and the Spirit to help them to pray and Jesus Christ as their Advocate to present their Prayers 4. Such as are Fearers of God God will bestow an Inheritance upon them as a Father doth upon his Son this Inheritance is no less than a Kingdom Luke 12.32 In it are Gates of Pearl Rivers of Pleasure and which is to be noted as a difference between Gods setling an Inheritance on his Children and a Fathers setling an Inheritance a Son cannot enjoy the Inheritance till his Father be dead but every adopted child of God may at once enjoy both the Inheritance and the Father because God is both Father and Inheritance 5. Such as are Fearers of God God will pass by many infirmities That is meant by this expression in the Text I will spare them as a man spareth his own Son What a wonder is this that God did not spare the Angels 2 Pet. 2.4 Nay he did not spare his natural Son Rom. 8.32 Yet he will spare his Adopted Sons I will spare them I will not use extremity as I might but pass by many aberrations Not that the Sins of Gods Children are hid from him but such is his paternal Clemency that he is pleased to bear with many frailties in his Children He spareth them as a Father spareth his Son How often do Gods people grieve his Spirit by the neglect of their Spiritual Watch the loss of their first-love but God spares them Israel provoked God with their murmurings but he used Fatherly Indulgence towards them Psalm 78.38 But he being full of Compassion forgave their Iniquity yea many a time turned he his anger away from them From this word I will spare them as a man spares his Son take Notice that the best need sparing Psalm 130.3 If thou Lord shouldst mark Iniquities Lord who shall stand The Papists speak of Merits but how can we merit when our best services are so defective that we need sparing how can these two stand together our meriting and God's sparing what will become of us without sparing Mercy we had need pray as Nehemiah cap. 13.22 Remember me O my God concerning this and spare me according to the greatness of thy Mercy Let us fly to this Asylum Lord spare us as a Father spares his Son See Gods different dealing with the Godly and the Wicked the Lord will not spare the Wicked Jer. 13.14 I will not Pity nor spare nor have Mercy but destroy them 'T is sad when the Prisoner begs of the Judge to spare him but the Judge will shew him no favour Gods cup of wrath is unmixed Rev. 14.10 Yet it is said to be mixed Psal. 78.5 Gods cup of wrath he gives the Wicked is mixed with all sorts of Plagues but it is a Cup unmixed without the least drop of Mercy in it God for a while Reprieves men but forbearance is no forgiveness Though God spare his Children yet obdurate sinners shall feel the weight of his wrath If the Lord spares his people as a Father doth his Son then they should serve him as a Son doth his Father serve him willingly 1 Chron. 28.9 Know thou the God of thy Fathers and serve him with a willing mind God doth not love to be put to strain Therefore Cains Sacrifice was rejected because he brought it grudgingly and against his Mind it was rather the paying of a tax than a free-will Offering That is the best obedience which is voluntary as that is the best Hony which drops from the Comb. God sometimes accepts of willingness without the Work but never of the work without willingness 2. Serve God Vniversally True obedience is Vniform it observes one command as well as another it sets upon duties difficult and dangerous As the Needle points that way which the Loadstone draws so a Gracious Heart inclines to those things which the word suggests Luke 1.6 'T is the note of an Hypocrite to be partial in Obedience some sin he will indulge some duty he will dispense with his Obedience is lame on one foot 3. Serve God Swiftly Beware of a dull temper of Soul the loveliness of Obedience is in the liveliness we read of two Women Zach. 5.9 The Wind was in their Wings Wings are Swift but Wind in the Wings denotes great Swiftness such Swiftness should be in our Obedience to God If God spares us as a Father doth his Son we should serve him as a Son doth his Father If God Spares us as a Father doth his Son let us imitate God 'T is natural for Children to imitate their Parents look what the Father doth the Child is apt to learn the same Let us imitate God in this one thing as God spares us and passeth by many failures so let us be sparing in our Censures of others let us look upon the Weaknesses and Indiscretions of our Brethren with a more tender compassionate eye Indeed in case of Scandal here we ought