Selected quad for the lemma: heaven_n

Word A Word B Word C Word D Occurrence Frequency Band MI MI Band Prominent
heaven_n earth_n lord_n prayer_n 8,302 5 6.0570 4 true
View all documents for the selected quad

Text snippets containing the quad

ID Title Author Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication) STC Words Pages
A25829 A tryall of faith, or, The woman of Canaan on Math. 15, 21, 22, 23, 24 : together with the souls sure anchor-hold, on Heb. 6, 19 : with the wisdome of timely remembring our creator, on Eccles. 12, 1 : in severall sermons / by Timothy Armitage. Armitage, Timothy, d. 1655. 1661 (1661) Wing A3704; ESTC R26657 267,236 470

There are 5 snippets containing the selected quad. | View lemmatised text

woman 〈◊〉 confessing him to be Lord and so every such confession doth acknowledge Christ to be etern●● God to have the same being with his Father th●● he is Lord and was Lord from eternity before there was any world made yet Jesus Christ 〈◊〉 then Lord he was the eternal God see what the Scripture doth hold forth of him Prov. 8. 2●● I was set up from everlasting from the beginning● it is spoken of Christ it is said of him that he 〈◊〉 from everlasting in the beginning before there 〈◊〉 a world before any sea before any earth before any mountains Christ was from everlasting and thus true faith doth acknowledge that he is eternal God Secondly When true faith doth confess Christ to be Lord it doth not only acknowledge him to 〈◊〉 eternal but omnipotent to be Almighty infinite 〈◊〉 power if he be Lord of all then he is infinite 〈◊〉 power he can do whatsoever he pleaseth that he can doe whatsoever the Father doth Christ witnes●● of himself The same works the Father doth doe I 〈◊〉 which doth declare him to be the same God the same being with his Father for he had the same power True faith doth acknowledge that all the mighty works of Creation and Providence and that the world was made by him and upheld by him and governed by him according to that place Heb. 1. 10. And thou Lord in the beginning hast laid the foundations of the earth and the heavens are the works of thy hands So that faith that doth confess Christ to be Lord doth acknowledge him to be infinite in power and that he by his fingers made the heavens and by his hands laid the foundation of the earth Thirdly That faith that doth acknowledge Christ to be Lord doth confess that he is infinite in knowledge and that he is omnipresent every where as God he is in all places though as man he sits in heaven yet as God he is every where according to that Scripture the Son of God hath eyes like a flame of fire he sees all things a flame of fire discovers all things in the room so the Son of God he knows all the corners of the heart and sees all things and needs not that any should testifie of man and that Christ according to his divine nature fills heaven and earth and with his gracious presence is with his people alwayes Loe I am with you to the end of the world Fourthly That faith that confesseth Christ to be Lord doth confess that he is the object of faith and of divine worship and that he is worthy to be believed on and worthy to be worshipped and worthy to be praised worthy that all the redeemed of the Lord should sing unto him that he is worthy of all divine honour the same honour that is due to the Father the Scripture doth witness as much and therefore the very Angels are called upon to worship him Heb. 1. 6. When he bringeth in the first begotten into the world he saith and let all the Angels of God worship him Now if Christ had not been eternal God it had been idolatry to have given divine worship to him but you see what that faith doth that acknowledges Christ to be Lord it doth acknowledge him to be eternal God and acknowledge him to be infinite in power and in knowledge and that he is present in all places and the object of divine honour Secondly Now let me shew you in the second place that it is necessary that every man and woman that doth expect help and salvation by Christ should come to him as the Lord Faith should pitch upon him as omnipotent and omniscient I say it is necessary that they should thus come to him that believe for else the foundation of our faith is overthrown There is no man that doth deny this can lay a right foundation of faith no man that doth not believe this that he is Lord eternal God can lay a right foundation he doth not lay that foundation which God hath laid the foundation which God hath laid is his Son the eternal God he with whom he entred into Covenant and made a Covenant with from eternity and therefore if there be any other foundation the foundation will not hold And indeed Christ cannot be a foundation to bear up faith if he be not eternal God and Lord equal with his Father he were not fit to be trusted And cursed is he that trusts in man and make flesh his arme And if Christ had not been eternal God he could not be a fit foundation and it is necessary that every soul that comes to Christ should believe in him as Lord in respect of that divine worship that is to be given to Christ else he cannot worship Christ aright nor give Christ that honour that is due to him and so all his worship is lost Thirdly It is needful in respect of the benefits of Christs satisfaction that men that come to Christ must believe that he is eternal God and one with the Father or else he cannot expect the benefit of Christs satisfaction