But there is another sort of people, who ⟨image 4⟩being drawn out of Satan's kingdom, and within the Covenant of grace, whom Satan labours to unsettle and disquiet: being the God of the world, he is vexed to see men in the world, walk above the world. Since he cannot hinder their estate, he will trouble their peace, and damp their spirits, and cut a sunder the sinews of all their endeavours. These should take themselves to task as David doth here, and labour to maintain their portion, and the glory of a Christian profession. For whatsoever is in God or comes from God, is for their comfort. Him self is the God of comfort; his Spirit most known by that office. Our blessed Saviour was so careful that his Disciples should not be too much dejected, that he forgot his own bitter passion to comfort them, whom yet he knew would all forsake him: Let not your hearts be troubled saith he. And his own soul was troubled to death, that we should not be troubled: whatsoever is written is written for this end; every article of faith hath a special influence in comforting a believing soul. They are not only food, but cordials: Yea he put himself to his Oath, that we might not only have Consolation ⟨image 4⟩but strong Consolation. The Sacraments seal unto us all the comforts we have by the death of Christ; the exercise of Religion, as Prayer, Hearing, Reading, &c. is that our joy may be full: the Communion of Saints is chiefly ordained to comfort the feeble minded, and to strengthen the weak. Gods government of his Church tends to this. Why doth he sweeten our pilgrimage, and let us see so many comfortable days in the world, but that we should serve him with cheerful and good hearts? As for crosses, he doth but cast us down, to raise us up, and empty us that he may fill us, and melt us, that we may be vessels of glory, loving us as well in the furnace, as when we are out, and standing by us all the while. We are troubled, but not distressed; perplexed, but not in 1despair; persecuted, but not forsaken. If we consider from what fatherly love afflictions come, how they are not only moderated, but sweetened and sanctified in the issue to us, how can it but minister matter of comfort in the greatest seeming discō forts? How then can we let the reins of our affections loose to sorrow without being injurious ⟨image 5⟩to God and his providence?
But there is another sort of people, who ⟨image 4⟩being drawen out of Satans kingdome, and within the Covenant of grace, whom Satan labours to unsettle and disquiet: being the God of the world, he is vexed to see men in the world, walke above the world. Since he cannot hinder their estate, he will trouble their peace, and dampe their spirits, and cut a sunder the sinewes of all their endeavours. These should take themselves to taske as David doth here, and labour to maintain their portion, and the glory of a Christian profession. For whatsoever is in God or comes from God, is for their comfort. Him selfe is the God of comfort; his Spirit most knowne by that office. Our blessed Saviour was so carefull that his Disciples should not be too much deiected, that he forgat his own bitter passion to comfort them, whom yet he knew would all forsake him: Let not your hearts be troubled saith he. And his owne soule was troubled to death, that we should not be troubled: whatsoever is written is written for this end; every article of faith hath a speciall influence in comforting a beleeving soule. They are not onely food, but cordials: Yea he put himselfe to his Oath, that we might not onely have Consolation ⟨image 4⟩but strong Consolation. The Sacraments seale unto us all the comforts wee have by the death of Christ; the exercise of Religion, as Prayer, Hearing, Reading, &c. is that our joy may be full: the Communion of Saints is chiefly ordained to comfort the feeble minded, and to strengthen the weake. Gods government of his Church tends to this. Why doth hee sweeten our pilgrimage, and let us see so many comfortable dayes in the world, but that we should serve him with cheerefull and good hearts? As for crosses, he doth but cast us downe, to raise us up, and empty us that hee may fill us, and melt us, that we may bee vessels of glory, loving us as well in the furnace, as when we are out, and standing by us all the while. We are troubled, but not distressed; perplexed, but not in 1despaire; persecuted, but not forsaken. If wee consider from what fatherly love afflictions come, how they are not only moderated, but sweetned and sanctified in the issue to us, how can it but minister matter of comfort in the greatest seeming discō forts? How then can we let the reines of our affections loose to sorow without being injurious ⟨image 5⟩to God and his providence?
- 12 Cor. 4. […].2 Cor. 4. 〈…〉.
