Besides miscarriages in comforting; times will often fall out in our lives, that we shall have none either to comfort us, or to be comforted by us, and then what will become of us unless we can comfort our selves? Men must not think always to live upon alms, but lay up something in store for themselves, and provide oil for their own lamps, and be able to draw out something from the treasury of their own ⟨p. 241⟩hearts. We must not go to the Surgeon for every scratch. No wise traveller but will have some refreshing waters about him. Again, we are often driven to retire home to our own hearts, by uncharitable imputations of other men; even friends sometimes become miserable comforters: it was Jobs case, his friends had honest intentions 1to comfort him, but erred in their manner of dealing; if he had found no more comfort by reflecting upon his own sincerity, then he received from them, who laboured to take it from him, he had been doubly miserable. We are most privy to our own intentions and aims, whence comfort must be fetched; Let others speak what they can to us, if our own hearts speak not with them, we shall receive no satisfaction. Sometimes it may fall out, that those which should unloose our spirits when they are bound up, mistake, the key •isses the right wards, and so we l•e bound still. Opening of our estate to another is not good, but when it is necessary, and it is not necessary, ⟨p. 242⟩when we can fetch supply from our own store; God would have us tender of our reputations, except in some special cases, wherein we are to give glory to God by a free and full confession. Needless discovery of our selves to others, makes us fear the conscience of another man, as privy to that which we are ashamed he should be privy unto: and it is neither wisdom nor mercy, to put men upon the rack of confession, further then they can have no ease any other way, for by this means we raise in them a jealousy towards us, and oft without cause; which weakeneth and tainteth that love which should unite hearts in one.
Besides miscarriages in comforting; times will often fall out in our lives, that we shall have none either to comfort us, or to be comforted by us, and then what will become of us unlesse we can comfort our selues? Men must not thinke alwayes to live upon almes, but lay up something in store for themselves, and provide oyle for their owne lamps, and bee able to draw out something from the treasury of their owne ⟨p. 241⟩hearts. We must not goe to the Surgeon for every scratch. No wise traveller but will have some refreshing waters about him. Againe, wee are often driven to retire home to our owne hearts, by uncharitable imputations of other men; even friends sometimes become miserable comfortens: it was Iobs case, his friends had honest intentions 1to comfort him, but erred in their manner of dealing; if he had found no more comfort by reflecting upon his owne sincerity, then he received from them, who laboured to take it from him, hee had beene doubly miserable. We are most privy to our owne intentions and aimes, whence comfort must bee fetched; Let others speake what they can to us, if our owne hearts speake not with them, we shall receive no satisfaction. Sometimes it may fall out, that those which should unloose our spirits when they are bound up, mistake, the key •isses the right wards, and so we l•e bound still. Opening of our estate to another is not good, but when it is necessary, and it is not necessary, ⟨p. 242⟩when we can fetch supply from our owne store; God would have us tender of our reputations, except in some speciall cases, wherein wee are to give glory to God by a free and full confession. Needlesse discovery of our selves to others, makes us feare the conscience of another man, as privie to that which we are ashamed hee should bee privy unto: and it is neither wisedome nor mercy, to put men upon the racke of confession, further then they can have no ease any other way, for by this meanes we raise in them a jealousie towards us, and oft without cause; which weakneth and tainteth that love which should unite hearts in one.
- 1Job 2.Iob 2.
