The Triumph of a True Christian Described, Commentary on verse · Verse 37
VERSE 37.
Neuertheleſſe in all theſe things we are more then conquerours through him that hath loued vsus.
IN this Verſe our Apoſtle makes anſwer to his interrogation, propounded verſ. 35. Who ſhall ſeparate vsus from the louelove of Chriſt? ſhall tribulation, or anguiſh, or perſecution, or famine, or nakedneſſe, or perill, or ſword? And his anſwer is negatiue, that none of thoſe euils reckoned vp by him can ſeparate true beleeuers and Gods children from the louelove of Chriſt; and his negatiue anſwer is not here put downe in theſe expreſſe termes, but in the proofe of it, on this manner, Thoſe things in which true beleeuers are conquerours cannot ſeparate them from the louelove of Chriſt, but in the euils, troubles, and trials mentioned they are conquerours, therefore they cannot ſeparate them from the louelove of Chriſt. The minor or ſecond propoſition which is here expreſſed by the Apoſtle is amplified, firſt by the degree of the victorie or conqueſt, that in theſe euils true beleeuers are great conquerours: Neuertheleſſe in all theſe things we are more then conquerours. Secondly, by the cauſe of the conqueſt, the powerfull aſſiſtance of God who loueth them, Through him that hath loued vsus. So then we hauehave here in generall two things layed before vsus.
Firſt, a victorie or conqueſt that true beleeuers and Gods children hauehave in all euils, troubles, and trials, and that a great victorie, In all theſe things we are more then conquerors.
And ſecondly the cauſe of it, Through him that hath loued vsus.
Let vsus now a little ſearch into the meaning of the words of this verſe,Interpretation. that we may vnderſtand the purpoſe of the Apoſtle and of the holy Ghoſt in them. Neuertheleſſe, in all theſe things. The words in the originall foreign, ſignifie, but in all theſe things; and it hath reference to the context in the two verſes foregoing, that true beleeuers, Gods children, are now as in former ages, lyable to the euils and afflictions reckoned vp, to tribulation, and anguiſh, and perſecution, and famine, and nakedneſſe, and perill, and ſword: and they are now as in times paſt of old, killed, and counted as ſheepe for the ſlaughter, but in all theſe things they are more then conquerors. In all theſe things, that is, in all the euils put downe verſe 35. In tribulation, in anguiſh, in perſecution, in famine, in nakedneſſe, in perill and the ſword, we are more then conquerors. The expoſition of theſe words giuen by ſome is more curious then ſound, the word is foreign, ſuperuincimus, we ouer and aboue ouercome, that is, euen aboue meaſure, or exceeding gloriouſly we do ouercome, or we hauehave the better by many degrees, and we carrie away a moſt noble and famous victorie and conqueſt. Through him that loued vsus: theſe words are a periphraſis, a deſcription of God, and that a weightie one; a deſcription of God, containing in them the impulſiue and mouing cauſe which moueth God to aide and to helpe his children in their troubles and afflictions, namely his louelove to them in Chriſt his Sonne; and ſo the Apoſtles meaning in them, is as if he had ſaid: We are more then conquerors, or exceeding great conquerors, through the aide and helpe of God, who is pleaſed to aide and to helpe vsus out of his louelove to vsus in Chriſt. Now then thus we are to conceiue the purpoſe and meaning of the Apoſtle in the words of this verſe, as if he had ſaid.
But in all thoſe euils, troubles, trials, and afflictions reckoned vp, in tribulation and anguiſh, in perſecution, in famine, in nakedneſſe, in perill and ſword, we euen aboue meaſure and exceeding gloriouſly do ouercome, and we carrie away a moſt noble, and glorious, and famous victorie and conqueſt, and that through the aide and helpe of God, who is pleaſed to aide and to helpe vsus out of his louelove to vsus in Chriſt his Sonne.
Come we to ſtand on the particulars of this verſe more particularly, and firſt on his propoſition: In all theſe things we are more then conquerors. The words being vnderſtood as we hauehave heard them opened, do affoord this concluſion.
