15.8 and why God's delight but because his servants delight in prayer He that sheweth mercy let him do it with chearfulness Rom. 12.8 And he that giveth offereth a blemisht sacrifice if he do it grudgingly For God loveth a chearful giver 2 Cor. 9.7 Not so much but our losses and tribulations must be sustained with gladness Thy rod and thy staff do comfort me Psalm 23.4 Enter into the combat willingly and the continuance will be a pleasure Our consolation aboundeth by Christ for as ye are partakers of the sufferings so shall ye be also of the consolation 2 Cor. 1.7 Therefore the Apostles did change the name of a famous Disciple called Joses into a notion of this Theme and called him Barnabas which is being interpreted The son of consolation Acts 4.36 The Rabbies of the Jews hold themselves very close to this doctrine and would have it observ'd that the merrier the heart is in the Lord the more capable it is of the Spirit of God Partly because Miriam when she prophesied of the mighty acts of Jehovah took a Timbrel in her hand and danced Exod. 15.20 Partly because that Samuel after he had anointed Saul to be King over Israel told Saul Thou shalt meet a company of Prophets coming down from the high place with a Psaltery a Tabret a Pipe and a Harp and they shall prophesie and the Spirit of the Lord will come upon thee and thou shalt prophesie with them and shalt be turned into another man 1 Sam. 10. verses 5 6. More emphatically when Jehosaphat called for Elisha to enquire of the Lord says Elisha Bring me a Minstrel and it came to pass when the Minstrel played that the hand of the Lord came upon him 2 Kings 3.15 That by the ravishing strains of Musick his mind might be exalted into Heavenly contemplations Which is a great check to that drowsie dulness in devotion which our late Reformers have brought in and have excluded the solemn melody of the Organ and the raptures of warbling and sweet voices out of Cathedral Quires They that miss that harmony can best tell how it was wont to raise up their Spirit and as it were to carry it out of them to the Quire in Heaven And beside chearfulness is not only an adjunct or companion with all the works of grace in that time they are bringing forth but being done and finisht that which is post-nate the after-birth as I may call it comes with such a gleam gliding over all the Soul with such serenity and peace of mind as cannot be exprest our Conscience bearing us witness that we have been conversant in doing the pleasure of the Lord as it is 2 Cor. 1.12 For our rejoycing is this the testimony of our Conscience that in simplicity and Godly sincerity we have had our conversation in the world Here I shall find work to heal the broken in heart who look upon the fruits of their lives with no content in themselves but are unsolaced and cast down because neither in number nor in weight have they brought in that which the Lord required they look on their ways and they find them crooked they look on their heart and they find it is not constant to good purposes To whom I rejoyn If this proceed from penitence from quick sense of sin from humility which is opposite to a self-justifying they have cause to praise God that they are thus affected Let them look narrowly if this Gold for it may prove no worse be currant when it is brought to the touch-stone then they may lift up their eyes and look chearfully towards Christ for it is no flattery to say they are under his grace and mercy Deal clearly that you are astonisht at your frailties because you think you can never work enough never shun sin enough and though your Conscience condemn you God will afford you equity against the rigour of Conscience for he that searcheth the heart knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit Rom. 8.22 We are conceived in sin and it is so intimate unto us that we have no promise to be so spiritualized in this life that we shall not often trespass God hath concluded all in sin all in unbelief that he might have mercy upon all Rom. 11.32 But it is one thing to fall into sin another thing to run into it One thing to be carried away by the passions of it another to covet and desire it One thing to be overtaken in a fault another thing to abide in it without repentance And great odds between those that are given over to please themselves in filthiness and between them that labour and desire to please God though many times they attain not to perfect that willingness The scope of the Seventh Chapter to the Romans as I apprehend the mind of the Apostle is to refresh our guilty Consciences that a regenerate man is not obnoxious to condemnation though his flesh upon some temptations make him the servant of sin because still in his mind he serves the law of God And I am confirm'd in that sense because without all contradiction He teacheth the like doctrine Gal. 5.17 The flesh and the Spirit are