1st, That he will free his people, who enjoy outward good things, from the sorrow which is oftentimes mixed therewith, and tends greatly to imbitter them, in Prov. x. 22. ‘The blessing of the Lord maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it.’ He has also promised to give them inward peace, together with outward prosperity, in Psal. xxxvii. 11. ‘The meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.’
2dly, He has promised to give them spiritual and heavenly blessings, together with the good things of this life, in Job xxii. 24-26. ‘Thou shalt lay up gold as dust, and the gold of Ophir as the stones of the brooks. Yea, the Almighty shall be thy defence, and thou shalt have plenty of silver: For then shalt thou have thy delight in the Almighty, and shalt lift up thy face unto God.’ And in Psal. xxiii. 5, 6. ‘Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies; thou anointest mine head with oil, my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will, or, I shall, dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.’
3dly, God has promised together with outward blessings, to give a thankful heart, whereby his people may be enabled to give him the glory thereof, in Deut. viii. 10. ‘When thou hast eaten and art full, then thou shalt bless the Lord thy God, for the good land which he hath given thee.’ And, in Joel ii. 26. ‘Ye shall eat in plenty, and be satisfied, and praise the name of the Lord your God, that hath dealt wondrously with you; and my people shall never be ashamed.’
4thly, He has not only promised that he will confer outward good things on his people, but that he will make them blessings to others, and thereby enable them to lay out what he gives them for their good, to support his cause and gospel in the world; and to relieve those that are in distress, in Gen. xii. 2. ‘I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing.’ And, in Deut. xxvi. 11. ‘Thou shalt rejoice in every good thing which the Lord thy God hath given unto thee and unto thine house, thou and the Levite, and the stranger that is among you.’ These promises more especially respect those who are in a prosperous condition in the world.
But there are others which are made to believers, in an afflicted state; and, indeed, there is scarce any affliction which they are liable to, but what has some special promises annexed to it. Accordingly,
(1.) There are promises made to them when lying on a sick bed, in Psal. xli. 5. ‘The Lord will strengthen him upon the bed of languishing; thou wilt make all his bed in his sickness.’ And, in Deut. vii. 15. ‘The Lord will take from thee all sickness, and will put none of the evil diseases of Egypt (which thou knowest) upon thee; but will lay them upon all that hate thee.’ And, in Exod. xxiii. 25. ‘I will take sickness away from the midst of thee.’
(2.) There are other promises made to believers, when poor and low in this world, in Psal. cxxxii. 15. ‘I will abundantly bless her provision; I will satisfy her poor with bread.’
(3.) There are other promises that respect God’s giving a full compensation for all the losses which his people have sustained for Christ’s sake, in Matt. xix. 29. ‘Every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands for my name’s sake, shall receive an hundred-fold, and shall inherit life everlasting.’ And, in chap. x. 39. ‘He that findeth his life shall lose it; and he that loseth his life for my name’s sake shall find it.’
(4.) There are other promises made to believers under oppression, in Psal. xii. 5. ‘For the oppression of the poor, for the sighing of the needy, now will I arise (saith the Lord) I will set him in safety from him that puffeth at him.’ And in Hos. xiv. 3. ‘In thee the fatherless findeth mercy.’ And, in Psal. lxviii. 5. ‘A father of the fatherless, and a judge of the widows, is God in his holy habitation.’
(5.) There are other promises made to believers, when reviled and persecuted for righteousness’ sake, Matt. v. 11, 12, ‘Blessed are ye when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely for my sake. Rejoice and be exceeding glad; for great is your reward in heaven.’ And, in 1 Pet. iv. 19. ‘Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God, commit the keeping of their souls to him in well-doing, as unto a faithful Creator.’