3. Fancy, Vain conceit, and false Appearance. And so we are often troubled at what may afford Joy. The sad Point which the Disciples could not digest, was Christ's Departure; yet our Lord telleth them how necessary it was for his own Honour, and their Comfort: His Honour; John 14.28. Ye have heard how I said unto you, I go away, and come again to you. If ye loved me, ye would rejoice, because I go to the Father, for my Father is greater than I. If ye were kind to me, ye would have looked upon it with Joy, because his going to the Father was the advancing him to an higher Condition than that in which he was now: the ignominious Cross was the way to Dignity and Honour. Again, it was for their Comfort; John 16.7. It is expedient for you that I go away; for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. They were full of Sadness at the Thought of his Departure, as if it were their utter Ruin and Undoing. But the coming of the Holy Ghost would be of more Advantage to them, than his staying with them; it was for his Glory, and their Benefit. Thus we often misinterpret God's Dispensations; those hard Trials which are ordered for our Comfort and Peace, increase our Troubles and Perplexities: We judg according to Appearance, and therefore do not judg righteous Judgment. So we wound our selves by our own Fancies, and make our Evils much worse than they are by our vain Conceit.
3. Fancy, Vain conceit, and false Appearance. And so we are often troubled at what may afford Joy. The sad Point which the Disciples could not digest, was Christ's Departure; yet our Lord telleth them how necessary it was for his own Honour, and their Comfort: His Honour; Iohn 14.28. Ye have heard how I said unto you, I go away, and come again to you. If ye loved me, ye would rejoice, because I go to the Father, for my Father is greater than I. If ye were kind to me, ye would have looked upon it with Joy, because his going to the Father was the advancing him to an higher Condition than that in which he was now: the ignominious Cross was the way to Dignity and Honour. Again, it was for their Comfort; Iohn 16.7. It is expedient for you that I go away; for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. They were full of Sadness at the Thought of his Departure, as if it were their utter Ruine and Undoing. But the coming of the Holy Ghost would be of more Advantage to them, than his staying with them; it was for his Glory, and their Benefit. Thus we often misinterpret God's Dispensations; those hard Trials which are ordered for our Comfort and Peace, increase our Troubles and Perplexities: We judg according to Appearance, and therefore do not judg righteous Judgment. So we wound our selves by our own Fancies, and make our Evils much worse than they are by our vain Conceit.
