A commentary or, exposition upon the divine second epistle general, writtenA commentary or, exposition vpon the diuine second epistle generall, written

The last material is Joy in the HOLY GHOST; which ariseth partly from the hope of future reward, and partly from the sense of present comfort. For if there be such sorrow in the contrition of sin, what is the joy in the remission of sin? Rachel wept for her children, because they were not: we might have wept for our souls, because they were in worse case than if they had not been: No womb but a Rebecca's, feels those conflicts, Psalm. 6.6. Every night wash I my bed, saith David, with my tears: We might have so washed our eternal beds. Mary Magdalen wept, as if she poured forth water, not by drops, but by floods; Peter bitterly. This Winter lasted not long, the Spring-Sun shone out with beams of comfort. Now one dram of their present joy, did out-value all the loads of their former sorrow. Like men over-burdened, we feel such ease when the Cross of Christ takes all this weight from our shoulders. When sin is remitted, nothing afflicts, Jam. 1.2. My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers tentations. What, joy in trouble? Will the world believe you, Saint James? They answer, take you such joy, we will not meddle with it. Yes, he that prescribed it, proved it; he found affliction turn to his profit; he learned this benefit by good experience. As we say, Quae fuerunt laboriosa juventutis studia, haec sunt jucunda senectutis otia; Humane learning is mens pains in their youth, their recreation in their age. So what was the greatest sorrow to the heart penitent, proves the greatest joy to the heart pardoned. Who would not give the iron fetters of his thraldom, for the weight of gold in freedom? It is a false accusation, that the Word of God brings with it sullenness and discontent: for Psal. 19.8. The Statutes of the Lord rejoice the heart. It is the tidings of joy, of great joy, of such joy, that the mountains skip like Rams, and the little hills like young sheep. So far as this holy joy is entered into us, we have entered into the everlasting Kingdom of Jesus Christ.

The last materiall is Ioy in the HOLY GHOST; which ariseth partly from the hope of future reward, and partly from the sense of present comfort. For if there be such sorrow in the contrition of sin, what is the joy in the remission of sin? Rachel wept for her children, because they were not: we might have wept for our soules, because they were in worse case than if they had not beene: No wombe but a Rebecca's, feeles those conflicts,