Seven sermons on several select subjects preached

First, That which is sour to the Soul, Repentance; there is comfort in that: For whom is the Oil of Joy prepared, but for Gods mourners? Isa. 61.3. A gracious Soul is never more enlarged and comforted, than when he can melt kindly for sin. Christ Jesus made the best Wine of Water. The best Wine of Joy is made of the Water of true Repentance. The Hebrew word to repent, signifies, to take comfort. None have such ground of comfort as a true Penitent: When God makes him weep for sin, he goes away weeping for joy. Thus you see the sourest part of Religion hath comfort in it.

First, That which is sour to the Soul, Repentance; there is comfort in that: For whom is the Oyl of Joy prepared, but for Gods mourners? Isa. 61.3. A gracious Soul is never more enlarged and comforted, than when he can melt kindly for sin. Christ Jesus made the best Wine of Water. The best Wine of Joy is made of the Water of true Repentance. The Hebrew word to repent, signifies, to take comfort. None have such ground of comfort as a true Penitent: When God makes him weep for sin, he goes away weeping for joy. Thus you see the sourest part of Religion hath comfort in it.

Secondly, Take that which is sour to the Body, Affliction; and it hath comfort in it. A parallel Scripture for this worth observing, 2 Cor. 6.10. As sorrowful, yet always rejoicing: There is comfort in the Rod. A Christian is like a Bird that can sing in the Winter season: He can pick comfort out of the ⟨p. 42⟩Rod, and with Sampson, fetch Honey out of the Lion. 1 Thes. 1.6. Having received the Word with much Affliction, with Joy; here is Gods Rod comforting that Christian which knows Affliction tends to the bettering him, making his Grace purer, and his Crown brighter: He can rejoice in Affliction, and say as David, Oh Lord, thy Rod comforts me. Thus you see Religion is no uncheerful thing.