The Life of Faith in Times of Trial and Affliction, Consideration 8

The Life of Faith in Times of Trial and Affliction · Consideration 8

p. 5CONSIDERATION. VIII. It is the decreed will of God.

IF the afflicted soul, that is tossed with Tempests, and not comforted, and is like to sinck under the heavy burden of Affliction, Temptation and Tribulation, were considering aright, how that affliction cometh not forth of the dust, nor troub…e springeth p. 6not out of the ground, Iob 5: 6. that is, That afflictions come not by meer Chance, neither have they all their Original from Inferiour agents, carnal and worldly Instruments; but there is an higher hand to be observed and espied in all, that the men of this world, the Instruments of Satan, devise and execute, and that there is an higher Resolution, Decree and Determination, to be heeded, than what is taken by man. If the afflicted soul (I say) were considering this, he would finde himself called to far other Thoughts and Meditations, than he hath, or can have, when his mind is onelyonly poreing upon the secondary and far inferiour rise of his trouble, to wit, as from men. We see what course Peter took Act. 4: 27, 28. When thinking upon the rage of Enemies against our Lord, and against them, his Servants, for his sake; for of a truth (saith he) against thy holy Child Iesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilat, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel were gathered together; for to do whatsoever thy hand and th… Counsel determined before to be done. So Act. 2: 23. He tels them, who had been Instrumental, in killing of the Lord of life, that he was delivered by the determinat Counsel and fore knowledg of God, otherwise they had had no power over p. 7him. It is good and necessary for Beleevers, to be alwayes, and then in particular, fixed in the faith of this, That nothing cometh to passe by chance or fortune (as we s…y:) but that all events, that fall out or come to passe, are from Eternity, freely and unchangably Ordained and Appointed by the unalterable Determination and Decree of the holy and wise Counsel of God: for He worketh all things after the Counsel of his own will, Ephes 1: 11. There is an unalterable Decree past in the grand Court of Parliament in heaven, concerning all Events, that fall out in the world; even such, as we would think to be most uncertaine and contingent, as events determined by lot, Prov. 16: 33. The lot is cast into the lap; but the whole disposing thereof is of the Lord. What more uncertain, than that the souldiers should not handle Christ, after the same manner, that they handled the other two, who were crucified with him: and yet they broke not his bones, as they did the bones of the rest; and they pierced him, which they did not to the rest; and that because, it was determined of God, that not a bone of Christ should be broken, and also that he should be pierced; and that the Scriptures might be fulfilled, where mention was made of these determinations, as we p. 8see in the Evangelists, besides many other meer (to us) accidental things, that befell him.

I know what difficulties some move about this matter, in sinful events, as all the Trouble, Affliction, and Persecution are, which the people of God meet with, at the hands of wicked Instruments, upon the account of their adhereing unto Truth, and following duty: But I shall purposely wave all disputs, at this occasion, and onelyonly hold forth the Truth, and thereafter shew, how it ought to be improved unto advantage, in such exercising times.

1. Whatever Affliction, Cross, Trouble, Suffering, Tria… or Tribulation, any of his are put to endure, in following of duty, it is not to be looked on, as an accidental, fortuitous event, or chance; but as determined of the Lord, who hath in his Soveraigne wisdom and Counsel thought fit, to have it so; and ordered it, that it should be so, that his people in all ages, should meet with Opposition, Contradiction, Affliction, Crosses, or Persecution, at the hands of one or other: so that the Substance of the Trial and Exercise is to be looked upon, as ordained and determined of Jehovah: Such a determination, as this, must be the ground of that Act. 14: 22.—And p. 9that we must through much tribula…ion enter into the Kingdom of God: And of that, wich Paul saith Act 20: 23. though he knew not in particular what evils should befall him at Ierusalem, whither he was now going; yet he knew, that bonds and affliction did abide him; saying, Save that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every City, saying, that bonds and affliction abide me. It was determined then that these, as pages of honour, should attend him, and should wait for his landing in every place he came unto. And yet more clearly he tels the Thessalonians, 1 Epist. 3: 3. That they knew, that he and the rest were appointed hereunto, that is, to afflictions; adding Vers. 4. For verily, when we were with you, we told you before, that we should suffer tribulation, even as i… came to passe, and ye know. Peter also, in his first Epistle, mindeth those, he writteth unto, of this, several times, and pointeth them unto this will of God, that they might eye it, that is, His determining, decreeing, and appointing will 1 Pet. 3: 17. For it is better, if the will of God be so, that y… suffer for welldoing, &c. And againe Chap. 4: 19. Wherefore, let them that suffer, according to the will of God, &c. From all which Testimonies, we see, that there is a Will, Determination, Resolution and Decree of the Ancient of dayes past, anent p. 10the Afflictions, Trials, Tribulations and Sufferings of his people.

