Ver.15. the 17th Chapter of St. J O H N. 2i i. For taking them away in Evil Times. It ftandeth with his Goodnefs, that they may trot feel the fmart of them. ICa. 57. I. The Righteous perifheth and no Man layeth it to Heart, yea, the merciful Man is taken away, none confidering that the Righteous istaken array from the Evil to come. When Corn is gathered in, then the Beats are turned into the Field. God valueth his Saints fo, that he doth not count. the World worthy of them. Heb. r r. 38. Of whom the VVorld was not worthy. He fheweth his Jewels, and then (hutteth them up into the Casket. And with his Wifdom, that they may not be corrupted. The Wifdom of Providence concurreth to our Prefervatión, as well as the Power of Grace. Enoch was tranflated, and taken out of the World in a wicked Age. r Cor. I a. 32: But when we are judged, we are chained of the Lord, that we might not be condemned with the VVorld. What judging and chatning was it ? not only by Sicknefs, but by Death ; Many are lick, and many weak, and many fallen afleep. 2. Chrit continueth them in the World, as the Difciples here ; partly, becaufe he bath need of them, as the Difciples were to preach the Gofpel : Partly,that they might have more experience, and a more grownFaith : they might try God, and God might try them; they might have experience of his Faithfulnefs, and he of their Loyalty. The World muft have a time of trial, and fo muff we. Nay, he dealeth thus with Believers ; they are continued in Evil Times, either becaufe God !lath more work for . them to do, or that they may carry more experience with them to Heaven. Vfe. To refer it to theWifdom and Goodnefs of God, either to go or tarry. Chrit knew there was Service for them to do, therefore he was exprefs, I pray not that they may be taken out of the World. We that know not the Counfels of God, mutt refer Our felves to his Plealure. 2. ObC That as long at we have a Min f ry and .Service to accompli)), we Jhould be willing to continue in the World. Paul was at a trait, TM. I. 2I, 22, 23. TheCaufe was Ser- vice; For me to live is Chri I, and to die is Gain. For if I live in the Fiefs, this is the Fruit of my Labour, viz. bringing Honour to Chriff ; yet what I ¡hall chufe; I trot not : For I am in a flrait betwixt two, having a (Afire to depart, and to be with Chriff, which far better. He is ravifhed with the Thoughts of it ; but then he confidereth the profit of the Church, Verf.24. Neverthelefs, to abide in the Flejh is moreneedful for you; and Service calls the Scale. Taul's Cafe, is the Cafe many times of mortified Chriti- ans, after long experience of God, and weanednefs from the World, they are in fuch a trait. Natural Motion is fwifter in the End ; the nearer they draw to the End, the more vehemently do they long for Chrif} s company. Some make it a CQyetion, which is hardeft, to bear Afli &ion, or to wait for Glory, the work of Patience, or the delay of Hope ? Delre is a more refflels Affe&ion than Sorrow; yet I fhould think the, depth of Sorrow is more burdenfome than the trength of Delre. Many of God's Children are tempted to make away themfelves ; but I never heard of any. that were tempted to make away themfelves in the heighth of Affurance, or out of the vehemency of Spiritual Delire, tho the prefent Life be accompanied with many Vexations and Affiaions. Defpair maketh Men to lay violent Hands on themfelves; but not Affurance; as Saul fell upon his Sword, and lchitophel went home and banged himfelf, and Judas was his own Executioner. But Affurance, tho it defireth God's prefence, yet it tarrieth God's leifure. Waiting is a Fruit of Faith, as well as Confidence. Spiritual Delires are always conceived with Submiffron and Obedience; if God bath more work, they can brook the delay of the Reward, and tarry for their Wages. I remember a Paffage of a Heathen, of Tully, in his Somnium Séipionis, when Scipio had faid, `If true Life be only in Heaven, why ray I then upon Earth? why hate I not to come to you ? No, faith his Father; unlefs God free thee from the Fetters of thy Body, thou, cant not come hither. Men are born and bred upon this timid Condition, that they promote the good of the World. You mutt not fly from the Duty aligned by God ; the Soul is to be kept in the cutody of the Body9 till it be commanded thence by God that gave it at firft. This was his faying ; and in- deed it is wonderful. Chritians ! learn to wait God's leifure ; it is better to be with Chrift, but you muft not look for your Wages, till you have done your Work. When a Sentinel is fet upon the Watch, he muft not come off without the Commander's leave; and till he is difcharged by Authority : God bath fet us in a Watch, and we mutt not leave our Ground, till we have done all that i$ injoined us, till we receive a fair DUI charge. Dddd a this
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