Use 2. For Exhortation to believers, being under temptations and afflictions, whether outward or inward, to improve the reasons, which faith supplieth, for the quickening and strengthening of their hope in God. For, in such times, faith is put to it to use reasons. Indeed the soul needeth not that help so much, when it is in a clear and quiet state, for upon its close and sweet communion with God, in Christ, and from some likeness between the renewed soul and God, it presently, and without previous discourse, runneth to God, as by a supernatural instinct; as, by natural instinct, the child runneth to his natural parents in danger, and distress, with confidence. But, in dark times of great afflictions, and temptations, faith is put to use Arguments, and reasons to quicken and strengthen hope. Accordingly, study the grounds of hope, and improve them for your help. 1. Such as may be supplied from the inward store laid up in the soul, as the Church did in my Text. 2. Such as are, or may be, suggested by others: ⟨p. 60⟩Hearken, and yield to them, and close with them. For, thus you will show that you have a frame of spirit suitable to any holy and comfortable truth, that shall be presented and applied to it. There is a principle in every renewed spirit, that closeth with whatever cometh from Gods spirit, that readily claims acquaintance and kindred with it, as coming from the same blessed spring, the holy Spirit. When Asaph found the contrary in himself, that his soul refused comfort, and he remembered God and was troubled, Psal. 77. 23. he saw, and said, this is mine infirmity, ver. 10. He saw that it arose from a sickness, a spiritual disease, and distemper in his soul. While passion and temptation disturb the soul, they hinder the exercise of spiritual reason: As we see in David, who said, in his haste, all men are liars, Psal. 116. 10, 11. This he saw afterward, when his spiritual reason had recovered it self, which before by his distemper was hindered in its working; then he admired God for his benefits toward ⟨p. 61⟩him, notwithstanding his provocation of him to have taken a contrary course with him, ver 12. Labour therefore, 1. That your mind, which is the seat of principles, be well furnished with divine and spiritual truths. For false principles can never produce true comforts. As only truth sanctifieth, Joh. 17. 17. So truth only truly comforteth.
Vse 2. For Exhortation to believers, being under temptations and afflictions, whether outward or inward, to improve the reasons, which faith supplieth, for the quickening and strengthening of their hope in God. For, in such times, faith is put to it to use reasons. Indeed the soul needeth not that help so much, when it is in a clear and quiet state, for upon its close and sweet communion with God, in Christ, and from some likenesse between the renewed soul and God, it presently, and without praevious discourse, runneth to God, as by a supernatural instinct; as, by natural instinct, the child runneth to his natural parents in danger, and distresse, with confidence. But, in dark times of great afflictions, and temptations, faith is put to use Arguments, and reasons to quicken and strengthen hope. Accordingly, study the grounds of hope, and improve them for your help. 1. Such as may be supplied from the inward store laid up in the soul, as the Church did in my Text. 2. Such as are, or may be, suggested by others: ⟨p. 60⟩Harken, and yield to them, and close with them. For, thus you will shew that you have a frame of spirit suitable to any holy and comfortable truth, that shall be presented and applied to it. There is a principle in every renewed spirit, that closeth with whatever commeth from Gods spirit, that readily claimes acquaintance and kindred with it, as comming from the same blessed spring, the holy Spirit. When Asaph found the contrary in himself, that his soul refused comfort, and he remembred God and was troubled, Psal. 77. 23. he saw, and said, this is mine infirmity, ver. 10. He saw that it arose from a sicknesse, a spiritual disease, and distemper in his soul. While passion and temptation disturbe the soul, they hinder the exercise of spiritual reason: As we see in David, who said, in his haste, all men are liars, Psal. 116. 10, 11. This he saw afterward, when his spiritual reason had recovered it self, which before by his distemper was hindred in its working; then he admired God for his benefits toward ⟨p. 61⟩him, notwithstanding his provocation of him to have taken a contrary course with him, ver 12. Labour therefore, 1. That your mind, which is the seat of principles, be well furnished with divine and spiritual truths. For false principles can never produce true comforts. As onely truth sanctifieth, Joh. 17. 17. So truth onely truly comforteth.
