Exposition of Romans 8-11, Chapter 8 · Verse 28
VERSE 28. And wee know that all things worke together for good to them that louelove God, to them who are called according to his purpoſe.
HEre is a new argument to comfort and encourage vsus vnderunder the Croſſe, taken from the profit the Croſſe brings. The Croſſe tends to our Good, to further vsus to godlineſſe and the Kingdome of Heauen, therefore wee may not bee diſcouraged.
In this Verſe are two things: 1. A Propoſition. All things worke together, for them which louelove God. 2. The proofe which is double. 1. From the experience of all Saints. We know. 2. From a deſcription of them which louelove God: they are the Called according to Gods purpoſe.
We know. The wicked knowe not this ſecret: As the Philiſtims vnderſtood not Samſons Riddle: but wee know the Croſſe is a help.
All things: Aquinas & ante …um. Aug. l…b. de cor. & gra. c. 1.Euen ſinnes, becauſe from their fals Gods Children ariſe more warie and carefull. The beſt things of the wicked, euen their prayers, turne to their hurt: the worſt of the godly, euen their ſinnes, turne to their Good. Satan then gets nothing in the end by tempting vsus to ſinne, but the greater ouerthrow of his owne Kingdome.
I dare not ſay that this is the meaning of theſe words. For ſinnes indeed turne to the good, but worke not the good of Gods children, as afflictions doe. For ſinne is not appointed to be done, as the Croſſe is appointed to be ſuffered: neither can it be ſaid that ſinne is ſanctified to this purpoſe, as are afflictions. Here properly by All things, is meant all Aduerſe things.
Worke together, not inuicem, betweene themſelues: but together, with God. Not of their owne nature, for ſo they doe not co-operate, but contra-operate, but beeing ſanctified by God: Anſel.and therefore one takes the Verbe paſſiuely, are wrought: for indeede, take away God, and afflictions worke to our hurt.
For Good: That is the chiefe good; Eternall life.
To them which louelove God. So are Gods children deſcribed: for it is proper to children to louelove and obey their Father.
To them which are called according to his purpoſe. That is, God hath purpoſed the ſaluation of his children: hath choſen and called them vntounto it: therefore it muſt needs bee that afflictions comming from God, muſt further them to eternall life. Otherwiſe he ſhould do that which ſhould hinder and croſſe his owne purpoſe: which is not done by wiſe men; much leſſe by our moſt wiſe God.
doctrine All Afflictions further the good of Gods children, Pſal. 119.71. 1. Pet. 1.6,7. & 3.17. & 4.19. 2. Cor. 4.17. Ioſephs afflictions furthered Gods purpoſe of honouring him, Gen. 50.20. and Pauls afflictions furthered the cauſe of the Goſpell, Phil. 1.12.
Vſe 1.The admirable power and goodneſſe of God, is here noted, that he can and doth ouerrule the nature of euil things ſo, as to make them ſerue for much good; yea, to bring good out of them, as he brought light out of darknes. He can ſweeten theſe bitter waters. As the Apothecary of poiſon makes Triacle to driue out poiſon: So can God make the poiſon of afflictions, (which in themſelues are the curſe of the Law) to driue out the poiſon of ſinne. God makes afflictions worke to our good in two reſpects. 1. Of Sinne. 2. Of Grace.
1. Of Sinne two wayes. Firſt, to preuent it. Secondly, to cure it.
1. A Phyſicion opens a veine not onelyonly to cure, but many times to preuent a diſeaſe: God knowes our diſpoſition. Hee ſees that many times wee are inclined to Pride, Vncleanneſſe, Couetouſneſſe, Reuenge: Now that wee ſhould not fall into theſe, hee ſends vsus loſſes in our goods, ſickneſſe in our bodies, &c. whereby wee are kept and bridled from that which otherwiſe we would commit.
2. Sinne alſo is cured by afflictions. The bloud of Chriſt indeede hath onelyonly this vertue: but afflictions are ſaid ſo to doe, becauſe they driue vsus to ſeeke the cure, being therefore called the medicine of the ſoule. They are of the beſt nature which are wonne by louelove: but ten to one are brought to goodneſſe by afflictions. Meliores ſunt quos ducit amor, ſed plures ſunt quos corrigit timor: Aug. Luk. 15.17.In proſperitie we grow ruſty: The Croſſe is Gods file to make vsus bright. The Prodigall in proſperitie forgets himſelfe: but hauing gone to ſchoole to the Hogs-trough, he comes to himſelfe. So did fellowſhip with the beaſts teach Nabuchadnezzar humilitie, and the Dungeon Manaſſes true Religion, who in their proſperity were proud and irreligious.
The Croſſe is alſo a preſeruatiue of Grace; In proſperitie we are dull and drowſie, as a man comming from a Feaſt is heauy & ſleepy. A Romane Captain ſaid, that his armie neuer ſtood in worſe termes, then when he had peace. So in proſpetie is our greateſt danger, then hauehave wee leaſt minde of God: then do we leaſt feare: pray ſeldomeſt & coldeſt: are ſooneſt ouertaken with pride, couetouſneſſe, vncleanneſſe, hypocriſie. Aduerſitie is a quickner; ſtirres vp to Prayer, Repentance, and all holy duties. It is noted of Salomon, that of all the Kings of Iuda, he fell fouleſt; becauſe hee had moſt proſperitie. That God might not looſe vsus, and we loſe his grace, hee ſends vsus aduerſitie. As the Starres ſhine brighteſt in the night: ſo the graces of Gods Spirit in affliction.
Ʋſe 2.The Affliction which is to the godly a help to heauen, is to a wicked man the fore-runner of helliſh torments: as in the deluge, the water that bore vp the Arke, drowned the wicked of thoſe times. VnderUnder the Croſſe the godly pray, the wicked blaſpheme. In the fire the Chaffe is conſumed, the gold is purified; ſo much mattereth it; not what is ſuffered, but what manner of men they be which ſuffer.
Ʋſe 3.This priuiledge is to them which louelove God. Doſt thou louelove God? Otherwiſe thou wert not worthy to liue: and then wilt thou worſhip him, keepe his Commandements, bee zealous for his glory. Which if thou doeſt not, thou art profane, and loueſt not God, neither art beloued, and ſo haſt no part in this priuiledge.