Doct. 1 That true beleeuers, and Gods children, are as conquerors in all the afflictions that befall them,Gods children are as cōquerours in all the afflictions that befall them in this world. and in their particular euils troubles, and trials, be they neuer ſo bitter and painefull, or neuer ſo vile and ſhamefull, Gods children get a moſt noble and glorious victory and conqueſt, and that in this world: in tribulation, anguiſh, perſecution, famine, nakedneſſe, perill, and ſword, Gods children are more then conquerors, euen famous and renowned conquerors, and that in this world, and they may ſay with the Apoſtle, 2. Cor. 4.8.9. They are afflicted on eueryevery ſide, yet are not in distreſſe: in pouertie, but not ouercome of pouertie: perſecuted, but not forſaken: cast downe, but they periſh not: yea that they are ſo farre from being ouercome, as that they are ouercomers, not onelyonly in heauen, but euen here in this world. Not to reſt in the generall, I hold it needfull to ſhew the truth of this concluſion more particularly, by manifeſting ouer what, and how Gods children are in all the afflictions that befall them as great and glorious conquerours here in this world: for the word conquerour, is a word of relation, it hath reſpect to ſome perſons or things that are conquered, and to the manner of conquering, and therefore that the point may be rightly and profitably conceiued, I will endeauour to ſhew what the things or perſons are ouer which Gods children are as great conquerours here in this world, & how they are ſuch conquerours in their particular euils, trials, & troubles.Ouer what things or perſons Gods children are as conquerours here in this world, and how they are ſuch conquerours. firſt ouer the euils themſelues in bearing them with patience Know then that Gods children in all the afflictiōs that befall them, euē in their particular euils, trials, & troubles, they are as great & glorious conquerours, and that here in this world: firſt ouer the euils, trials, troubles, and afflictions themſelues, & that firſt in their bearing & enduring of them, in that they beare them with patience & comfort, euen the ſharpneſſe & bitterneſſe of them, yea ſometimes in the midſt of their bitter ſufferings, they reioyce and ſing in the flames of fire, as we reade of ſome. And the Apoſtle ſaith of himſelfe and other true beleeuers, Rom. 5.3. We reioyce in tribulation. And we find Acts 5.41. that the Apoſtles reioyced when they were beaten, In that they were counted worthy to ſuffer rebuke for the name of Chriſt: and to reioyce is the part of victors and conquerours. But may ſome ſay, Obiect. Gods children are ſometimes ouercome of the bitterneſſe of their paines, yea ſo farre as they ſhew forth ſtrange behauiour both in word and deed, they raue and take on exceedingly; how then are they conquerours ouer their paines? I anſwer, Anſw. the bitterneſſe of the paines do ſometimes ouercome Gods children, onelyonly in their ſenſes, not in their inward faith and grace in their hearts, that ſtill remaines inuincible: and though it do not ſhew forth it ſelfe in the exerciſe of it for a time, yet in the roote it ſtill remaines vnſhaken, and that ſtrange behauiour of a child of God is as nothing in Gods account, the Lord paſſeth by it. We find that the Lord tooke no notice of Iobs impatiencie, but accounted him as a patient man, yea as a patterne of patience, Iam. 5.11. And ſo though Gods children be ſometimes ouercome of the bitterneſſe of their paines, it is onelyonly in their ſenſes, and not in the inward grace of their hearts, therein they are ſtill conquerours.
Againe, Gods children are as great and glorious conquerours ouer the euils, troubles, and trials themſelues, by ſome wonderfull and ſtrange deliuerance, as when they are wonderfully deliuered out of them,Secondly, by ſome wonderfull and ſtrange deliuerance out of them. either by the immediate hand and power of God, as the people of Iſrael were out of the hands of the Egyptians at the red ſea, Exod. 14. and the three companions of Daniel out of the hot fierie fornace, Dan. 3.26. and Daniel himſelfe out of the Lyons den, Dan. 6.22. and Peter out of priſon, Act. 12.11. or by ſome ſtrange meanes, as Saul was, Act. 9.25. the text ſaith, The diſciples tooke him by night, and put him through the wall, and let him downe in a basket, and ſo he eſcaped out of the hands of the Iewes, who watched the gates day and night to kill him.