not to bear with others but sharply reprove them But if through Inadvertency or Passion they commit Indecencies let us Pity and Pray for them How much doth God bear with in us He Spares us and shall not we be Sparing to others perhaps they may be wronged and false things may be laid to their Charge Athanasius was falsely Accused by the Arrians of Adultery Basil of Heresie 'T is usual for the World to misrepresent the People of God therefore let us be sparing in our Censures God spares us and shall not we be sparing towards others Here is Comfort to the Children of God in case of Failings The Lord will not be severe to mark what they have done amiss but will Spare them He passeth by many Infirmities Zeph. 3.17 He will rest in his Love in the Original it is He will be silent in his Love As if the Prophet had said Though the Church had her Failings yet Gods Love was such that it would not suffer him to mention them He will be silent in his Love God winks at many oversights Ezek. 20.17 Mine eye Spared them from destroying them I speak not of presumptuous sins but Failings as vain Thoughts deadness in Duty suddain Surprizals by Temptation these being mourned for God for Christs fake will Spare us as a Father doth his Son This is one of the richest Comforts in the Book of God Who is he that lives and sins not how defective are we in our best Duties how full are our Lives either of Blanks or Blots Were it not for Sparing Mercy we should all goe to Hell but this Text is a standing Cordial if our Hearts are sincere God will Spare us as a Father doth his Son Hosea 11.9 I will not execute the fierceness of mine Anger I know not a greater Rock of Support for a fainting Christian than this God will abate of the Severity of the Law though we come short in our Duty he will not fail of his Mercy but
God saith to us ye are mine then we have great immunites 1. We are freed from the revenging wrath of God We are not free from Gods anger as a Father but as a Iudge God will not pour his vindictive Justice upon us Christ hath drunk the Red wine of Gods wrath upon the Cross that Believers may not tast a drop of it 2. We are freed from the Predominancy of sin Rom. 6.14 Sin shall not have dominion or as the word is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 it shall not Lord it over you Though Believers are not freed from the In-being of sin nor from the Combate with it yet they are freed from its Imperious command As it is said of those beasts in Daniel they had their Dominion taken away yet their Lives were prolonged for a season Dan. 7.12 So sin Lives in the Regenerate but its Dominion is taken away And to be thus freed from the jurisdictive power and tyranny of sin is no small blessing A Wicked man is at the command of sin as the Asse is at the command of the driver the curse of Cham is upon him Gen. 9.25 A Servant of Servants shall he be He is a slave to his Lusts and a slave to Satan O what a priviledge is it to have ones neck out of the Devils Yoak 3. We are freed from the accusations of Conscience The worm of Conscience is part of the Torment of Hell But God being our God we are freed from the Clamors of this hellish Fury Conscience sprinkled with Christs blood speaks Peace a good Conscience like the Bee gives Hony it is like the Golden pot which had Manna in it 2 Cor. 1.12 6. If God saith to us ye are mine we shall be his for ever Psalm 48.14 This God is our God for ever and ever You cannot say you have health and you shall have it for ever you have a Child and you shall have it for ever but if God be your God you shall have him for ever The Covenant of Grace is Sacrum diploma a Royal Charter and this is the Happiness of it it is eternized The interest between God and his people shall never be broken off How false therefore is the Opinion of falling from Grace Shall any that God makes his own by Federal union Fall finally Indeed if Salvation hath no better Pillar to rest upon than mans will as the Arminians hold no wonder if there be falling away but a Christians stability in Grace is built upon a surer basis namely Gods inviolable Covenant Isa. 55.3 Once in Christ and ever in Christ. A Star may sooner fall out of its orb than a true Believer be pluck'd away from God 7. If God saith to us ye are mine he will take us up to himself at death Death breaks the union between the Body and the Soul but perfects the union between God and the Soul This is the Emphasis of Heavens Glory to be with God What is the Joy of the blessed but to have a clear transparent sight of God and to