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…

And thus much is considerable, because it's said, The God of consolation.

Secondly, What is implied in the word Consolation: And

1. We are to know, this is one of the sweetest mercies in all Gods store-house, comfort ¹and consolation; and that in this valley of tears, where we meet with so much discomfort, where there are so many grieving and tormenting passages. This makes the mercy to be of greater moment. For what if a man had the abundance his heart can desire, yet if he have no comfort in any thing, a dead man, yea a dead dog is better than such an one. Insomuch that a mans whole life is almost for nothing but a comfortable life. Comfort and delight is so great a matter, that some Philosophers placed utmost happiness therein. Look over the whole world, and you will see, not every man that is most wise, or most great, not every one that liveth in most abundance and most honour, but he that liveth most comfortably, liveth the life most to be desired. Yea many time a Crown of gold is a crown of thorns; and a cottage hath more comfort than a Palace. So that the mercy here spoken of, is the salt that seasons all conditions; without this a man is no better than a Cain, or a Judas; without this every house and field is an hell. When therefore it's said, The God of comfort, here is insinuated the most desirable thing that can be. Yea, it's no wonder to hear, that if a man hath wealth and honours, but without comfort, that his life is a torment. For although a man have true grace, and be an eminent servant of God, and therefore will be certainly blessed hereafter, yet because he hath no comfort in his soul, his condition is very terrible and sad: As you see it was with Job, yea with Christ himself, though the only Son of God, yet because without comfort, when at the same time he was full of grace and holiness, what grief and agonies did he conflict with. So that your comfort is like oil (it's called the oil of gladness) for it will be always uppermost in the soul.