Sin for my good does work and win (x) I'm heal'd ev'n when my plagues abound (b), (x) ROM. viii. 28. And we know that all things work together for good, to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. Chap. xi. 11. I say then, have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy. (y) PSAL. lxxxix. 31. 32 If they break my statutes, and keep not my commandments, then will I visit their transgressions with the rod, and their iniquity with stripes. (2) PSAL cxix. 67. Before I was afflicted, I went astray; but now have I kept thy word. v. 71. It is good for me that I have been afflicted, that I might learn thy statutes. JAMES i. 2. My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations. (a) MATTH. x. 39. He that loseth his life for my sake, shall find it. MARK X. 29. 30. And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name's sake and the gospel's, but he shall receive an hundred fold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come, eternal life. (b) ROM. vii. 24. 25. O wretched man that I am, who shall deliver me from the body of this death! I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. (c) viz.-with mercy, Joв. xlii 5. 6. I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear; but now mine eye seeth thee. Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes. EZEK. xvi. 63. That thou mayst remember and be confounded, and never open thy mouth any more because of thy shame, when I am pacified towards thee for all that thou hast done, saith the Lord God. JOHN V. (d) 2 Cor. vi. 9. As dying, and behold, we live. (e) HEB. ix. 27. It is appointed unto men once to die. 24. Verily, verily I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. Chap. For all my sins my heart is sad, My sins are ever in his eye (?), vi. 40. And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life. v. 50. 51. This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die. I am the living bread which came down from heaven; if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever; and the bread that I will give, is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world. (f) PSAL. li. 4. Against thee, thee only have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight. (9) ROM. vi. 17. But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which sin; was delivered you. (h) Is. xliv. 23. Sing, O ye heavens; for the Lord hath done it : shout, ye lower parts of the earth: break forth into singing, ye mountains, O forests, and every tree therein; for the Lord hath redeemed Jacob, and glorified himself in Israel. EPH. i. 6. To the praise of the glory of his grace. v. 12. That we should be to the praise of his glory. (i) REV. iii. 1. I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead. v. 15. I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot. (j) NUMB. xxiii. 21. He hath not beheld iniquity in Jacob, neither hath he seen perversness in Israel. SONG iv. 7. Thou art all fair, my love, there is no spot in thee. EZEK xvi. 14. And thy renown went forth among the heathen for thy beauty: for it was perfect through my comliness which I had put upon thee, saith the Lord God. (k) Is. xliii. 25. I, even I am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins. JER. xxxi. 34. I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more. HEB. viii. 12. I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more. Because my sins are great, I feel I hope when plung'd into despair (n), (1) EZRA. ix. 13. 14. And after all that is come upon us for our evil deeds, and for our great trespass, seeing that thou our God hast punished us less than our iniquities deserve, and hast given us such deliverance as this: should we again break thy commandments, and join in assinity with the people of these abominations? wouldst not thou be angry with us till thou hadst consumed us, so that there should be no remnant nor escaping? PSAL. xxxviii. 1. O Lord, rebuke me not in thy wrath neither chasten me in thy hot displeasure. (m) PSAL. xxv. 11. For thy name's sake, O Lord, pardon mine iniquity, for it is great. JER. xiv. 7. O Lord, though our iniquities testify against us, do thou it for thy name's sake: for our backslidings are many, we have sinned against thee. (n) Rom. iv. 18. Who [Abraham] against hope believed in hope. 2 COR. i. 8. 9. For we would not, brethren, have you ignorant of our trouble which came to us in Asia, that we were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even of life; but we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead. (0) PHIL. ii. 12. Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence; work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. LUKE i. 74. That he would grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hands of our enemies, might serve him without fear. (p) MATTH. ix. 2. Jesus said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, be of good cheer, thy sins be forgiven thee. (q) EZEK. Xxxvi. 25. 26. Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean; from all your filthiness, and from all your idols will I cleanse you. A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you, and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. v. 31. Then shall ye re member your own evil ways, and your doings that were not good, and shall loathe yourselves in your own sight, for your iniquities and for your abominations. Chap. xvi. 63. That thou mayest remember and Mysteries in faith's extractions, way and walk, prayers and answers, heights and depths, fear and love. WITH wasps and bees my busy bill Sucks ill from good, and good from ill (a): Humil'ty makes my pride to grow, And pride aspiring lays me low (b). My standing does my fall procure (c), My falling makes me stand more sure (d). be confounded, and never open thy mouth any more because of thy shame, when I am pacified towards thee for all that thou hast done, saith the Lord God. (a) Rom. ii. 4. Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness, and forbearance, and long-suffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance? Chap. vi. 1. 2. What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid: how shall we that are dead to sin, live any longer therein ? v. 15. What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid. Chap viii. 28. And we know that all things work together for good, to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. PHIL. i. 12. But I would ye should understand, brethren, that the things which happened unto me, have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel. PSAL. cxix. 71. It is good for me that I have been afflicted that I might learn thy statutes. (b) 2 COR. xii. 7. And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. PROV. xxix. 23. A man's pride shall bring him low; but honour shall uphold the humble in spirit. 2 CHRON. Xxxii. 26. Hezekiah humbled himself for the pride of his heart, (both he and the inhabitants of Jerusalem), so that the wrath of the Lord came not upon them in the days of Hezekiah. (c) PSAL. XXX. 6. 7. And in my prosperity I said, I shall never be moved. Lord, by thy favour thou hast made my mountain to stand strong thou didst hide thy face, and I was troubled. (d) PROV. xxiv. 16. For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again. PSAL. XXXvii. 24. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down for the Lord upholdeth him with his hand. My poison does my physic prove (e), (e) 2 COR. xii. 7. 8. And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. Is. xxvii. 8. 9. In measure when it shooteth forth, thou wilt debate with it; he stayeth his rough wind in the day of the east-wind. By this therefore shall the iniquity of Jacob be purged, and this is all the fruit to take away his sin. (f) GAL v. 17. The flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh. v. 24. And they that are Christ's, have crucified the flesh, with the affections and lusts. (g) REV. ii. 9. I know thy poverty, but thou art rich. 2 COR. vi. 10. As having nothing, and yet possessing all things. (h) MATTH. ix. 12. They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick. Is. lvii. 17. 18. For the iniquity of his covetousness was I wroth, and smote him: I hid me, and was wroth, and he went on frowardly in the way of his heart. I have seen his ways and will heal him, I will lead him also, and restore comforts unto him, and to his mourners. (2) Is. lxiii. 17. O Lord, why hast thou made us to err from thy ways? and hardened our heart from thy fear? Return for thy servant's sake, the tribes of thine inheritence. (j) 2 COR. i. 9. But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead. Hos. v. 15. I will go and return to my place, till they acknowledge their offence, and seek my face: in their affliction they will seek me early. Chap. vi, 1. Come and let us return unto the Lord: for he hath torn, and he will heal us; he hath smitten, and he will bind us up. : (k) 1 PET. v. 5. 6. Be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time. PSAL. cxvi. 6. I was brought low, and he helped me. |