The beatitudes

3. These comforts God gives his Mourners, are sweet. Eccles. 12.7. Truly the light is sweet; so is the light of Gods countenance: How sweet are those comforts which bring the Comforter along with them? John 14.16. Therefore the love of God shed into the heart, is said to be better than wine, Cant. 1.2. Wine pleaseth the palate, but the love of God cheers the conscience; the lips of Christ drop sweet smelling myrrh, Cant. 5.13. The comforts God gives are a Christians Music, they are the golden Pot and the Manna; the Nectar and Ambrosia of a Christian; they are the Saints Festival, their banqueting stuff; so sweet are these Divine comforts, ⟨p. 116⟩that the Church had her [Greek or Hebrew], fainting fits for want of them, Cant. 2.5. stay me with flagons] Metonymia Subjecti pro adjuncto, the flagons are put for the wine; by these flagons are meant the comforts of the Spirit; the Hebrew word [Greek or Hebrew] signifies all variety of delights; to show the abundance of delectability and sweetness in these comforts of the Spirit.) Comfort me with Apples.] Apples are sweet in taste, fragrant in smell; so sweet and delicious are those Apples which grow upon the tree in Paradise.) These comforts from above are so sweet, that they make all other comforts sweet; health, estate, relations; they are like sauce which makes all our earthly possessions and enjoyments come off with a better relish. So sweet are these comforts of the Spirit, that they do much abate and moderate our joy in worldly things; he who hath been drinking spirits of wine, or Alkermes, will not much thirst after water: and that man who hath once tasted how sweet the Lord is, Psal. 34.8. and hath drunk the cordials of the Spirit, will not thirst immoderately after secular delights. Those who play with dogs and birds, it is a sign they have no children; such as are inordinate in their desire and love of the creature, declare plainly that they never had better comforts.