2. Not only is there a Decree and Determination past, in the Court of heaven, about the Sufferings of the people of God, in the grosse (as it were) and in general: but also the special Kind of the Crosse, or Affliction, that they meet with, or the special manner, or quality thereof. God hath not only decreed, that this or that man, this or that follower of Christ, shall meet with some Crosse and some Affliction, or other; but he hath determined the species and kind thereof; to wit, whether it shall be a cross as to his Body, or as to his Estate, or as to his Spirit; or as to several or all of these together; whether he shall be put to suffer Fineings, or Confinments, or Imprisonments, or Exile, or Death; whether Scourgings, Paines and Torments, or Harassings, Feares, Perils, or what ever it be. Paul knew, that bonds did abide him. The Lord determined, that Abraham's Posteritie should be strangers, in a Land, that was not theirs, & be made to serve Gen. 15. vers. 13. He determined that Satan should cast some of the Church of Smirna in prison, and that they should have tribulation, Revel. 2: 10. We know also, what was particularly threatned against David, 2 Sam. 12: 11.

p. 113. As the Lord decreeth the Kind and Species of the Trial; so likewise he passeth a Determination, concerning all the Ingredients and Parts of the same. The trial possiblie is not one single Exercise, but one complicated, and compounded of many; a cup not of one pure liquor, but mixed of many ingredients; but of how many Ingredients so ever it be compounded, and of how many parts so ever it consist; yet all of them are particularly and determinatly decreed and appointed of the Lord. Many bitter ingredients were in the cup, which Christ gote to drink; but all and every one of them fell under a plaine and peremptour determination of heaven. They were gathered together (saith Peter, in the fore cited place) to do whatsoever thy hand and thy Counsel determined to be done: there was a whatsoever here: Nothing was or could be done, but what this Counsel of God had Determined to be done; and all that was done, was Determined by this Counsel.

4. The Degree, and Measure of the affliction, that His people are to meet with, is as particularly determined, as any circumstance thereof else: we know what Ioseph's Brethren had intended against him, when thy said, come let us slay him, and cast him into some pit, Gen. 37: 20. But God had p. 12not intended so much; and therefore they were made to change their minde, and to sell him to the Midianites, Vers. 28. And though thereby they thought they were quite of him for ever, and that he should remaine a slave to his dying day; yet we know it came otherwise to passe; they thought evil; but God meant it unto good Gen. 50. vers. 20. As the Lord had another end before his eyes, than they had; so he had determined, that they should not reach their end, nor do any more, than should contribute unto His end. The King of Assyria had it in his heart, to destroy and cut off Nations not a few. But God had another end in raising him up to be a scourge: and therefore suffered him not to do all he would, Esai. 10: 6, 7, 12. Upon this ground it is, that he debateth with his people in measure, when he sendeth forth his rod; and stayeth his rough winde in the day of his east winde Esai 27. 8.

5. The Season and time of the affliction and trial is likewise determined of the Lord, which is another Circumstance, sometime very considerable, and weighty. He hath determined the minute of time, when it shall beginne, and with what occasion it shall be trysted. He determined the precise time, when the Messiah should be cut off, p. 13after threescore and two weeks, Dan. 9 vers. 26.