be in the sweet and soft embraces of his love for ever This hath made the Saints desire death as the Bride the wedding day Phil. 1.23 Lead me Lord to that glory said an Holy man a glimpse whereof I have seen as in a glass darkly Let this be a Consolatory to the Saints there is a Covenant-union between God and them God is theirs and they are his they shall be mine saith the Lord. Here is a standing cordial for the Godly God looks upon them as having a propriety in them they shall be mine This is Comfort 1. In respect of Satans accusations he accuseth the Saints first to God then to themselves but if God saith ye are mine this answers all Satans Bills of Indictment Christ will shew the debt-book crossed in his blood It was a saying of Bucer I am Christs and the Devil hath nothing to do with me 2. It is Comfort in respect of Poverty Believers are match'd into the Crown of Heaven and all that is in God is theirs The Philosopher comforted himself with this that though he had no Musick or Vine-trees yet he had the houshold Gods with him So though we have not the Vine or Fig-tree yet if God be ours and we are his this Creates joy in the most indigent condition And that which may raise the comfort of the godly higher and cause a jubilation of Spirit is that shortly God will own his people before all the world and say these are mine At present the elect are not known 1 Iohn 3.2 It doth not yet appear what we shall be The Saints are like Kings in disguise but how will their hearts leap for joy when God shall pronounce that word these are mine These the lot of Free-grace is fallen upon these shall lye for ever in the Bosom of my love To all who are yet strangers to God Labour to get into Covenant with him that he may say ye are mine Why doth God woo and beseech you by his Ambassadours if he were not willing to be in Covenant What shall a poor forlorn Creature do to get into Covenant with God 1. If you would be in Covenant with God break off the Covenant with sin 1 Sam. 7.3 What King will be in league with him that holds correspondence with his Enemy 2. Labour for Faith 1. Faith in the Mercy of God Jer. 3.12 I am merciful saith the Lord and will not keep anger for ever As the Sea covers great Rocks as well as little Sands so Gods Mercy covers great sins Manasseh a bloody sinner was held forth as a pattern of Mercy Some of the Jews who had an hand in Crucifying of Christ yet their sins were forgiven 2. Faith in the merit of Christ. Christs blood is not only 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 not only a Sacrifice to appease God but a Propitiation to ingratiate us into Gods favour and make him look upon us with a smiling aspect CHAP. XVIII The Second part of the Saints Reward Gods Honouring them 2. THE Second part of the Saints reward is Gods Honouring them in that day when I make up my Iewels Here are three Propositions 1. That God hath a great honour for his People 2. That Gods People are his Jewels 3. That there is a day when God will make up his Jewels 1 st That God hath a great honour for his People He speaks of them here with Honour in that day when I make up my Jewels Isai. 43.4 Since thou wast precious in my sight thou hast been honourable Honour attends Holiness That the Lord doth highly honour the fearers of him is evident by four demonstrations 1. In that he prefers them before others He chooseth them and passeth by the rest Mal. 1.2 Was not Jacob Esaus brother saith the Lord yet I hated Esau and loved Jacob. 2. In that God gives them frequent Visits 'T is counted an
Origen sprinkle incense before the Idol but fear 2. Positively the Fear meant in the Text is a Divine Fear which is the reverencing and adoring Gods Holiness and setting our selves always under his Sacred inspection The infinite distance between God and us causeth this Fear When Gods Glory began to shine out upon the Mount Moses said I exceedingly fear and quake Heb. 12.21 Such as approach Gods presence with light feathery Hearts and Worship him 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in a rude careless manner have none of this fear In the words are two parts 1. The Act Fear 2. The Object the Lord. They that feared the Lord The fear of God is the Summe of all Religion Eccles. 12.13 Fear is the leading Grace the first seed God sows in the Heart When a Christian can say little of Faith and perhaps nothing of Assurance yet he dares not deny but he fears God God is so Great that he is afraid of displeasing him and so Good that he is afraid of losing him It is an indispensible Duty incumbent on Christians to be Fearers of God Eccles. 