Verre 31. the Ep ftle to the Rarÿiaris. 313 meditation of them, that we may lay better hold of them for our It ronger comfort ; for it is as if he (hould fay: O ye beleevers, now that ye have heard of the exceeding great and manifold riches of Gods grace and mercy towards yee, which affords you a whole fea of com- forts, why Dagger you ? or why are ye fearful and troubled in your great agonies and adverfities ? By that which bath been Paid of Gods immutable and abundant love in Chrift , already fo much expreffed to you, ye may eafily gatherwhat Thal l follow, for the reft of your life. T t M. What learn we from this ? S I M. Firft, that Minifters muff not only lay forth and prove Chriftian comforts,but muff preis them hard. Se- condly, that people muff hear comfor- table things, with a care to apply them unto themfelves,to make ufe tor future ftrengthning their hearts. T t M. What obferveye eut of the latter part of this verfe,[ who aan be againft ur ?] S s L. Two things : Firft, a ferret temptation;and fecondly, a means how to overcome it.The fecret temptation is this, that all creatures are bent againft true beleevers, which be Chrifis mem- bers : and indeed it is fo, for not only fin, Satan,the world, Devils, Tyrants, perfecutors, Hereticks, Idolaters, but even of the fame profeflion ; as bre- thren, yea Parents, acquaintance, kinf- folk,wives, husbands, brethren, lifters, children, they of their own houle are enemies, and filch as eat bread with them,lift up their heel againft them. So it was with David,andwith Chrift, and with theApoflles, and fo muff others look to have it ; which made Chryf Arne by an Apoftrophe with a quefti- on, to rife up againfi Paulo queffion ; faying,O Paul, why askeft thou who will beagainft us ? now if God be on becaufe God is againfi them : fo the our fide, who will not be againft us? faithful be happy, bccaufe God alone favours thettytbough the whole world be againft them. Becaufe he cannot only preferve them that nothing hurt their falvation : but can cattle every thing to work forthem, and to further their falvation. TI M. ver ofall ; or by his fpecial care and providence, as a propitious father aid proteftor.Thus it is meant here. For he faith [With us]that is us whom he fore- knew, whom he predeftinated. Hence Auguftine hath this fweet 'meditation , worth our narking When we were not, God predeftinated us ; whin we run front hint and turned our felves backwards, he called us to him ; when we were unrighteous, then he ju flified us ; when wewere impure, he fiutlfified us ; and aftera fhort time fpent in his obedience and fervice, he will glorifie us. Now then, whofo fighteth againft Gods children , fighteth againft God himfelf, their propitious Father, and powerful proteaor. T t m. What nteaneth this word r If r] S t t. It is as much as becaufe, it is a participle of one who reafoneth, not of one who doubteth. T a M. What is our Doltrine from hence? S t L. This : that the fatherly good - neffe and prote &ion of God, being be- leeved on, is a ftt$iicient refuge and fitc- cour againft the whole world of ene- miesand dangers : the reafon hereof is, becaufe the power of God is infinite,his Alrnightineffe cannot be refifted : whereas the power of all creatures is fi- nite and limited : and as God made them by his great power of nothing, fo to nothing can he bring them by the famepower.Thereforethe world is va- nity, thedevil is a bugge or fear -crow ; men are asa bubble in comparifon of themighty God. Let this be fpoken to diflrefled ones. - The godly have been greatly comforted with this confidera- tion of Gods being with them; as the godly Prophet David,Pfa1.3. 5. and 27. T Sam. 30. 6.and Ffal. 23. 4, 5. For as thewicked and unbeleevers be unhappy (though all the world be with them) for we are hated of all for his fake : this is a heavie triall. The means to avoid this temptation, is by this perfwafion, that God is with us. Now God is with us two waies,either by his general po- wer to uphold us, as a common prefer-
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