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

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 (Rom. 8.28.) Surely then the service of God is a gainful service, a profitable service; though the work may be hard, and the way painful, yet the wages will be sweet, and the end pleasant. The contemplation of this put David upon putting that question (Psal. 34.12, 13.) What man is he that desireth life, and loveth many days, that he may see good (that is, that he may enjoy good) keep thy tongue from evil, and thy mouth, that it speak no guile; depart from evil, and do good. The Psalmist makes Proclamation, What man is he that would have good? let him do good, let him obey and serve God, and he shall have good.

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 dayes and years in good, but when their dayes and years are spent, they shall have good, and a greater good than any they had, in spending the dayes 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 (