Chapter 6. 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 everything a working, His Kingdom ruleth over all, Psalm 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 Governess of the world. There are three things in Providence. 1. [...], God's foreknowing; 2. [...], God's determining; 3. [...], God's directing all things to their periods and events: Whatever things do work in the world, God 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 God's Providence, [...] of the Wheels is the hand of [...] turning all things here below [...] is by some called [...] else but the result of [...]

Learn to adore Providence hath an influence upon all things here below; 'tis this that [...] the Ingredients, and makes up the whole Compound.

2. It shows us the happy condition of every Child of God; All things work for his good, the best and worst things: Psalm 112.4. Unto the upright ariseth light in darkness. The most dark cloudy Providences of God have some Sunshine in them. What a blessed condition is a true Believer in! When he dies he goes to God, and while he lives, everything shall do him good; — affliction is for his good. What hurt doth the fire to the gold, only purify it? What hurt doth the Fan to the Corn, only separate the Chaff from it? What hurt do Leeches to the body, only suck out the bad blood? God doth never use his staff, but to beat out the dust. Affliction doth that which the Word many times will not, it opens the ear to Discipline, Job 36.10. When God lays men upon their backs, then they look up to Heaven. God's smiting his people is like the Musicians striking upon the Viol, which makes it put forth a melodious sound. How much good comes to the Saints by affliction? When they are pounded and broken, they send forth their sweetest smell. Affliction is a bitter root, but it bears sweet fruit, Hebrews 12.11. It yieldeth the peaceable fruits of righteousness. Affliction is the High-way to Heaven; though it be Flinty and Thorny, yet it is the nearest way. Poverty shall starve our sins; sickness shall make grace more healthful, 2 Corinthians 4.16. Reproach shall cause the Spirit of God, and of Glory to rest upon us, 1 Peter 4.14. [...]; death shall stop the Bottle of Tears, and open the Gate of Paradise. A Believer's dying day, is his ascension day to glory. Hence it is, the Saints have put their afflictions in the Inventory of their riches, Hebrews 11.26. Themistocles being banished his own Country, grew afterwards in favor with the King of Egypt, whereupon he said, Periissem, nisi periissem, I had perished, if I had not perished. So may a Child of God say, If I had not been afflicted, I had been destroyed; if my health and estate had not been lost, my soul had been lost.

3. See then what an encouragement here is to become Godly! All things shall work for good: Oh that this may tempt the world to fall in love with Religion. Can there be a greater Load-stone to piety? Can anything more prevail with us to be good, than this, All things shall work for our good? Religion is the true Philosophers stone, that turns everything into Gold: Take the sourest part of Religion, the suffering part, and there is comfort in it. God sweetens sufferings with joy, he candies our Wormwood with Sugar; oh how may this bribe us to Godliness! Job 22.21. Acquaint thyself with God, and be at peace, so good shall come unto thee. No man did ever come off a loser by his acquaintance with God; thereby good shall come unto thee, abundance of good, the sweet distillations of Grace, the Hidden Manna, yea, everything shall work for good: Oh then get acquaintance with God, espouse his Interest.

4. It shows us the miserable condition of wicked men: To them that are godly evil things work for good, to them that are evil, good things work for hurt; illis qui oderunt deum, etiam bona cedunt in malum.

1. Temporal good things work for hurt to the wicked. Riches and Prosperity; they are not munera, but insidiae, as Seneca speaks. Worldly things are given to the wicked as Michal was given to David, for a snare, 1 Samuel 18.21. The Vulture draws sickness from a perfume: so do the wicked from the sweet perfume of Prosperity: Their mercies are like poisoned bread given to Dogs: Their Tables are sumptuously spread, but there is a hook under the bait, Psalm 69.22. Let their Table become a snare: All their enjoyments are like Israel's Quails, which were sauced with the wrath of God, Numbers 11.33. —Foenus pecuniae, funus animae —. Pride and Luxury are the Twins of Prosperity: Deuteronomy 32.15. Thou art waxen fat; then, he forsook God. Riches are not only the Spiders web, unprofitable, but the Cockatrice egg, pernicious, Ecclesiastes 5.13. Riches kept for the hurt of the Owner: Et transeunt, et vulnerant. The common mercies wicked men have, are not Loadstones to draw them nearer to God, but Millstones to sink them deeper in Hell, 1 Timothy 6.9. Their delicious dainties are like Haman's Banquet; after all their Lordly fare, death will bring in the Reckoning, and they must pay the reckoning in Hell.