Secondly,2. Gods children are as conquerours here in this world ouer the diuell, and ouer wicked men that vexe and trouble and perſecute them. Gods children in all the afflictions that befall them, euen in their particular euils, trials, and troubles, are as great and glorious conquerours, and that here in this world, ouer the diuell, and ouer wicked men, that vexe, and trouble, and perſecute them, and deale moſt hardly and cruelly with them: for what is the diuels aime in the afflictions of Gods children? Surely as I ſhewed heretofore, to wreſt from them their confidence in Gods louelove, to make them murmure, blaſpheme, and deſpaire, and to make a breach betweene God and them: now herein is the diuell diſappointed, Gods children in their particular trials & troubles draw nearer to God, and cleaue faſter to him, their afflictions bring forth patience, and their patience experience of Gods gracious preſence and aſſiſtance, as Rom. 5.3.4. yea Gods children are ſtirred vp in their afflictions to be more feruent in prayer to God, as Paul was when he was buffeted of Satan, 2. Cor. 12.8. And what is it that wicked men in their vexing and troubling of Gods children, and in dealing moſt hardly with them driue at? Surely to make them to denie Chriſt, and to ſhrinke from their holy profeſſion and religion, but therein they faile of their porpoſe, Gods children are thereby more ſtrengthened and confirmed in their confeſſion of the name of Chriſt, and in their holy profeſſion of the truth and Goſpell of Chriſt, and many times by their courage and conſtancie they do euen daunt the minds of their perſecutours, and their very enemies ſtand amazed and wonder at them, and ſay as the chiefe Prieſts and Scribes ſaid, Act. 4.16. What ſhall we do to theſe men? A ſpeech worth the noting, they that had power to impriſon the Apoſtles, or to do with them what they would, ſtand amazed & know not what to do, to poore, weake, vnarmed, and friendleſſe men: and thus we find that many times the barbarous cruelttie of the perſecuting Emperours was euen altered with the ſtedfaſtneſſe of the Saints in ſuffering. And though Gods children ſuffer grieuous things, and die vnderunder the hands of their cruell tormentours, yet in regard of their conſtancie they are conquerours, and go away with a glorious victorie. Thus then we ſee this truth cleared and confirmed particularly, that Gods children in all the afflictions that befall them, euen in their particular euils and trials, are as great conquerours here in this world, both ouer the euils and trials themſelues, and alſo ouer the diuel and wicked men, that vexe, and trouble, and perſecute them, and deale moſt hardly and cruelly with them. Reaſon. And the ground of this truth is that which the Apoſtle ſubioynes, through the aide and helpe of God, who is pleaſed to aide and helpe them, out of his louelove to them in Chriſt: and of that we are afterwards to ſpeake, I will not now further meddle with it; come we to the vſe of this, namely, on this ground of truth we muſt learne. Vſe 1
Not to iudge of Gods children according to ſight and ſenſe in the time of their afflictions:We are not to iudge of Gods children according to ſight & ſenſe in time of their afflictions. when they lie vnderunder heauie trials and troubles, vexations and afflictions, torments and tortures, and in the eye of fleſh and bloud in mans iudgement are ouercome, then are they victorious conquerors and triumphers. It is a ſingular grace of God to iudge rightly of others in the time of affliction: the world & men of the world ſeeing Gods children troubled and perſecuted, and hardly dealt withall, are readie to iudge them baſe vnderlings, and ſuch as all crow ouer, and are troden vnderfoote of all, but the truth now deliuered ſhewes they are deceiued; euen when Gods children beare away the blowes, and men deale moſt hardly with them, and they are killed by their enemies, then are they as noble and victorious conquerours. This indeed is a paradoxe, and ſuch a thing as nature, reaſon, and the world vnderſtand not; but ſo it is, euen then are they as great conquerours in their courage, conſtancie, patience, and inward comfort: yea when Gods children are in the extremitie of paine, and their paine makes them ſhew forth ſtrange behauiour, euen then are they inuincible in their faith, and their inward grace is impregnable, all the power of hell not able to ouercome it: and if we iudge otherwiſe of them then of conquerours, ſurely we iudge amiſſe, and we ſinne againſt the generation of Gods children, as Dauid ſpeaks, Pſal. 73.15. and let vsus take heed of ſo doing.
