2. What it is to have our Hearts Comforted. It showeth that the Heart is the proper seat of Spiritual Comfort. Psal. 4.7. Thou hast put gladness into my Heart. God's Comfort is like a soaking Shower, that goes to the Root, and refresheth the Plants of the Earth, more than a Morning dew, that wets only the Surface. Other Comforts tickle the Senses, and refresh the outward Man, but this penetrateth to the very Heart. Christ prayeth, John 17.13. That they may have my Joy fulfilled in themselves. Christ's Comforts are not reported to the Ear only, but felt in the Heart: The joy of the World maketh a great noise, but in the midst of it the Heart is sorrowful: Bu• God feasts his Children with hidden Manna; they have Meat and Drink, which the World knoweth not of. In their outward Man, they are exposed to great Difficulties, but their Hearts are filled with joy unspeakable, and full of Glory. The joy of the Carnal in outward things is foreign; and as much as their Senses are pleased, their Hearts are full of tormenting Fears, and secret Disgusts. They may put a good face upon it, but dig the most jovial of them to the bottom, they have their inward stings, and secret horrors of Conscience. But in comforting his Children, God chiefly deals with the Heart. Rom. 5.5. The Love of God is shed abroad in our Hearts, by ⟨p. 434⟩the Holy Ghost given unto us. And 2 Cor. 1.22. He hath given us the earnest of the Spirit in our Hearts. In establishing this Comfort, God doth immediately work upon •he Soul; he useth Means indeed: As the Word, Rom. 15.4. That you through Patience and Comfort of the Scriptures, might have Hope. There we have the grounds of Comfort set forth, Christ's Redemption, the Promises of the Gospel, both of Pardon and Life; and the Ordinances, as the Sacraments; as the Eunuch after his Baptism, Acts 8.39. He went away rejoicing. So in the Lord's Supper, we come to eat of Christ's Peace-offerings, that we may rejoice in God. Psal. 22.26. The meek shall eat be satisfied: they shall praise the Lord that seek him: your Heart shall live for ever. But his Spirit worketh immediately upon the Soul. Either (1.) By opening the Understanding to see the grounds and reasons of Comfort. Rom. 15.13. Now the God of Peace fill you with all Joy and Peace in believing, that you may abound in Hope, through the Power of the Holy Ghost. Or (2.)
2. What it is to have our Hearts Comforted. It sheweth that the Heart is the proper seat of Spiritual Comfort. Psal. 4.7. Thou hast put gladness into my Heart. God's Comfort is like a soaking Showre, that goes to the Root, and refresheth the Plants of the Earth, more than a Morning dew, that wets only the Surface. Other Comforts tickle the Senses, and refresh the outward Man, but this penetrateth to the very Heart. Christ prayeth, John 17.13. That they may have my Ioy fulfilled in themselves. Christ's Comforts are not reported to the Ear only, but felt in the Heart: The joy of the World maketh a great noise, but in the midst of it the Heart is sorrowful: Bu• God feasts his Children with hidden Manna; they have Meat and Drink, which the World knoweth not of. In their outward Man, they are exposed to great Difficulties, but their Hearts are filled with joy unspeakable, and full of Glory. The joy of the Carnal in outward things is foraign; and as much as their Senses are pleased, their Hearts are full of tormenting Fears, and secret Disgusts. They may put a good face upon it, but dig the most jovial of them to the bottom, they have their inward stings, and secret horrours of Conscience. But in comforting his Children, God chiefly deals with the Heart. Rom. 5.5. The Love of God is shed abroad in our Hearts, by ⟨p. 434⟩the Holy Ghost given unto us. And 2 Cor. 1.22. He hath given us the earnest of the Spirit in our Hearts. In establishing this Comfort, God doth immediately work upon •he Soul; he useth Means indeed: As the Word, Rom. 15.4. That you through Patience and Comfort of the Scriptures, might have Hope. There we have the grounds of Comfort set forth, Christ's Redemption, the Promi••s of the Gospel, both of Pardon and Life; and the Ordinances, as the Sacraments; as the Eunuch after his Baptism, Acts 8.39. He went away rejoycing. So in the Lord's Supper, we come to eat of Christ's Peace-offerings, that we may rejoyce in God. Psal. 22.26. The meek shall eat be satisfied: they shall praise the Lord that seek him: your Heart shall live for ever. But his Spirit worketh immediately upon the Soul. Either (1.) By opening the Understanding to see the grounds and reasons of Comfort.
