of Angels is employed for the good of the Saints The good Angels do service to the Saints 1. In life The Angel did comfort the Virgin Mary Luke 1.28 The Angel did stop the mouths of the Lyons that they could not hurt Daniel Dan. 6.22 A Christian hath an invisible Guard about him the Tutelage and Guardian-ship of Angels Psal 91.11 He shall give his Angels charge over thee to keep thee in all thy wayes The Angels are of the Saints Life-guard yea the chief of the Angels Are they not all ministring spirits The highest Angels take care of the lowest Saints 2. At death The Angels are about the Saints sick-beds to comfort them As God comforts by his Spirit so by his Angels Christ in his Agony was refreshed by an Angel Luke 24.45 So are Believers in the agony of death And when the Saints breath expires their souls are carried up to Heaven by a Convoy of Angels Luke 16.22 3. At the day of Iudgement 1. The Angels shall open the Saints Graves and dig away the earth from their bodies and shall conduct them into the presence of Christ when they shall be made like his glorious body Mat. 24.31 He shall send his Angels and they shall gather together his Elect from the four winds from the one end of Heaven to the other 2. The Angels at the day of Judgement shall rid the Godly of all their enemies Here the Saints are plagued with enemies Psal. 38.20 They are mine adversaries because I follow the thing that good is well the Angels will shortly give Gods people a Writ of ease and set them free from all their enemies Mat. 13.38 The tares are the children of the wicked one the harvest is the end of the world the reapers are the Angels as therefore the tares are gathered and burnâ—â—n the fire so shall it be in the end of the world the Son of man shall send forth his Angels and they shall gather out of his Kingdom all things which offend and them which do iniquity and east them into a furnace of fire At the day of Judgment the Angels of God will take the wicked which are the Tares and will bundle them up and throw them into Hell-furnace and then the Godly will not be troubled with enemies any more Thus the good Angels work for good See here the honour and dignity of a Believer he hath Gods name written upon him Rev. 3.12 the Holy Ghost dwelling in him 2 Tim. 1.14 and a Guard of Angels attending him Insuper nostro lateri ministros caelitus addis 6. The Communion of Saints works for good 2 Cor. 1.24 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 We are helpers of your joy One Christian conversing with another is a means to confirm him As the stones in an Arch help to strengthen one another one Christian by imparting his experiences doth heat and quicken another Heb. 10.24 Let us provoke one another to love and good works How doth Grace flourish by holy conference a Christian by good discourse drops that oyl upon another as makes the Lamp of his Faith burn the brighter 7. Christs intercession works for good Christ is in Heaven as Aaron with his golden plate upon his foreâ—head and his precious incense and he prays for all Believers as well as he did for the Apostles Ioh. 17.20 Neither pray I for these alone but for all them that shall believe in me When a Christian is weak and can hardly pray for himself Jesus Christ is praying for him and he prays for three things 1. That the Saints may be kept from sin vers 15. I pray that thou shouldest keep them from the evill We live in the world as in a Pest-house Christ prays that his Saints may not be infected with the contagious evill of the times 2. For his peoples progresse in holinesse vers 17. Sanctifie them Let them have constant supplies of the Spirit and be anointed with fresh oyl 3. For their glorification vers 24. Father I will that those which thou hast given me be with me where I am Christ is not conâ—ent till the Saints are in his armes This prayer which he made on Earth is the Copy and Pattern of his prayer in Heaven What a comfort is this when Satan is tempting Christ is praying this works for good Christ's prayer takes away the sins of our prayers As a child saith St Ambrose that is willing to present his father with a Posie goes into the Garden and there gathers some Flowers and some Weeds together but coming to his mother she picks out the Weeds and binds up the Flowers and so it is presented to the Father Thus when we have put up our prayers Christ comes and picks away the Weeds the sin of our prayer and presents nothing but Flowers to his Father which are a sweet smelling savour 8. The joynt stock of the Saints prayers work for good to the Godly The Saints pray for all the Members of the body Mysticall their prayers prevail much 1. They prevail for recovery out of sickness Iames 5.15 The prayer of faith shall save the sick and the Lord shall raise him up 2. For victory over enemies