The oil of gladnessThe oyle of gladnesse

So have I answered the chiefest of those temptations and objections which I could meet with, that are used to hinder the Saints from comfort in persuasion of the remission of their sins. It is your part that would be comforted, to continue meditating, praying, conferring, labouring to inform your judgement aright in these things, which in doing, you shall not loose your labour. He ⟨p. 197⟩that shall come, will come and will not tarry. The night shall pass, and the day shall arise: If any say, J have long waited for comfort, and find it not. I answer, so did David, as J said above, but resolve to wait still on Christ, and to continue striving for comfort though you perceive Little good effect for the time, for the more slowly it cometh to you at the first, the more fully it shall abound in you at the last. If faith cannot comfort you, let hope. If you cannot say God hath ⟨p. 198⟩pardoned me, yet say J hope he will, and so sustain your selves. And that hope, which purgeth your hearts, driveth you to prayer, sets you at defiance with all sin, and makes you esteem highly of Christ, that will support you, and bring grounded and plentiful comfort in the end. Those of you brethren, therefore, that have thrown themselves down, pulled down their proud hearts, and tumbled their faces in the dust before the Lord: I require them to ⟨p. 199⟩yield unto God the glory of his mercy, and to Christ the glory of his merits, and to go away comforted, at least resolute to labour for comfort, with assurance that they shall have it, for he that said, will perform it, Blessed be they that mourn for they, shall be comforted.