for if Christ were not infinite God he could not have given satisfaction to infinite Justice if Christ were not God our sins are not purged away the righteousness of Christ is not infinite then no covering for our transgressions no price then of an infinite value for the saving souls no vertue in his blood for the taking away of sin therefore they that do blasphemously deny Christ to be eternal God they must deny the satisfaction of Christ and then all men are in their sins and so like to be lost for ever Fourthly True faith must come to Christ as Lord or else we cannot have any assurance that he ●an perfect the work of our salvation The work of our salvation it is put into Christs hand but if 〈◊〉 be not eternal God there is little hope that he should perfect the work of his peoples salvation 〈◊〉 not possible he should overcome all the enemies of his peoples salvation Therefore you see ●hat it is necessary that when any soul comes to Christ it should come to him as Lord so this woman did look upon him and close with him as Lord over all as he is eternal God having the same power and knowledge with his Father to whom 〈◊〉 due the same divine honour and who is the object of faith And therefore I beseech you Brethren look to it that your faith be rightly grounded if it 〈◊〉 not it will never hold if it be not grounded up●● this foundation upon Christ as he is Lord the same eternal God with the Father if this be not the foundation of faith it will not hold you can never make a right confession of Christ and you will never make such a confession as he will own if 〈◊〉 do not come to close with him as he is Lord ow● all infinite 〈◊〉 equal with his Father The D●● hath exceedingly endeavoured to overturn 〈◊〉
you give him not those things that are needful for the body what doth it profit Alas it is in vain to make complaints to such what doth it avail It may be some will pitty with good words be you warmed and filled but they give them not those things which are needful for the body thus many a poor creature looses his labour Thirdly When a poor creature makes complaints to man and cries to man it may be he shall make complaints to those that do pitty him and would relieve him with all their heart but it is beyond their power to relieve and so if a poor man that wants the things of this life it may be he goes and makes his complaints to another he pitties him and would help him but he that hath a will hath not power many times and it is not in his hand to do it and he cannot uphold anothers estate but he must break his own many times it is so And so when they come and make complaint of the weakness and infirmities of their bodies it may be they are affected and they would help ah but it is beyond their power And so when a poor soul comes and complains of distress of mind and shew the wounds of his spirit and lay them open it may be godly friends may pitty you and desire to help you but their hand is to● short to carry the plaister to your heart and conscience and to cause it to stick there and therefore after all it will go away unsatisfied in all these causes they that would help you if they could they may say as the King of Israel 2 King 6. 26 27. the woman there comes and makes a sad complaint in the time of famine at verse 26. And as the King of Israel was passing by upon the wall there cried a woman unto him saying help my Lord O King And what sayes the King to her verse 27. And he said if the Lord do not help thee whence shall I help thee Alas my bowels are towards thee but if the Lord does not help thee in vain is the help of man Fourthly When you make your complaints to men sometimes it falls out so that instead of ease from under your burdens your burdens are increased sometimes men may add to the burdens of the afflicted through unskilfulness not knowing how to speak to them and how to carry it towards them yea sometimes men may aggravate the burdens of the afflicted when they make their complaints wilfully through pride and disdain and covetousness And thus it was when David sent to Nabal he was in a great strait for provision and he sent to Nabal in his strait for relief and he sent him a churlish answer Who is David and the son of Jesse I know him not shall I send my corn and my oxen that I have killed for my shearers and give it to him I know him not And you know what Judas did meet withall when he went to the Pharisees and said I have sinned in betraying the innocent bloud What is that to us a bargain is a bargain if you have sinned look you to that Whereas if he had gone to Christ with that complaint he might have had comfort but he went to them and they spake that which aggravated his sorrow and he goes and makes away himself So that I say in time of affliction faith causeth a soul to go to Christ for it doth discover what man is Fourthly There is this ground of the Point Faith will make a soul go to Christ alone for it discovers to the soul that in Christ there is all sufficiency to help it there is all in Christ that may pitty him and for the helping of him it is not in the creature but it is to be found in Christ for Christ is furnished with compassion there are bowels of compassion towards his poor creatures in distresse it is an impossible thing that Christ should be insensible as men are you may spread your complaints before some men and they never be moved no more then the stones in the street but the Lord Jesus