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…

In the third place, Therefore is God a God of consolation, because Christ hath made a full atonement for us by his blood. Such a glorious expression as this, could not have been true in the world, but for Christ; if no Christ, then no comfort. Hence in the Text it is said, The Father of our Lord Jesus Christ; and then followeth, The God of comfort. So that as we are to pray in the name of Christ, so we are also in his name to offer up praise and thanksgiving. It's then through Christ alone, that he is a God of comfort; and indeed without Christ, he is the God of all wrath and vengeance, of all anger and judgements; his holiness and justice is such, that were it not through him, he would be a consuming fire, and the most holy man would not be able to stand in his sight. So that it cost Christ dear to make a way and passage of comfort for us.

In the third place, Therefore is God a God of consolation, because Christ hath made a full atonement for us by his bloud. Such a glorious expression as this, could not have been true in the world, but for Christ; if no Christ, then no comfort. Hence in the Text it is said, The Father of our Lord Jesus Christ; and then followeth, The God of comfort. So that as we are to pray in the name of Christ, so we are also in his name to offer up praise and thanksgiving. It's then through Christ alone, that he is a God of comfort; and indeed without Christ, he is the God of all wrath and vengeance, of all anger and judgements; his holiness and justice is such, that were it not through him, he would be a consuming fire, and the most holy man would not be able to stand in his sight. So that it cost Christ dear to make a way and passage of comfort for us.

Lastly, God through Christ being thus the fountain of all consolation, hence it is that he doth most genuinely and properly of himself, show mercy and vouchsafe comfort. Even as the Bee of it self makes honey, but never stings, except when provoked. Thus if we walk not always comfortably, if we live not in holy joy and gladness of heart, this ariseth from our selves. The vapours that turn into storms and thunder come from our own bowels, otherwise God would always be communicating consolations to us; we shut out the light from us, we turn sweetness into bitterness. Thus the Psalmist saith, That God doth not afflict willingly. The works of justice are commonly called alienum opus; but Gods works of justice are his proper works, as well as of mercy; only our sins stir him up, and provoke him to the one, but his mere goodness and mercy inclineth to the other, so that now God would always fill the hearts of his children with rejoicing, did not they obstruct it themselves.