6. The Duration of the Trial is also determined by the unchangable decree of God, to a day, yea, to an houre and a minute. He decreed the length and duration of the affliction, that was to come upon the posterity of Abraham, four hundereth and thirtie Years Gen. 15: 13. Exod. 12. vers. 13. And at the end of these Years, even the self same day, it came to passe, that all the hosts of the Lord went out from the Land of Egypt, where these Years of servitude were to end. So he determined seventy Years for the captivity of Iudah in Babylon, Ier. 25: 12. and 29: 10. Dan. 9. vers. 2.

7. He hath also determined who shall be the Instruments of the trouble, He said, he would hisse for the flie, that is in the uttermost part of the rivers of Egypt; and for the bee, that is in the Land of Assyria, Esai. 7: 18. He appointed the ruine of Iudah to be by the Babylonians, or Caldeans. He determined to raise evil against David, out of his own house, 2 Sam. 12: 11.

These particulars might have been further enlairged, and confirmed; but because I suppose the truth herein will not be denied, or questioned by the Lords people, p. 14it will be much more useful to speak a few things, concerning the right use making of this Truth, That there is a Decree past in heaven from all Eternity, touching our Sufferings, and all the Ingredients and Circumstances thereof, concerning the manner and way of our troubles, the time when, and how long, the Instruments by whom, and all the other particulars considerable in the same: all are fixed by a peremptour and unalterable Determination.

Now the faith and beleeving Consideration of this would still, and calme the risings of our proud spirits, and the insolent stirrings of our corruptions, when the Affliction, that is bitter and unpleasant to the flesh, is lying on; and make us patiently endure all, and sweetly submit to all, saying, the will of the Lord be done: Let him do what seemeth him good; as good old Eli said, when he heard the determination of the Lord concerning him, and his family, wherein were many sad and bitter ingredients, as may beseen 1 Sam. 2. and 3. Chapters: and go…d is the …rd of the Lord, as good Hezekiah said, when he heard by Esaias, that the Lord had determined, that all that was in his house, and all which his fathers had laid up in store, untill that day, should be carried to Babilon, nothing should be left; p. 15and of his sones, that should issue from him, which he should beget, should they take away, and should be Eunuchs in the palace of the King of Babylon Esai. 39. vers. 6, 7, 8. Whether.

(1.) Our thoughts be troubled at the kind of the Cross or Affliction, which is upon us; so as we are ready to say, had the Lord sent any other rod or affliction upon us, than this, wherewith we are exercised, we could better have born it, Had he visited me (will one say) with Poverty, and not with Disgrace, I could have born it: and another, had my affliction been any other, than just what it is, I could have comported with it; but the consideration of this, that God hath decreed, that that, even that same crosse, should be thy cross, and no other, will make the Soul sit down and say, seing the Lord hath from all eternity appointed and shapen-out this, even this, and none else for me, I must bear it, and submit to his will, who is wiser, than I am, and seeth further than I do, and knoweth what is good and best for me, better than I my self do, His holy will be done. This is a grief, and I must bear it, saith Ieremiah Ch. 10: 19.

(2.) If our heart be troubled and vexed at the Consideration and thoughts of the p. 16particular Ingredients in and Parts of our mixed and compounded cup of affliction, whereof every one seemeth more bitter than another; and we be saying, we are compassed with evils on all hands▪ trouble of Body is upon us, and trouble of Mind also; we are wrestling with paines inward and outward, with poverty, with disgrace, with perils and hardships; and all at once: This will compose our spirits, if we call to mind, that God hath willed and decreed all this; He thought good to have it so; He hath ordered, as a wise Physician, all the Ingredients of our bitter cup: and what have we to say against him? Iob, we know, had many a bitter ingredient in his cup, and this compesceth the tumultuatings of his spirit Iob 23: 13, 14. But he is in one mind, & who can turn him? And what his soul desireth, even that he doth. For he performeth the thing, that is appointed for me; and many such things are with him. As if he had said, what He will do, He will do; none can turne him, or make him change his mind; He performeth what He hath appointed and decreed for me; and He can do much more yet, and what know I but he shall do much more against me, than he hath done? This did so far put him from quarrelling at what was done; that he was troubled and p. 17afraid at the thoughts of the Majesty and Soveraignity of this great King, who doth what he will; and so might adde yet moe ingredients in his cup, as long as he was left breathing, and thereby make his case worse.

