A fourth volume containing one hundred and fifty sermons on several texts of Scripture…

(2.) Tho God is at liberty, yet usually he fills those which are exercised with hard and long Conflicts with their Corruptions. Comfort is Christ's Entertainment for those that return from Victory over their Lusts: Rev. 2.17. To him that overcometh, that is, the Enemies of his Salvation; he that hath been long wrestling ⟨p. 216⟩with the Powers of Darkness, and the Inconveniences of the World, and Corruptions of his own Heart, and can persevere notwithstanding Assaults and Temptations, to him I will give to eat of the hidden Manna; that is, feast him with inward and spiritual Refreshments, figured by Manna; and I will give him a white Stone; which some say was a Token of Election: a white Stone they gave in their Suffrages for Choice of a Magistrate, to manifest they had chosen him; or else white Stones were given to Wrestlers as a Token of Victory: or, as among the Romans, a black Stone with a Hole in it was a Sign of Condemnation, a white Stone of Absolution; or in Lots, a white Stone was a Token of good Luck and Happiness, a black Stone of Misfortune. Take it either way, Christ will give it to him that overcometh; they shall have the Comfort of Pardon, and free Justification with God, and till then a Man is not fit for Comfort.

(2.) Tho God is at liberty, yet usually he fills those which are exercised with hard and long Conflicts with their Corruptions. Comfort is Christ's Entertainment for those that return from Victory over their Lusts: Rev. 2.17. To him that overcometh, that is, the Enemies of his Salvation; he that hath been long wrestling ⟨p. 216⟩with the Powers of Darkness, and the Inconveniencies of the World, and Corruptions of his own Heart, and can persevere notwithstanding Assaults and Temptations, to him I will give to eat of the hidden Manna; that is, feast him with inward and spiritual Refreshments, figured by Manna; and I will give him a white Stone; which some say was a Token of Election: a white Stone they gave in their Suffrages for Choice of a Magistrate, to manifest they had chosen him; or else white Stones were given to Wrestlers as a Token of Victory: or, as among the Romans, a black Stone with a Hole in it was a Sign of Condemnation, a white Stone of Absolution; or in Lots, a white Stone was a Token of good Luck and Happiness, a black Stone of Misfortune. Take it either way, Christ will give it to him that overcometh; they shall have the Comfort of Pardon, and free Justification with God, and till then a Man is not fit for Comfort.