)ng., but what he haq be~ter ~e without tha·n ~aveo 1-:(e that is unfatisfied with this Promife ) it is either · , fromLuft or Vnbele.if; Either he cloth r1ot believe, ·that God is true~ unci will perform th~is Word :. or, el[e 'tis pecaufe his Lufl: muft be'fatisfied, though with the .denyal of Inis Reafon a11d Interefi ; he that ddires an Efl:ate in the world, Eafe, Pleafur~~ Li-. bcrty,or anything elfeuponany other terms,. but as they may be f9r his·reall good,. hath as much lofl: hi.s ·Wits as his Fai \h: an~ he that will take t.tpon hin:t to knoyv what'~ goodJbr him,better t~an God, i:nay as wel!.take uponhim to g0vetn the World. You may with as good re'!fon,deflre a Feavet, or a Drop– (le, that you may have the pleafure ofyour drink; as for the. ple~furcs that carnal things would bring you}n~ todelire them; when ~hey would' be a fnare to your Souls. · · .3•' To whom thefe things lhall work for good: .. ' T'O t~em that loveGod,to them that are called accord.- , · i·ng to his pu.rpofe. : To the people of 'God ; who, , 1 you fee,are here defcribed by their Election and Vo· catz'on,[ the ea/led according t.; his purp~(e]and their .. sanEtificatt'on_, [ they that love God' ] Lov~ is, as I . told y~u before,~hefu!filliztg ofthe L~w .LoveGod, and you w'~ll liv.e in the obedience .of hi~ whole ~ill ~ Thefe are the people, to whom thisPromife ,~s made ; prove ,your Calling and Eleeti'o~, ·prove - your Sant1:ification, and you may write your name~ rn this.glorio.us P romife :All things jlutll work.,for · your goo1~ . _ To rhofe tliat are Re bcls, and Reprobates fr~nn 9od,aH things {hall work together fw evil. Whil'fl: ~l;ings hunful wotk together'"'for good to the Saints~ · , aH ~ / . I
' I' ( 24) 3. That ou~ inward rpiritual good 1 fs gooc;l fo~ us, fo. far fort~ as it tendS' to .our eternal g<>.>od :,and: , th~ refore grace is. ever got:>d for us. It's ever true; It's good to be hvly, good to be humble, to be in , the fear of G.·od, and to flottritb in his grace. W~ may have too much-Money, too much Credit, but v'-:e can neyer have too much grace. Our greatefl: flourifhiug and fruitfulnefs in grace, will certainly ~bound to our more full reward. · 4· Note; That this is the plain fe-nce and n1ean~ ing.of thepromife, All thingsJh/1/,!l wor~ [for good,] that is, W_hatfoever befalls, iliall cer~ainly ·promote qur it"'ternal, and efernal ,~clfare ; And as far fonh. as the outward Priviledgesof the Cofpel, yea, and ~he rgood things of this life, conduce towards this,, all l11all work for thefe ai[o. If it be good for us to ~e rich,,if it be good for us to be in honour, good fot: ,us to be .'!t liberty ; good fbr our S,ouls, good in :r~- --feren~e to our eternal Hate ; if it be good for us that we enjoy the Minilhy of th~ Gofpel; there lhall noth~ng befall us, that £hall hinder ; there fhall be ·· no~hing ~vanting -to.us 1 ~hat mig~t ~~rther th~s Otft good·. · , . - The fumme is, That all providential di[penfa~ ~ions ilia!!_ b~ f<Yordered, that we {hall want noching but what its hetter wane than have : We t1u11 fuffer ' ' . ; \ . ; ' . I ~othing ,bu; wht.t w~ sanno~ well be wit~out, but w~~t the good of mir Souls requires, ; and r_.hat wh1ch we d0 poifefs, <ltid tha_t which we do fuffer, {hall n~t fail of bringing ~bout its el)d, t)1e adyan– ~ing our ete rnal good. Anq if this be-the me~ning,_ what a glorious J)ro– miie is this ? \'\'bat can a.ny radonil m.:1n defiye more ? nothing tball befall h~m but iliall be f6rh1~. ~ood ~
(2 ·3) fpericy upon a true accou'nt , whofe S-oul profpers noc ? It is not ever good to profper in the World : it cannot be uni verfally faiq , It's ·good to be rich, it's·good to be in health, it's good to be in honour, ~ it's good to be at liberty :.the contrary may f01ne· · ~imes be true ;rit's good to ·be poor, to be fick, to be in difgrace, to be in bonds : the neceffity of our Souls cloth .not feldoxne require it: T~en alone is it · good to be full , and to abound , when our'outward , abundance fa.rthers our fpiritual welfare. Chriltians , could we .receive this truth , That our outward good things are onely good for us, ,as·far forth as they conduce to our fpiritual good , (ould ~e receive this. truth, ~nd live under the power e.f lt: what a d1fferent JUdgement f11ould we then hav~ of all thefe worldly matters ' from what we have ? and how llrangely would the courfe of thi~ ·World be then changed? Would there then be·fuch violent and eager pm:-fuing thefe carnal things ? Would there then be fuch whining , arid complain- , ing, and , murmuring at every croffe providence? We would then fay, This·maybe good for me; good for my Soul, how fad foever it looks. · 2. That the externalfpiritualgood things,the Mi~ · niltry,and Ord~nances of the Gofpel,&c. are fo far good /to us, as they conduce toour internal fpirimal good: an,d they beingordinarily fo' it mu(t be con– cluded, That ordinarily it is &ood for us, that we en– joy them,and be not dep>rived of chem.G·od may fee the cutting Chriltians !bott of thofe privilcdgcs,and Liberties, to be fometimes needfuJl for them ; and . then even this alfo.makes for their good : Wher~of n1ore anon . I ·c 4 ' 3. That J ' I (
