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…

So that in the words we have the Effect or Causality attributed to God, [Greek or Hebrew], who is comforting, that doth never cease to do it, that never withdraweth his consolations; It's his nature to be always comforting. As the Devil is called [Greek or Hebrew], because he is always tempting. The word in humane Authors is used frequently of him, who calleth another to him; but in the New Testament either of him that entreateth and prayeth, or of him that exhorteth, or as in the Text, of him that comforteth.

So that in the words we have the Effect or Causality attributed to God, 〈non-Latin alphabet〉, who is comforting, that doth never cease to do it, that never withdraweth his consolations; It's his nature to be alwayes comforting. As the Devil is called 〈non-Latin alphabet〉, because he is alwayes tempting. The word in humane Authors is used frequently of him, who calleth another to him; but in the New Testament either of him that intreateth and prayeth, or of him that exhorteth, or as in the Text, of him that comforteth.

2. The Subject of this consolation, us] That is either generally all believers, or us Apostles and Officers in the Church. For the Apostle might speak this to obviate that scandal, which many were ready to take at the afflictions and persecutions of the Apostles, as if they were hated of God, and were nothing but impostors. Therefore some part of this Chapter is a narrative of his pressures and apologetical, in declaring the great goodness of God thereby to the Church.

3. The particular wherein, in tribulation] Light can come into this dark dungeon.