A word in season to this present generation, or, A sober and serious discourse…

Fifthly, [If God be with us, who can be against us?] I answer, none, so as to hinder the operation of all things for our good. When men and devils have done their worst, all the great troubles, deep distresses, and most deadly dangers, that do attend the Saints, shall work for their good. Rom. 8. 28. And we know that all ¹things work together, for good to them that love God, to them that are called according to his purpose. In this Verse there are two things observable. First, a proposition, or a glorious privilege, All things work together for good; This word [Greek or Hebrew], Work together, is a physical expression; several poysonful ingredients put together, being tempered by the skilful Apothecary, make a sovereign medicine, and work together for the good of the Patient; they work together, not invicem, between themselves, but together with God; not of their own nature, for so ⟨p. 69⟩they do not co-operate, but contra-operate, but being sanctified by God. And therefore one takes the verb passively, are wrought; for indeed take away God, and afflictions work for our hurt; but all Gods providences •eing divinely tempered and sanctified, do work together for the best to the People of God. When the worst of men have done their worst against the Saints, all things shall sweetly concur, yea conspire for their good; 2. The proof which is double. 1. From the experience of all Saints, We know, it is not a matter pendulous, or doubtful. The Apostle doth not say, We think; but, We know. Nor he doth not say, We hope; but, We know. Nor he doth not say, We guess, we conjecture; but, We know. Nor he doth not say, We desire that all things may work together for good; but, We know all things work together for good. Nor he doth not say, We pray that all things may work together for good; but, We know all ²things work together for good. The wicked know not this secret, as the Philistines understood not Samsons riddles; but we know that all the world shall not hinder the cross from working for our good. 2. From a description of them that love God; they are called according to Gods purpose: That is, God hath purposed the salvation of his People, he hath chosen them to salvation, and called them to it; and therefore it must needs be, that all these afflictions that befall his People, must work together for their internal and eternal good;