324 SERMONS UPOK ROMANS vm. [Ser. XLI.
{2dly.) Effectual vocation is the eruption of this purpose. God is not witli us, but in us. When we are made partakers of a divine nature, we have a pledge of his being with us in our own heart. We dwell in God, and God in us, 1 John iii. 24. The new creature is under his special care and protection, and he is very tender of them, 1 Cor. i. 9.
(idly.) Justification is another act of his grace. We often give God occasion to withdraw from us ; but his pardoning mercy maketh up the breach. Woe unto us if God depart from us ! We often banish, and drive away our own mercies : Isa. lix. 2, ' But your iniquities have separated between you and your God ; and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.' But he multiplieth to pardon, and accepteth us in the beloved, to the praise of his glorious grace. And BO his favour and gracious presence is continued with penitent believers that cry for mercy.
{Athly.) It endeth in glory. The God of our salvation discontinueth not his care over us till he hath brought us into his immediate presence. Here God is with us while we dwell in houses of clay ; there we are with God for ever in his glory. If he be with us here, we are to be ■with him there for ever ; for we do not part company, but go to him whom we love and serve.
{5thly.) God is with us with respect to his particular care and pro- vidence, ver. 28, guiding all things for good. Now God's providence is either external or internal.
1st. God's external providence is seen in blessing our affairs : Gen. xxxix. 2, ' The Lord was with Joseph, and he was a prosperous man ;' and ver. 21, ' The Lord was with Joseph, and gave him favour in the sight of the keeper of the prison ; ' Acts vii. 9, ' And the patriarchs, moved with envy, sold Joseph into Egypt, but God was with him.' This was most eminently fulfilled in our Lord Christ ; he had such great success because God was with him : Acts x. 38 ; and John iii. 2. ' Nicodemus said, no man can do these miracles that thou dost, except God be with him.' But in their measure it is fulfilled in the saints also. God was with Christ ; he driveth away the devil from him by a word, Mat. iv. They ask leave of him to enter into the herd of swine, Mark v. 12. So in christians ; God is with them,'_to give them success, even to wonder, against Satan and his instruments. So God is with us when he loveth us, defendeth us, and blesseth our endeavours.
2dly. His internal providence, in a way of comfort and support, and sanctifying their troubles. Thus God was with Paul ' when all forsook him:' 2 Tim. iv. 16, 17, 'The Lord stood by him and strengthened him.' And so he comforts his people : Isa. xli. 10, ' Fear not, for I am with thee ; ' so Isa. xliii. 2, ' When thou passest through fire and water, I am with thee ; ' not only to keep them from fire and water, but to be with them in fire and water. A christian is never alone, though all forsake him. Well then, the meaning is, since God will fulfil his eternal purpose, to justify, sanctify, glorify, what can hinder our eternal sal- vation ? We that were predestinated when we were not, called when we were averse, justified when guilty, sanctified when unholy, and glorified, though now miserable, what cause have we to fear ?
2. The comfort built upon it — ' Who can be against us ? ' Let us state the meaning of this clause.
VeE. 31.] SERMONS UPON ROMANS VHI. 325
[1.] The whole world seemeth to be against those that believe ia Christ. There are but two sides in the world, God and Satan. The whole world is Satan's kingdom : if God be with us, all else but God and his confederates will be against us. All is divided into two seeds and two kingdoms : the saints fight under Christ's conduct, the world under the devil's. We were listed as soldiers in baptism, under the captain of our salvation, and we renew our military oath in the Lord's supper, wherein we are afresh engaged against Satan ; therefore ' Who can be against us ?' doth not imply an exemption from troubles and opposition, but only that the victory is secured. There will be many against us : the army of wicked men is employed to uphold Satan's king- dom, to maintain what he hath gotten, and to hinder the redemption and delivery of his captives. We cannot expect none will be against us ; but we need not fear them. Wlio are they that are against us, but vanquished enemies ? We serve under a captain who hath al- ready conquered, John xvi. 33 ; a captain whom Satan feareth, and who is able and willing to help us. This then is the first consideration : there will be enemies, but we need not fear them.