he is not without compassion great bowels of compassion towards his people he cannot be insensible of any burden that lay upon a poor creature that comes to him In all their afflictions he is afflicted he bears our sickness he carries our sorrows Christ he feels the weight of all affliction and sorrow and burdens that do at any time lie upon his people Secondly As Christ hath compassion so he hath a will he is alwayes willing to do good to poor creatures that come to him Men as you have heard they are not alwayes willing they may give you a parcel of good words but give you not those things that are needful Now Christ he never puts off his people with good words though one good word from Christ be more worth then all that men can do for you but Christ he will not give you good words alone but as he opens his mouth in grace so he opens his hand in mercy he opens his mouth and his hand at the same time and he is very willing to relieve and therefore it is that he calls poor creatures to him you may see his willingness by the invitation that he gives to all poor creatures that are under any distress Come to me all ye that are weary and heavy laden and I will give you rest Whatever the burden be whether the burden of sin or sorrow Christ makes proclamation you have his invitation Come to me and I will give you rest and call upon me in the time of trouble and I will deliver How doth this testifie the willingness of Christ to relieve his poor creatures Thirdly He hath not only compassion but he also hath power in his hand Christ can do it he is able to do what he pleaseth Thou hast done whatsoever thou pleasest in heaven and earth and in all deep places The deepest affliction and sorrow that any of his people may sink into the Lord Jesus is able to stretch forth his hand and help them he hath all store of provision in his house there is an infinite treasure of mercy all mercies are laid up in Christ it shall not break his estate to uphold your estates for all the creatures in heaven and earth are the Lords the heavens and the earth are the Lords and the fulness that are in them therefore there is power in Christs hand to relieve his people Fourthly Christ cannot aggravate sorrow and affliction he will not aggravate the sorrow and affliction of any of his people that come to him Christ will never say to a poor soul as the Pharisees to Judas see thou to that When a soul comes and sayes Lord I have sinned Christ never gave such an answer see thou to that he never did neither can he aggravate the sorrows and burdens of poor creatures that come to him Now when faith discovers this to the soul and
that can reach out mercy to the soul and speak a word of comfort and counsel God only can speak a word of strength a word of peace the creature cannot No it is God only I create the fruit of the lips pea●y peace Now when a soul looks up to the Lord and meets with nothing from him and knows that there is no answer to be expected from the creature this must needs be a great and a sore trial Fifthly it will appear to be a great trial if we consider that the flesh and Devil are exceeding ready to make a great advantage of this providence of God and dispensation towards his people for they will improve this to the dishonour of God and discomfort of the soul and therefore a great trial In two or three Particulars I shall shew you how ready the Flesh and Devil is to improve this to Gods dishonour and the souls discomfort First the Flesh and Devil will raise up many doubts and jealousies and mis-giving thought●● both concerning God and concerning a man own condition and concerning the duties and services which are offered up to the Lord. They will make the soul to doubt of the goodness of God to doubt of the free-grace of God to doubt of the faithfulness of God of the truth of God Surely saith unbelief the Lord is not so gracious as thou hast taken him to be thou hast rested upon the Arm of his mercy and thou hast believed his grace to be sufficient for thee in every condition thou hast looked toward him as toward an infinite compassionate God but where are the compassions of the Lord now not to speak one word to relieve and comfort thee Thus will the Devil and the unbelieving heart object when the Lord doth not give out a present answer yea unbelief will be accusing the faithfulness of God Oh! where is his Word and his Promise He hath said that they that call upon the Name of the Lord shall be saved He hath said Call upon me in the time of trouble and I will deliver thee and thou shalt glorifie me ●h where is the faithfulness of God God is unmindful of his promise Asaph was under this temptation Psalm 77. 