2. Spiritual good things work for hurt to the wicked; from the flower of heavenly blessings they suck poison. 1. The Ministers of God work for their hurt. The same wind that blows one Ship to the Haven, blows another Ship upon a Rock. The same breath in the Ministry, that blows a godly man to Heaven, blows a profane sinner to Hell. They who come with the Word of Life in their mouth, yet to many are a savor of death, Isaiah 6.10. Make the heart of this people fat, and their ears heavy. The Prophet was sent upon a sad Message, to preach their Funeral Sermon. Wicked men are worse for preaching, Amos 5.10. They hate him that rebukes in the Gate. Sinners grow more resolved in sin; let God say what he will, they will do what they list, Jeremiah 44.16. As for the word which thou hast spoken to us in the name of the Lord, we will not hearken unto thee. The word preached is not healing, but hardening. And how dreadful is this for men to be sunk to Hell with Sermons!

2. Prayer works for their hurt, Proverbs 8.15. The Sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord. A wicked man is in a great strait; if he prays not, he sins, if he prays, he sins, Psalm 109.7. Let his prayer become sin. It were a sad Judgment if all the meat a man did eat should turn to ill-humors, and breed diseases in the body: So it is with a wicked man; that Prayer which should do him good, works for his hurt; he prays against sin, and sins against his prayer; his Duties are tainted with Atheism, fly-blown with Hypocrisy, God abhors them.

3. The Lord's Supper works for their hurt, 1 Corinthians 10.31. Ye cannot eat of the Lord's Table, and the Table of Devils. Do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? Some of the Jews kept their Idol Feasts, yet would come to the Lord's Table; saith the Apostle, Do you provoke the Lord to wrath? Profane persons feast with their sins, yet will come to feast at the Lord's Table: This is to provoke God: To a sinner there is death in the Cup, he eats and drinks his own damnation, 1 Corinthians 11.29. Thus the Lord's Supper works for hurt to impenitent sinners. After the Sop the Devil enters.

4. Christ himself works for hurt to desperate sinners; he is [...], a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense, 1 Peter 2.7. He is so accidentally and occasionally, through the pravity of men's 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, Luke 2.34. Sinners stumble at a Savior, and pluck Death from the Tree of Life. As Chemical Oils recover some Patients, but destroy others: So the Blood of Christ, though to some it is medicinable, to others it is damnable. Here is the unparalleled misery of such as live and die 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 Chemistry extract Gold out of dross. [...] — O the depth of the wisdom of God! Romans 11.33. It is God's great design to set forth the wonder of his wisdom. The Lord made Joseph's prison a step to preferment. There was no way for Jonah to be saved, but by being swallowed up. God suffered the Egyptians to hate Israel, Psalm 106.41. and this was the means of their deliverance. Saint Paul was bound with a Chain, and that Chain which did bind him was a means to enlarge the Gospel, Philippians 1.12. This wise Physician can of the Viper make a Treacle. God doth enrich by impoverishing, he causeth the augmentation 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 men's fury, Psalm 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-Priest's malice and Judas his Treason, to redeem the World. God hath sometimes much ado to please us; through indiscreet 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 Landscape. Job 11.12. Vain man would be wise. Silly animals will be taxing Providence, and calling the wisdom of God to the Bar of Reason. God's ways are past finding out, Romans 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 stupendous and infinite is that wisdom, that makes the most cross, perplex dispensations work for the good of his children!