Isa. 37.4 Lift up thy prayer for the remnant that is left vers 36. Then the Angel of the Lord went forth and smote in the Camp of the Assyrians an hundred and fourscore and five thousand 3. For deliverance out of prison Acts 12.5 Prayer was made without ceasing of the Church unto God for him vers 7. And behold the Angel of the Lord came upon him and a light shined in the prison and he smote Peter on the side and raised him up and his chains fell off The Angel fetched Peter out of prison but it was prayer fetched the Angel 4. For forgiveness of sin Iob 42.8 My servant Iob shall pray for you for him will I accept Thus the prayers of the Saints work for good to the Body Mystical And this is no small priviledge to a Child of God that he hath a constant Trade of Prayer driven for him When he comes into any Town or Corporation he may say I have some Prayer here nay all the world over I have a stock of prayer going for me when I am indisposed and out of â—â—â—e others are praying for me who are quick and lively Thus the best things work for good to the people of God CHAP. IV. Shewing that the worst things work for good to the Godly 2. THe worst things work for good to the Godly Misâ—ake me not I do not say of their own nature they are good for they are a fruit of the curse but though they are naturally evill yet they are morally good the wise over-ruling hand of God disposing and sanctifying As the Elements though of contrary qualities yet God hath so tempered them that they all work in an harmonious manner for the good of the Universe Or as in a Watch the wheels seem to move contrary one to another but all
latter end This word Thy God implies the relation of a Father A Father loves his child therefore whether it be a smile or a stroke it is for the good of the child I am Thy God thy Father therefore all I do is for thy good Deut. 8.5 As a man chastens his Son so the Lord thy God chastneth thee Gods chastning is not to destroy but to reform God cannot hurt his children for 1. He is a tender-hearted Father Psal. 103.13 Like as a father pities his children so the Lord pitieth them that fear him Will a father seek the ruine of his childe the child that came out of his loins that bears his image all his care and contrivance is for his child who doth he settle the inheritance upon but his child God is tender-hearted the Father of mercies 2 Cor. 1.3 He begets all the mercies and bowels in the creatures 2. He is an everlasting Father Isa. 9.7 He was our Father from eternity Before we were Children God was our Father and he will be our Father to eternity A Father provides for his child while he lives but the Father dyes and then the child may be exposed to injury But God never ceaseth to be a Father thou that art a Believer hast a Father that never dyes and if God be thy Father thou canst never be undone all things must needs work for thy good 3. This word Thy God imports the relation of an Husband this is a near and sweet relation The Husband seeks the good of his Spouse he were unnatural that should go about to destroy his Wife Ephes. 5.29 Did ever any man hate his own flesh There is a marriage-relation between God and his People Isa. 54.5 Thy Maker is thy Husband God intirely loves his People Isa. 43.4 He engraves them upon the Palms of his hands Isa. 49.16 He sets them as a Seal upon his Breast Cant. 8.16 He will give Kâ—ngdoms for their Ransome Isa. 43.3 which shews how near they lye to his heart If he be an Husband whose heart is enamoured with love then he will seek the good of his Spouse either he will shield off an injury or will turn it to the best 4. This word Thy God implyes the relation of a Friend Cant. 5.16 This is my Friend A Friend is Animae dimidium as Austin saith half of ones self he is studious and inquisitive how he may do his friend good he promotes his welfare as his own Ionathan ventured the Kings displeasure for his friend David 1 Sam. 19.4 God is our friend therefore will turn all things to our good There are false friends Christ was betrayed by a friend but God is the best friend â— He is a faithful friend Dan. 7.9 Know therefore that the Lord thy God he is God the faithful God 1. He is faithful in his love He gave his very heart to us when he gave the Son out of his bosome here was a pattern of love without a parallel 2. He is faithful in his promises Titus 1.2 God that cannot lye hath promised He may change his promise but cannot break it 3. He is faithful in his dealings when he is afflicting he is faithful Psal. 119.75 In faithfulnesse hast thou afflicted me he is sifting and refining us as Silver Psal. 66.10 2. He is an immutable friend Heb. 13.5 I will never leave thee nor forsake thee There are five Seals set to that promise 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Friends often fail at a pinch