The Works (Vol 7) by Thomas Goodwin (Available from Amazon or free here) - Continue the work 'Of the blessed state...' by reading Chapter 12.
Last week Goodwin began to teach us his three points regarding the words, 'he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God' (2 Corinthians 5:5).
We saw the first point last week and this week we learn Goodwin's second two points.
Thus, secondly, these words teach us 'That to have provided a glory for separate souls of just men, wrought upon in this life, is a dispensation becoming the great God ; yea, and that there is an artifice and contrivement therein worthy of God, and like unto himself, such as he hath shewed in other his works of wonder.'
Then thirdly, these words teach us 'That it is the interest and engagement of all three persons to see to it that a righteous separate soul be brought to glory at dissolution.'
Goodwin then closes with some uses from the doctrine.
Particularly this use: 'Thou saint, be content to live ; for whilst thou livest thou art under God's working in order unto glory. Value life ; it is a season of being wrought upon ; and to be sure thou shalt live no longer than whilst God is some way or other a-working this. What an advantage is it that all thy sins, occasioned by living long, shall surely be forgiven, and nothing of thy score be uncut off for thee, but all the righteousness that is wrought upon thee, and wrought by thee, and therefore wrought by thee because upon thee, — for being wrought upon we work, and all is rather, ' God hath wrought us,' than that we have wrought — all thy righteousness (I say) shall remain for ever. All the time thou remainest in this life thy soul is ripening or maturing for glory.'
There is peace for the soul of the Christian in this life, even while he sins.
Next week's reading
Continue the work 'Of the blessed state...' by reading Chapters 13 and 14.
Now it's your turn
Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.
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