./ (z6) I all good things WGrk together for the hurt of Sinners: their Peace :· hurts them, their plenty hurts · them, their pleafure .hurts them: yea , both t.heir . pr0fperity ,,and adverfity ; t,heir plency , and their poverty ; their pldfure, and.their trouble ;•their ho– nour and difgrace,and every thing that befalls them, turns ~o their ,prejudice; Their profperity deltroys them : their Table is their fnare ; their pleafures are their plagues; and their very ptinitbmencs are turn.. ed in~o fin : every thing that befalls them·, heightens and hardens them in their wickednefs, and rip~ns them for vengeance. God is not with them , and therefore J.l0thing profpers with them. (;od is with hi$ Saints ,. and therefore nothing comes ami[s to them , buc all for their greater advantage: Chri.. fhans,this is your portion, andyonr pccu!z"ar, vyhere.. in the men of thi~ World fua.Il neither partake with you, nor be ever able to,deprivc you.of ic. · '·4. Ho~ all things {lqaii work for their good: in fpeci,ll , how fual! c·he evil thing.r, the Sufrerings of this life be for. theit good : How can this be ? Mufl: we disbelieve our Senfes, lay down our .Reafons, ere we can beli'eve the Scriptures ? .Mull: ,we call evil , good ; and good.,. evil ? Mull count dark– ne[s light , and fight darknefs ?Is pleafure pain, and pain plea[ure ,? 1s Iofs gain , and gairi 1 lo[s ? Is eafe torment, .and torment eafe ? Doth l\eiigion make ~hings cdfe to be what they are, and to be what they are not? or ac kaft, MoHwe believe, that dark– nets is the Mother oflight, that good is the D,-:ug_h– ter of evil ?Can we gather grapes of thorns, or flgs of thifiles ? Can d:nknefs give light, or deathit felf bring forth life? ~tuft we fay, that contraries no longer dd~roy, but produce each other , and that the · · womb
( 2,7) wotnb . brings fol'th its own defbru£ti0n? How ca11 thefe.ching.s be? . But mufl God give a · Reafon of his actions, or elfe they are not ! though evil dtnnot bring forth good, 'darknefs cannot bring forth light; yet, Can- · pot God bring forth good out of evil, light out of ~arknefs ? Though darknefs cannot bring forth light; evil cannot bring forth good,by a natura.Icaufation; . yet, Cannot God make evil an occaG.on of good 1 . Though it do work ejfici~ntlr , yet can it not work · o~jcrtive!y )neither to it? Thoug,h the torment the . Me/dicipe puts men to. be not eafe, yet, May it not , work towards eafe ? May _not the flo rm, though it J help no~, yet haflen the Lab0urer on his work, the Traveller on his way,? May hot the darkne1s of the ' . night, make more diligent in the day ·? May not – ficknefs teach men more temp~rance, .and poverty more frugality ? . Buc to proceed n1ore difl:inc1:1y; H<;>w tan the Saints evil things wotk to their good ? That,.. they . , do fo, cannot be denied, unlefs we will deny, not ' ·only Scripture, but common Senfe and Experience ; but how comes it to pafs? · I antwer in· 4· Particulars-: ;/ r I. The Afflictions and Tribuiati0ns of the Saints arc the way that leads them on·to the, p~ffeffion of that good, which God hath intended to them; affli– ctions are the way of che Kingdom; the Crofs i~ the way to the Crown ~ AEI:-s 1;4.22. Through many' ; TrihulatirYns we ~ufl enter into the Kingdom ofGod• .Pfa1.6~.I I ~1; .((hou broughteft us into t ~e net,thou, haft tazd. .ajfizEI:Jq.n upon our loyns, thou haft .caufe~ fken t~ ,ride over our h~ads : 7??C went thro~7;h fire, , ~tmf PHlfer, thpu froughteff i1;d il(to a -wealthyplace. ·O bieive . / ·;· I 'I /
" . (zS) ' -obr~rve it; Their Troubles are th~ir way to ·their Triumph; their very falling into the net, their way ~v efcape. Their El!lemies -boaf-l: ; Efcape ! Ari[e ! yes, let ~hem free themfelves with [u~h hopes while they wTll, we have them fure enough, we haye thetn under foot, we have them in the net: If this be ~heir way, weel keep them in their way long enough ; now we have them down, they lhall not be able to rife. I, but yet it appears, through alfthis the Lord Jed ~hem forth into a WcaJthy ,place. The High-way of the pn:md is not their more ready way ts> the cf,uH,. than the dufi ofSaints is their fure way tp ho– nour. When Ifrael were to go . to ·Ctt11acen_, they mufl take the Brick-Kilnes, the Red Sea, the Wit~ dernefs, Jordan, in their way: Could any 01\e have imagi·ned, .that 'the bqndage, the firaits they wen; amder, the doubling their Tasks, the cruelty af their Task.. Malters, theitA enclofure at the Red Sea, diq mean any gooc{ to them? yet, How fel1 it 0Ut at blt? their darkeH: difpenfations had light in 'their latter ead ; .Their greatdl b'ondage leads on to their grea– teH- liberty. Every crofs ' Providence is a fl:ep to the accom.. plHbment of the Promi[e; the Wheel is ever ... mo– V!ing on to its end; it moves ll ill forw1rds., even. when it feems to go quite backward5 : As the Ri.. ''er by its many turpings and windinzs.forwardsand backwards , is Hill in motion to the Sea, when it · feems to be nmning quice c0ntrary~ Chriftians, ifever the Salvation of God feems to. be removed farther eff from you ; if the work of God fhou1d at' any ti~e feem to go backwards; if crofs Winds 01ould turn the whole courfe, fo tha~ you appear racher to be m,arching back to ~l}Pt,than I 011
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