The oil of gladnessThe oyle of gladnesse

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,