An expository comment, doctrinal, controversial, and practical upon the whole first chapter to the…An expository comment, doctrinal, controversal, and practical upon the whole first chapter to the…

Lastly, We are comforted by Christ Objectively, that is in him, and from him we take our comfort. As Christ is called Our righteousness, because in ¹and through his righteousness we are accepted of in him, we are complete: So Christ is our comfort, because in him we find matter of all joy, though there be troubles and vexations from the creatures, though the Sun and Moon be turned into blood, all powers threaten persecution, yet from and in Christ he can abundantly rejoice. And indeed this is the wine the carnal man never drinketh of, the honey he never tasted of. The world is a stranger to this joy in Christ; They rejoice in riches, in honours, in worldly advantages, but they know not what it is to rejoice in Christ, as our Mediator, and treasure of all fullness. Phil. 3. 3. They are said to be the circumcision, who rejoice in Jesus Christ, and have no confidence in the flesh. As therefore in the day time we see the Sun only and no Stars: Thus the people of God in their sufferings behold Christ the Sun of Righteousness; and as for the Stars of the creatures, they do not afford any light. What made the Martyrs leap for joy? Could they take any comfort from the world? No, that was an Egypt to them, a valley of tears; so that it was in Christ only that they did rejoice. For want of the knowledge and experience of this, it is that the unsound professor, will deny Christ, and his truth rather then suffer the loss of any thing, because he feeleth more sweetness, more pleasure, in his goods, in his pleasures, in this world, then he can do in ²Christ. It is the gracious heart that can thus rejoice in Christ.

Lastly, We are comforted by Christ Objectively, that is in him, and from him we take our comfort. As Christ is called Our righteousnesse, because in ¹and through his righteousnesse we are accepted of in him, we are compleat: So Christ is our comfort, because in him we find matter of all joy, though there be troubles and vexations from the creatures, though the Sunne and Moon be turned into bloud, all powers threaten persecution, yet from and in Christ he can abundantly rejoyce. And indeed this is the wine the carnal man never drinketh of, the honey he never tasted of. The world is a stranger to this joy in Christ; They rejoyce in riches, in honours, in worldly advantages, but they know not what it is to rejoyce in Christ, as our Mediator, and treasure of all fulnesse.