5.7 Fear thou God Deut. 28.58 That thou maist fear this Glorious and fearful name the Lord thy God This goes to the very constituting of a Saint One can no more act as a Christian without Fear than he can act as a man without reason This Holy Fear is the fixed temper and Complexion of the Soul This Fear is not Servile but Filial there is difference between Fearing God and being afraid of God the Godly fear God as a Child doth his Father the wicked are afraid of God as the Prisoner is of the Judge This divine Fear will appear admirable if you consider how it is mixed and interwoven with several of the Graces 1. The Fear of God is mixed with Love Psal. 145.19 20. The Chast Spouse fears to displease her Husband because she loves him There 's a necessity that fear and love should be in conjunction Love is as the Sails to swiften the Souls motion and Fear as the Ballast to keep it steady in Religion Love will be apt to grow wanton unless it be poised with fear 2. The Fear of God is mixed with Faith Hebr. 11.7 By Faith Noah moved with fear c. When the Soul looks either to Gods Holiness or it 's own sinfulness it fears but it is a fear mixed with faith in Christs merits the Soul doth tremble yet trust Like a Ship which lies at Anchor though it shakes with the wind yet it is fixed at Anchor God in Great wisdom coupleth these two graces of Faith and Fear Fear preserves seriousness faith preserves chearfulness Fear is as Lead to the Net to keep a Christian from floating in presumption and Faith is as Cork to the Net to keep him from sinking in despair 3. The Fear of God is mixed with Prudence he who fears God hath the Serpents eye in the Doves head He foresees and avoids those Rocks which others run upon Prov. 22.3 Though divine Fear doth not make a Person Cowardly it makes him Cautions 4. The Fear of God is mixed with Hope Psalm 33.18 The eye of the Lord is on them that fear him that hope in his mercy One would think Fear should destroy Hope but it cherisheth it Fear is to Hope as the Oil to the Lamp it keeps it burning the more we fear Gods Justice the more we may hope in his Mercy Indeed such as have no Fear of God do sometimes hope but it is not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Good hope through Grace 2 Thessa. 2.16 Sinners pretend to have the helmet of Hope 1 Thes. 5.8 but want the breast-plate of Righteousness Ephes. 6.14 5. The Fear of God is mixed with Industry Heb. 11.7 Noah moved with fear prepared an ark There is 1. A fear of diffidence which represents God as a severe Judge this takes the Soul off from duty 2. A fear of diligence a Christian fears and prayes fears and repents Fear quickens Industry The Spouse fearing lest the Bridegroom should come before she is dressed hastens and puts on her Jewels that she may be ready to meet him Fear causeth a watchful eye and a working hand Fear banisheth sloth out of it's Diocese The Greatest labour in Religion saith Holy Fear is far less than the least pain the damned feel in Hell no Greater Spur in the Heavenly race than fear CHAP. III. Cogent Reasons enforcing the Fear of God THe Reasons enforcing this Holy Fear are 1. Because Gods eye is alwayes upon us He who is under the eye of his earthly Prince will be carefull of doing any thing that should offend him Iob 31.4 Doth not he see my wayes and count all my Steps God sees in the dark Psalm 139.12 The darkness hideth not from thee The night is no Curtain the clouds are no Canopy to hinder or intercept Gods sight He sees the Heart A Judge can judge of the fact but God judgeth of the Heart Ier. 17.10 He is like Ezekiels wheels full of eyes Ezek. 10.12 and as Cyril saith 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 all Eye Should not this make us walk with fear and circumspection we cannot sin but our Judge looks on 2. God interprets our not fearing him a slighting of him As not to praise God is to wrong him so not to fear God is to sleight him Of all things a person can least endure to be sleighted Psalm 10.13 Wherefore doth the wicked contemn God For a worm to sleight it's Maker causeth the fury to rise up in Gods face Ezek. 38.18 3. God hath power to destroy us Mat. 10.28 Fear him who hath power to destroy both Soul and Body in Hell God can look us into our Grave and with a breath blow us into Hell and shall we not fear him Is it easie to wrestle with flames Psalm 90.11 Who knoweth the Power of his anger What engines or buckets can quench the infernal fire We are apt to fear men who have power