7 8. Will the Lord cast off for ever and will he be favourable no more Is his mercy clean gone for ever doth his promise fail for evermore And thus he goeth on making many Queries concerning the goodness and faithfulness of God Secondly as the Devil and the Flesh doth raise many doubts and jealousies concerning the faithfulness of God so there are many doubts cast into the soul concerning the eternal estate and condition of the soul and that upon this ground when as the soul hath sought the Lord and the Lord not answer presently the soul begins to doubt oh surely I am no child of God no sponse no friend God could not deal so with children not to give one word of comfort not one word of answer Oh surely I am an Hypocrite for the prayer of the upright is his delight and if there were any truth of heart in me the Lord would give out an answer and thus the Devil and the Flesh-raise many jealousies and fears about the souls eternal state Or Thirdly if the Devil and the Flesh prevail not so far as to cause the soul to question the goodness of God and the Truth of God or to question its own Sonship yet they will prevail so far as to make the soul question his services and his duties which it hath performed to God Oh! surely I have not spoken to the Lord as I ought surely I have not been fervent in Spirit serving the Lord my prayer hath been but words of my own not the teachings of his Spirit if it had been his own Spirit the Lord would have heard his own Spirit but my prayer hath been accompanied with so many infirmities as it hath not reached up to heaven And thus you see how many a poor soul is led into temptation upon this ground the Lords being silent to the prayers of his people But you will say wherefore doth the Lord thus try his people I answer sometimes indeed the fault is in our selves that we have no answer to our prayers for it is possible that a man or woman that hath faith in Jesus Christ may be remiss in their walkings they may neglect some known duty or they may connive and wink at some evil way and if so no wonder though the Lord be silent at their prayers If I regard iniquity in my heart the Lord will not hear my prayer If David regard iniquity if there be any way of sin that his heart closeth with the Lord will be silent to his prayers if any iniquity be regarded no wonder though the Lord do not hear Yea sometimes Gods own people are found remiss in their duty and though they pray they pray remisly and coldly their prayer is accompanied with so much deadness and distraction there is so little life and so little spirit the Spirit speaks so low that the Lord cannot hear and he will not hear and when it is so that we pray coldly and lazily we make but a light matter of it and are not found crying to the Lord with our hearts no wonder though the Lord be silent to our prayers Yea sometimes Gods own people may miss of an answer because they do not look after an answer and then the fault is their own when as we shall put up our petition and shall not be looking after our prayer shall not be found looking up as David speaketh Psalm 5. 3. In the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee and will look up I will wait for an answer and hear what God the Lord will speak Psalm 85. 8. But when we do not regard our prayer then no wonder there is no answer I say therefore the Lord is sometimes silent to the prayers of his own people and the fault is in themselves But the Lord is not alwayes silent upon these grounds A gracious heart may walk close with God and may regard no iniquity and desire not to connive at any sin and it may wait upon the Lord for an answer and yet the Lord may be silent and give no present answer to the prayers of his people Why so why will the Lord deal so with any of his people I answer for gracious ends as First that they may exercise the spirit of prayer which is given out the Lord he loves to hear the cry of his people he loves to hear the voice of the children when they speak in prayer there is nothing on eath that God delights more in 〈◊〉 let me see thy face and let me hear thy voice saith Christ to his Spouse for thy voice is sweet No● because the voice of faith in prayer 〈◊〉 sweet to the Lord the Lord he seemeth 〈◊〉 to hear or not to take notice for the present th●● so they may pray the
be my anchor will hold I have an invitation to it Who is among you that walketh in darkness and sees no light let him trust in the Lord and stay upon his God Isa 50. 10. though it be in a storm at midnight let him cast anchor upon me saith God let him trust in the Name of the Lord and stay upon his God this the poor soul hears and being encouraged by the Word of the Lord it cast anchor and makes a desperate venture That 's the sixt Seventhly The anchor is useful not only in a storm but the anchor is useful in a calm when the ship at Sea is be calmed and cannot sayl they cast anchor and so this anchor of hope it is needful in a calm for if it were not for this anchor of hope a believing soul could not have any settlement in a calm though a man hath never so much for the present if he hath not hopes that his goods shall be increased his heart will be disquieted and so hope is useful in the greatest calm to hope that the present good that they have shall not be lost that that measure of grace and spirit that the Lord hath given them shall be carried on from one degree to another till he hath perfected it if it were not for this the heart could not have any peace in the greatest of his enjoyments And thus you have seen the second particular First I have shewn you what saving hope is Secondly That this saving hope is the Anchor of the soul The third and last particular is To shew you that this anchor of a believing soul is sure and stedfast And it will appear in these few particulars First It is made of good mettle it is that which will not bow nor break it is not as the hope of an hypocrite the hope of an hypocrite is compared to a spiders web that breaks presently the spiders web it is a poor thing to hold a ship fast in a storm but this saving Hope that the Spirit of Christ doth work in the heart of believers it is made of good mettle it was not digged out of their own bowels but fetcht from Christ it is Christ that is the store-house of all grace it is made of gold of tryed gold Their faith is more precious then gold saith the Apostle and so their hope is more precious then gold and more firm and solid then gold the matter of it is sure and stedfast Secondly It is well wrought and therefore it must needs be sure and stedfast for it is an anchor of Christ's own working The God of hope sill you with all joy and peace in believing that you may abound in hope through the power of the holy Ghost Rom. 15. 