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…

Thirdly, As God giveth comfort to believers, so he doth it proportionably and suitably to their trials, necessities and wants. Greater trials need greater comforts; greater temptations need greater consolations. Thus the Apostle at the next verse, As our sufferings abound, so our consolation also aboundeth through Christ. One drop of honey is not enough to sweeten the salt waters of the sea; neither can small consolations equal great afflictions. Hence the wisdom and goodness of God is most remarkable, that he reserveth his comforts for such times and seasons, when the soul doth most want them. Now if ever, the Lord must comfort; else they shall be overwhelmed, as in the time of our first conversion to God, when our sins lie with all their weight upon our backs; when we see nothing but terror; which way soever we look; we are in strong pangs and agonies of soul. The Devil also taketh his opportunity then to cast in all his fiery darts. Thus when the soul of a man is filled with fear, doubts, seeing no way but hell and damnation, at such a time God comes in with his best wine; then God delights to speak to the heart of such, Psal. 94. 19. In the multitude of my thoughts within me, thy comforts delight my soul. The Hebrew word signifieth perplexed thoughts, like boughs on a tree entangled one with another, that a man cannot part them; such were his thoughts, so intricate, so enfolded one within another, that he knew not what to resolve on, what to determine, yet the comforts of God did refresh his soul. Thus new converts have many times more comfort then ever they shall have all their life time, they needed them most then.

Thirdly, As God giveth comfort to believers, so he doth it proportionably and sutably to their tryals, necessities and wants. Greater tryals need greater comforts; greater temptations need greater consolations. Thus the Apostle at the next verse, As our sufferings abound, so our consolation also aboundeth through Christ. One drop of honey is not enough to sweeten the salt waters of the sea; neither can small consolations equal great afflictions. Hence the wisdome and goodness of God is most remarkable, that he reserveth his comforts for such times and seasons, when the soul doth most want them. Now if ever, the Lord must comfort; else they shall be overwhelmed, as in the time of our first conversion to God, when our sins lie with all their weight upon our backs; when we see nothing but terrour; which way soever we look; we are in strong pangs and agonies of soul. The Devil also taketh his opportunity then to cast in all his fiery darts. Thus when the soul of a man is filled with fear, doubts, seeing no way but hell and damnation, at such a time God comes in with his best wine; then God delights to speak to the heart of such,