And for a ſecond vſe: Is it ſo that true beleeuers and Gods Vſe 2 children, in all afflictions that befall them,The happie & comfortable ſtate of Gods children and their ſure & ſetled eſtate diſcouered. euen in their particular euils, trials, and troubles, are as great and glorious conquerours ouer the euils, trials, and troubles themſelues, and ouer the diuell, and ouer wicked men that vexe and trouble them, and deale hardly and cruelly with them? Surely then on this ground we may eaſily ſee, that a child of God is in a moſt happie and comfortable ſtate and condition, and is as a rocke in the ſea, which being beaten with waues on eueryevery ſide, yet ſtands firme and vnmoueable; yea a child of God is endued with ſuch ſtrength of grace, as that he is too ſtrong for the diuell and for all the power of hell, and the diuell and all his inſtruments are not able by all the euils and troubles they can bring on him, to ouercome his faith, and to get the victorie ouer the grace that is in him; though they may aſſault him and ſhake him, yet they can neuer as it were throw him on his backe and ouercome him, they cannot do him that miſchiefe they intend againſt him. The perſecutors and enemies of the Church and children of God, may ſhed the bloud of Gods children, and take away their liues, yet when they ſo do, themſelues go away vanquiſhed, and Gods children are the conquerours; and they do but as it were put a garland or crowne of victorie on their heads whom they kill and murder, and thinke they hauehave ouercome. Oh then happie and comfortable is the ſtate of Gods children, they are in a more ſure and ſetled eſtate then the mightieſt Monarch in the world. Who can ſay, and that truly, though many thouſands of armed ſouldiers encompaſſe him for his defence, that he is in ſuch a ſure ſtate, as that none can ouercome him? No, no, ſuch is the ſtate of eueryevery child of God, he is ſure, in all euils, tumults, trials, and afflictions that befall him, to ſtand faſt, and to go away with the victory. The conſideration of this ought to ſtirre vsus vp to labour to get into the number of Gods children: if thou be of that number, thou art then in a moſt ſure ſtate and condition, the diuell, and all the power of hell, & all the inſtruments of the diuell, cannot then by any euill, trouble, or triall, they can bring on thee, ouercome thy faith and that grace that is in thee; and in the heate of trouble and violence of perſecution, thou mayeſt then laugh at thy perſecutours, and ſet light by any thing they can do to thee.
Come we now to a ſecond generall thing layd before vsus in this verſe, the cauſe of that great victorie that Gods children hauehave in all the euils that befall them, the aide and helpe of God vouchſafed vntounto them out of his louelove to them in Chriſt, in theſe words, Through him that hath loued vsus, that is, (as we hauehave ſhewed) through the aide and helpe of God, which he is pleaſed to vouchſafe vntounto vsus in Chriſt his Sonne: and theſe words thus vnderſtood, do affoord two concluſions, two points of inſtruction, I will ſpeake of them in order; firſt this.
