Christ inviting sinners to come to him for rest

So that then here the point that now we are to enter upon, is, That in Christ there is Rest in the midst of all afflictions, of all troubles that we can meet withal in this world. For,

First, A believer coming to Christ, must needs have Rest whatsoever afflictions he meets withal, for when he is come to Christ, he may in him come to know that there is no affliction either doth or can befall him, but is at the dispose of him that is his Father, and the Father of the Lord Jesus Christ, and is not this a great deal of Rest? To know that what comes unto me, though there be such and such instruments, evil instruments to bring trouble upon my estate, or name, or otherwise, yet I know that all this is by the wise ordering and disposing of that God that is the Father of Jesus Christ, and in him is now my Father. Were it that you could be all assured of this now, that you should never hence forward, have any loss in your estate, any sickness in your body, any trouble ⟨p. 351⟩in your family any way, or should have no affliction ever befall you, but it should be at the dispose of your own father, he should dispose of it, and your Father a wise, and Loving Father; or take the de• rest Friend that ever was in the world, and if I say, you should be made sure of this from heaven that you shall never have any affliction in this world, but it shall be by his dispose, would not this bring rest into your hearts, though you had a disquiet heart before? Would there not be a great deal of calm, quiet, and rest upon your spirits? I make no question, but if such a voice should come from heaven, and you should know it were a voice from heaven, and not a delusion, saying, be of good comfort, you that are so troubled, for fear of loss and outward afflictions, be of good comfort, thou shalt never have any one minute of an hour of trouble and affliction more than thy tender father or mother shall be willing unto, would not this give rest and quiet unto thy spirit? Certainly, hadst thou faith to know, that all comes from thy father in Christ, for when we are come to him he is our father in Christ, and all that comes to us is from him through Christ, thou couldst not but have rest and peace.