his tombe Haec habeo quae edi this I have that I have eaten it seemes all the rest was lost to the brutish swine as Tully censured him a little more sparingly that it was an Epitaph fit for an Oxe or a bruit Beast my Belly is my God my Stomach is my Altar my Church is my Kitchin my Priest is my Cooke this the voyce of these brutish men who finde the Possession of no Comfort from any thing but from that which was driven into the Paunch and so into the draught But Christians that study the right Art of true Comfort have another language our spirituall Comfort is left us when our life is about to leave us Spirituall Comfort is raised from the Creator by the Mediation of the Creature or from the Creature by the working of the Creator in the Apprehension of the Regenerate Man Thus the Holy Ghost is the first Mover of spirituall Comfort as the Promises of Gods Word are the grounds of this Comfort and our Beleeving hearts are the seats of Comfort so the Holy Ghost is the Head-worker of Comfort and the Act of Comfort wrought is to strengthen our Hearts therefore k {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} to be established and strengthned and {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} to be comforted are put one for the other St Paul being the Interpreter but long before him the Prophet l intimates the like for in the Hebrew and Greeke Sept speake comfortably to Ierusalem is {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} Hebrew and {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} Greek both imply in this phrase speake to the heart or speake comfortably that Comfort is the Hearts Peculiar and the Searcher of the Heart the Holy Ghost is therefore called the Comforter m by an Excellency {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} where the Spirit of God is made knowne to us by a name in the New Testament not heard of in the old the Comforter within a man the naturall man may have outward Comforts a Land flowing with Milke and Honey and a Table with a fruitfull Vine and Olive Branches about but the Regenerate Man hath a soule flowing with Milke and Honey of Comfort because the Comforter makes him fruitfull as the Greeke Father n gives the Etymon of it {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} called the Comforter from comforting and succouring and helping our Infirmities hence issues the act of spirituall comfort in my Text differenced from carnall Comfort 2. Spirituall Comfort in this life is to be differenced from Eternall Joy in the life to come The Herald of Schoole-Divinity ranks Comfort under the head of Joy indeed all Comfort is a Joy to the Heart but all Joy is not Comfort for there is Joy in Heaven but no Comfort there for properly need of Comfort forespeakes miserie and distresse according to that of the Golden-mouthed Father {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} there is often mention made of the Comforter in Scripture because of the calamities and afflictions imminent to the Disciples but the blessed Estate of Heaven cannot admit any such Misery and Distresse we shall joy in one another in Heaven but not Comfort one another there no such Comfort in Heaven all joy all Rest I finde a Reason of it in Aquinas o Gaudium sie habet ad Desiderium ut quies ad motum The soule is restlesse in her Desire but quieted in her Joy now Comfort on Earth brings some Rest for the soule but Joy in Heaven is the only absolute Rest Comfort is Rest to the weary for a time and a way to enable them for further travaile but Joy is Rest for Eternitie even to sit down and rest for ever that is Joy in Heaven to stand and take a draught by the way not to sit by it that is Comfort on Earth true Joy frees from all sorrowes wipes all teares from our Eyes but it may be true Comfort which only upholds us in our sorrow and dryes up our teares as they fall Yet fall they will and sorrow we shall else we need no Comfort for it must be a necessitous estate that stands in need of Comfort thus is Comfort differenced from Eternall Joy that needs nothing Yea and thus 't is in this life as Nature necessitates the spark to flye upward so sinne carries us downeward to the Center Misery This Center is every where below the Moone corrupt Nature is the Circumference no man without some lines drawne from or drawing him to Misery Nulla Dies sine linea Every Day in this life line upon line line upon line misery upon misery misery upon misery 't is well too when it is here a little and there a little But this may suffice to put a Difference 'twixt spirituall Comfort in this life and eternall Joy in the life to come and by this ye easily perceive my passage from the first generall Part to the Second which is the Necessity of this Building in a Christian Common-wealth else S. Paul would not have used so serious an Exhortation as this in my Text Wherefore Comfort one another with these words The Necessity of this Building in a Christian Common-wealth The Necessity is threefold 1. In respect of the command of the Contriver and Overseer of the Building God 2. In respect of the principall Instruments employed in this worke Gods Ministers 3. In respect of the common Worke-men which are Gods People under the Title of One another in the Text if this threefold cord is not strong enough I shall joyne unto it the fourth Necessity which is in respect of the Place where Comfort is ordained by God to be preached Gods Temple This fourefold Cord is that that tyed me to study and preach you to heare and learne this Necessary Art of Building Comfort 1. In respect of the command of the Contriver and Overseer of the Building God the God of all Consolation would have his Servants Embassadors Messengers of Comfort God doubles and trebles this charge upon them to presse the Necessity of the discharge of it Isai. 40. 