An expository comment, doctrinal, controversial, and practical upon the whole first chapter to the…An expository comment, doctrinal, controversal, and practical upon the whole first chapter to the…

That they are for our own good, hath been partly spoken to. Yea every dispensation of God to those that fear him, is a benefit and an advantage: For if it be a mercy, it is bonum Dei consolantis; if an affliction, it is bonum Dei admonentis, as Austin. But I am now to speak of the diffusive good by afflictions in respect of others.

That sufferings for Christ are of public edification to the Church, appeareth by two or three notable texts, concerning what Paul speaketh of himself, Phil. 1. 12. I would ye should understand, that the things which happened to me, have fallen out rather to the furtherance of the Gospel. I would ye should understand; It is a truth that Believers should possess themselves with: For indeed, it is a riddle, that out of this strong one should come honey, that out of darkness should arise light, from death come life. The not understanding of this, hath made so many Apostates, thinking that the Kingdom of Christ and his ways, would never hold, because all the power of the world conspire to oppress it; but the Apostle would have them know, that persecutions do not hinder, but further the Gospel. The treading and trampling on this Camomile, makes it thrive the better. Another remarkable text, is 2 Tim. 2. 10. where the Apostle having showed, that though they did cast him into bonds, yet the Word of God could not be bound; no more then a man (as Chrysostom observeth) that cutteth off a branch from the tree, can cut off the Sun-beams also from the Sun, that may shine upon that branch: he addeth, that he doth endure all things for the elects sake, that they may obtain salvation. Oh wonderful expression! you might think Paul goeth too high, these words become Christ rather; Who can say this, but Christ? He suffereth for the elects sake, that they may have salvation. But Paul speaks this only as a Minister, not a Mediator, as is more particularly to be urged: His scope is to show, that it is not for any sins of his own, any wickedness that he hath committed, but it is for the good of the Church, that ⟨p. 220⟩