The beatitudes

Secondly, It is for the exercise of grace: we are all for comfort; if it might be put to our choice, we would be ever upon Mount Tabor, looking into Canaan: we are loth to be in trials, agonies, desertions, as if God could not love us except he had us in his arms. 'Tis hard to lie long in the lap of spiritual joy, and not fall asleep. Too much Sun-shine causeth a drought in our graces; oftentimes when God lets down comfort into the heart, we begin to let down care. As it is with Musicians, before they have money they will play you many a sweet lesson, but as soon as you throw them down money they are gone, you hear no more of them. Before joy and assurance, O the sweet music of prayer and repentance! but when God throws down the comforts of his Spirit, we either leave off duty, or at least slacken the strings of our Viol, and grow remiss in it. Thou art taken with the money, but God is taken with the music; Grace is better than comfort. Rachel is more fair, but Leah is more fruitful. Comfort is fair to look on, but grace hath the fruitful womb; now, the only way to exercise grace, and make it more vigorous and lively, is sometimes to walk in darkness and have no light, Isa. 50.10. Faith is a star that shines brightest in the night of desertion; I said I am cast out of thy sight, yet will I look again toward thy holy Temple, Jonah 2.4. Grace usually puts forth its most heroical acts at such a time.

Secondly, It is for the exercise of grace: we are all for comfort; if it might be put to our choice, we would be ever upon Mount Tabor, looking into Canaan: we are loth to be in trials, agonies, desertions, as if God could not love us except he had us in his armes. 'Tis hard to lie long in the lap of spiritual joy, and not fall asleep. Too much Sun-shine causeth a drought in our graces; oftentimes when God lets down comfort into the heart, we begin to let down care. As it is with Musitians, before they have money they will play you many a sweet lesson, but as soon as you throw them down money they are gone, you hear no more of them. Before joy and assurance, O the sweet musick of prayer and repentance! but when God throws down the comforts of his Spirit, we either leave off duty, or at least slacken the strings of our Viol, and grow remisse in it. Thou art taken with the money, but God is taken with the musick; Grace is better than comfort. Rachel is more fair, but Leah is more fruitful. Comfort is fair to look on, but grace hath the fruitful womb; now, the only way to exercise grace, and make it more vigorous and lively, is sometimes to walk in darknesse and have no light,