Vert.2 S . the Epiflle to the Romans. Interpre- tation. The word (mow) h fer again( pi ionor doubting. 'poet. tud . Vfe. they Are fuch as are called of his pur- pole. This pointeth to the high love - raign caufe,the which maketh affli &ions to bee behoovefull for Gods children; namely,his eternall counfell , the de- grees whereof diflin &ly are laid downe in the verlcs following. T 1 M. Now come to the words, and tell me how we may know that afflielions fhall doe usJo much good ? S I L. Three wayes : Firft,bÿ Scrip- ture; Pfal. 34.19. and 5o. 15. and 119. Secondly, by experience of Abraham, Noah,and the ref} of the godly, who all tooke great good by their affli &ions. And laflly by reafon, becaufe the faith- full being Gods children, therefore atfliEfions muff not deffroy them, but only ferve for chaftifements to reform them. . T i *s. What is the infirullion gat wee are to take from hence S t L. This : that all the godly are affurcd,that the end of all their troubles and crouts (hall be happineffe; it is not fo with the wicked, who cannot know that the end of their adverfity, or pro. fperity (hall be good : and therefore have neither found joy in theoae, nor conftant patience in the other ; whereas the :godly be chearfull under the croffe, becaufe they doubt not but that it will be peace at the laic. This truth may be let forth by the comparifon ofa come- dy, ofwhich the 1pe&ators know that the end will be joyful!, though the be ginning be troublelome;and fuch is the eftateof true Ghriliians.' Alf() by the comparifou of a Tragedy, ofwhich the beholders are lure, that though the beginning be pleafant, yet the end will be lamentable; and fuch is the eflate of the ungodly. T 1 M. Whatufe of this point? S i L. Firlt, it confutes the Papifts, who teach that men cannot be Pure to befaved, becaufe they cannot be lure thatthey (hall !lane! fat in affli &ions. Secondly,it ferves to comfort the faith - full,and maketheir affli &ions the more eafie,feeiug it is certain unto them that not oitely no harne, but much good will come to them in theend.Andit 303 is great reafon, that men fhould beare that quietly, which they know will be for their own good at lafhas Merchants abide great hazard, fo do fouldiers too, upon an unalfured commodity and vi- &ory. T I M. What is meant by [All things]? S i L. It contains whatfoever may happen to a man profperoufly or o- tberwife, and whatfoever is within him or without him, either good or e- vil,al Angels,al Divels, all men wicked . and righteous , all gifts of body and minde, and all defe &s of both (hall re- st,, 44e turn unto the good of Gods children: . 944 4Ó " fJt4° ó1i yea Auguftine ftretcheth it.fo farre, as f nt44mr. to the very tins of the godly; after the )' Bernard. committing whereof,men become more humble and warie.Which yet is not the prec4t4d4- proper meaning of this place,becaufe it ;rrrrr, doth particularly treat of affli &ions , 71, ,. 4: and of the croffe, and of the good that Auäu f , comesthereot; which is eternall life,or the falvation of our fouls; which being the chicle good whither all good things tend,is here called of the Apoftle by an excellency [T hat good] T I M. What is meant here by work irg together ? S I L. It fignifies thus much : that affli &ion§ themfelves in their own na- ture Both not bring forth that good here fpokeu of. T I M. But how then comes it to pafe that they arefoproft'table? S r L. By the force and vertue of Crrm44. another fupream caufe working toge- ther with affli &ions,(to wit) the nier- vailousgoodneffeandwifdomof God, difpofing the affli &ions of his people to right. a =- their good.As7ofeph raid to hisBrethren "" Gen. 50.2o.Whenye thought evil againflme, God difpofed it to good,even to fave much people alive: fo when as Satan by affli &ions means to drive us to defpair, God dif- pofeth them to an happy end, even to encreafe hope, Rom.5.34. For as a Phy- titian who is but a man; can fo temper Hemlock,or other poyfonous things', to make it become medicinable, mach, more can God fo temper and difpofe of affli &ions,that they (hall be wholefome to his children. D d TIM..
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