Christ inviting sinners to come to him for rest

CHAP. XLV.

The Rest believers have from Christ in outward afflictions discovered in four Particulars more. 1. They shall be to good ends. 2. They shall be sanctified to the good of believers. 3. God is present with his people in Christ. 4. There is abundance of present good in affliction.

The Rest beleevers have from Christ in outward afflictions discovered in four Particulars more. 1. They shall be to good ends. 2. They shal be sanctified to the good of beleevers. 3. God is present with his people in Christ. 4. There is abundance of present good in affliction.

Fifthly, Come to me, saith Christ, and you shall have Rest in your affliction, for your afflictions shall have very good ends, God will never bring affliction upon you, but he will have gracious ends that he will aim at in your affliction. God hath somewhat in his Eye that he aims at more than you imagine, and the thoughts of this may bring a great deal of Rest unto the Soul, we cannot always understand what those Particular ends are that God hath in the trial of his people, but we must satisfy our spirits in this, certainly God hath very gracious ends, what a great deal of trouble is there now in the nation, how many godly people are spoiled of their goods, and wounded and made havoc of, we think it is nothing but the rage of wicked men, certainly, God hath gracious ends in it, and God is about to bring to pass some glorious thing, though we cannot understand it now, it is only one that is acquainted with the mind of Christ that can be satisfied with this that when God brings trials he hath glorious ends to bring about, and why should not I be willing to be serviceable to Gods ends, to those great ends that God hath to bring about? Wherefore was I made and brought into the world, but only that God may serve himself of me, and therefore if God hath need of my affliction as I may so speak, why may not I be quiet