1. 2. Comfort yee my people comfort yee my people saith my God nay the third time speake comfortably to Ierusalem 2. The Disposition of Ministers is but now and then seldome to be Boanerges filii tomitrui sonnes of thunder every Minister for the most part must be Barnabas filius Consolationis the Sonne of Comfort for though thunder is good to worke on a hard Heart yet as thunder commonly brings raine your sonnes of thunder should doe well alwayes to conclude with a comfortable shower to refresh the Heart though Ministers may not be too curious to speake to the Eare yet they cannot be too carefull to speak to the Heart of the People that is to speak comfortably to the people Spirituall Bees must draw Honey out of what flower soever they light to preach upon These Living
upon the face of the waters that is the swelling tumultuous restlesse thoughts and comfortlesse apprehensions The Hebrew is an apt Metaphor Rachaph Incubare from birds that sit brood on their Egges to sustaine and cherish them the Spirit of God doth not only forme and sustaine the thoughts of man from vanishing into nothing but also nourish and cherish and foster them to support a regenerate man in the comfortable estate of well being a Christian Not a thought of comfort can rise in the heart but first hatched by the Spirit of God we are quite voyde and empty not the least Motion of Comfort before the Spirit of God move upon our thoughts Beloved at the first coming of the Holy Ghost Acts 2. 2. a rushing mighty winde filled all the house the winde hath one property to cleanse and purge the Aire to make it comfortable and refreshing nor is there any true refreshing or comfort untill we are filled with the Spirit of God as the saile of a Ship is filled with winde For let a ship be never so well tackled and provided yet all is in vaine without a winde and let never so eloquent Sermons spread their sailes in the ship of the Church unlesse the good winde of Gods Spirit blowes where it list when it list how it list and upon whom it list I say Gods Spirit must be both winde to drive us and Pilot to direct us to the Port of Comfort Now if Caesar did encourage that Ship-Master who feared Ship-wrack with a Caesarem vehis feare not thou carriest Caesar the Worlds Conquerour yet by his leave as great as he was he was not the Seas Commander nor the obeyed rebuker of the Winds and Waves as he is whom we carry in our tossed breasts cheere thy thy self with a Paracletum vehis thou carriest the Comforter in thy heart the rebuker of heart-risings the Lord controller of Troubles the commander of stormy swelling afflictions the Conqueror of temptations Whose very conquest is a mighty comfort to the conquered Soule because his Conquest is atchieved by Love for as the Holy Ghost proceeds from the Father and the Sonne per modum Amoris as the Schoole speakes so the Spirit workes in us by way of Love sweetly St Bernard styles the Holy Ghost Osculum Patris filii the kisse of the Father and the Sonne God the Father kisseth by his Sonne but we feele not this kisse untill God the Sonne kisseth us by his Spirit Now what more comfortable to a chast wife then a sweet kisse from her Husband so prayes the Bride Cant. 1. 2. Let him kisse me with the kisses of his lips and she gives a reason why She would be kissed for thy love is better then Wine more comfortable then wine that is to close this let Christ unite himselfe to his Church with this sweet expression of his speciall favour even by his Spirit to seale up the lips of our hearts our thoughts to the most comfortable day of Redemption Thus have we seene the Spring-head whence flowes the Habituall Abilitie of all true Comfort The actuall Ability to make good use of this Art of comforting in the Platforme of Comfort set up according to the exact Rule of Gods Word implyed in these words in the Text Justly reprehended are they who take the wrong way of Comfort Play bookes and fabulous stories forsaking this Fountaine of living waters they dig pits that can hold no water no true refreshment of comfort The God of all consolation did cause his Word to be written for our Comfort shall we frustrate the End why it was written He that made mans heart best doth know what Maladies and what Cordialls to give let us follow his Prescripts away with all other shallow sandy comforts of the worlds Mountebanks which the weary soule cannot rest and build upon David a King could not want the comforts of this life yet he disclaimes them all in comparison of Gods Word g This is my Comfort in my affliction for thy Word has quickned me Gods Word did revive Davids dead