contrary one to another so that we cannot do the things that we would And will the righteous God require more of a sick and feeble servant than his best endeavour Will not Christ accept from us the same that he did from Mary that broke the Box of Ointment over his head She hath done what she could Mark 14.8 Let a contrite heart that would fain be righteous remember the prayer of Nehemiah Chap. 1. verse 10. Let thine ear be attentive to the prayer of thy servants who desire to fear thy name or the protestation of St. Paul Heb. 13.18 We trust we have a good Conscience in all things willing to live honestly But this desire and willingness must be without hypocrisie not like iron that is gilded base mettal within and rich without It must be steddy industrious instant to perform Vehement holy desire is a great degree to perfection in our state For the beginning of wisdom is the desire of discipline Wisd 6.18 but a lazy careless desire is a great token of imperfection The Soul of the sluggard desireth and hath nothing Prov. 13.4 And again The desire of the slothful killeth him for his hands refuse to labour Prov. 21.25 Like Vagabonds that when an Officer catcheth them will feign that they desire a service and to be set at work but take them at their word and they will run away that they may live in loitering and upon other mens labours St. Paul provoking both rich and poor to liberality according to their respective abilities frames a rule upon that occasion which is applicable to all good works 2 Cor. 8.12 If there be a willing mind it is accepted according to that which a man hath and not according to that which he hath not Yea in some cases when I desire a good thing
fear to do evil because of wrath to come which grows out of love to themselves The second is fit for the best Christians that are led by the Spirit of love who endeavour to do righteousness because they love righteousness and to be like unto God who they know is only good which grows out of the spirit of adoption and obey as sons and daughters and not as servants Our Saviour and his Apostles insist sometimes upon the former way threatning the impenitent yet qualifying it with tidings of peace if they return and amend their lives For sharpness must be applied according to the power which the Lord hath given for edification and not for destruction 2 Cor. 13.10 The same Apostle propounds both in the former Epistle Chap. 4. Verse 21. Shall I come unto you with a rod or in love and in the spirit of meekness Which latter is most suitable to the Gospel to proclaim peace on earth and good will towards men And when James and John would have had fire to come down from Heaven upon the Samaritans Christ reproved them saying The Son of man is not come to destroy mens lives but to save them Luke 9.56 and St. Paul 1 Thess 5.9 God hath not appointed us to wrath but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ And surely there is cause to apply a cluster of consolation against a few grains of terror 1. Because we are all concluded under sin and the guilt is ever present unto us 2. Because of the weakness of the Graces that are in us not that they are weak but that humane corruption is mixt with them 3. Because of the strength and manifoldness of temptations 4. Because we are to be exercised with the sufferance of the Cross and we are infirm to bear it Lastly Because little is communicated to us at the present of that Reward we look for least of all is any share of it present and before our eyes Forasmuch then as there are so many in-draughts that break into our heart to make us sick of sorrow and fear let us seek comfort from God who hath left no disease without a remedy to cure it who healeth all thy diseases Psalm 103.3 I say it is to be sought from God lest we light upon them that tell false dreams and comfort in vain Zach. 10.2 The right place for it must be the Word of God as it is Rom. 15.4 That we through patience and comfort of the Scripture might have hope Which comfort scatter'd up and down in that Holy Book and not cast all into a lump together by searching it diligently we may draw our Consolation out of five things Faith Hope The in-dwelling of the Spirit Prayer and the Sacraments Coronata Fides Dux viae prudens simplicitas CHAP. I. That Faith is the Ground and Foundation of a Christian's Comfort Several doubts and scruples about believing answered FAITH is the Root of all blessings Believe and you shall be saved Believe and you must needs be sanctified Believe and you cannot chuse but be comforted Believe that God is true in all his promises and you are the seed of faithful Abraham and shall inherit the promises made to Abraham Believe that you are Christs and Christ is yours and then you are sure that none can perish whom the Father hath given to him There is no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus Rom. 8.1 And as