He is engaged also, by virtue of his Commandment. And therefore if ye look into Isay. 40.1.2. Ye shall find, that he commands the Prophets and Ministers, to preach comfort, Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God: vers. 1. Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry unto her, that her warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned, for she hath received of the Lords hand double for all her sins. Suppose a mans Affliction, or Temptation, be very great or much; he hath commanded us to comfort, and comfort twice; Comfort ye, comfort ye: not once, but twice, Comfort ye, comfort ye my people saith the Lord. But there are divers comforters, that are indeed like Jobs comforters, like Jobs friends, they speak hard words unto poor distressed souls. Well, says he therefore at vers. 2. speak ye comfortably, so ye read it; but in the Hebrew, speak ye to the heart, [Greek or Hebrew] speak soft and sweet words, speak to the heart of Jerusalem. O! but my Temptation is so great, that I am not able to hear those that come to comfort me. Mark what follows; Speak ye to the heart of Jerusalem, and cry unto her, lift up thy voice and cry, if a poor soul be distressed, tempted, and cannot hear easily; you that are Ministers, lift up your voice and cry: not only speak to the heart, but cry; lift up your voice and cry unto her. Well, but what are they to speak and cry? There are three things which will comfort a poor distressed soul, ⟨p. 5⟩and they are here to be spoken. Say, 1. That her warfare is accomplished; Affliction and Temptation is at an end, it shall be no more. 2. That her iniquity is pardoned. Her sin is forgiven fully and freely, 3. That she hath received at the Lords hand double for all her sins, God hath no more against her, no quarrel, no controversy, no further Punishment to inflict upon her, she hath sufficiently born the punishment of her iniquity. thus the Lord hath commanded Ministers for to preach peace, and to preach Comfort; And what God hath commanded us to speak, he hath engaged himself to work. Thus I say, the Father is engaged by virtue of his Commandment.
He is engaged also, by vertue of his Commandement. And therefore if ye look into Isay. 40.1.2. Ye shal find, that he commands the Prophets and Ministers, to preach comfort, Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God: vers. 1. Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry unto her, that her warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned, for she hath received of the Lords hand double for al her sins. Suppose a mans Affliction, or Temptation, be very great or much; he hath commanded us to comfort, and comfort twice; Comfort ye, comfort ye: not once, but twice, Comfort ye, comfort ye my people saith the Lord. But there are divers comforters, that are indeed like Jobs comforters, like Jobs friends, they speak hard words unto poor distressed souls. Wel, saies he therefore at vers. 2. speak ye comfortably, so ye read it; but in the Hebrew, speak ye to the heart, 〈non-Latin alphabet〉 speak soft and sweet words, speak to the heart of Jerusalem. O! but my Temptation is so great, that I am not able to hear those that come to comfort me. Mark what follows; Speak ye to the heart of Jerusalem, and cry unto her, lift up thy voice and cry, if a poor soul be distressed, tempted, and cannot hear easily; you that are Ministers, lift up your voice and cry: not onely speak to the heart, but cry; lift up your voice and cry unto her. Wel, but what are they to speak and cry? There are three things which wil comfort a poor distressed soul, ⟨p. 5⟩and they are here to be spoken. Say, 1. That her warfare is accomplished; Affliction and Temptation is at an end, it shal be no more. 2. That her iniquity is pardoned. Her sin is forgiven fully and freely, 3. That she hath received at the Lords hand double for al her sins, God hath no more against her, no quarrel, no controversie, no further Punishment to inflict upon her, she hath sufficiently born the punishment of her iniquity. thus the Lord hath commanded Ministers for to preach peace, and to preach Comfort; And what God hath commanded us to speak, he hath ingaged himself to work. Thus I say, the Father is ingaged by vertue of his Commandement.
