And we know that all Things work toge ther for Good to them that love Cod, to them that are the called according to bis Purpose.

W

TE cannot have a plainer Argument of God's tender Care and Concern for his Children when vifited with Afflictions, than in that he hath afforded Means of Comfort under them, and Affiftance to bear them; by letting them know, that they fhall all work together for their Good.

Afflictions and Sufferings must be expected in this State of Probation and Trial, and the dearer we be to God, the bitterer Tafte we may fometimes have of them. If we are firmly refolved to adhere to the Doctrine of Chrift, or, as St. Paul phrafes it, will live Godly in Chrift fejus: If we will freely speak and act according to our Confcience, and are fully

22 Tim. iii. 12,

bent

-bent upon keeping in the Way to Happinefs, without turning afide to the right Hand or to the left, we thall frequently meer with Perfecution of one Sort or other: Tho' it may not feize upon our Perfons, it will ftrike at our Eftates ; or if it cannot reach Them, 'twill stain our Reputations. We muft look to encounter with the Contradictions of Sinners, to be réviled and defamed, and to have our most innocent Words and Actions mifconstrued and mifrepresented.

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Thefe Things if confidered alone, may render our Lives uncaly and troublesome ; and to run our Chriftian Race as we ought, we fhall have need of Patiente. But if we duly reflect upon the Confiederation proposed in my Text, we may certainly obtain that Patience which we thall need.

For how can we repine at any worldly Calamities, or with what Face can we be discontented and impatient under fuch Evils, if we are perfwaded that they'll all work together for our Good? And here St. Paul (who very well knew the Truth of what he fpoke) hath affured us, That all Things work together for Good, to them that love God, to them that are the called according to bis Purpose. Y 2

Which

Which Words being delivered in the Nature of an univerfal Affirmative, concerning those who love God, and are called according to his Purpose, my import, that all Conditions of Life, whether flourifhing or calamitous, whether profperous or afflicted, fhall to fuch Perfons prove Beneficial and Advantageous: So that let them be bleffed with Health, or visited with Sickness; let them be poffeffed of Riches, or pinched with Poverty; let them be finking under the Storms of Adverfity, or fwimming in the delightful Streams of God's Bounty; their Good and Welfare hall through every fuch Circumftance be carried on and promoted.

But tho I doubt not of the Truth of the Words in this Latitude, yet Ifhall now only confider them as relating to the Affictions and Sufferings, which may happen to good Men in this World; this be ing I conceive, most agreeable to the Mind of the Apostle in this Place. And accordingly in difcourfing from them, my Bufinels fhall be to do these two Things:

First, To enquire how, and in what Senfe, Afflictions and Sufferings may be faid to work for Good. Aw

Secondly, To examine the Difcription of those Persons, to whom Afflictions

and

and Sufferings will work together for Good.

First, I am to inquire how, and irpon what Accounts Afflictions and Sufferings may be laid to work for Good. Afflictions and Sufferings being in their own Nature evil, do not feein to promife any fuch good Effect: Neither are we to expect it from them confidered only in themselves, but as they are affifted by the Ufe of our Reason, and the Bleffing of Almighty God. For Afflictions and Sufferings are only Inftruments of our Good; but Inftruments cannot work themselves without other Things to help, or ufe them. And accordingly 'tis remarkable, that the Apoftle here, makes ufe of a compound Word, Cuvepy" Oidaμev oti Távтa Čuveрya es dyadov we know that all Things work together for Good, intimating that together with a right Ule of our Reason, and the Bleffing of Almighty God, Afflictions and Sufferings will tend to promote our Good. And that I conceive chiefly, in these three Refpects.

기

Firft, Because we may learn from them to regulate our Judgments and Affections concerning the good Things of this Life. Secondly, Because they are Inftrumental in ftirring us up, to a more careful and

circum..

circumfpect walking in the Paths of HO

linefs.

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Thirdly, Because they capacitate us for the Enjoyment of a greater Degree of fature Happinels and Glory.

And Firft, Afflictions and Sufferings may be faid to work for Good, becaufe we may learn from them to regulate onr Judgments and Affections concerning the good Things of this Life. When we are in Danger of being mistaken in our Judgmonts, and of placing our Affections upon any Objeds in an undue Measure; when we esteem Things above their true Worth, and love them more than we ought to do'; whatfoever is of Ufe to correct our Errors, and fet us right, is fo far really profitable to us, and fo far as any thing is really profitable to us, fo far it may be truly faid to work for our Good.

Now fuch is our Cafe, with refpect to the good Things of this Life; and fuch is the Leffon we may learn from Sufferings and Afflictions concerning them. For what through the Corruption of our Nature; and what through a long and intimate Acquaintance with thefe Things; we are too apt to value them at a higher Rate, and contract a greater Kindness for then than they deferve. True indeed it