(3.) If the thoughts of the exceeding great weight and measure of the Trouble vex us; this may counter-work that, and calme us: if we should suppose, that God doth not measure-out our calamitie by drachmes and unces, but by pounds and ston weights; and thereupon cry out, that our Trouble is greater, than we can bear, and give way to sinful murmurings and complainings: we should do well, in that case, to call this to mind, That all the doses are weighed and appointed for us from eternity, He hath measured every scruple or graine weight thereof; and what he hath appointed for us, we must have; He knoweth best, what dose or measure of such or such a simple, and what weight or quantity of all together will worke best on our humors: and this will helpe to calme our spirits; knowing that He hath determined all things according to infinite wisdom, according to the Counsel of his own will; and more than he hath appointed shall no man be able to inflict. He leaveth p. 18not the measuring and weighing out of the ingredients of our calamitie, unto men or enemies: but himself doth it, by an unalterable Decree, that all the rage of Enemies can not change as to one ase, or in the hundereth part of one drachme. We hear what Christ said Ioh. 18: 11. The cup, which my father hath given me, shall I not drink it? It is true, when the dregs of this cup, wherein was the Curse, was presented to him, his holy humane Nature, in a sinless manner, scunnered at it Mat. 26: 39. If it be possible, let this cup passe from me: Yet, as sweetly acquiescing in the Lord's Determination, he addeth, Nevertheless, not my will, but thy will be done. And againe Vers. 42. O father, if this cup may not passe away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done. Bitter and sharpe was this cup, even to the highest degree; yet he viewed the will of God, appointing that he should drink it; and calmly submitted, and said, not as I will, but as thou wilt.

(4.) It is true, the Consideration of the season, in which we are exercised and trysted with such a trouble, may adde griefe to our sorrow; and we may say in our vexation, had this Trouble come upon us, at any other time, we could have better com…orted therewith; had it either come sooner, p. 19or later, we had been more able to have born it; but as it is come precisely at such a nick of time, it becometh a double burden unto us: Yet it will help to calme us, and compesce our turbulent spirits, to remember, that He, who knoweth all seasons, and all times, hath chosen this and no other, for the particular season, wherein we shall meet with such trials; and it could be no otherwise, than he hath willed; the trials behoved to come, at that very nick and minute, and no other: an ancient Determination passed thereupon, and no power under heaven could alter it, no not for one houre or minute.

