7. I Query, whether your want of profit and comfort by the word, did not spring from your want of interest in Gospel-consolations.1 Oh, 'tis not the hearing of Gospel-consolations that comforts, but the knowledge of a mans interest in them that cheers up the heart. Ah, where is that word to be found in all the Book of God, that does evidence comfort, (which is children's bread) to be of right belonging to profane, ignorant, malignant, and scandalous persons, as you can't but know your selves to be, if conscience be in the least measure awakened. God hath all along in the Scripture, made a separation between sin and comfort; and how then can you expect comfort, who hold on in sinful ways? though love and wrath, life and death, heaven and hell, be often set before you. God is not prodigal of Gospel-consolations: they are the best, and strongest Wines in Gods Cellar, and reserved only for his best and dearest friends, Isa. 40.1.2. Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God, speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry unto her, that her warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned, &c. The Hebrew word that is here rendered comfort, signifies first to repent, and then to comfort. And certainly, the sweetest joy is from the sourest tears. Tears are the Breeders of spiritual joy: When Hannah had wept, she went away and was no more sad. The Bee gathers the best honey of the bitterest herbs: Christ made the best wine of water. The purest, the strongest, and most excellent joy, is made of the waters of Repentance. Ah, lay your hands upon your hearts, and tell me, whether you can look God in the face and say, Lord we are thine; First, by Purchase. Secondly, we are thine by Choice. Thirdly, we are thine by Conquest. Fourthly, we are thine by Covenant. Fifthly, we are thine by Marriage.2 Ah, if you are not the ⟨p. 6⟩Lords in these respects, what Minister on earth hath a commission to comfort you? their commission is to read other Lectures to profane, ignorant, scandalous persons, &c. then those of comfort and joy, as you may see in these Scriptures, (if you will but take the pains to read them) Psal. 7.11. Psal. 9.17. Psal. 11.5, 6. Psal. 37.10, 20. compared with Psal. 75.8. Psal. 145.20. Job 21.30. Prov. 11.5, 21, 31. compared, Prov. 12.2. Prov. 14.19. Prov. 15.29. Prov. 21.18, 27. Eccles. 8.13. Isa. 11.4. Isa. 13.11. Jer. 25.31. Ezek. 3.18, 19. Nah. 1.3. Mal.
7. I Quere, whether your want of profit and comfort by the word, did not spring from your want of interest in Gospel-consolations.1 Oh, 'tis not the hearing of Gospel-consolations that comforts, but the knowledg of a mans interest in them that cheers up the heart. Ah, where is that word to be found in all the Book of God, that does evidence comfort, (which is childrens bread) to be of right belonging to prophane, ignorant, malignant, and scandalous persons, as you can't but know your selves to be, if conscience be in the least measure awakned. God hath all along in the Scripture, made a seperation between sin and comfort; and how then can you expect comfort, who hold on in sinful wayes? though love and wrath, life and death, heaven and hell, be often set before you. God is not prodigal of Gospel-consolations: they are the best, and strongest Wines in Gods Cellar, and reserved onely for his best and dearest friends, Isa. 40.1.2. Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God, speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry unto her, that her warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned, &c. The Hebrew word that is here rendred comfort, signifies first to repent, and then to comfort. And certainly, the sweetest joy is from the sowrest teares. Tears are the Breeders of spiritual joy: When Hannah had wept, she went away and was no more sad. The Bee gathers the best honey of the bitterest hearbs: Christ made the best wine of water. The purest, the strongest, and most excellent joy, is made of the waters of Repentance. Ah, lay your hands upon your hearts, and tell me, whether you can look God in the face and say, Lord we are thine; First, by Purchase. Secondly, we are thine by Choice. Thirdly, we are thine by Conquest. Fourthly, we are thine by Covenant. Fifthly, we are thine by Marriage.2 Ah, if you are not the ⟨p. 6⟩Lords in these respects, what Minister on earth hath a commission to comfort you? their commission is to read other Lectures to prophane, ignorant, scandalous persons, &c. then those of comfort and joy, as you may see in these Scriptures, (if you will but take the pains to read them) Psal. 7.11. Psal. 9.17. Psal. 11.5, 6. Psal. 37.10, 20
- 1'Tis interest in a pardon, a Crown, an inheritance that comforts, and not the talking of them: So here. The very Heathen could not have comfort, nor quiet when they were under the rage of sinful lusts; therefore when they knew not how to bridle them, they offered violence to nature: pulling out their own eyes, because they could not look upon a woman, without lusting after her.
- 2[Greek or Hebrew] nahhamu, nuhhamu, from [Greek or Hebrew] nahham; which signifies, first, to repent, 1 Sam. 15.35. and then to comfort, because true comfort belongs only to the penitent. Divine comfort is a delicate thing, and it is not given to him, that admits any other, saith Bernard. Nulla verior miseria quam falsa loetitia. Bernard. There is no truer misery then false joy. Nil nisi sanctum a sancto Spiritu prodire potest. Neh. 8.10. There have been those that have died under the strength and power of their joy. Valde protestatus sum, me nolle sic satiari ab eo. Luther. I said stately, that God should not put me off with these low things. I have read of one who cried out with a loud voice to Flavius Vespasianus, (vuspem pilum mutare non mores) that the Wolfe might change his hair, but not his qualities. You know how to apply it. Isai. 49.4, 5.〈non-Latin alphabet〉 nahhamu, nuhhamu, from 〈non-Latin alphabet〉 nahham; which signifies, first, to repent, 1 Sam. 15.35. and then to comfort, because true comfort belongs only to the penitent. Divine comfort is a delicate thing, and it is not given to him, that admits any other, saith Bernard. Nulla verior miseria quam falsa loetitia. Bernard. There is no truer misery then false joy. Nil nisi sanctum a sancto Spiritu prodire potest. Neh. 8.10. There have been those that have died under the strength and power of their joy. Valde protestatus sum, me nolle sic satiari ab eo. Luther. I said statly, that God should not put me off with these low things. I have read of one who cried out with a loud voice to Flavius Vespasianus, (vuspem pilum mutare non mores) that the Wolfe might change his hair, but not his qualities. You know how to apply it. Isai. 49.4, 5.
