12. Yea, when friends forsake ns, and are false unto us, ' God is a sure help in time of need,' Ps. xxxvii. 39. He is our refuge from one generation to another. Do we not see that in the decay of worldly comforts, God then manifests himself most comfortably to his people ? Doth he not style him- self ' the comforter of the comfortless, and the help of them that are in dis- tress ;' and do not ' with him the fotherless find mercy'?' Ps. x. 14. If men were more fatherless, they would find more mercy at God's hands. As Christ makes us all to him, so should we make him ' all in all' to ourselves. If all comforts in the world were dead, we have them still in the living Lord. How many friends have we in him alone, who, rather than we shall want friends, can make our enemies our friends ? Thus it appears that all miseries are a trial of us to God and to the world, what we are. They are a cure of sin past, and a preparation to endure further crosses. They have many excellent uses and ends, and all for the best to God's servants.
It is good we should be exercised with present crosses, to put us in mind of the evils we have done long ago, that so we may repent of them. Joseph's brethren, being afflicted and imprisoned, called to mind how hardly they had dealt with their brother: long before. Gen, xHi. 21. It should be our wisdom, while we remain here, to consider our warfaringf condition ; how we are daily environed with enemies, and therefore ought to stand con- tinually upon our guard against Satan and the powers of darkness, and as pilgrims and strangers go on in our journey to heaven : not starting at the barking of every dog, nor entangling ourselves in worldly things, whereby we should be stopped in our way.
It is for our best, not to be condemned with' the world. Afflictions serve for this very end, to make us more prize God, and deny the creature with all its excellencies. Are our crosses great here ? Let us not be daunted, but bear them patiently : our comfort shall be the greater afterwards. It is not only good for us that we should have crosses, but that they should be continued upon us, that we may the better know ourselves. If all were well with a man wounded, and the sore clean healed, the plaster would fall ofi" itself. So, were we thoroughly cured of our spiritual wants, and in a continual resistance of every evil way, these afflictions, which are the plasters of our souls, would soon cease and leave us.
13. Furthermore, Satan himself and all his instruments, ivhen they most set themselves ar^ainst God's people, and seek their overthrow, then are they workiny their chief good. The devil, when he thought to make an end of Christ by putting him to death, even then, by that very thing, was vanquished himself, and the church of God fully ransomed from hell and damnation. God sufl'ers many heretics to be in the world ; but why ? Not that the truth should be held in darkness ; but that it might thereby be more manifested and known. It is Satan's continual trade, to seek his rest in our disquiet. When he sees men will to heaven, and that they have good title to it, then he follows them with all temptations and discomforts
* Qu. ' grim ' ?— G. t Q^- ' wayfaring' ?— En.
2G2 TIIK PRIVILEGES OF THE FAITHFUL.
that lio can. He cannot endure tliat a creature of meaner rank than him- self should enjoy a happiness heyond him ; but our comfort is, that Christ was tempted, that ho mi<fht succour all poor souls in the like case. We are kept by ' his power, through faith unto salvation,' 1 Pet. i. 5.
Now, the causes why all things do work together for the best to them that love God are these, viz. : —
1. It is God's decree.
2. It is God's manner of uvrkinfj.
3. It is God's blessed covenant.
4. It is the foundation of the covenant of Christ Jesus.
1. God's decree and 2~iurjiose is, of bringing all his elect unto eternal sal- vation ; and therefore all things in heaven and earth must conduce to bring his servants unto glory. The reason is this, God is infinitely wise and infinitely strong, provident, and good ; therefore by his infinite wisdom, power, providence, and mercy he turneth all things to the best for his. Whatsoever is in heaven, earth, or hell, is ordered by God, neither is there anything without him ; therefore nothing can hinder his decree. Satan himself, with all his instruments, yea, the worst of creatures, all must serve God's purpose, contrary to their natures, for the good of his chil- dren. The prophet saith, * God hath commanded salvation, and he hath commanded deliverance to Jacob,' Ps. xliv. 4, When God hath deter- mined to save any man, all things must needs serve him that overrules all things. As it was said of Christ when he stilled the seas, * Who is this, that the very wind and seas obey him ? ' Mat. viii. 27. God commanded the whale to serve at his beck to save Jonah, and it obeyed. All creatures in the earth are at his disposing, and serve to accomplish his pleasure.