That true beleeuers, Gods children, are as great and glorious Doct. 2 conquerours in all afflictions, in the particular euils, trials, and troubles that befall them here in this world, not by any power of their owne, but onelyonly by the powerfull aide and aſſiſtance of God vouchſafed to them.Gods children are as great conquerours in the particular euils, trials, and troubles that befall them in this world, not by any power of their owne, but onelyonly by the powerfull aide and aſſiſtance of God vouchaſafed to them. It is not of themſelues, or by any power and ſtrength in themſelues, that Gods children do ſtand faſt in the euils, trials, and troubles that befall them, and do go away with a glorious victorie, both ouer the euils themſelues, in bearing them, and ouer Satan, diſappointing him of his aime, and ouer wicked men that vexe and trouble them and deale hardly with them, defeating them of that they driue at in their vexations and perſecutions; but it is meerely, wholly, and onelyonly from the helpe and aide of God, vpholding and ſtrengthening of them. And hence it is that the Apoſtle hauing ſaid Philip. 4.11.12. That he could be abaſed, and had learned to be hungrie and to want: he could endure and chearefully vndergo any want or any abaſement, and not ſhrinke nor be ouercome by by it, and that he had learned in any ſtate and condition to be content, he preſently ſubioynes verſe 13. that he was thus enabled to all euils, trials, troubles, and afflictions, not by any power of man, but onelyonly by the powerfull aide and helpe of Chriſt: I am able (ſaith he) to do all things, through the helpe of Chriſt which ſtrengtheneth me. And 2. Cor. 12.9.10. he ſaith, He reioyced in infirmities, and tooke pleaſure in them, he was ſo farre from being ouercome of them: and he reckons vp particulars In reproches, in neceſſities, in perſecutions, in anguiſh for Chriſts ſake: and why? When he was weake, that is, deſtitute of all helpe and ſtrength of himſelfe, then was he ſtrong through the power of Chriſt dwelling in him. And it is the prayer of the Apoſtle for the Coloſſians, Coloſ. 1.11. that they might be ſtrengthened with all might through his glorious power, vntounto all patience, and long ſuffering with ioyfulneſſe: to all patience, & cōſtancie in long continued afflictions, euen to long patience, as Iam. 5.7. But how? through any power or ſtrength of their owne? No, but through the glorious power of the Lord Ieſus: plainly teaching the truth of the point in band, that it is not by any power of their owne that Gods children are as great and glorious conquerours in all afflictions, in the particular euils, trials, and troubles that befall them here in this world, but onelyonly by the powerfull aide and aſſiſtance of God vouchſafed to them. And it muſt needs be ſo, the reaſon and ground of it is plaine, namely this.
Reaſon. Howſoeuer Saint Iohn ſaith, 1. Ioh. 5.4. True faith is the victorie that ouercometh the world: it is true faith that ouercometh all things in the world, not onelyonly the luſts of the fleſh, but it ouercomes the oppoſition that is made againſt Gods children in the world by wicked men and perſecutours, as we find, Heb. 11.33.34. the faith of the godly in the times of old is thus commended, that by it They ſtopped the mouthes of Lions, quenched the violence of fire, eſcaped the edge of the ſword, of weake were made ſtrong, waxed valiant in battell, turned to flight the armies of the aliants: yet faith it ſelfe, and the grace that is in the hearts of Gods children, is ſupported and vpheld by the working power of God: and that the faith of Gods children ſtands faſt, and is firme, and ſtable and inuincible, and doth ouercome in the greateſt trials and troubles that befall them, it is becauſe it is ſupported, ſtrengthened, and guarded by the omnipotent working power of God. If the Lord do but a little withdraw his helping hand from his children, their weakeneſſe preſently appeares. Whileſt Iob had the power of God to ſupport and ſtrengthen him, he was able in the greateſt extremitie to bleſſe God, but when the Lord did a little take away and pull backe his hand from him, then did Iobs corruption and weakeneſſe ſhew it ſelfe, and cauſe him to breake out into bitter and vnbeſeeming termes. And therefore this vndoubtedly is a truth of God, that it is not by any power of their owne that Gods children are as great and glorious conquerours in all afflictions, in the particular euils, trials, and troubles that befall them here in this world, but onelyonly by the powerfull aide and aſſiſtance of God vouchſafed to them, that ſupp…g and vpholding them. Now then to make vſe of this.