13. and saith the Apostle Peter 1 Pet. 1. 3. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again to a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead The hope of the Saints it is a grace that is of God's own begetting it is an anchor of Christ's own making and that which comes out of the hand of Christ must needs be sure and stedfast Thirdly It is sure and stedfast for the Cable that holds it is sure and stedfast and that is the Word of the Lord now the Word of the Lord which is the Cable that a believers hope is fastned unto it is twisted of many precious promises all being twisted together must needs be strong the least of them is stronger then heaven and earth Heaven and earth shall pass but not one jot or tittle of the word of the Lord shall fail till all be fulfilled The promises they are the cable which a believing souls anchor is fastned unto and therefore it is sure and stedfast Fourthly It is cast upon a sure ground What is the ground that a believers hope is cast upon I answer First It is fastned upon Jesus Christ first upon Christ crucified upon the death of Christ upon the sufferings of Christ by which Christ hath made satisfaction for sin and brought in everlasting righteousness to cover the nakedness of poor creatures their love is fastned upon the wounds of Christ the sufferings of Christ That 's the first ground for a believers hope to fasten upon Secondly The Anchor of a believers hope it fastens upon the Resurrection of Christ 1 Pet. 1. 3. Blessed be God that hath begotten us again to a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ that is a main ground for hope to fasten upon the resurrection of Jesus Christ the poor soul looks to Christ Christ dead and risen and in that Christ rose from the grave he hath given full satisfaction to his Father he hath paid the debt and is a common person for his people that come to him by faith so that the resurrection of Christ doth strengthen the faith of the soul exceedingly it gives the soul assurance that it shall be accepted with God the Father because Christ is risen again Thirdly It fastens also upon the Intercession of Jesus Christ He is able to save to the utmost all that come to God by him for he ever liveth to make Intercession for them Now this gives great encouragement to a poor soul that is made sensible of his own lost condition of being far off from God it would fain draw nigh and know not which way to come when this is discovered that Christ sits in heaven to plead for poor souls and to make Intercession for all that come to God by him this causes the soul to give a venture to fasten upon Christ Secondly As the soul fastens upon Christ so also it fastens upon God the Father by Christ it goes to the Fathers and takes hold of him First It fastens upon the free Grace of the Father that infinite everlasting love which did finde out the way of Redemption for poor creatures that love which gave Christ at first and which gives poor creatures to Christ and which tenders Christ in the everlasting Gospel there the anchor of hope takes hold Secondly Hope takes hold of the strength of God He is a God mighty in strength he can overcome all difficulties all enemies that are betwixt him and my soul he can overcome all my unworthiness all my provocations yea he can overcome himself his own wrath and displeasure that which no creature can do this being presented to a poor soul that is in a sad doubting condition this helps through grace to draw the soul to Christ and to fasten it upon God Thirdly It fastens also upon the unchangeableness of God and this gives a sure hold to the anchor of hope He is not as man that he should lye Who is it that hath spoken Who is it that tenders Christ to poor creatures It is not the word of him that is the true and faithful witness Is it not the strength of Israel that cannot lye nor
a ground of comfort there was a love in the Father towards you before I made a request for you though the Father now love you more and better yet the Father himself loved you before I made any request for you Thirdly This is another ground of great refreshment from this Doctrine That the love of God towards his people it is an ancient Love a love that did not begin yesterday a love that is not of a few years standing but an ancient love it is as ancient as eternity it is as ancient as the Ancient of dayes as ancient as God himself no beginning but from eternity O! That commends love exceedingly when as love is an ancient love when as one hath born love to such a Family through many generations and hath provided love for such a family for many generations to come that exceedingly commends the love of a friend when a friend shall take care that there shall be an Estate entailed to such a family for many generations to come that he should provide a portion for them before they had a being O! that