A35541:178
The nature and principles of love, as the end of the commandment declared in…
The nature and principles of love, as the end of the commandment declared in some of the last sermons of Mr. Joseph Caryl ; with an epistle prefixed by John Owen ...
London : Printed, and are to be sold by John Hancock, senior and junior ..., 1673
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Not only, not much, but nothing. And behold, the world is gone after him. He will get all the world shortly, they multiply so fast. So that we see from this, the truth of the Scripture, that there is no Counsel against the Lord.
And it may give you a further confirmation by way of Instruction, concerning that great truth, in Rom. 8. 28. All things shall work together for good to them that serve God, and are the called according to his purpose. All things work together for good. What things? Troubles, afflictions, pressures, burdens which are laid upon them, they work for good. Why, this is one of the greatest goods that can be, to have grace flourish and grow. Faith and Humility, and Love to Jesus Christ, if one increase in these things. What is worthy the name of good, in comparison of an increase of these things. That's one thing we may take notice of from it.
Secondly, We should be hence raised up in our hearts, to magnify the power, wisdom and goodness of God, who doth thus over-rule these things for his people: for certainly this doth declare the wonderful work of God. In Isa. 28. where he hath a ⟨p. 116⟩notable Allegory, and speaks of the troubles and sufferings of the faithful people of God: For all that that is spoken of the Ploughman, and of the Thresher, and of the bruising of the Corn with threshing Instruments, they do respect affliction and troubles which come upon the people of God, (as is clear.) But now, saith he, in the close of that Chapter, This also cometh from the Lord of Hosts, which is wonderful in counsel, and excellent in working. We may wonder at the counsel and wisdom of God, who doth his people good by threshing them, and bringing the wheel over them. Here are several sorts of afflictions and sufferings, some lesser, and some greater. Now all this is but to separate the good seed from the chaff, and to make it more fit for use: for while the Corn is in the ear, it is not fit for use, and we cannot make bread of it until it be threshed. Now the Lord hath several ways to do it. But saith he,