The Dead Saint Speaking to Saints and Sinners Living, Treatise 2 · Consectary 3
3. Conſectary. If the Heart of Jeſus Chriſt bee taken with his Church: then all the paſſages of Gods providence in the World, are for the good of his Church and People.
All the dealings of God in the world, not a ſtep God takes in the World, but hee walks towards his people in it.
1. All the paſſages of Gods Providence to the Church in general.
2. All the paſſages of Gods Providence to any member of the Church in particular, they are all for good.
1. For the firſt, All the paſſages of Gods providence to his Church in general, they are for good. Bee they ſad, or bee they joyfull, they are all for good. Are they ſad? it is to humble them, to quicken them, to purge them, to purifie them, to blow away their chaff.
This is certain. Whatever is done in the World, is done either by Gods Permiſsion, or by Gods Approbation. God muſt either permit, or allow of what ever is done in the World.
And aſſure your ſelves, God would never permit, much leſs would hee ever allow, and approve of any thing to bee done in the World, which ſhould not bee for the good of thoſe hee loves ſo dearly.
Whatever wind blows, bee it North, or South, good or evil; all is for the Churches benefit. As the Phyſitian ordereth poiſonous and deſtructive ingredients unto uſefull ſervices, the health of the Patient: So God turneth thoſe things which in themſelves are evil, and deſtructive; to the good and comfort of his Church and People.
Hence is it, that Chriſt turneth the ſadeſt and ſoreſt perplexities that ever the World ſhall ſee, into an uſe of Comfort to his Church, Luk. 21.25, 26, 27, 28. There ſhall bee ſigns in the Sun; and Moon, and Stars, diſtreſs of Nations, with perplexity, &c. Mens hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after thoſe things which are comming on the World; for the Powers of Heaven ſhall bee ſhaken; and then ſhall they ſee the Son of Man comming in a Cloud, with Power and great Glory. When theſe things begin to come to paſs — then look up, and lift up your heads: for your Redemption draweth nigh.
One would think this were a ſtrange conſequent deduced from ſuch an Antecedent. A Conſequent ſo comfortable, from an Antecedent ſo terrible. It ſeems ſtrange, that ſuch a terrible Doctrin as this, ſhould afford an uſe of Conſolation. Yet ſo it is. Bee the Premiſes what they will, the Concluſion is good. Bee his Providences what they will, his Promiſes are good: and thoſe Promiſes ſhall turn all his Providences to good at the laſt.
2. As all the paſſages of Gods Providence to the Church in general: So every paſſage of his Providence to any Member of it in particular, is for the good of the Church.
1. All your Injoyments, they are love. You may read the Heart of Chriſt, the image of a friend, ingraven upon all you have. You may behold the impreſs of love, the good will of God circled about all you do injoy.
All that wicked men do injoy, is but from the Hand of God; Ex largitate.that is the higheſt tenure they can ſhew; even his general Providence, which cauſeth the Sun to ſhine upon the good and bad. And this Tenure may bee cut off at pleaſure.
But all that you do injoy, is from the Heart and good will of God. They are expreſſions of his good will to you, and you may read Love in all.
Nay, they are the Earneſts of further love. You may ſee and read Heaven and Glory in all you have.
Wee may well ſay; whatever the People of God do injoy, They are
1. The fruits of Prayer.
2. The performance of Promiſes.
3. Expreſsions of Love.
4. Incouragements to beleeve.
5. Inablements to obey.
6. Earnest pennies of Heaven and Glory.
2. All your wants, as well as all your injoyments are mercy, are love. There is an Expedit in all the ſad paſſages of Gods providence to you. They are Expedient to try you, Expedient to humble you, to exerciſe you, to winne you, to wean you, &c.
Whatever thy condition is, it proceeds,
1. From the beſt God.
2. From the beſt of God; his Heart and good will.
3. It is the beſt for thee.
Wicked men have a curſe hid in their beſt things: a curſe in their gold, a curſe in their ſilver, a curſe in their health. But Gods people have a bleſsing hid in the worſt things. You have a bleſſing in poverty, a bleſſing in ſickneſs, a bleſsing in croſſes, a bleſsing in death it ſelf.
Riches are not in the Promiſe, but Mercy is in the Promiſe. Though Poverty, yet Mercy; though Afflictions, yet Mercy; And you can all tell mee, A croſs in Mercy, is better than a comfort in wrath. A loſs in love, better than an injoyment in diſpleaſure. More dye in the Flood, than in the Ebbe. Though proſperity bee more cordial, yet afflictions are more phyſical. Wee often ſurfeit of Cordials, when Phyſick doth us good. And a ſanctified croſs is better than an unſanctified comfort, &c.