is ancient love and that doth commend the love of a friend and truly it commends the love of the Creator and it is full of sweetness and Refreshment that God hath loved his people from eternity love hath run down that long Tract of eternity and he hath provided a portion from eternity an inheritance from eternity oh that the Lord should make such provision for poor creatures before they had any being not only thousands of years but even from eternity before they had any being when there was no world no creature no being but only in the mind of God that God then should chuse them and provide an inheritance for them truly this commends the love of God and makes it very sweet Fourthly There is this ground of refreshment that the Doctrine holds forth that this love of God to his people it is a distinguishing love oh that commends love exceedingly when it is distinguishing when it puts a difference where there was no difference that love that makes a difference and so vast a difference when no difference that love is very precious See what is said in Hos 1. 6 7. For I will no more have mercy upon the house of Israel but I will utterly take them away But I will have mercy upon the house of Judah and will save them by the Lord their God c. See here at the very time that God said he would not have mercy upon Israel he would have mercy upon Judah and would save them oh how sweet was the discovery of that love And truly this is the love of God that this Doctrine holds forth a distinguishing love that when there was no difference in the creature and one not better then another and yet that God should take those and chuse those that were as bad as those that were left oh this distinguishing love it is very sweet and hath a great deale of refreshment Fifthly This Doctrine holds forth a ground of joy there is a great deale of true grounded joy lasting joy that may arise and doth arise unto the people of God from the knowledge of this that God hath chosen them and loved them from eternity with an everlasting love it doth administer the best ground of comfort that can be found in all the World See that place Luke 10. 20. But rather rejoyce because your names are written in Heaven The knowledge of this speciall love that God hath written the names of poor creatures in Heaven it is a ground of unspeakable joy rejoyce not that the uncleane spirits are subject to you why they might rejoyce more in that then in any outward mercy whatsoever that the unclean spirits were subject to them for it is more then if all the men of the world were subject to them ah but yet in this rejoyce not rejoyce not so much in this for here is a more lasting ground for your joy that your names are written in Heaven it will afford such joy and will kindle such a flame of joy as all the waters of affliction cannot quench When a soul comes to know this and can make out this that his name is written in heaven a soul may then rejoyce in every condition rejoyce in Tribulation rejoyce in Persecution rejoyce in Poverty and distresse yea though they may loose all the comforts of life yet when God reveals to them that their names are written in Heaven they may rejoyce for they have a portion that can never be lost an inheritance that can never be taken away from them though they meet with never so much scorn and reproach from the World though men should cast out their names as vile yet if their names are written in Heaven they may rejoyce for their names are precious before God when vise before men and it is written there where it can never be blotted out so that it doth administer matter of sound and sollid joy such joy as will hold out and cannot be quencht with many waters Sixtly Another ground of comfort that doth arise from the knowledge of our election is this that we have and shall enjoy that great priviledge and benefit of the ministry and service of the holy Angels When God comes to make out his love to the soul why it may conclude that the Lord hath given his Angels charge over them that the Angels shall defend and the Angels shall protect and the Angels shall deliver from many dangers See what the Apostle saith in Heb. 1. 14. speaking of the Angels Are they not all ministring spirits sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation They that are chosen by God to an inheritance reserved in Heaven they have the ministry of all the holy Angels while on earth though we see it not with this bodily eye though we see not the Angels how they ascend and descend how they goe to Heaven and come from Heaven yet it is matter of faith the word of the Lord hath said they are all ministring spirits for the good of the Saints many a kindness the Angels doth us and we are kept from many a danger by the Angels He shall give his Angels charge and they shall bear thee up that thou dash not thy foot against a stone That is another ground of sweet comfort Seventhly It doth administer this ground of comfort that all that Gods people doe meet withall ●here in the world shall work for their good God will make an advantage of whatsoever his people doth meet withall See what the Apostle saith in Rom. 8. 28. And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God to them who are the called according to his purpose All things shall work together for good to those who are called according to his purpose according to that ancient love in the bosome of God all afflictions all crosses