A practical exposition on the 130th Psalm

So Paul tells us, that he was comforted of God in all his tribulation, that he might be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith he himself was comforted of God, 2 Cor. 1. 4. That is, that he might be able to communicate unto them his own experience of Gods dealing with him, and the satisfaction and Assurance that he found therein. So also he proposeth the example of Gods dealing with him in the pardon of his sins, as a great motive unto others to believe, 1 Tim. 1. 13, 14, 15, 16. And this mutual communication of satisfying experiences in the things of God, or of our spiritual sense and evidence of the Power, Efficacy and Reality of Gospel Truths, being rightly managed, is of singular use to all sorts of Believers. So the same Great Apostle acquaints us in his own Example, Rom. 1. 11, 12. I long to see you, that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift, to the end you may be established; that is, that I may be comforted together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me: He longed not only to be instructing of them in the pursuit of the work of the Ministry committed unto him, but to confer also with them about their mutual faith, and what Experiences of the peace of God in Believing, they had attained.

We have in our case called in the Testimony of the Saints in Heaven, with whom these on earth do make up one family, even that one family in Heaven and Earth which is called after ⟨p. 165⟩the name of the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Eph. 3. 14, 15. And they all agree in their Testimony, as becomes the Family and Children of God. But these below, we may deal personally with; whereas we gather the Witness of the other, only from what is left upon record concerning them. And for the clearing of this Evidence, sundry things are to be observed, As,