Firſt this being a tru… it ſerues to diſcouer an vntruth Ʋſe 1 and an errour which is held and taught by the Papiſts.A Popiſh errour touching the perfectiō of in herent holineſſe, confuted. This they hold and teach, That a child of God may in this life hauehave ſuch perfection of inherent grace as is ſufficient to keepe him from all formall tranſgreſſion of Gods Law, and from all deadly ſinne, as they call it. Now this opinion of theirs is both vnſound and rotten in the ground of it, ſuppoſing perfection of grace inherent in this life, which cannot be attained to: and beſides that, it cannot ſtand with the truth now deliuered, for out of all queſtion impatiencie is a formall trangreſſion of Gods law, they will not be ſo ſhameleſſe as to denie that, it being a ſinne againſt the firſt Commandement of the firſt table. And the power by which a child of God ſtands faſt in euils, trials, and troubles that befall him, and is not ouercome of impatiencie, is not any power of his owne, no not any power and ſtrength of his faith, and of the grace that is in him, but it is onelyonly (as ye hauehave heard) the powerfull aide and aſſiſtance of God vouchſafed to him, that is the thing that vpholds him, yea that is the thing that vpholds his faith and inward grace that is in his ſoule, whereby he becomes a great and glorious conquerour in the particular euils, trials and troubles that befall him; and therefore it is not as the Papiſts teach, that perfection of inherent grace keepes a child of God from all formall trangreſſion of Gods Law. No, it is not the ſtrength either of man or Angell that keepes him from ſinning, but onelyonly the working power of God, and the ſpeciall grace of God vpholding him. I leaue that, and for a ſecond vſe.
Ʋſe 2 Is it ſo that it is not by any power of their owne that Gods children are as great and glorious conquerours in all afflictions, in the particular euils, trials, and troubles that befall them here in this world, but onelyonly by the powerfull aide and aſſiſtance of God vouchſafed to them, that ſupporting and that vpholding them? Surely then on this ground we muſt learne to acknowledge the conſtancie and patience we finde in any triall and affliction to … onelyonly from the good hand of God, and giuegive him all prai… …nd glorie for the ſame.The conſtancie and patience we find in any triall and affliction muſt be acknowledged to come only frō the good hand of God, and he muſt hauehave all the glorie for it. Doſt thou finde thy ſelfe able to b…e ſome great triall and affliction with patience and with comfort? Art thou able to ouercome the barbarous crueltie of bloudie minded perſecutours by thy courage and conſtancie, in ſuffering the torments and tortures they lay on thee? Do not thou aſcribe that patience and that courage and conſtancie of thine to any power in thy ſelfe, no not to the power of thy faith, nor to the ſtrength of grace that is in thee, though thou hauehave a great meaſure of grace, but aſcribe it onelyonly to the powerfull aide and aſſiſtance of God vouchſafed to thee: and thinke not when thou ſeeſt others vndergo great and bitter trials and afflictions patiently and comfortly, that it is from the ſtrength of their faith, and from the power of grace that is in them that they ſo do, becauſe they are ſtronger in faith, or hauehave a greater meaſure of grace then others, but acknowledge it to be onelyonly from the powerfull aide & aſſiſtance of God vouchſafed to them: and ſo learne thou on this ground not to doubt of thy ſtanding and of thy holding out in the time of ſome great triall and affliction becauſe thou art but weake in faith and weake in grace: it is many times the complaint of a child of God: Alas, I finde my ſelfe ſo weake in faith, and I hauehave ſuch a poore meaſure of grace, as if the Lord ſhould bring me to ſome great triall, to the fierie triall, or ſuch like, I feare I ſhould neuer be able to ſtand and to hold out. Oh but conſider thou by whoſe power the beſt of Gods children are as conquerours in the particular euils, trials, and troubles that befall them, not by any power of their owne, not by any ſtreng…h of grace in themſelues, but onelyonly by the powerfull aide and helpe of God vouchſafed vntounto them: and is not he as able to ſtrengthen thee, and to make thee as a conquerour in the greateſt triall that befals thee? aſſuredly he is.Note. And is his helpe further from thee becauſe thou art weake? no, it is nearer to thee in that reſpect, God doth commonly manifest his power in weakeneſſe, and the weaker thou art, the more it is for the glorie of God that he makes thee able to ſtand and to hold out in ſome great triall, and thereby the Lord hath the greater glorie. It was more for the honour of God that Iehoſhaphat got the victorie ouer his enemies, when he had no ſtrength to ſtand before them, neither knew what to do, 2. Chron. 