for though sometimes the Spirit of God immediately comforts the soul, which is the sweetest, yet for the most part the Sun of righteousness that hath healing in his wings, conveyeth the beams of his comfort by the help of others, in whom he will have much of our comfort to lie hid, and for this very end it pleaseth God to exercise his children (and Ministers especially) with trials and afflictions, that so they having felt what a troubled spirit is in themselves, might be able to comfort others, in their 1distresses with the same comfort wherewith they have been comforted: God often suspends comfort from us to drive us to make use of our Christian friends, by whom he purposeth to do ⟨p. 236⟩us good. Oftentimes the very opening of mens grievances, bringeth ease without any further working upon them; the very opening of a vein cools the blood. If God in the state of innocency thought it fit man should have a helper, if God thought it fit to send an Angel to comfort Christ in his agonies, shall any man think the comfort of another more than needs? Satan makes every affliction, by reason of our corruption, a temptation to us, whereupon we are to encounter not only with our own corruptions, but with spiritual wickednesses, and need we not then that others should join forces with us to discover the temptation, and to confirm and comfort us against it? for so reason joining with reason, and affection with affection, we come by uniting of strength, to be impregnable. Satan hath most advantage in solitariness, and thereupon sets upon Christ in the wilderness, and upon Eve single, and it added 2to the glory of Christs victory, that he overcame him in a single combat, and in a place of such disadvantage. Those ⟨p. 237⟩that will be alone (at such times) do as much as in them lieth to tempt the tempter himself to tempt them. The Preacher gives three reasons why two 3are better than one. 1. Because if one fall, the other may lift him up: as that 4which is stronger shoreth up that which is weaker, so feeble minds are raised and kept up by the stronger: Nay, oftentimes he that is weaker in one grace, is stronger in another; one may help by his experience and meekness of love, that needs the help of another for knowledge. 2. If two lye together, one may warm another by kindling one another's spirits;
for though sometimes the Spirit of God immediatly comforts the soule, which is the sweetest, yet for the most part the Sun of righteousnesse that hath healing in his wings, conveyeth the beames of his comfort by the helpe of others, in whom hee will have much of our comfort to lie hid, and for this very end it pleaseth God to exercise his children (and Ministers especially) with tryalls and afflictions, that so they having felt what a troubled spirit is in themselves, might be able to cōfort others, in their 1distresses with the same comfort wherwith they have beene comforted: God often suspends comfort from us to drive us to make use of our Christian friends, by whom hee purposeth to doe ⟨p. 236⟩us good. Oftentimes the very opening of mens grievances, bringeth ease without any further working upon them; the very opening of a veine cooles the blood. If God in the state of innocencie thought it fit man should have a helper, if God thought it fit to send an Angell to comfort Christ in his agonies, shall any man thinke the comfort of another more than needs? Sathan makes every affliction, by reason of our corruption, a temptation to us, whereupon we are to encounter not onely with our owne corruptions, but with spirituall wickednesses, and need we not then that others should joyne forces with us to discover the temptation, and to confirme and comfort us against it? for so reason joyning with reason, and affection with affection, wee come by uniting of strength, to bee impregnable. Sathan hath most advantage in solitarinesse, and thereupon sets upon Christ in the wildernesse, and upon Eve single, and it added 2to the glory of Christs victory, that he overcame him in a single combat, and in a place of such disadvantage. Those ⟨p. 237⟩that will be alone (at such times) doe as much as in them lieth to tempt the tempter himselfe to tempt them. The Preacher gives three reasons why two 3are better than one. 1. Because if one fall, the other may lift him up: as that 4which is stronger shoreth up that which is weaker, so feeble mindes are raised and kept up by the stronger: Nay, oftentimes he that is weaker in one grace, is stronger in another; one may helpe by his experience and meekenesse of love, that needs the help of another for knowledge. 2. If two lye together, one may warme another by kindling one anothers spirits;
- 1Si illatas molestias lingua dicat, a conscientia dolour emanat, vulnera enim clausa plus cruciant. Greg.Si illatas molestias lingua dicat, a conscientia dolor emanat, vulnera enim clausa plus cruciant. Greg.
- 2Mat. 4. Gen. 3.
- 3Eccles. 4. 9.
- 41.