Many deal with their friends as women do with their flowers while they are fresh they put them in their bosomes but when they begin to wither they throw them away or as the Traveller doth with the Sun-Dial if the Sun shines upon the Dial the Traveller will step out of the Road and look upon the Dial but if the Sun doth not shine upon it he will ride by and never take any notice of it So if prosperity shine on men then friends will look upon them but if there be a Cloud of adversity on them they will not come near them but God is a friend for ever I will not leave thee Though David walked in the shadow of death he knew he had a friend by him Psal. 23.9 I will fear no evill for thou art with me God never takes off his love wholly from his people 't is Amicitia immortalis John 13.1 He loved them 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to the end God being such a friend he will make all things work for our good There is no friend but will seek the good of his friend 5. This word Thy God imports yet a nearer relation the relation between the Head and the Members There is a Mystical union between Christ and the Saints He is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The Head of the Church Eph. 5.23 Doth not the Head consult for the good of the Body The Head guides the Body it sympathizeth with it it is the fountain of spirits it sends forth influence and comfort into the Body All the parts of the Head are placed for the good of the Body the Eye is set as it were in the Watch-Tower it lyes Centinel to spy any danger that may come to the Body and prevent it The Tongue is both a Taster and an Oratour If the Body be a Microcosme or little world the Head is the Sun in this world from whence proceeds the light of Reason The Head is placed for the good of the Body Christ and the Saints make one Body Mystical Our Head is in Heaven and sure he will not suffer his Body to be hurt but will consult for the safety of it and make all things work for the good of the Body Mystical CHAP. VI. The Inferences drawn from the Proposition A Use of Information 1. IF all things work for good hence learn That there is a Providence Things do not work of themselves but God sets them a working for good God is the great Disposer of all events and issues he sets every thing a working His Kingdom ruleth over all Psal. 103.13 It is meant of his providential Kingdom Things in the world are not governed by second Causes by the counsels of men by the Stars and Planets but by divine Providence Providence is Regina mundi the Queen and Governesse of the world There are three things in Providence 1. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Gods foreknowing 2. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Gods determining 3. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Gods directing all things to their periods and events Whatever things do work in the world Gâ—â— sets them a working We read in the 〈◊〉 Ezekiel of Wheels and Eyes in the 〈◊〉 and the moving of the Wheels The 〈◊〉 are the whole Universe the 〈…〉 Wheels are Gods Providence 〈…〉 of the Wheels is the hand of 〈…〉 turning all things here beloâ—◠〈…〉 is by some called 〈…〉 else but the result of 〈…〉 Learn to adore 〈◊〉 Pâ—ovidence hath an influence upon all things here
themselves so much against it The more violent others are against the truth the more valiant the Saints are for it Living fish swim against the stream the more the Tyde of sin comes in the more the Godly swim against it The impieties of the times provoke holy passion in the Saints that anger is without sin which is against sin The sins of others are as a Whet-stone to set the sharper edge upon us they whet our zeal and indignation against sin the more 5. The sins of others work for good as they make us more earnest in working out our salvation When we see wicked men take such pains for Hell this makes us more industrious for Heaven The wicked have nothing to encourage them yet they sin they venture shame and disgrace they break through all oppositions Scripture is against them and Conscience is against them there is a flaming sword in their way yet they sin Lam. 5.9 We gat our bread with the peril of our lives Sinners eat the bread of wickednesse with the peâ—il of their souls Godly hearts seeing the wicked thus mad for the forbidden fruit and hacknying our themselves in the Devils service are the more emboldned and quickned in the wayes of God they will take Heaven as it were by storm The wicked are swift Dromedaries in sin Ier. 2.23 and do we creep like Snails in Religion shall impure sinners do the Devil more service than we do Christ shall they make more hast to a Prison than we do to a Kingdom are they never weary of sinning and are we weary of praying have not we a better Master than they are not the paths