And as there is admirable comfort against sin, so there is admirable comfort against all misery. He knows nothing that knows not that all the Christian world is in an uproar, and that the enemy doth work abroad. But though you do not see these, you may see the world opposing, and the Devil tempting, and the wicked casting reproach upon all hands, and your hearts begin to be daunted, and say, I would profess Religion, ⟨p. 117⟩but my father would be discontented, and shame, and disgrace will come in amain, and misery and persecution will come, notwithstanding the Lord Jesus Christ is coming into those souls of •ours. For if you be soundly humbled, Christ comes suddenly, and then come what can come, in all troubles Christ will comfort you, and in all weaknesses Christ will strengthen you, yea, he will let the spirit of glory rest upon you here, and glorify you with himself for ever hereafter. In all wants there is comfort: though friends, and means, and all go, yet Christ comes: and the further thy friends go from thee, the nearer will Christ come to thee.1 Let your souls be herein refreshed for ever. Money, as the Proverb is, answers all. A man will change honour, and leave his place for money: and we use to say, Money will do it. If you want honour money will buy it, and whatsoever the world can do, money can do. And hereupon it is that the rich man saith, I have it by me: if he wants a house, he hath money that will buy it. You that are humbled go your ways, and eat your meat with glad hearts the Lord accept of you, the God of comfort refresh your hearts yet more against these troublesome times.2 It is the speech of Christ to his disciples, Fear not little flock, it is your fathers will to give you a kingdom. If a ⟨p. 118⟩broken and humbled soul go into prison, Christ will go to all the prisons in Christendom but he will find him out, and there he will comfort him. If the humbled soul go into the Indies, Christ will be there with him: nay, if it were possible for the humbled soul to go down to hell, the Lord Christ would come into him: for wheresoever he is, Christ will be. Fear not, be not dismayed, Christ is thine, you have not only a Kingdom but a Christ, and he answers to all. Christ is the God of all comfort, and the father of all mercy: thou hast many wants and weaknesses, and Christ is the God of all mercies;
And as there is admirable comfort against sin, so there is admirable comfort against all misery. He knowes nothing that knowes not that all the Christian world is in an uprore, and that the enemy doth worke abroad. But though you doe not see these, you may see the world opposing, and the Divell temptting, and the wicked casting reproach upon all hands, and your hearts begin to bee daunted, and say, I would professe Religion, ⟨p. 117⟩but my father would be discontented, and shame, and disgrace will come in amaine, and misery and persecution will come, notwithstanding the Lord Iesus Christ is comming into those soules of •ours. For if you bee soundly humbled, Christ comes suddenly, and then come what can come, in all troubles Christ will comfort you, and in all weaknesses Christ will strengthen you, yea, he will let the spirit of glory rest upon you here, and glorifie you with himselfe for ever hereafter. In all wants there is comfort: though friends, and meanes, and all go, yet Christ comes: and the further thy friends go from thee, the nearer will Christ come to thee.1 Let your soules be herein refreshed for ever. Mony, as the Proverb is, answers all. A man will change honour, and leave his place for money: and we use to say, Money will doe it. If you want honour money will buy it, and whatsoever the world can doe, money can doe. And hereupon it is that the rich man saith, I have it by me: if he wants a house, hee hath money that will buy it. You that are humbled goe your wayes, and eat your meat with glad hearts the Lord accept of you, the God of comfort refresh your hearts yet more against these troublesome times.2 It is the speach of Christ to his disciples, Feare not little flocke, it is your fathers will to give you a kingdome. If a ⟨p. 118⟩broken and humbled soule goe into prison, Christ wil goe to all the prisons in Christendome but he will find him out, and there he will comfort him. If the humbled soule goe into the Indies, Christ will bee there with him: nay, if it were possible for the humbled soule to goe downe to hell, the Lord Christ would come into him: for wheresoever he is, Christ will be. Feare not, be not dismaied, Christ is thine, you have not onely a Kingdome but a Christ, and he answers to all. Christ is the God of all comfort, and the father of all mercy: thou hast many wants and weaknesses, and Christ is the God of all mercies;
- 1Eccles. 10.19
- 2Luke 12.32.