6. How little cause have we then to be discontented at outward trials and emergencies? What? discontented at that which shall do us good? All things shall work for good. There are no sins God's 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, Psalm 37 8. Fret not thyself to do evil. He that frets will be ready to do evil: Fretting Jonah, was sinning Jonah, Chapter 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, Psalm 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, Lamentations 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 Corinthians 11.32. We are chastened 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 justify 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 says, [〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉], In every thing giving thanks, 1 Thessalonians 5.18. Why so? because God makes every thing work for our good. We will thank the Physician though he gives us a bitter Pill which makes us sick, because it is to make us well; we will thank any man that does us a good turn; and shall not we be thankful to God who makes every thing work for good to us? God loves a thankful Christian. Job thanked God when he took all away, Job 1.21. The Lord hath taken away, blessed be the name of the Lord: Many will thank God when he gives, Job 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, Revelation 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 bless God, not only at the Sun-rising, but at the Sun-setting. Well may we in the worst that befalls us, have a Psalm of thankfulness, because all things work for good . Oh be much in blessing of God: we will thank him that doth befriend 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 Cross hath so much good in it, what hath the Crown? If such precious Clusters grow in Golgotha, how delicious is that fruit which grows in Canaan? If there be any sweetness in the waters of Marah, what is there in the wine of Paradise? If Gods Rod hath Honey at the end of it, what hath his golden Scepter? If the bread of affliction tastes so savoury, what is Manna? what is the Heavenly Ambrosia? If Gods blow and stroke work for good, what shall the smiles of his face do? If Grapes may be gathered of Thorns, what fruit will the Tree of Life yield? If temptations and sufferings have matter of joy in them, what shall Glory have? If there be so much good out of evil, what then is that good, where there shall be no evil? If Gods chastening mercies are so great, what will his crowning mercies be? Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

10. If God makes all things to turn to our good, how equal is it that we should make all things tend to his glory? 1 Corinthians 10.31. Do all to the glory of God. The Angels glorify God, they sing divine Anthems of praise; how then ought man to glorify him, for whom God hath done more, than for the Angels! He hath dignified us above them in uniting our nature with the God-head. Christ hath died for us, and not the Angels: The Lord hath given us, not only out of the common stock of his bounty, but he hath enriched us with Covenant-blessings, he hath bestowed upon us his Spirit; he studies our welfare, he makes every thing work for our good; Free-grace hath laid a plot for our Salvation. If God seeks our good, shall not we seek his glory?

Question. How can we be said properly to glorify God, he is infinite in his perfections, and can receive no augmentation from us?

Answer. It is true, in a strict sense we cannot bring glory to God, but in an Evangelical sense we may. When we do what in us lies to lift up Gods name in the world, and cause others to have high reverential thoughts of God, this the Lord interprets a glorifying of him; as a man is said to dishonour God, when he causes the name of God to be evil spoken of.

Question. How many ways are we said to advance Gods glory? Answer. Three ways. 1. When we aim at his glory; when we make him the first in our thoughts, and the last in our end. As all the Rivers run into the Sea, and all the Lines meet in the Center, so all our actions terminate and center in God. 2. We advance Gods glory by being fruitful in grace, John 15.18. Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bring forth much fruit. Barrenness reflects dishonour upon God; then we glorify God, when we grow in fairness as the Lily, in tallness as the Cedar, in fruitfulness as the Vine: The Spouses Breasts were like Clusters of Grapes, Canticles 7.7.— 3. We glorify God, when we give the praise and glory of all we do unto God. It was an excellent and humble Speech of the King of Sweden, He feared the people's ascribing that glory to him, which was due to God, would remove him before the work was done. When the Silk-worm weaves her curious work, she hides herself under the Silk, and is not seen. When we have done our best, we must vanish in our own thoughts, and transfer the glory of all to God. 1 Corinthians 15.10. I labour more abundantly than they all: One would think this speech favoured of pride? but the Apostle pulls off the Crown from his own head, and sets it upon the head of Free-grace, Yet not I, but the Grace of God which was with me. Constantine did use to write the name of Christ over his Door, so should we over our Duties.

Thus let us endeavour to make the name of God glorious and renowned. If God seek our good, let us seek his glory; if he makes all things tend to our edification, let us make all things tend to his exaltation. So much for the first part of the Text, the Privilege.