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
The Vessels of mercy are first seasoned with affliction and then the Wine of Glory is powred in Thus we see afflictions are not prejudicial but beneficial to the Saints We should not so much look at the evil of affliction as the good not so much at the dark side of the Cloud as the light The worst that God doth to his children is to whip them to Heaven SECTION II. Shewing that the evil of Temptation works for good to the Godly 2. THe evil of Temptation works for good Satan is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Tempter Mark 4.3 He is ever lying in ambush stat in procinctu Diabolus he is continually at work with one Saint or other The Devil hath his Circuit or Diocess that he walks every day he is not yet fully cast into prison but like a prisoner that goes under Bail he walks about to tempt the Saints This is a great molestation to a child of God as it is a trouble to a Virgin to have her chastity daily assaulted Now concerning Satans Temptations there are three things to be considered 1. His Method in tempting 2. The Extent of his Power 3. That these Temptations work for good 1. Satans Method in tempting Here take notice of two things 1. His Violence in tempting and so he is the Red Dragon He labouâ— to storm the Castle of the heart he throws in thoughts of blasphemy he tempts to deny God these are the fiery Darts he shoots whereby he would enflame the passions 2. His Subtilty in tempting and so he is the Old Serpent There are five chief subtilties the Devil useth 1. He observes the temper and constitution he layes suitable baits of temptation As the Husbandman knows what Grain is proper for the Soyl Satan will not tempt contrary to the natural disposition and temperament This is his Policy he makes the Wind and Tyde go together That way the natural Tyde of the heart runs that way the Wind of temptation blows Though the Devil cannot know mens thoughts yet he knows their temper and accordingly he lays his baits Omnium discutit more He tempts the ambitious man with a Crown the sanguine man with beauty 2. Satan observes the fittest time to tempâ— in As a cunning Angler casts in his Angle when the Fish will bite best Satans time of tempting is usually after an Ordinance and the reason is because then he thinks he shall find us most secure When we have been at solemn Duties we are apt to think all is done and we grow remiss and leave off that zeal and strictness as before just as a Souldier who after a Battel leaves off his Armouâ— not once dreaming of an enemy Now Satan watcheth his time and when we least suspect then he throws in a tentation 3. He makes use of near Relations the Devil tempts by a proxy Thus he handed over a temptation to Iob by his Wife Iob 2.9 Dost thou still retain thy integrity A Wife in the bosom may be the Devils instrument to tempt â—o sin 4. Satan tempts to evil by them that are good thus he gives poyson in a golden Cup He tempted Christ by Peter Peter disswades him from suffering Master pity thy self Who would have thought to have found the Tempter in the mouth of an Apostle 5. Satan tempts to sin under a pretence of Religion He is most to be feared when he transforms himself into an Angel of Light He came to Christ with Scripture in his mouth It is written The Devil baits his hook with Religion he tempts many a man to Covetousness and Extortion under a pretence of providing for his Family he tempts some to make away themselves that they may live no longer to sin against God and so he draws them into sin under a pretence of avoyding sin These are his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and subtil stratagems in tempting 2. The Extent of his Power how far Satans power in tempting â—eacheth 1. He can propose the Object as he set a wedge of Gold before Achan 2. He can poyson the Phansie and instill evil thoughts into the mind As the Holy Ghost doth cast in good motions so the Devil doth bad he put it into Iudas his heart to betray Christ Ioh. 13.2 3. Satan can excite and irritate the corruption within and work some kind of inclinableness in the heart to embrace a temptation Though it is true Satan cannot force the Will to yield consent yet he being an earnest Suitor by his continual solicitation may provoke to evil Thus he provoked David to number the people 1 Chron. 21.1 The Devil may by his subtil Arguments dispute us into sin 3. That these temptations work for good to the children of God A Tree that is shaken by the wind is more settled and rooted so the blowing of a temptation doth but settle a Christian the more in grace Temptations work for good eight wayes 1. Temptation sends the soul to prayer The more furiously Satan tempts the more fervently the Saint prayes The Deer being shot with the Dart runs faster to the water When Satan shoots his fiery darts at the soul now it runs faster to the Throne of Grace When Paul had the Messenger of Satan to buffet him 2 Cor. 12.8 For this I besought the Lord thrice that it might depart from me Temptation is a Medicine for security That which makes us pray more works for good 2. Temptation to sin is a means to keep from the perpetration of sin The more a child of God is tempted the more he fights against the temptation The more Satan tempts to blasphemy the more a Saint trembles at such thoughts and saith avoid Satan When Ioseph's Mistriss tempted him to folly the stronger her temptation was the stronger was his opposition That temptation the Devil useth as a Spur to sin God makes it a Bridle to keep back a Christian from it The more a chast Virgin is assaulted the more she abhors the motion 3. Temptation works for good as it abates the swelling of pride 2 Cor. 12.7 Least I should be exalted above measure there was given me a Thorn in the flesh a Messenger of Satan to buffet me The Thorn in the flesh was to prick the Bladder of pride Better is that temptation which humbles me than that duty which makes me proud Rather than a Christian shall be haughty minded God will let him fall into the Devils hands a while to be cured of his Imposthume 4. Temptation works for good as it is a Touch-stone to try what is in the heart The word tentare signifies explorare The Devil tempts that he may deceive but God suffers us to be tempted to try us 1. Temptation is a tryal of our sincerity It argues our heart is chast and loyal to Christ when we can look a temptation in the face and turn out back upon it 2. It is a tryal of our Courage Hos. 7.11 Ephraim is a silly Dove without an heart So it
