Now in the second place, I will show you the ground and foundation of this spiritual comfort, whereof we are now speaking. There is indeed, a comfort against outward evils, and against other sorrows then those for sin, concerning which, many things might well be ⟨p. 63⟩spoken, but I have not to do with them at this time. Alone I am to show the sole base and ground-work of spiritual comfort, which is the steadfast and assured apprehension or persuasion of the remission of our sins, and the love and favour of God in Christ.1 This David proveth, saying, Blessed is the man whose sins are covered, whose iniquity is pardoned, and to whom the Lord imputeth no sin, And again, having said Psal. 51.8. Make me to hear joy and gladness that ⟨p. 64⟩the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice, he adds immediately, Hide thy face from my sins, ver. 9. The same our Saviour declareth plainly, saying to the poor Palsy-man, Son be of good comfort thy sins be forgiven thee, 2and to that sorrowful weeping woman in the Gospel (who made her eyes as it were a ewer to wash his feet) Daughter thy sins are forgiven. There is nothing sufficient to bear up true comfort, but a true and well grounded assurance, of this unspeakable ⟨p. 65⟩goodness of God, which is the foundation of all other benefits. And as any mans soul hath a more solid and steadfast and well built persuasion of this mercy: so is he the more comfortable, at least more capable of comfort: as he hath less firm or less true know-ledge of this, so is he less fit and able to receive consolation. So then this conclusion must be written in the heart, God hath pardoned my sins, and received me graciously in Christ, ⟨p. 66⟩afore it can be duly comforted, and so you see the ground of the comfort we seek for.
Now in the second place, I will shew you the ground and foundation of this spirituall comfort, whereof we are now speaking. There is indeed, a comfort against outward evills, and against other sorrowes then those for sinne, concerning which, many things might well bee ⟨p. 63⟩spoken, but I have not to doe with them at this time. Alone I am to shew the sole base and ground-worke of spirituall comfort, which is the stedfast and assured apprehension or perswasion of the remission of our sinnes, and the love and favour of God in Christ.1 This David proveth, saying, Blessed is the man whose sinnes are covered, whose iniquity is pardoned, and to whom the Lord imputeth no sinne, And againe, having said Psal. 51.8. Make mee to heare joy and gladnesse that ⟨p. 64⟩the bones which thou hast broken may rejoyce, hee adds immediately, Hide thy face from my sinnes, ver. 9. The same our Saviour declareth plainly, saying to the poore Palsy-man, Sonne bee of good comfort thy sinnes be forgiven thee, 2and to that sorrowfull weeping woman in the Gospell (who made her eyes as it were a yewre to wash his feet) Daughter thy sinnes are forgiven. There is nothing suffcient to beare up true comfort, but a true and well grounded assurance, of this unspeakeable ⟨p. 65⟩goodnesse of God, which is the foundation of all other benefits. And as any mans soule hath a more solid and stedfast and well built perswasion of this mercy: so is he the more comfortable, at least more capeable of comfort: as hee hath lesse firme or lesse true know-ledge of this, so is hee lesse fit and able to receive consolation. So then this conclusion must be written in the heart, God hath pardoned my sinnes, and received me gratiously in Christ, ⟨p. 66⟩afore it can bee duely comforted, and so you see the ground of the comfort we seeke for.
- 1Psal 30.1
- 2Mat. 9.2.