20.12. then if he had had a mightie armie able to confront them, and to encounter with them: ſo certainly it is more for the glorie of God, that thou of a poore weake Chriſtian art made a conquerour in the time of ſome great triall, then if thou hadſt greater ſtrength. And therefore thinke not thus with thy ſelfe, If I had ſuch a meaſure or ſuch ſtrength of grace, then I were well, and then I would not doubt but I ſhould be able to beare the brunt of the greateſt triall. If this be thy thought it is not good: remember thou it is not by the power of grace it ſelfe be it neuer ſo ſtrong, that Gods children are as conquerours in the particular euils, trials, and troubles that befall them, but onelyonly by the powerfull aide and aſſiſtance of God vouchſafed vntounto them: and though thou be but weake in grace, yet the Lord is as able to make thee a conquerour in the greateſt triall, as the ſtrongeſt of his children. And aſſuredly if he call thee to any great ſuffering, he will manifeſt his power in thy weakneſſe: and therefore doubt not of thy ſtanding and holding out in the time of triall, but in aſſured truſt depend on the Lord, and be ſtrong in the power of his might, as Epheſ. 6.10. Now a ſecond concluſion that thoſe words, Through him that loued vsus, vnderſtood as they hauehave bene expounded do affoord, is this: I will be briefe in it. Doct. 3
In that Gods children hauehave aide and aſſiſtance from God to vphold them in their afflictions, it is out of Gods louelove to them:It is out of Gods louelove that his children hauehave aide and aſſiſtance from him in their afflictions. from the louelove of God to his children comes the aide and aſſiſtance that God vouchſafes to them, ſupporting, and ſtrengthening, and making them as conquerours in the particular euils, trials, and troubles that do befall them. And hence it is that the Apoſtle Philip. 1.29. cals patience and ſtrength to ſuffer for the name of Chriſt, a ſpeciall gift of God, and a priuiledge vouchſafed onelyonly to them to whom God giues faith, and ſo a gift vouchſafed to his children out of his louelove to them, To you it is giuen not onelyonly that ye ſhould beleeue in him, but alſo ſuffer for his ſake. And indeed not to enlarge the point.
Reaſon. The louelove of God is the fountaine from whence flow out all good things to his children, from the firſt to the laſt, from the ground to the complement, from election to happineſſe and glorie in heauen. And therefore it muſt needs be the aide and aſſiſtance that God vouchſafes to his children in ſupporting and ſtrengthening them, and making them as conquerours Vſe 1 in the particular euils, trials, and troubles that befall them, it comes from the louelove of God to them. It is not then for any worth or merit of theirs that God vouchſafes to his children aide and helpe to ſtrengthen them in the time of triall and affliction,No worth or merit in Gods childrē moues God to vouchſafe aide and helpe to thē to ſtrengthen them in time of triall and affliction. nor yet for the good vſage of the grace they hauehave alreadie receiued, but it is meerely out of his louelove, ſo to helpe and ſo to aſſiſt his children: and the ſtrength they hauehave to ſtand in the time of affliction is from the meere free grace and louelove of God to them. And on this Vſe 2 ground a man may conclude to the comfort of his owne ſoule, that God loues him,How a man may comfortably conclude that God loues him. if he finde that he giues him aide and aſſiſtance, ſupporting and ſtrengthening him, and making him as a conquerour in the particular euils and afflictions that do befall him.
Doſt thou whoſoeuer thou art, finde aide and aſſiſtance from God, making thee able to beare thy particular triall and affliction with patience and comfort, and with cheerfulneſſe? It is an euidence of Gods louelove vntounto thee, and therein God ſeales vp his louelove to thee, and offers himſelfe to thee as to his child: the text is cleare, Hebr. 12.7. If ye endure chaſtening God offereth himſelfe vntounto you as vntounto ſonnes. Affliction of it owne nature doth preſſe downe the heart, the hands, the eyes, and if God giuegive thee patience and comfort, keeping thy heart, hands, and eyes vpwards, it is a manifeſt argument that the Spirit of grace and ſtrength doth reſt on thee, making thy faith to triumph ouer the triall. And if in great troubles and afflictions thou find great patience, euen patience proportionable to thy ſuffering, then God makes good his promiſe to thee, 1. Corinth. 10.13. and therein he ſeales vp his louelove to thee, and giues thee good euidence that he loues thee in ſpeciall manner: and that may be matter of great comfort to thee, thinke on it to thy comfort. Come we now to the 38. and 39. verſes.