(5.) When our thoughts are busied about the Duration of the Trouble; this Consideration of a Divine determination, past also thereupon, will contribute to our setling. We are ready to cry out, when afflictions lye heavy upon our loines, oh will they ever come to an end: shall we never be redeemed herefrom? Shall we never see a good day again? And we are ready to conclude, that our hopes are perished, and we are cut off for our parts: as Hezekiah said when trouble lay upon him Esai. 38: 10, 11, 12, 13. I said in the cutting off of my daies, I shall go to the gates of the grave: I am deprived of the residue of mine years. I said, I shall p. 20not see the Lord, the Lord in the Land of the living, I shall behold man no more with the Inhabitants of the world; mine age is departed, and is removed from me, as a shepherds Tent. He will cut me off with pining sickness, from day even to night will thou make an end of me. I reckoned till morning, that as a lion so will he break all m… bones: from day even to night, wilt thou make an end of me. The affliction, through the distemper of our spirits, raiseth such a mist before our eyes, that we can not see thorow the dark face of the dispensation. How oft do we limite the holy one of Israel, and say, if he come not before such a monethmonth, or such an year, we may conclude, that he will not come at all, and so need waite for him no longer: and the oftener, that our foolishly set & prefixed Periods go over, & the storme continueth, or groweth, our fainting & despondence groweth: especially when we consider, the evil disposition, rage and cruelty of Enemies: and see how their strength groweth, and providence seemeth to smile upon them. But now the faith of this, that He, who hath set bounds to the raging of the sea, saying, hithertil shalt thou come and no further, hath also bounded and limited the time, how long such a Calamity, or Tri…l shall endure, will p. 21sedate our mindes, and keep us calme, and free of that discomposure of Spirit, that the thoughts of the restless Malice, incessant Rage, and cruel Hatred of the Enemies will and do usually cause; for do they what they can, God will observe the Periods prefixed by himself: his thoughts take place in all generations And when our hearts are disquieted at the thoughts of the long continuance of the Affliction, the calling of this to remembrance, That the only wise God hath determined all the houres and minutes of its continuance, for his own holy ends, will prompt us to say, we cannot strive against the Almighty. Let us therefore waite His time, in patience; all our strugling will but perplex our selves the more; and all our endeavours to get free, will but contribute to our further entanglement: we shall not be able, do what we can, to Anticipate his day; and therefore it is best for us to minde the duty of the day, and lay aside all thoughts of using any unlawful meanes for our outgate, and waite in patience, untill his good time come.

(6.) As also the thoughts of the Instruments of our trouble and calamity may sadly affect us, as we see it did David Psal. 55: vers. 12, 13, 14. It was not an Enemie, that reproached me, then I could have born it; …either p. 22was it he that hated me, that did magnifie himself against me, then I could have hid my self from him. But thou, a man, mine equal (or a man according to my rank) my guide, and mine acquaintance. We took sweet Counsel together, and walked unto the house of God in company. See Ps. 41: 9. So many, upon this account, may say, If my trouble were brought unto me by any other hands, and instruments, I could comport the better with it; but when it is caused by such an one, my neer Relation, mine obliged friend, of whom I least expected any such thing, and unto whom I could have yeelded up my self, and all I had, how heavy must it needs be unto me? But the Consideration of this, That so it hath seemed good unto the only wise God, and Supreame Soveraigne, may and should, and, when rightly beleeved and improven, will cause us lay our hand upon our mouth, and say, The good will of the Lord be done; Hath he determined, that such an one, and not another, shall occasione all my griefe and sorrow; shall be instrumentall in all my Calamities? good is the will of the Lord: though I would think, that if I were persecuted and troubled by others, it would be better, and I could bear it better; yet seing Infinite wisdome hath determined p. 23this circumstance of my calamity; why should not I acquiesce?

Thus we see, how this Consideration, rightly improven and duely beleeved, will help such, as are under Affliction, Trouble, or Calamity, to a sweet, quiet, submissive and patient life: for

1. By this meanes, the soul will be freed from sinful murmurings, grudgings, frettings and repineings, at this or that Particular, this or that Instrument, or this or that other Circumstance, of its present Distress and Calamity; in that hereby it will be made to see, that its murmuring thus is against the Lord, and against his Soveraignity, who determineth what he will, according to the good pleasure of his will, and is to give an account of his wayes and determinations to none.

2. This will help unto a Christian Patience under all, that God thinketh good to lay on; and to endure patiently without wearying untill his good time come: for they will easily see, that it is not for them to strive against the Almighty; or to think to cause Him alter his Purposes and Resolutions, seing He is of one mind, and none can turn him.

3 This will teach Christians sweetly to comply with all the holy determinations of p. 24God, concerning their sufferings, and to say heartily and cheerfully, The will o… the Lord be done; as those did, who were perswading Paul not to go up unto Ierusalem, and found that he would not be perswaded. Act. 21: 14. O what a sweet life is this, to be sailing with the stream of God's eternall Determinations; and to be embracing and kissing every Dispensation, we meet with, how sharp and bitter so ever it be, because it is Determined by the absolute Soveraigne and Lord of Heaven and Earth! How light and easie doth this make every load, that is lying upon our shoulders, when we bear it as bound upon us by an everlasting Decree?

