Secondly, and principally God comforteth, By preparing and fashioning the heart, by making it fit and ready to receive comfort. For all the while thou art enlightened only, and hast not an heart fitted to receive it, thou art like Moses that saw the good Land of promise, but he could not enter into it. And thus indeed it falls out sometimes, that when the mind is enlightened enough, yet the heart is heavy. They cannot delight and rejoice in the promise; they would gladly do it, they heartily pray for it; but their heart sinketh down like a stone within them. Therefore God hath a further degree in comforting, and that is by raising up the heart; by making it ready to receive consolation. For as God can humble the proud heart, and soften the hard heart, so he can easily comfort and revive the grieved heart. Thus as it is in sanctification; it's not enough for God to illuminate the mind, unless he also change the heart, and make us to will ⟨p. 160⟩and to do: So it's not enough for God to teach us our duty about comfort, but actually to work the heart for it. Hence 2 Cor. 7. 6. you have a notable Attribute given to God, God that comforteth those that are cast down, Isa. 51. 11, 12. See there with what command God speaketh, That they shall have comfort; They shall obtain gladness and joy. So that as God is above the heart in conversion, thus he is also in consolation: He will comfort, and what man or Devil can hinder it? As in matter of grace God declareth, as Omnipotency and Sovereignty, when he saith, I will take away the heart of stone, and give an heart of flesh: so in matter of consolation, I will take away the grieved, the troubled, the despairing heart, and give an heart of joy, peace, and heavenly rest of soul.
Secondly, and principally God comforteth, By preparing and fashioning the heart, by making it fit and ready to receive comfort. For all the while thou art enlightned only, and hast not an heart fitted to receive it, thou art like Moses that saw the good Land of promise, but he could not enter into it. And thus indeed it falls out sometimes, that when the mind is enlightned enough, yet the heart is heavy. They cannot delight and rejoyce in the promise; they would gladly do it, they heartily pray for it; but their heart sinketh down like a stone within them. Therefore God hath a further degree in comforting, and that is by raising up the heart; by making it ready to receive consolation. For as God can humble the proud heart, and soften the hard heart, so he can easily comfort and revive the grieved heart. Thus as it is in sanctification; it's not enough for God to illuminate the mind, unless he also change the heart, and make us to will ⟨p. 160⟩and to do: So it's not enough for God to teach us our duty about comfort, but actually to work the heart for it. Hence 2 Cor. 7. 6. you have a notable Attribute given to God, God that comforteth those that are cast down, Isa. 51. 11, 12. See there with what command God speaketh, That they shall have comfort; They shall obtain gladnesse and joy. So that as God is above the heart in conversion, thus he is also in consolation: He will comfort, and what man or Devil can hinder it? As in matter of grace God declareth, as Omnipotency and Sovereignty, when he saith, I will take away the heart of stone, and give an heart of flesh: so in matter of consolation, I will take away the grieved, the troubled, the despairing heart, and give an heart of joy, peace, and heavenly rest of soul.