in their hand to hurt us what is their power to Gods They threaten a Prison God threatens Hell They threaten our Life God threatens our Soul and shall we not tremble before him O dreadful when the great Fountains of Gods wrath shall be broken up and all his Bitter Vials poured out Ezek. 22.14 Can thy heart endure or can thy hands be strong in the day that I shall deal with thee But are not we bid to serve God without Fear Luke 1.74 We must not Fear God with such a fear as the wicked do they fear him as a Turkish Slave doth his Pateroon they fear him so as they hate him and wish there were no God We must not serve God with this hellish fear but we must serve him with an ingenuous fear sweetned with love CHAP. IV. Containing a practical Improvement of the Proposition IT confutes the Papists who hold that a Christian cannot have Assurance because he is to serve God with
goes there this mortal shall put on Immortality Let us labour to be in the number of Gods Jewels that when the Lord shall make up his Jewels he may perfect our Souls and Bodies in Glory How shall we know that we are in the number of Gods Jewels Have we inherent Holiness 1 Cor. 6.11 But ye are washed but ye are Sanctified We are not Jewels by Creation but Regeneration If Holiness sparkle in us it 's a sign we are Jewels and then when God comes to make up his Jewels he will put Glory upon our Souls and Bodies for ever CHAP. XIX The Third part of the Saints Reward Gods sparing them 3. THE Third part of the Saints reward is Gods Sparing them I will spare them as a man spareth his own Son that serveth him The Hebrew word to spare signifies to use Clemency In this Phrase is a Meiosis there is less said and more intended I will spare them that is I will deal with them as a Father doth with his Son the same tenderness that a Father shews to his Child the same will I shew to them that Fear me God will deal with them that Fear him as a Father doth with his Son Two things are in this Proposition 1. That God is a Father He is a Father 1. By Creation he hath given us our Being Mal. 2.10 Have not we all one Father hath not one God created us 2. God is a Father by Election he hath culled out a certain number to be his Children Eph. 1.4 3. God is a Father by special Grace he stamps his impress of Holiness upon men Col. 3.10 All Gods Children resemble him though some are more like him than others 2. That God will deal with them that Fear him as a Father doth with his Son 1. God will accept them as a Father doth his Son If the Child doth but lisp and can hardly speak plain the Father takes all well so God as a Father will accept of what his Children do in sincerity Ezek. 20.40 There will I require your Offerings I will accept you with your sweet Savour 2. Such as Fear God he will be full of Bowels to them as a Father is to his Son There are in God 1. Bowels of Compassion 2. Bowels of Complacency 1. Bowels of Compassion A Father Compassionates his Child Sozomen makes mention of a Father who offered to be put to death for his two Sons who were sentenced to dye God hath soundings of Bowels Isa. 63.15 The Compassions of Parents are Steel and Marble compared with Gods Luke 1.78 Through the tender Mercy of our God in the Greek it is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Bowels of Mercy these Bowels make God sympathize with his Children in Misery he is touched in their wounds Psal. 103.13 As a Father pitieth his Children so the Lord pitieth them that fear him 2. In God are Bowels of Complacency How dearly did Iacob love Benjamin his life was bound up in him Gen. 44.30 All the Affections of Parents come from God they are but a drop of his Ocean a spark of his flame Gods love is a love that passeth Knowledge Ephes. 3.19 The Saints cannot Love their own Souls so intirely as God loves them In particular 1. God loves the persons of his Children they are the Apple of his Eye Zach. 2.8 He engraves them upon the Palms of his hands Isa. 49.16 It alludes to them who carry about them graven on the Stone of their Ring the Picture of some dear Friend whom they intirely affect 2. God loves the places his Children were born in the better for their sakes Psal. 87.2 God loves the Gates of Sion ver 5. This and that man was born in her i. e. This and that Believer God loves the very ground his Children go upon Why was Iudaea the Ancient seat of Israel called a delightsome Land Mal. 5.12 Not so much delightful for the fruit growing in it as for the Saints living in it 3. God so loves his Children that he chargeth the great ones of