The Soul's Conflict with Itself

2. We see here, that there is a sanctified use of all troubles to Gods children; ¹first they drive them out of themselves, and then draw them nearer to GOD. Crosses indeed of themselves estrange us more from God, but by an over-ruling work of the spirit they bring […] nearer to him; The soul of it self is ready to misgive, as if God had too many controversies with it, to show any favour towards it; and Satan helped; because he knows nothing can stand and prevail against God, or a soul that relieth on him, therefore he labours to breed and increase an everlasting divisi• ⟨p. 249⟩betwixt God and the soul; but let not Christians muse so much upon their trouble, but see whether it carries them, whether it brings them nearer unto God, or not; It is a never failing rule of discerning a man to be in the state of grace, when he finds every condition draw him nearer to God; for thus it appears that such love God, and are called of him, unto whom all things work together for ²the best.

2. We see here, that there is a sanctified use of all troubles to Gods children; ¹first they drive them out of themselves, and then draw them neerer to GOD. Crosses indeed of themselves estrange us more from God, but by an over-ruling worke of the spirit they bring neerer to him; The soule of it selfe is ready to misgive, as if God had too many controversies with it, to shew any favour towards it; and Sathan helped; because hee knowes nothing can stand and prevaile against God, or a soule that relyeth on him, therefore hee labours to breed and encrease an everlasting divisi