Chapter 5. Showing the Reason of the Proposition

The grand Reason why all things shall work for good, is the near and dear interest which God has in his people. The Lord has made a Covenant with them, Jeremiah 32.38. They shall be my people, and I will be their God. By virtue of this compact, all things do, and must work for good to them. Psalm 50.7. I am God, even your God. This word Your God, is the sweetest word in the Bible, it implies the best relations; and it is impossible there should be these relations between God and his people, and every thing not work for their good. This expression, I am your God, implies,

1. The relation of a Physician; I am your Physician. God is 1. A Skilful Physician, therefore knows what is best. God observes the several tempers of men, and knows what will work most effectually; some are of a more sweet disposition, and are drawn by mercy; others are more rugged and knotty pieces; these God deals with in a more forcible way. Some things are kept in Sugar, some in Brine. God does not deal alike with all, he has Trials for the strong, and Cordials for the weak. 2. God is a Faithful Physician, therefore will turn all to the best. If he does not give you ad voluntatem, it shall be ad sanitatem; If God does not give you that which you like, he will give you that which you need. A Physician does not so much study to please the taste of the Patient, as to cure his distemper. We complain such sore trials lie upon us; let us remember God is our Physician, therefore he labors rather to heal us, than humor us. God's dealings with his children, though they are sharp, yet they are safe, and in order to a Cure, Deuteronomy 8.16. That he might do you good in the latter end.

This word, Your 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 Your God, your Father, therefore all I do is for your good. Deuteronomy 8.5. As a man chastens his Son, so the Lord your God chastens you. God's chastening is not to destroy, but to reform. God cannot hurt his children, for 1. He is a tender-hearted Father, Psalm 103.13. Like as a father pities his children, so the Lord pities them that fear him. Will a father seek the ruin of his child, the child that came out of his loins, that bears his image? All his care and contrivance is for his child; who does he settle the inheritance upon but his child? God is tender-hearted, the Father of mercies, 2 Corinthians 1.3. He begets all the mercies and bowels in the creatures. 2. He is an everlasting Father, Isaiah 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 dies, and then the child may be exposed to injury: But God never ceases to be a Father; you that are a Believer, have a Father that never dies, and if God be your Father, you can never be undone, all things must needs work for your good.

3. This word, Your God, imports the relation of a 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, Ephesians 5.29. Did ever any man hate his own flesh? There is a marriage-relation between God and his People, Isaiah 54.5. Your Maker is your Husband. God entirely loves his People, Isaiah 43.4. He engraves them upon the Palms of his hands, Isaiah 49.16. He sets them as a Seal upon his Breast, Canticles 8.16. He will give Kingdoms for their Ransom, Isaiah 43.3. which shows how near they lie to his heart. If he be a 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, Your God, implies the relation of a Friend, Canticles 5.16. This is my Friend. A Friend is Animae dimidium (as Austin says), half of one's self; he is studious and inquisitive how he may do his friend good, he promotes his welfare as his own. Jonathan ventured the King's displeasure for his friend David, 1 Samuel 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. He is a faithful friend, Deuteronomy 7.9. Know therefore that the Lord your 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 bosom; here was a pattern of love without a parallel. 2. He is faithful in his promises, Titus 1.2. God that cannot lie has promised. He may change his promise, but cannot break it. 3. He is faithful in his dealings; when he is afflicting he is faithful, Psalm 119.75. In faithfulness hast thou afflicted me; he is sifting and refining us as Silver, Psalm 66.10.

2. He is an immutable friend, Hebrews 13.5. I will never leave you, nor forsake you. 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 bosoms, but when they begin to wither they throw them away; or as the Traveler does with the Sun-Dial; if the Sun shines upon the Dial, the Traveler will step out of the Road, and look upon the Dial; but if the Sun does 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 you. Though David walked in the shadow of death, he knew he had a friend by him, Psalm 23.9. I will fear no evil, for thou art with me. God never takes off his love wholly from his people, 'tis 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, Your 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, Ephesians 5.23. Does not the Head consult for the good of the Body? The Head guides the Body, it sympathizes 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 lies Sentinel to spy any danger that may come to the Body, and prevent it. The Tongue is both a Taster and an Orator. If the Body be a Microcosm, 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.