Martha said Lord if thou hadst been here my brother had not died Jo. 11.21 So let all say that groan and pine away in sorrow Lord if thou hadst been here if thou hadst appeared to my soul in thy goodness I had not fainted in my trouble Isaiah foretells Chap. 61.3 that it should be Christs office to give the oil of joy for mourning and the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness For St. John saw in the spirit that they that follow Christ are cloathed in white garments in garments of joy in the livery of gladness Solomon describing the provident Mistress of a Family Prov. 31.21 says She is not afraid of the snow for her houshold for all her houshold are cloathed with scarlet So the houshold of Christ are not afraid of frost and snow nor of any bitter blast they have put on the garment of dependence on Christ which protects them and do resolve never to put off their privy-coat of confidence in their Saviour With this did Christ encourage the poor woman being under confusion who had secretly toucht the hem of his garment Be of comfort thy Faith hath made thee whole Matth. 9.22 The first time that the word Comfort is found in Scripture is Gen. 5.29 upon the birth of Noah his Father says This Son shall Comfort us so when God did give Christ to be made man he did as it were say unto us This Son shall Comfort you for his name is Jesus and he shall save his people from their sins He that gave us him hath given us all things with him As it is true to say that Matthew left all to follow Christ so it is as true that he got all that can be wisht by following him It is the Chymistry of Faith let me use that word to turn all things into good and precious Ore It is Abraham's Country in a strange land Jacob's wages when Laban defrauded him Moses's honour when he refused to be the son in law of Pharaoh's daughter Rahab's security when all Jericho beside did perish David's rescue when there was but a step between him and death The power of the Apostles to be able to cast out Devils Mary Magdalen's sweet ointment to take away the ill savour of her sins Plead therefore with the Oratory of Faith and say Lord I have no life but in thee I have no joy but in thee no salvation but in thee but I have all these in thee and then how can my Soul refuse to be Comforted But some will say perhaps Faith is a powerful Comforter but I poor wretch had need to be Comforted concerning my Faith I find the pulse of it weak and sometimes it intermits as if it beat not at all Methinks I am not drawn near to Christ or that I am so far off that I cannot embrace him Some such infirmity may seem to have been in the Thessalonians and therefore St. Paul says I have sent Timotheus to establish you and to comfort you concerning your Faith 1 Epist Chap. 3. Ver. 2. Now to turn this water into wine and the trembling of this Objection into peace and joy in the Holy Ghost conceive as if these questions were put to you Do you often accuse your self of a weak Faith in secret unto God I like it for a good symptome for an hypocrite doth not use to accuse himself And do you bewail your want to the Lord because you would have it better supplied that 's a good sign too for it is the same as to thirst for the living God They that
flesh and a Spirit is mightier than flesh Apply that of the Prophet Zachary to it as we may read it by the direction of our Margent and keep to the Original Chap. 8. Verse 6. If it be difficult in the eyes of this people shall it be difficult in mine eyes saith the Lord Therefore since God is our help against the insurrection of this rebellious sin let us be comforted in his help and not in excuses For we must not plead our personal maladies and natural inclinations and think that God will take it for an answer and ask no more I am dull of understanding says one and what I am taught I cannot bear it away I am suddenly transported with indignation and cannot chuse but break out I am retentive of an injury and cannot easily be reconciled All this and the like is no better than the answer of those ill manner'd guests in the Gospel which were invited to a Feast made by a King We cannot come I pray you have us excused which sounds like confession and humility but it is denial and defiance Spend your breath in a better way and cry out often and affectionately Give me not over to my self O Lord take away from me my stony heart and give me an heart of flesh Drop down upon this barren earth and it shall bring forth quite against the byass of nature The high minded will grow meek as a Lamb the covetous will begin to disperse and scatter abroad the lying lips will confess the truth bitter cruelty will melt into pity new-fangled braveries will be laid aside and blush at vanity To what purpose are the pourings in of the Spirit but that what is wickedly in-bred from our conception should be shaken off from the tree and a better fruit