A26344:105
God's anger
God's anger ; and, Man's comfort two sermons / preached and published by Tho. Adams.
London: printed by Tho. Maxey for Samuel Man, 1652
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
1. Quanta, They are no less then comforts: not presumptions, nor promises, nor mere hopes, but solid and sensible comforts. God made comfort on purpose for sorrow: as mercy ⟨p. 62⟩would want a subject to exercise upon, but for misery. The blessed Angels are not said to be comforted (as we use the word) because they never knew what heaviness meant: they are conserved, they are confirmed, not (properly) comforted. There may be joy without any antecedent sorrow; as the Angelical spirits ever were, and ever shall be filled with unspeakable joy. But comfort is the proper physic for trouble; this happy nature was not ordained but for sorrow. There be some that ducunt in bonis dies suos, that have their ways strawed with roses and violets; who move only the paces of pleasure: these have no need of Comfort. What Physician ministers cordials to the strong and healthful constitution? It is the broad thoroughfare of the world, which the Devil is so studious to smooth, that he leaves not a pebble in the way to offend them: as if he were that tutelar Angel, who hath a charge to look to them, that they dash not their foot against a stone. If they sigh, he sings to them: if they sleep, he sits 1by them; whispering to all troubles, (as the the Spouse to the daughters of Jerusalem) I charge you, O ye transgressions of his heart, waken 2him not till he please: Let there be no noise of fear, no alarm of repentance, no susurration of conscience to molest him: peace, peace, lie down in peace, with thy warm sins cleaving to thy bosom. The Prophet gives you their character; They lie upon beds of ivory, and eat the lambs out of the flock, and calves out of ⟨p. 63⟩3the stall; they chant to the sound of viols, and dance to Instruments, and drink wine in bowls; what should these men do with comforts? Joy, and nothing else but the voice of joy resounds in their habitations. It is poor afflicted Joseph, not they, that needs comfort.
1. Quanta, They are no lesse then comforts: not presumptions, nor promises, nor meer hopes, but solid and sensible comforts. God made comfort on purpose for sorrow: as mercy