the World upon pain of death not to hurt them their persons are sacred Psalm 105.14 He reproved Kings for their sakes saying Touch not mine anointed By anointed are meant such as have the anointing of the Spirit 1 John 2.20 4. God delights in his Childrens company he loves to see their faces Cant. 2.24 Let me see thy Countenance If but two or three of Gods Children meet and pray together God will be sure to make one of the company Mat. 18.20 There am I in the midst of them 5. God so loves his Children that his Eye is never off them Psalm 33.18 The Eye of the Lord is upon them that fear him But is this such a priviledge to have Gods Eye upon his Children Gods Eye is upon the Wicked too Answ. It is one kind of Eye that the Judge casts upon the Malefactor and another that the Prince casts upon his Favourite Gods Eye upon the Wicked is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 an Eye of Revenge but his Eye upon his Children is an Eye of Benediction 6. God sets a continual guard about his Children to preserve them from danger He hides them in his Pavilion Psalm 27.5 He covers them with the Golden Feathers of his Protection Psalm 91.4 God preserved Athanasius strangely he put it into his Mind to depart out of the House he was in the night before the Enemies came to search for him No Prince goes so well guarded as Gods Child for he hath a guard of Angels about him The Angels are a numerous guard 2 Kin. 6.17 The Mountain was full of Horses and Chariots of fire those Horses and Chariots of fire were the Angels of God gathered together in the manner of an huge host to defend the Prophet Elisha 7. God puts his Children in rich apparel Psalm 45.13 Her cloathing is of wrought Gold Jacob loved his Son Joseph and gave him a finer Coat to wear than the rest of his brethren Gen. 37.3 He made him a Coat of divers Colours God loves his Children and gives them a finer Coat more curiously Woven a Coat of divers Colours it is partly made of Christs Righteousness and partly made of inherent Holiness 8. Such is Gods love that he thinks nothing too Good for his Children he enricheth them with the upper and nether Springs he gives them the Kidneys of the Wheat and Hony out of the Rock he makes them a feast of fat things Isa. 25.6 He gives them the body and blood of his Son and delights to see his Children spreading themselves as Olive plants round about his Table 3. Such as are Fearers of God he will receive their Petitions from them as a Father doth from his Son they may come boldly to the throne of Grace Heb. 4.16 If they come for pardon of sin strength against Temptation God will not deny them Three things may cause boldness in prayer the Saints have a Father to pray to
Wormwood we have deserved to drink in a Cup of Wrath doth God cut us short we have deserved he should cut us off Ezek. 47.3 The Waters were to the Ankles Do the Waters of Affliction come up to our Ankles we have deserved to be drowned in these Waters 7. When God afflicts his Children he deals well with them because he keeps them from Sinning in Affliction Iohn 17.15 I pray that thou keep them from the evil 1. The Godly are kept from impatience When the Wicked are under Gods black Rod they either faint or fret Rev. 16.9 Men were scorched with great heat and blasphemed the name of God but the Godly are silent under the Rod Levit. 10.3 And Aaron held his Peace 't was a sore Tryal both his Sons were consumed with fire but Aaron held his Peace Gods People open their Ear to hear the Voice of the Rod but shut their Mouth they have not one word to say against God 2. The Godly dare not use any indirect means to extricate themselves out of Trouble Wicked men like Malefactors care not how they get loose they will sin themselves out of straits the People of God had rather lye in the Furnace to have their dross purged than come out too soon they will not purchase the liberty of their Persons by insnaring their Consciences Doth not God deal well with his Children in keeping them from sinning in Affliction Affliction cannot do that mischief as sin doth the one is like a rent in the Garment the other is like a rent in the Flesh. Affliction may deprive us of our Estates but Sin deprives us of our God 8. God deals well with his Children in Affliction because though he Correct them he doth not forsake them Indeed Sion said the Lord hath forsaken me Isa. 49.14 But that was under a Temptation Lam. 3.31 The Lord will not cast off for Ever God may alter his Providence not his purpose he may change his dispensation not his disposition Hos. 