An exposition with practical observations continued upon the thirty-fifth, thirty-sixth, and thirty-seventh chapters of…

Lastly, As though a servant of God should be exercised with sorrows all the days of his life, yet he cannot be said to spend his days in sorrow, because he meets with many refreshing intervals and shines of favour from the face of God in the midst of those clouds; so he may be said to spend his days in pleasure, because at least, when his days here are spent, he consummates his days (which is one signification of the word) by an entrance into everlasting pleasures.

Lastly, As though a servant of God should be exercised with sorrows all the dayes of his life, yet he cannot be said to spend his dayes in sorrow, because he meets with many refreshing intervalls and shines of favour from the face of God in the midst of those clouds; so he may be said to spend his dayes in pleasure, because at least, when his dayes here are spent, he consummates his dayes (which is one signification of the word) by an entrance into everlasting pleasures.

So much for the answer of these questions, concerning this promise, They shall spend their days in prosperity, and their years in pleasure. From the promise it self, Note; Fi•st, Obedience to God is profitable to man.

So much for the answer of these questions, concerning this promise, They shall spend their dayes in prosperity, and their years in pleasure. From the promise it self, Note; Fi•st, Obedience to God is profitable to man.

God hath no profit by our Obedience, but we have. God doth ⟨p. 248⟩not call us to serve him in his work, as we call servants to do our work, to get his living by us, or better himself; no, the Lord calls us to serve him and obey him, for our own good. They consult their own good best, who do most good. I may say these three things of those who do good (and what is serving God, but doing of good? or what is doing good but serving God?) First, they shall receive true good; Secondly, they shall for ever hold the best good, the chief good, they shall not only spend their days and years in good, but when their days and years are spent, they shall have good, and a greater good than any they had, in spending the days and years of this life; they shall have good in death, they shall come to a fuller enjoyment of God, the chief Good, when they have left and let fall the possession of all earthly goods. Thirdly, they that do good shall find all things working together for their good; if they have a loss, they shall receive good by it; if they bear a Cross, that shall bear good. Outward troubles cannot disturb, much less pollute our spiritual good; for, All things work together for good to them that love God, who are the called according to his purpose (