Ver.28. the 8th Chapter to the R. O M A jv s. prayer on our parr, Phil. t. tg. Throughycur prayer a dt /e l ., Jefus ; and Heb. 12. 11. Now no chafining for the prefint feeme,h to h joyo spirit p vou nevertbelefs afterwards it yieldeth the peaceable fruit Of rrghteoufnefs,to then: that are ex_ ercifed thereby. 'Tit not the bare nature of the Cro( doth it, we mUR labour for that We look for ; the Saints are not only paffiveobjerls,but aftiveinftrumentsofProvidenke5 there is an exercife on our parts we are to make life of all things, then Cod will blcfs us. 7. If it be true of particular perfons, 'ti., mach more trite of the Church, ali ïo fer gooGja Pfal. 76. to. Surely the wrath of man fhall praife thee, and the remainder of wrath Aft thou reflr.din. Chrift many times gets up on the Devils fhouldets : All Providence is for the Darts fake, 2 Tim. 2. to. Therefore-1 endwre all things for the eleasftle, that they may obtain falvation by cbri.fl, with eternal glory. The fufferings Of the Apoftles conduced to the good of true Chrinians ; God confidered the good of the whole Church. USE, Is Information. 1. That the exception againfl Gods Providence from the - evils that abound in the world, is vain.and frivolous. 'Twas an old doubting queftion, If there be à God, how arethere evils ? If there were not a God, how is there good ? brie part aafwereth the other ; the Text more fully ; he turneth evil unto good. That there are Devils, God knoweth how to make ufe of them, to punifh the wicked, and exercife th'egodly ;that there is fin, if there had been no fin, net Chia; that:there are útiferfes, ifigo mileries many graces would be loft ; there would be no fortitude, no patience, no earnenncf in prayer 5 that there are wicked men, it fheweth Gods diltinguifhing Mercy, that when fo many are drowned in the common fhipwrack of mankind , 'cis the greater mercy that weefcape; if others are bad, let us blebs God that made us better. Lag. ly, that there is death, that there might be a paffage out of this world, and a period to our labours and forrows. 2. It teacheth us how to interpret prayers: We have prayed for the continuance of ï' Meiling, and loft it ; for the riddance of a trouble, yet it cootinueth upon us ; this la; . the very cafe here; if God heareth them, how come they to fuller filch hard things P The fpirit teacheth us to pray ; now the denyal of either fuit turneth' to good : We 1 often come to God with carnal requeltr, which being interpreted, found but thus, Give me that wherewith I may offend thee,or have my ffefh pleafed,orlufts fed:God fin_ deth'us doting on the creature,and we take it ill to be interrupted in our Whoredomsë We mull d iftinguílh between what is really belt for us, and what we iudgbeft5 other diet is more wholfome for our fouls, than what our fick appetites craveth; we are belt many times when weaken, worn when ltroageft. 3. Itgiveth us a reafon of waiting: Tho we do not prefently know Why evety thin is done, let us wait. Providencedoth not work without a caul ; we fee it not now, but we (hall fee it when God turneth it to good : We mull not judge of Gods Work by the beginning, God feemeth an adverfary for a while to them that indeed injoy his eternal love; let patience have its perfeá'work, and when Providence is come to apes riod,you will know more. 4. What reafon to 'raft God with events. Some things fall Under out duty, others are a meer event; our care is about events rather than duty, and fo We take God$ work out of his hands; and fo 'tis not care, fo much as carking ; We enquire what fhall become of us, rather than what we fhall do; do you do your duty, and God knoweth how to turn all things for good, Phil. 4. 6; 7. Nothing can go omits to hint that is found in the way of duty. ç. It informeth as of the bappinefs of Gods children : We may put infor i fhare; when we are fanûified to God, all things arefanáifìed to us ; and things that tither- wife would be Mares, prove helps, and difcouragements prove furtherances 5 the a a_ cure is as if it were another thing to the Saints; if they ate advanced, their hearts idlarged to God, 2 Sam. 7. 2. And the king faidunto Nathan the prophet,See now,I dm in an houfe of Cedar, but the 4rkof God dwelleth within curtains. Neh. t. t i. OLord, I befeech thee let now thine ear be attentive to theqpra er of thy fervant, and to the prayer' of thy fervants, who delre to fear thy name, and profper, I pray thee, this day thy fervsnt,, and grant him mercy rn the fight of this man; for I was the kings rapbearer 5 meaning, he had improved this place for God. When they are afffihted, they do tacit fret or faint; but humble theinlelves under the mighty hand of God, and fo meet him at every turn f 9 M Olt
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