1. The afflictions and tribulations of the saints are the way that leads them on to the possession of that good which God hath intended to them ; afflictions are the way of the kingdom ; the cross is the way to the crown : Acts xiv. 22., " Through many tribulations we must enter into the king- dom of God." Ps. Ixvi. 11, 12., " Thou broughtest us into the net ; tliou hast laid affliction upon our loins ; thou hast caused men to ride over our heads ; we went through fire and water ; thou broughtest us into a wealthy place." Observe it : their troubles are their way to their triumph, — their very falling into the net, their way to escape. Their enemies boast : " Escape ! Arise ! yes, let them free themselves with such hopes while they will, we have them sure enough ; we have them under foot ; we have them in the net ; if this be their way, we will keep them in their way long enough ; now we have them down, they shall not be able to rise." Ay, but yet it appears, through all this the Lord led them forth into a wealthy place. The highway of the proud is not their more ready way to the dust, than the dust of saints is their sure way to honour. When Israel were to goto Canaan, they must take the brick-kilns, the Red Sea, the wilderness, Jordan, in their way : could any one have imagined, that the bondage, the straits they were un- der, the doubling their tasks, the cruelty of their task-masters, their enclosure at the Red Sea, did mean any good to them ? yet, how fell it out at last ? their darkest dis- pensations had light in their latter end ; tlieir greatest bondage led on to their great- est liberty. Every cross providence, is a step to the accomplishment of the promise ; the wheel is ever moving on to its end ; it moves still forwards, even when it seeais
FAREWELL DISCOURSE ON HIS EJECTIOX.
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to go quite backwards : as tlie river, by its many turnings and windings, forwards and backwards, is still in motion to the sea, when it seems to be running quite contrary. Christians, if ever the salvation of God Beems to be removed farther oft' from you, — if the work of God should at any time seem to go backwards, — if cross winds should turn the whole course, so that you appear rather to be marching back to Egypt, than on to Canaan, — yet be not discouraged ; though your way be an unlikely and un- promising way, though you be led about forwards and backwards, yet still you are making on ; though the lesser wheels be never so cross and contrary in their mo- tions, yet the great wheel is still moving right on to your blessed and hoped end. God intends your good ; your spiritual good here, your eternal good hereafter ; and be- lieve it now, for he will let you see it here- after, that those very things which most threaten your miscarriage, and a total abor- tion of your hopes, are made all to concur to the bringing them about, and to your more full and speedy possession of them. Note further here two things : (1.) All things work: not they shall work, de futuro, — but de presenti, they do work. As the apostle says, " The mystery of iniquity," so we may say, the mystery of the saints' redemption "doth already work ;" the work is already on the wheel, and every wheel is in its motion for you ; not only your brethren, the saints and angels, who are all praying for your peace, and seeking your good, — but your enemies also, the dragon, with all his armies, — are at work for you ; all the councils of this world, are already sitting upon tlie very matter ; God hath called them together for this purpose, — the pope, with all his conclave, — the Jesuits, priests, monks and friars, with all their convent, — yea, the devil, with all his conclave of hell, are all at work for the good of saints. It is true, they mean not, nor intend any such thing, their designs are against you ; they count they are wor- king for themselves ; as it is said concern- ing tlie Assyrian, Isa. x. 6, 7. God sent hini forth upon a design of his own, to ex- ecute his counsel, in the punishing of hypo
nevertheless, he meaneth not so, nor doth his heart think so ; the Assyrian minds not what God's design is, but follows his own design, — figjits for himself, and spoils for liinist'lf, — but (jod's design is still carried on by him, though he thinks not of it.
All the events in the world are driving the same way ; every disease or infirmity that comes upon you, — every loss that you sustain, — every scort" or reproach that you suffer, — the shame in your faces, the sorrow of your hearts, the torment in your Ixnvels, the aches in your bones, — are all working your good. All the changes of your con- ditions,— your fair weather and your foul,^ your sunshine and your clouds, — your plen- ty and your wants, — your eases and your
pains, — your liberties and your prisons,