4. This will help unto a life of practical Praising of the Lord, as Absolute Soveraigne: for when the event is submitted unto and sweetly embraced, because determined by a fixed Decree of the Lord Jehovah, the soul doth thereby declare, and acknowledge His Soveraignity; and upon the matter, by practice, in submission, even though silent, doth Celebrat the praises of that Absolute Soveraigne, who is God over all, blessed for ever; while as such, upon the contrary, who fret and rebell against the Lord's Determinations, by refusing to give that sweet hearty submission, p. 25that is requisite, do give a practical declaration of their not beleeving and acknowledging of Him to be the Soveraigne Lord of all.

5. The thoughts of this will free the soul of many heart-perplexing soul-distracting, disquieting and renting thoughts; such as these; If this had not been, or if I had not been in such a place, or had not done such or such a thing. I had been free of all this; so that every thought of every thing, that had but a far-off and remote tendency unto the occasioning of the trouble, is enough to distract, disquiet and perplex the man (I do not mean here sins occasioning, or bringing on of trouble; for these should be thought on and mourned for; which will not marre this sutable frame of Spirit; but other things, about which our thoughts are more readily conversant, in such a time:) and beside these thoughts of what hath been done, or not done, in times by past, there are other thoughts of what may yet further be, and how that may be prevented, which may not a little unhinge and disquiet the soul: Now from all such is the soul freed, by the beleeving thoughts of God's eternal Decree concerning their trouble, and all the way of its coming to passe, and the occasion, and all other circumstances, p. 26how and by whom, it was brought on. Here the soul will finde such a satisfying subject of Meditation, that other disquieting thoughts will be quickly hush'd to the door, and the soul will finde no leasure for them.

6. Hereby will the soul be keeped from poreing upon, and too much eying of the motions of the under-wheels of Creatures, and instruments of the trouble and calamitie, which will rather cause a reeling, and giddiness, and hence occasione a staggering and falling, than any stayedness or establishment; because hereby the soul will be brought to fix its eye upon that▪ one wheel of the Lords, that moveth evenly fixedly, and invariably, in the midst of all the wheels of men, the motions whereof are so irregular, eccentrick, and so opposite and contrarious one to another.

7. Hereby is the beleever helped to win to that life of tasting and feeling the sweet of that serenity of soul, that a filial disposition possesseth the man of, by an holy, humble, son-like submission and subjection of soul unto the good will of the Lord: When this submission is yeelded unto, the Supream will of God, upon Christian Grounds and Considerations, the soul is in a manner brought into the suburbs of heaven, p. 27and enjoyeth an heavenly serenity and peace of minde, whereby it is in case to sing under all its sorrowful pressures, and the confused noise of such as are the Agents and Instruments of all the calamity; and the beleeving thoughts of the Soveraigne will of God, ordering and appointing all, is a singular help hereunto.

8. The beleever is hereby put without the reach of many a Temptation, and is strengthened against them; whether to use unwarrantable means to be delivered from the Trouble and Distress incumbent; or to prevent, what may be further imminent, and is to be feared; or to vent his displeasure against the Instruments of all the calamity; or the like: for here will be an antidote at hand, The Lord ordereth and disposeth of all things, according to His own holy and wise will: and nothing can come to passe, but what He hath decreed; and what He hath decreed shall come to passe, and that when, and neither sooner nor later, and how, and by whom He hath decreed, and no otherwayes; what have I then more to do, but to minde my present duty, and welcome what the Lord's will determineth for me, will he say.

There are these, Three particulars, which set home this Consideration, and promoveth p. 28thereupon this work of Submission, and hearty acquiesceing unto the will and determination of God; and which should be thought upon to this end.