spring up in the place from the increase of God Mark the rain that falls from above and the same shower that dropt out of one cloud increaseth sundry plants in a garden and severally according to the condition of every plant in one stalk it makes a Rose in another a Violet divers in a third and sweet in all So the Spirit works its multiformous effects in several complexions and all according to the increase of God Is thy habit and inclination cholerick why try thy self if thou be very apt to be zealous in a good cause and it turns thy natural infirmity into holy heat Is melancholy predominant the grace of God will turn that sad humor into devotion prayer and mortifying thy pleasures to die unto the world Is thy temperature sanguine and chearful the goodness of God will allow it unto thee in thy civil life in a good mean but over and above it will make thee bountiful easie to pardon injuries glad of reconciliation comfortable to the distressed always rejoycing in the Lord. Is a man phlegmatick and fearful if this freezing disease which is in thee from thy mothers womb be not absolutely cured yet the Holy Ghost will work upon it to make thy Conscience tender wary to give no offence to make thee pitiful penitent contrite ready to weep for thy transgressions There are two handles to take hold of every thing says a Heathen A dissolute man takes hold of original frailties and makes them Serpents a holy man declines their Serpentine nature and catcheth them by that part which may conduce to all manner of vertue This is the comfort of Hope against original inquination that this great enemy by the operation of the Spirit shall be made our friend or our foot-stool O wretched man that I am who shall deliver me from this body of death I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord Rom. 7.24 What is stronger than a Lion yet if the Lion be kill'd out of the strong comes forth sweetness Jud. 14.14 For all this the worst is not past beside natural pronity to sin we have contracted much more evil by custom education strong habits noxious examples bad enticements and infusions The Cockatrice-egge was laid when we were in our mothers womb but it proves more venemous being hatcht and grown able to flye abroad There are seventy sons of Ahab who shall kill thee Even the sword of the Spirit There is none like it as David said of that of Goliah 1 Sam. 21.9 This is sufficient not merely to cut down grass and briars but to hew down the tree to cut off the branches to shake the leaves to scatter the fruit to fright away the fowls from the branches and the beasts from grazing under it Dan. 4. verse 14. or as the Apostle comforts us in plain words without a Parable I can do all things through Christ that strengtheneth me Phil. 4.13 If you be over-toiled and heated too much you know how to cool cast off some garments wipe away the sweat sit still and stir not lest you enflame your self with motion Follow the same method lay aside the burden of sin that enflames you cast off the weight and the superfluity of naughtiness bear in mind that Christ sweat drops of bloud in his Agony to make you ashamed of toiling and sweating in Satan's drudgery Take ease in a Sabbath of holy rest and moil not in the unprofitable works of darkness Try what refrigeration this will give unto your Conscience else take heed that you be not put to a terrible sweat of fear lest God take you away in his wrath and give you up for ever to Satan whom you have served so willingly To the Law and to the Testimony mind no examples but when they are wrapt up therein Be not conformed to this world but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind Rom. 12.2 What a case had Noah been in if he had framed his life by common practice when all flesh had corrupted their way Chuse better company as Enoch did to walk with God Gen. 5.24 And can two walk together unless they be agreed Amos 3. verse 3. It is more than agreement it imports endearment benevolence friendship with God No title can be greater or sweeter what can match that honour of Abraham and the Apostles to be called the friends of God and Christ No league in the world more sought for or more willingly accepted no amity less burdensom or more beneficial St. Austin 8. Confess Cap. 6. brings in a couple that served the Roman Emperor thus debating upon it What can we look for in this Palace more than to be call'd the friends of our Soveraign When we have got this it is no sure and unchangeable favour And how long shall we attend before we be promoted to it But let us turn to God in this hour and sue to be his friends and it shall be done instantly and remain eternally Ask and it shall be given seek and we shall find And as we trespass by sins of daily prevention there is a dailiness of mercy to comfort us But as you love Christ and would be beloved struggle with temptations do not yield upon