11.8 How shall I give thee up O Ephraim It alludes to a Father who is about to disinherit his Son but when he is going to set his hand to the deed his bowels begin to Work I am his Father and though he be a Rebellious Son yet he is a Son how shall I disinherit him Such are the Workings of Gods bowels to his Children though he may give them a severe rebuke yet he will not cut off the entail of Mercy 9. God deals well with his Children in Affliction because though their condition be sad yet it is not so bad as others the Lord puts a difference between the Chastisements of the Godly and the Punishments of the Wicked the Godly man hath Pain in his sickness but the Wicked man hath Wrath in his sickness Eccles. 5.17 The Lord shoots a single Arrow at the Godly but a whole shower of Arrows at the Wicked he punisheth them in their Body Estate Conscience A good man hath God to Pity him in his Sorrows Isa. 63.9 But the Wicked have God to laugh at them in their Miseries Prov. 1.26 The Godly have Christ to pray for them in their Afflictions but the Impenitent when in Torment are shut out of Christs prayer Ioh. 17.9 I pray not for the World Gods People are apt to say Never did any suffer as they yes it is worse with the Wicked their Sins and Sufferings meet together 10. God in Affliction deals well with his Children because if he take away one Comfort he leaves more behind God threatned Ierusalem to strip her of all her Jewels and leave her bare Ezek. 16.39 But you who belong to God may Sing of Mercy and Iudgment Psal. 101.1 If God hath fleeced your Estate he hath raised you up Friends If he hath taken away one of your Jewels he hath left you more if he hath pluck'd one dear Relation from you he hath left other sweet Clusters behind and can double your Comfort in them is not all this kindness But this is our Sin we grieve more for one Loss than we are thankful for an Hundred Mercies Jacob was more troubled for the loss of Joseph than he was Comforted with the Lives of all his other Children Gen. 37.35 11. When God Afflicts he deals well with his People because he takes away nothing from them but he gives them that which is better What dammage can it be to a man to lose his Farthings and have Gold given him If God take away Health he gives Holiness If he take away a Child he gives a Christ is not this better God takes away a Flower and gives a Jewel 12. When God Afflicts his Children he deals well with them because he affords them his Divine presence Psalm 91.15 I will be with him in trouble God never Promised us a Charter of Exemption from trouble but he hath Promised to be with us in trouble Better be in a Prison and have Gods presence than on a Throne and want it Gods presence gives courage Act. 23.11 When Polycarp was near the Theatre and going to Suffer a Voice came from Heaven Be of good chear O Polycarp Was not Christ with the Three Children did not he go with them into the fire Dan. 3.25 I see four men in the fire and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God He who is the Second Person in the Trinity made the Fourth Person in the Furnace 13. God in Afflicting deals well with his Children because he gives them that which makes amends for their Afflictions he drops in the Oyl of Gladness he makes them gather Grapes of Thorns John 16.22 Your Sorrow shall be turned into Joy We see a Godly mans Sufferings but we know not what Joy he feels as we hear the roaring of the Sea but we see not the Gold at the bottom Philip Lantgrave of Hesse said that in his trouble he felt the divine Consolations of the Martyrs Here was Hony out of the Lion The Saints have been sometimes so sweetly enlarged that they had rather endure their Afflictions than want their Comforts 2 Cor. 1.5 As the Sufferings of Christ abound in us so our Consolation also aboundeth by Christ Saint Paul had his Prison-Songs Act. 16 25. This Bird of Paradise could sing in Winter God turns the Waters of Marah into Wine He keeps his Cordials for fainting When the Saints taste most of the Wrath of Men they shall feel most of the Love of God thus the Lord candies his Wormwood with Sugar 14. When God Corrects his Children he deals well with them because these Paroxysms or hot trials do not last long Post nubila Phaebus 1 Kin. 11.39 I will Afflict the Seed of David but not for ever God will love for ever but not afflict for ever he will ere long give his people a Writ of ease A Sinners best and a Saints worst are but short Affliction is called a Cup Ezek. 23.32 The Wicked drink a Sea of Wrath the Godly sip only of