1. The Lord is in all his Determinations and Decrees unalterable, as he is unchangable in himself, there being no variablness or shadow of turning with Him Iam. 1. vers. 17. And if it were otherwise, He could not be infinitly Wise in himself, or not Almighty, and Irresistible by others, for any alteration, that might be in the determinations of his will, must either flow from new and second thoughts in himself: and so He were not Infinitly wise, or from inability to effectuat or through his former Determinations, and therefore must take new measures; and so He were not Almighty. Now the Soul should think with it self, Should I wish, or desire, that the Lord's will were not done, that He should not be able to do what soever he will Psal. 115: 3. and 135 6 or that any of his everlasting Purposes and Decrees should fail, and not take effect; or that He should alter his purposes and lay his conclusions of new? Then I should wish, He were not God; for the true God is a God that changeth not Mal. 3: 6. and a God, whose Purposes cannot fail; for they have a hand with p. 29them to effectuatall Esai. 14: 26. as he purposeth, so shall it stand Esa 14: 24. Who can disanull what He purposeth? Vers. 27. And what he purposeth, he will also do Esai. 46: v. 11. So that if I should once imagine, that His decrees could alter upon one account, or other, I should in so far deny the true & living God. And if one of his purposes could alter, why not another? & how then should I think, that his purpose according to election should staud? Rom. 9: 11. & 8: 28. Ephes. 1: v. 11. & 3: 10, 11. 2 Tim. 1: 9. And if there were the least ground of doubt here, where were all my Hop, Comfort & Confidence? Therefore would the beleever say; Because it is my joy & comfort, that His purposes fail not, and that He is a God that cannot change, but whom he loveth, he loveth to the end; therefore will I with joy subject my self unto all his decreed Dispensations towards me, how hard so ever they may seem to flesh; because He is Unchangable and Almighty, and thereupon hangeth all my Hope and Salvation.

2. All his determinations and decrees are for his own glory. He worketh all things, according to the Counsel of his own will, that we should be to the praise of his Glory Ephes. 1: 11, 12. He maketh all things for Himself Prov. 16: 4. Hence the beleeving p. 30soul reasoneth with himself, Shall I stand in the way of God's getting his glory? He hath determined this to befall me, for his own glory; and should I wish it to be otherwayes? Should I not comply with his holy designe of glorifying himself, by this his Dispensation towards me? Should I not acquiesce in all the meanes and methods, His infinit wisdom hath thought upon, and He, in infinite wisdom, hath determined to make use of, for glorifying of his own name? Should not I be satisfied with his being exalted? Nay, should not this Consideration, that hereby God will be glorified, make mine heart sing under all my sorrow: & cause me conclude all my meditations on His dispen fations towards me, as Paul did his Discourse Rom. 11. For of him, & through him, & to him are all things, to whom be glory for ever, Amen. v. last.

3: As all that God hath decreed to do in the world, is for his own glory; so all that he hath determined to do with, or to bring upon His own people, who are called according to the election of grace, is for their good, according to that Rom. 8: 28. And we know, that all things work together for good, to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. Hence the Godly Soul can reason, Shall I be against mine own good and advantage? Shall I p. 31wish that things were otherwise, than they are, when the only Wise and Gracious God hath ordered and ordained them so, for my good? He hath made many noble connexions, in his Purposes, that I see not: and seing He hath said, that all things work together for good to such as love Him, and are called according to his purpose, why should I not beleeve against sense and carnal reason? Am I able to search out the Almighty unto perfection? Can I finde out all the depths of his Counsel and Wisdom? Shall I think then that he can bring about my good and felicity, by no meanes, and dispensations, but such as I am satisfied with? Shall I measure the unsearchable riches of his Wisdom and Councel thus? Shall I rebell against his Dispensations, and fret and murmure against Him, who dealeth thus and thus with me. because I see not, how He can bring about my everlasting advantage hereby? No: Nay rather because his word is true, beleeving the same, I will embrace the sharpest of Dispentions, He is pleased to tryst me with, and waire to see how infinit Wisdom shall make good, what Truth it self hath said:

Thus we see, how the Consideration of the decreed will of God can preserve the Christians life, in worst of times.