6 8 SERMONS upon Serm.XXXV1I. I. I /hall ea plain this point with refpeá to the circumftances of the Text. 2. Give a more general (late of tie cafe. The firft will be done, I. By opening the nature of the privifedg. 2. The certainty of it. I. The nature of it 5 and there we begin with the extent, all things 5 it mm(t beli- mited by the Context, which fpeaketh of the afliâions of rheSaints. t. All manner of fniérings and tryals for rig teoufnefs fake: Such as Reproaches, Stripes, fpoiling of Goods, Imprifonment, Basiihment, Death, all luch kind of things. Reproaches are as dung caft upon the grafs, which feemerh to (lain it for a while, but afterwards it fpringeth up with a frefher verdure ; Stripes are painful to the flefh, but occafion greater joy to the foul 5 as Paid and silos, after they were fcourged, lung at midnight in the Pocks, Alls 16. Spoiling of goods ftirreth up ferious reflections on a more enduring fubftance 5 the hopes whereof we have in our felves, Heb. to. 34. 1m. prifonment doth but (hut us up from temptations, that we men be at liberty for a more freeconverfe with God ; as 7erttrllian telleth his Martyrs, You went out of Prifon when you went into Prifon; and were but fequeftred from the- world, for more intima- cy with the Holy Gho(t : So banifhment, every place is a like pear to Heaven, 'áni the whole earth is the Lords, and the fulnefs thereof:, they know no baoifhment, that know no home here in the world; but becaufe we have an affeáion to our natural com- forts, efpecially to the place of Our fervice God is wont to recompence his exiles with an increafe of fpiritual bleflings, as yoke had his Revelations when baniih4 to Patmos, Rev. T. 9. Death doth but halten our glory.t if the gueft be turned out of the old houfe, you have a building of God, eternal in the heavens, a Cor. g, 1. And ,tit do but leave a (lied to live in a Palace 5 tho your life be forced out by the' violence of men,.tbe fword is but the key to open Heaven doors for you, and you are freed from hard task-mattersto go home to your gracious L ord. 2. Ordinary affictions incident to men.: Are you pained with ficknel, and role to and fro on your bed,like a door on the hinges, through the reliefs wearinefs of the flefh ? Many times we are belt when we are weakeff, and the pains of the body, help to the invigorating and renewing the inward man, 2 Cor.4. 16. In Heaven you fhall have everlafting eafe, for that is a late of reft : Haveyou.loftchildren? if God give you a better namethan Ions and daughters, you have no caufe to complain, ¡fe. 56. g. 'Tis honour enough to you, that you are children of God 5 if poor and defitute, yet if rich in the gifts and graces of the fpirit,'tis made up to you, Rev. 2. 9. I know thy po- verty, but thou art rich. But'ris not expedient to name all cafes; whatever the calami- ty and a(Hiáton be, God knoweth how to turn it to good; fo that tho we reftrain all things to the Context, it is large enough for our conlolation. But is there not more in it ? For men are always given toover- gofpelling and inlarging their priviledges? Both it not comprehend fin? Anf. No, not in the intention of the Apoftle 5 God bath not made a promife, that all the fins of Believers (hall Work for their good : 'Fis true, God made advantage of the fins of the world, for the honouring of the Grace in Chril, Pow. q. 16, 17. It fhould be our care, that Satan may be a lofer, and Guilt have more honour by every fin we commit; True repentance can draw good out of fin its felt, to be a means of our hatred and mortification of it : So love and gratitude to our Redeemer, Luke 7. 47. Her fins which are many, are forgiven,for 'he loved much: but to whom little is forgivcn,the fame loved) little. Sin doth not do good as fn, but as repented of;'tir not the fin, but the repentance. But for the proof of this. t. Then it would d firoy the qualification mentioned in the text, Thole that love God. Our love is a love of duty ; none love God, but toofe that obey him, and keep his commandments. 2. To affure us aforehand, that our fins would turn to our good, would open a gap to loofenefs, and is contrary to the Vital methods of God in his word, who commands obe- dience with a promife of increafeof grace, and threatneth difobedience, and puntfh- eth it allo, by hardnefs of heart, and a tradition, or giving us up to vile affections : Now there would be no reconciling there paffages, if God allured us by promife, that our fins fhould turn to good, and yet fias be puoithed with blindnefs of mind, and hardnefs of heart. 3. If
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