Directions and persuasions to a sound conversion for prevention of that deceit and damnation…Directions and perswasions to a sound conversion for prevention of that deceit and damnation…

11. Another of our precious benefits by Christ is, that All things shall work together for our good, Rom. 8. 28. When we are Sanctified to God, all things are Sanctified to us, to serve us for God, and help us to him. Every Creature that we have to do with, is as it were another thing to the Saints, then to other men. They are all wheels in that universal Engine of Grace, to carry us to Salvation. The same things that are common Mercies to others, are special to us, as proceeding from a special Love, and being designed to a special use. As flesh-pleasing is the ultimate end of the ungodly, and all things are thereby debased, to be but means to that ignoble end: So the Pleasing and fruition of God, is the End of ⟨p. 261⟩all the Saints, and thereby all things that they have to do with, are advanced to the honour of being Sanctified means to this most high, and noble End: And as they are engaged to use them to this End, and consequently to their own greatest advantage; so God hath engaged himself to bless them in that holy use, and to cause them all by his gracious providence to cooperate to their good. The greatest afflictions, the cruellest persecutions from the most violent enemies, our wants, our weaknesses, and death it self, all must concur to carry on this work. What then should a Christian fear, but sin? How honourable, and how safe, and how happy a life may he live, that hath all these assured for his service. And what causeless fears are they that use to afflict the Servants of God, concerning their outward troubles, and necessities? What do we fear, and groan under, and complain of, but our Fathers physic, and the means of our Salvation? If this one Truth were but believed, and received, and used according to its worth, O what a life would Christians live.

11. Another of our precious benefits by Christ is, that All things shall work together for our good, Rom. 8. 28. When we are Sanctified to God, all things are Sanctified to us, to serve us for God, and help us to him. Every Creature that we have to do with, is as it were another thing to the Saints, then to other men. They are all wheels in that universal Engine of Grace, to carry us to Salvation. The same things that are common Mercies to others, are special to us, as proceeding from a special Love, and being designed to a special use. As flesh-pleasing is the ultimate end of the ungodly, and all things are thereby debased, to be but means to that ignoble end: So the Pleasing and fruition of God, is the End of