of vertue pleasant is not there joy in the way of duty and Heaven at the end The activity of the sons of Belial in sin is a spur to the Godly to make them mend their pace and run the faster to Heaven 6. The sins of others work for good as they are Glasses in which we may see our own hearts Do we see a flagitious impious sinner behold a picture of our hearts such should we be if God did leave us what is in other mens practise is in our nature Sin in the wicked is like fire on a Beacon that flames and blazeth forth sin in the Godly is like fire in the Embers Christian though thou dost not break forth into a flame of scandal yet thou hast no cause to boast for there is much sin raked up in the Embers of thy nature thou hast the root of bitterness in thee and wouldst bear as hellish fruit as any if God did not either curb thee by his power or change thee by his grace 7. The sins of others work for good as they are a means to make the people of God more thankfull When you see another infected with the plague how thankful are you that God hath preserved you from it It is a good use that may be made even of the sins of others to be more thankfull why might not God have left us to the same excess of riot Think with thy self O Christian why should God be more propiâ—ious to thee than to another why should he take thee out of the wild Olive of nature and not him how may this make thee to adore free grace What the Pharisee said boastingly we may say thankfully Luke 18.11 God I thank thee that I am not as other men are Extortioners Vnjust Adulterers c. So we are to adore the riches of grace that we are not as others Drunkards Swearers Sabbath-breakers Every time we see men ranâ—ing it in sin we are to blesse God we are not such If we see a franâ—ique person we blesse God it is not so with us Much more when we see others under the power of Satan we are to make our thankfull acknowledgement that it is not our condition 8. The sins of others work for good as they are a means to make Gods people better Christian God can make thee a gainer by anothers sin The more unholy others are the more holy thou art The Roses that grow neer Garlick are sweetest So anothers unsavouriness makes a Christians graces send out a more fragrant perfume The more a wicked man gives himself to sin the more a godly man gives himself to prayer Psal. 109.4 But I give my self to prayer 9. The sins of others work for good as they give an occasion to us of doing good Were there no sinners we could not be in such a capacity for service The Godly are often a means to convert the wicked their prudent advise and pious example is a lure and bait to draw sinners to the embracing of the Gospel The disease of the Patient works for the good of the Physician by emptying the Patient of noxious peccant humours the Physitian enricheth himself So by converting sinners from the errour of their way our Crown comes to be enlarged Dan. 12.3 They that turn many to righteousness shall shine as the Stars for ever and ever Not as Lamps or Tapers but sicut Stelia as the Stars for ever Thus we see the sins of others work for our good 2. Our own sins shall work for good This must be understood warily when I say the sins of the goâ—ly work for good not that there is the least good in sin Sin is like poyson which corrupts the blood infects the heart and without a Soveraign Antidote brings death Such is the venemous naâ—uâ—e of sâ—n 't is deadly and damning Sin is worse than Hell but yet God by his mighty over-ruling power makes sin in the issue turn to the good of his people God can make a Treacle of this poyson Hence that golden saying of St. Austin God would never permit evil if he could not bring good out of evil The Reliques and remains of corruption in the Saints work for good several wayes 1. Sin makes them weary of this life That sin is in the godly is sad but that it is a burden is good St. Paul's afflictions pardon the expression were but a play to him in comparison of his sin he rejoyced in tribulation 2 Cor. 7.4 But how did this bird of Paradise weep and bemoan himself under his sins Rom. 7.24 Who shall deliver me from the body of this death A Believer carries his sins as a Prisoner his shackles Oh how does he long for a Goal-delivery This sensibility of sin is good 2. This in-being of corruption makes the Saints prize Christ more He that feels his sin as a sick man feels his sickness how welcome is Christ the Physitian to him He that feels himself stung with sin how precious is the brazen Serpent to him When Paul had cryed out of a body of death how thankful was he for Christ Rom. 7.25 I thank God through Iesus Christ my Lord. Christs bloud saves from sin and is the sacred oyntment which kills this Quick-silver 3. Sin works for good as it is an occasion of putting the soul upon six rare