[2.] Though they be against us, yet they shall not do us any con- siderable hurt. See the lilte question, 1 Peter iii. 13, ' Who is he that will harm you, if you be followers of that which is good ? ' God is with and for the sanctified and justified ; the devil, the world, and the flesh, are against them ; yet they cannot make void God's purpose ; for if God be a friend, all tendeth to our good. So that the meaning of the question is, who will be against us so as to harm us ? God's help is our safety and security.
[3.] Let us see how far they may harm us. The devil and wicked men are the enemies to Christ's kingdom and subjects ; the devil desire th their spiritual, the wicked their temporal ruin. The devil useth the latter, in subserviency to the former, to shake their faith, by fines, imprisonments, exile, torture, death ; but God is with them, standeth for them, helpeth them, strengtheneth them, protects them, many times giveth them safety in the midst of danger, bread in the midst of penury and want, joy in the midst of sorrow ; if they kill the body, he will save the soul, and raise up the body at the last day. Let us see, then, how far the harm may extend.
(1.) Our conquest is not always nor principally by a visible pros- perity, nor worldly greatness and dominion. God's protection is a secret: Job xxix. 4, ' The secret of the Lord is upon their tabernacle ;' the special favour and providence of God, which the world knoweth not of, nor can discern. There is an insensible blessing goetli along with them ; as the wicked are eaten out by an insensible curse, though they have great revenues. God can put a very great blessing in the compass of a very little means : so Ps. xxxi. 20, ' Thou shalt hide them in the secret of thy presence from the pride of man.' They find sure refuge and defence in God, whatever proud and contentious men design against them: so Ps. xci. 1, 'He that dwelleth in the secret place of the Most High.' It is a riddle to the carnal world how they subsist ; but the Lord, by the invisible conduct of his providence, taketli care of them, provideth for them, and protecteth those that love, fear, serve, and put their trust in him.
326 SERMONS UPON ROMANS VIII. [SeK. XLI.
(2.) Sometimes God permitteth that they shall harm us in onr temporal interests, but not eternal. Alas ! many times the people of God suffer many hard things : Heb. xi. 37, ' They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, they were slain with the sword, they wandered about in sheep-skins, and goat-skins, being destitute, afflicted, tor- mented.' The meaning is not, who shall be against us to take away our lives and liberties ? God will sometimes glorify himself in his people's sufferings, and in the general will have us perform to him a tried obedience : James i. 12, ' Blessed is the man that endureth temp- tations ; for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him ;' make us perfect as Christ was by sufferings, Heb. ii. 10. But if we keep our innocency, the worst they can do is to send us to heaven, and so make us par- takers of that which we desire most, Luke xii. 4. When they have killed the body, they can do no more. If they cut it to bits and par- cels, they cannot find out the immortal spirit ; and however they molest and mangle the flesh, they cannot hurt the soul, or hinder our eternal salvation, or take us out of Christ's hands, John x. 28. And a chris- tian upon these terms should be content, that by conformity to Christ he may be brought to eternal glory.
(3.) Christians are to be considered, not only in their personal capacity, but also in their community. They may prevail as to single persons, to kill and burn them, but not as to root out the church : Ps. cxxix. 1, 2, ' Many a time have they afflicted me from my youth, may Israel now say : many a time have they afflicted me from my youth ; yet they have not prevailed [agaist me.' God hath still preserved his church from age to age, notwithstanding the many hostile attempts against it. His people have been severely chastised, but yet in mercy delivered : the ' gates of hell shall not prevail against it,' Mat. xviii. 18. The wit and policy, the power and strength of enemies, shall not utterly destroy the christian church. Their arms and weapons ■were usually kept over the gates, and there they were wont to sit ia council. As not particular faithful believers eternally, so as it con- sidereth the congregation and society of christian professors, it shall never perish totally and irrecoverably ; but whatsoever changes it undergoeth in the world, it shall again lift up the head.
[2.] The reasons why we need not be troubled at the opposition of those that are against us.
(1.) Because of the infinite power of God ; take it for his sove- reignty, or his ability and sufficiency, or strength.