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…

3. At the 11th verse, after the grievous and burdensome way of them for the present, afterwards they will yield a peaceable fruit of righteousness. The chastening doth but seem grievous, and that for the present, but afterwards ⟨p. 193⟩it makes more holy, which is said to be the peaceable fruit of it. The soul that raged and fretted, finding the benefit, begins then in a peaceable quiet manner to bless and praise God for it. This is a General comfort. Every godly man may say, this belongs to me in my afflictions, as well as to any other.

3. At the 11th verse, after the grievous and burdensome way of them for the present, afterwards they will yeeld a peaceable fruit of righteousnesse. The chastening doth but seem grievous, and that for the present, but afterwards ⟨p. 193⟩it makes more holy, which is said to be the peaceable fruit of it. The soul that raged and fretted, finding the benefit, begins then in a peaceable quiet manner to blesse and praise God for it. This is a General comfort. Every godly man may say, this belongs to me in my afflictions, as well as to any other.

3. Not to be too large here, The benefits and heavenly advantages, ¹which come from Christ, being ours, these also are comforts in common. There is no fiery sword to keep out of this Paradise. Rom. 8. Doth not the Apostle conclude those great privileges of Justification, of Perseverance in that state, of conquest over all spiritual enemies, and that from such general grounds, as all the people of God may claim to it, Because Christ died, and because Christ is risen; because he hath given us Christ, and how then not with him all things else? Is there any believer so weak, so contemptible, that Christ did not die for, and rise for? Is there any to whom the Father hath not given Christ? If so, you see, that what comforted Paul may comfort you. It is a vain Position of Papists, that Paul speaketh so assuredly in that condition, because of an extraordinary revelation that he had, that Christ was his; for he grounds his persuasion upon those general arguments which belong to every godly man. Christ then, and his presence, with all his benefits, is a cordial to every believer. This Sun of Righteousness ariseth with healing in his wings to the least believer; as well as the greatest: The The Dwarf as well as the Giant may hold this pearl in his hand. But