VeR. 31.] SERMONS UPON ROMANS VIH. 331
attempt to hope to reconcile Christianity with your carnal affections ; but if you be such, though the feelings of nature be not altogether quenched in you, you will not be greatly moved as long as your main happiness is safe; that is, while God's love to you is not lessened, while your communion with him is as free as it was before, while you lose no degree of grace, and your hopes of glory suffer not any eclipse ; for your solid happiness lieth in these things, other tilings are but appen- dages to sweeten our pilgrimage ; and though a christian hath a value for his natural comforts, yet it is a value and an esteem that is sub- ordinated to higher enjoyments, that he hath something of value to esteem as nothing for Christ.
2. Temporal protection and prosperity is not excluded from the compass and latitude of this privilege, but included so far as God seeth fit, so far as it is good to have peace and liberty. Heretofore the bless- ings of God's presence were visible and sensible ; as they observed of Abraham, Gen. xxi. 22, ' God is with thee in all that thou dost ; ' so it is promised to Isaac : Gen. xxvi. 3, ' I will be with thee, and bless thee ;' to Jacob : Gen. xxxv. 3, ' God was with me in the way that I went ;' to Moses : Exod. iii. 17, ' I will be with thee ;' to Israel : Deut. ii. 7, ' The Lord thy God hath been with thee ;' Josh. i. 5, ' I was with Moses, and I will be with thee ;' to David, 2 Sam. vi. 18. So that we cannot say that he will not own and bless us in the course of his pro- vidence ; but communion with him, and the enjoyment of his gracious presence, is that which the godly desire most : Exod. xxxiii. 5, ' If thy presence go not along with us, carry us not up hence.'
3. Though temporal happiness be not altogether excluded, there must be trial ; for there is no crowning without striving, nor can a reward be expected for sitting still : 2 Tim. ii. 5, ' He must strive.' According to the laws of the exercise, to put in for the prize in the Olympic games, and to refuse to run or wrestle, was ridiculous ; so it is to think of heaven and do nothing for it, or run no hazard for it ; partly because we need afflictions, that the inner man may be renewed, and we be more prepared, dispositively fitted for glory, being weaned from the world, and mortifying the flesh: 2 Cor. iv. 16, ' For which cause we faint not, but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day;' 1 Peter i. 6, 'Wherein ye greatly rejoice; though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through mani- fold temptations.' We suffer to quicken us in our drowsiness and refine us from our dross. Partly to conform us to Christ, that we may overcome the world ; he overcame it by suffering, to show us that by suffering we shall overcome it, which is a nobler victory than if we had overcome it by the sword : Rom. viii. 37, ' Nay, in these things we are more than conquerors.' It is for the honour of God that it should be known that God hath a people that love him, and are dearly beloved by him.
4. In these trials God is with us ; and so if he save you not from afflictions, he wQl save you in and by afflictions. How is God with us in deep and pressing afflictions ? Partly in bridling the rage of men ; if you be in your enemies' hand, your enemies are in God's hand: whatever power they have is given them from above, John xiv. 11, and they cannot do anything but as God permitteth. Partly by the
332 SERMONS UPON ROMANS VIII. [SkR. XLL
effects of his internal government — (1.) Supporting them : Pe. cxxxviii. 3, ' In the day when I cried, thou answeiedst me, and strengthenedst me with strength in my soul ;' 2 Cor. xii. 9, ' And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee ;,' Phil. iv. 13, ' I can do all things through Christ wliich strengtheneth me.' If we have his supporting presence, though we have not his delivering presence, it is enough. (2.) His comforting presence : Ps. xci. 15, ' I will be with him in trouble.' God is most with his afHicted people (as the blood runneth to the wronged part), as the mother is with the sick child, even to the envy of the rest. Then we are most prepared for the comforts of his Spirit, being refined from the dregs of sense. (3.) His sanctifying presence, blessing the affliction for an increase of grace : Heb. xii. 10, ' But they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure, but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness.' Now these experiences show that he is still with us. Use. Is information.