Where he adds, and shall comfort all her ruins; it may be thus expounded;1 The Lord will comfort his Church, not only whilst she florisheth, but even when she shall be brought to desolation and solitariness. And it was necessary indeed that she should be wasted and deformed even to the utmost, before she could rightly taste the help whereof he here speaks. Whereas it follows, that her desert shall be as a place of pleasure, the Prophet hath respect to that place of Moses, where he shows how man at the beginning was put into the garden of Eden: Gen. 2.15.2 that is to say, into a place of pleasure: whence by his own fault he was banished. Now we which are deprived of this benefit and blessing which God bestowed upon our first father, are also scattered upon the face of the earth, and deprived of these pleasures. Wherefore when many desolations befall us, and that we see the order of nature overturned, and nothing to be perceived but miserable wastes and scatterings, let us acknowledge that this is the just punishment of our infidelity, and ⟨p. 536⟩of the rest of our horrible iniquities. Let us also remember the sentence pronounced against our father Adam, 3or rather against his whole posterity, which as we are to do in the whole course of our lives, so then principally when we see the desolations and wracks of the Church. For the earth which otherwise of it self would abound with all sorts of pleasures, is now brought into a wilderness by our fault, and the Church which every where flourished, is destroyed and laid waste. Now in the next place the Prophet adds joy and gladness, whereby he signifies, that there shall be such a wonderful change, that the Church shall mourn nor lament no more: for whilst she was oppressed under so heavy a bondage, there was nothing heard but sighs and groans, but being restored, she shall rejoice, and sing praises unto God. Here then we are admonished to praise and bless the name of God, after we have tasted of his liberality, Psal. 14.7.
Where he addes, and shall comfort all her ruines; it may be thus expounded;1 The Lord will comfort his Church, not onely whilest shee florisheth, but euen when she shal be brought to desolation and solitarinesse. And it was necessary indeed that she should be wasled and deformed euen to the vtmost, before shee could rightly taste the helpe whereof hee heere speakes. Whereas it followes, that her desert shall be as a place of pleasure, the Prophet hath respect to that place of Moses, where he shewes how man at the beginning was put into the garden of Eden: Gen. 2.15.2 that is to say, into a place of pleasure: whence by his owne fault he was banished. Now we which are depriued of this benefit and blessing which God bestowed vpon our first father, are also scattered vpon the face of the earth, and depriued of these pleasures. Wherefore when many desolations befall vs, and that wee see the order of nature ouerturned, and nothing to bee perceiued but miserable wastes and scatterings, let vs acknowledge that this is the iust punishment of our infidelitie, and ⟨p. 536⟩of the rest of our horrible iniquities. Let vs also remember the sentence pronounced against our father Adam, 3or rather against his whole posteritie, which as we are to do in the whole course of our liues, so then principallie when wee see the desolations and wracks of the Church. For the earth which otherwise of it selfe vvould abound vvith all sorts of pleasures, is now brought into a vvildernes by our fault, and the Church which euery where florished, is destroyed and laid waste. Now in the next place the Prophet addes ioy and gladnes, wherby he signifies, that there shal be such a wonderfull change, that the Church shall mourne nor lament no more: for whilest she was oppressed vnder so heauie a bondage, there was nothing heard but sighs and grones, but being restored, she shall reioyce, and sing praises vnto God. Heere then we are admonished to praise and blesse the name of God, after we haue tasted of his liberalitie, Psal. 14.7.
- 1The Church must be very low b ought before she is fit to receive comfort.The Church must be very low b ough• before she is fit to receiue comfort.
- 2The Garden of Eden, a place of pleasure. Gen. 3.23.The Garden of Eden, a place of pleas•re. Gen. 3.23.
- 3A good meditation for us in the Churches desolation.A good meditation for vs in the Churches desolation.
