In case of stiffness and standing out, it is fit the Man of God should take some authority upon him, and lay a charge upon the souls of men in the name of Christ, to give way to the truth of Christ, and to forbear putting off that mercy which is so kindly offered, when we judge it to be their portion; which course will be successful in hearts awed with a reverend fear of grieving Gods spirit. Sometimes men must be dealt roundly withal, as David here deals with his own soul, that so whilst we ask a reason of their dejection, they may plainly see they have no reason to be so cast down; for oftentimes grievances are irrational, rising from mistakes; and counsel, bringing into the soul a fresh light, dissolves those gross ⟨p. 234⟩fogs, and setteth the soul at liberty. What grief is contracted by false reason, is by true reason altered. Thus it pleaseth God to humble men by letting them see in what need they stand one of another, that so the communion of Saints may be endeared; every relation wherein we stand towards others, are so many bonds and sinews whereby one member is fitted to derive comfort to another, through love the bond of perfection: All must be done in this sweet 1affection. A member out of joint must be tenderly set in again, and bound up, which only men guided by the spirit of love seasoned with discretion are fit to do, they are taught of God to do what they should. The more of Christ is in any man, the more willingness and fitness to this duty; to which this should encourage us, that in strengthening others we strengthen our selves, and derive upon our selves the blessing pronounced on those that consider the needy, which will be our comfort here, 2and crown hereafter, that God hath honoured us, to be instruments of spiritual ⟨p. 235⟩good to others. It is an injunction to comfort the feeble minded, & there is an heavy imputation on those that comforted 3not the weaks: when men will not own men in trouble, but as the herd of Deere forsake & push away the wounded Deere 4from them: And those that are any ways cast down, must stoop to those ways which God hath sanctified to convey comfort;
In case of stifnesse and standing out, it is fit the Man of God should take some authority upon him, and lay a charge upon the soules of men in the name of Christ, to give way to the truth of Christ, and to forbeare putting off that mercy which is so kindly offered, when we judge it to be their portion; which course will be succesfull in hearts awed with a reverend feare of grieving Gods spirit. Sometimes men must bee dealt roundly withall, as David here deales with his owne soule, that so whilest we aske a reason of their dejection, they may plainly see they have no reason to be so cast downe; for oftentimes grievances are irrationall, rising from mistakes; and counsell, bringing into the soule a fresh light, dissolves those grosse ⟨p. 234⟩fogges, and setteth the soule at liberty. What griefe is contracted by false reason, is by true reason altered. Thus it pleaseth God to humble men by letting them see in what need they stand one of another, that so the communion of Saints may be indeared; every relation wherein we stand towards others, are so many bonds and sinewes whereby one member is fitted to derive comfort to another, through love the bond of perfection: All must be done in this sweet 1affection. A member out of joynt must be tenderly set in again, and bound up, which onely men guided by the spirit of love seasoned with discretion are fit to doe, they are taught of God to doe what they should. The more of Christ is in any man, the more willingnesse and fitnesse to this duty; to which this should encourage us, that in strengthening others we strengthen our selves, and derive upon our selves the blessing pronounced on those that consider the needie, which will be our comfort here, 2and crowne hereafter, that God hath honoured us, to be instruments of spirituall ⟨p. 235⟩good to others. It is an injunction to cōfort the feeble minded, & there is an heavie imputatiō on those that cōforted 3not the weaks: when men will not owne men in trouble, but as the herd of Deere forsake & push away the wounded Deere 4frō them: And those that are any wayes cast downe, must stoope to those wayes which God hath sanctified to convey cōfort;
- 1Col. 3. 14.
- 2Psal. 41. 1.
- 31. Thess. 5. 14.
- 4Ezek. 34 4