is so accidentally and occasionally through the pravity of mens hearts instead of believing in him they are offended at him The Sun though in its own nature is pure and pleasant yet it is hurtful to sore eyes Jesus Christ is as well for the fall as the rising of many Luk. 2.34 Sinners stumble at a Saviour and pluck Death from the Tree of Life As Chymical Oyles recover some Patients but destroy others So the Bloud of Christ though to some it is medicinable to others it is damnable Here is the unparallel'd misery of such as live and dye in sin The best things work for their hurt Cordials themselves kill 5. See here the wisdom of God who can make the worst things imaginable turn to the good of the Saints he can by a divine Chymistâ—ie extract Gold out of dross 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 God! Rom. 11.33 It is Gods great design to set forth the wonder of his wisdom The Lord made Iosephs prison a step to preferment There was no way for Ionah to be saved but by being swallowed up God suffered the Egyptians to hate Israel Psal. 106.41 and this was the means of their deliverance St Paul was bound with a Chain and that Chain which did bind him was a means to enlarge the Gospel Phil. 1.12 This wise Physitian can of the Viper make a Treacle God doth enrich by impoverishing he causeth the augmention of Grace by the diminution of an Estate When the Creature goes further from us it is that Christ may come nearer to us God works strangely he brings Order out of Confusion Harmony out of Discord he makes use many times of unjust men to do that which is just He is wise in heart Job 10.4 He can reap his Glory out of mens fury Psal. 76.10 Either the wicked shall not do the hurt which they intend or they shall do the good which they do not intend God often helps when there is least hope and saves his people in that way which they think he will destroy He made use of the High-Priests malice and Iudas his Treason to redeem the World God hath sometimes much adoe to please us through indiscrete passion we are apt to find fault with things that fall out which is as if an illiterate man should censure Philosophy or a blind man find fault with the work in a Landskip Iob 11.12 Vain man would be wise Silly animals will be taxing Providence and calling the wisdom of God to the Barr of Reason Gods wayes are past finding out Rom. 11.33 They are rather to be admired than fathomed There is never a Providence of God but hath either a mercy or a wonder in it How stupendious and infinite is that wisdom that makes the most crosse perplex dispensations work for the good of his children 6. How little cause have we then to be discontented at outward tryals and emergencies What discontented at that which shall do us good All things shall work for good There are no sins Gods people are more subject to than unbelief and impatience they are ready either to faint through unbelief or fret through impatience When men fly out against God by discontent and impatience it is a sign they do not believe this Text. Discontent is an ungrateful sin because we have more mercies than afflictions and it is an irrational sin because afflictions work for good Discontent is a sin which puts us upon sin Psal. 37 8. Freâ— not thy self to do evil He that frets will be ready to do evil Fretting Ionah was sinning Ionah Chap. 4.9 The Devil blows the coals of passion and discontent and then warms himself at the fire Oh let us not nourish this angry Viper in our Breast Let this Text breed patience All things shall work for good to them that love God Shall we be discontented at that which works for our good If a friend should throw a bag of money at another and in throwing it should break his head he would not be troubled much seeing by this means he hath got a bag of money So the Lord may bruise us by afflictions but it is to enrich us these afflictions work for us a weight of glory and shall we be discontented 7. See here that Scripture fulfilled Psal. 73.1 God is good to Israel When one looks upon cross Providences and sees the Lord covering his people with ashes and making them drunk with Wormwood Lam. 3.15 he would be ready to call in question the Love of God and to say that he hath dealt hardly with his people Oh no yet God is good to Israel because he makes all things work for good Is not he a good God who turns all to good he works out sin and works in grace is not this good 1 Cor. 11.32 We are chastned of the Lord that we should not be condemned with the world The Hell of affliction is to save us from the Hell of damnation Let us always justifie God when our outward condition is never so bad let us say yet God is good 8. See what cause the Saints have to be frequent in the work of thanksgiving Christians are herein defective though they are much in supplication yet little in gratulation The Apostle saith 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 In every thing giving thanks 1 Thess. 5.18 Why so because God makes every thing work for our good We will thank the Physitian though he gives us a biter Pill which makes us sick because it is to make us well we will thank any man that doth us a good turn and shall not we be thankful to God who makes every think work for good to us God loves a thankful Christian. Iob thanked God when he took all away Iob 1.21 The Lord hath taken away blessed be the name of the Lord Many will thank God when he gives Iob thanks him when he takes away because he knew God would work good out of it We read of Saints with Harps in their hands Rev. 14.2 an Emblem of praise We shall meet many Christians who have tears in their eyes and complaints in their mouths but few with Harps in their hands who in affliction praise God to be thankful in affliction is a work peculiar to a Saint Every Bird can sing in Spring but some Birds will sing in the dead of Winter Every one almost can be thankful in prosperity but a true Saint can be thankful in adversity A good Christian will blesse God not only at the Sun-rising but at the Sun-setting Well may we in the worst that befals us have a Psalm of thankfulnesse because all things work for good Oh be much in blessing of God we will thank him that doth beâ—riend us 9. If the worst things work for good to a Believer what shall the best things Christ and Heaven How much more shall these work for good If the Crosse hath so much good in it what hath the Crown If such precious Clusters grow in