spirits David did look out for comfort but found none but this h mine eyes faile for thy Word saying when wilt thou comfort me Debiles effecti sunt animae meae Oculi i The Eyes of my soule faile me my desires faile with looking out for Comfort which makes me cry when wilt thou comfort me David thought it long till God did comfort him It seemes David had forgot the right way to comfort himselfe till he went this way to worke k I remembred thy Iudgements of old O Lord and have comforted my selfe Now as St Paul exhorts Be ye followers of me as I am of Christ so be yee followers of me as I am of David for I know words especially prevaile when they are uttered more from the bowels then the braine and from our owne Experience which made Christ himselfe a more compassionate High Priest Therefore out of compassion I shall now comfort others with the same pretious Comforts wherewith I have comforted my selfe out of Davids Psalmes l He that hath the key of David opening and no man shutteth assist me effectually to open unto you a few words of Comfort out of the Psalmes of David The truth is that in the extremity of her sicknesse and since her death who was flesh of my flesh and bone of my bone that which I then most desired was to repose my troubled thoughts and to compose the jarring strings of my heart to rest which at last I pegged up to some concord and harmony by listning to the sweet Songs of Sion set to Davids well tuned Harpe and heavenly tuned Heart For my Meditations did bring together foure Verses out of foure severall Psalmes which being put well together by the Spirit of God in the heart of man are sufficient Materialls to raise up a Platforme of the strong and stately Building of true Christian Comfort The foure Verses may challenge this Methode the first verse is the Removing of the Rubbish The second Verse is the laying of the Foundation The third Verse is the Raising up of the Body of the Building The fourth Verse is the laying on of the Roofe 1. The Removing of the Rubbish to fit the place for the Foundation that is done by taking away and cleering the Soule of all dejections and disquietments in this life Psalme 42. last verse Why art thou cast downe oh my soule and why art thou disquieted within me Hope thou in God for I shall yet praise him who is the health of my countenance and my God King David finding his soule over sensible of troubles checks and chides his soule sharply for it with why and why and this chiding goes so farre as to lay a strict charge upon his soule to the contrary Hope thou in God for why should that soule be cast downe and disquieted that can Answer that Question now Lord what is
propriae Dies venerit incunctantèr libentèr ad Dominum ipso vocante veniamus Let us shew our selves to be the same in our life that we are in our Faith that we may not over-mourne for our dearest friends and when the appointed day of Gods sending to any one of us shall come Come let us goe without delay and willingly to the Lord who himselfe cals us Here after that Father before I fall into him againe I can quickly tell you all that Oecumenius doth on my Text 't is to interpret my Text by those foregoing words of St Paul that yee sorrow not even as others that have no hope i. As the Heathen that had no hope of the Resurrection {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} Oecumenius holds it proper for such onely to grieve excessively for the dead who have no hope of the Resurrection and how doth it traduce hopefull Christians as hopelesse men when we bewaile as utterly lost and extinct those whom we professe to live with God To this purpose that elegant tongu'd Father v Fidem quam sermone voce depromimus cordis pectoris testimonio non probemus Spei nostrae ac fidei praevaricatores sumus simulata ficta fucata videntur esse quae dicimus nil prodest verbis praeferre virtutem factis destruere veritatem The Profession of our hope of the Resurrection to life is but varnished over and dissembled because we destroy it more with our actions then we doe preferre it by our words else why doe we take on in such a grievous manner when God takes our Friends away from us I know that where hearts have been knit together by God they cannot be rent a sunder without exceeding great griefe as Iacobs could not from Rachel nor Davids heart from Ionathan I also know that our Lord and Master himselfe wept for Lazarus x I finde no fault with naturall affection much lesse with Christian compassion let Nature have her course but let Religion set her bounds let us water our plants of sincere affection and compassion but not drowne them by sorrowing as others doe that have no hope I finde no other fault but that St Paul findes in the proofe of the Doctrine of which my Text is the use when mourning exceeds Christian proportion and all true Measure Ioseph loved his Father better then the Egyptians did yet Ioseph wept but the tithe that the Egyptians did They mourned 70. dayes Gen. 50. 3. he but seven dayes vers. 10. All that I speak is to condemne those who are too little like Rachel in serving the living God but too much like Rachel in weeping for the dead She would not bee comforted but these hopelesse Mourners cannot truly urge the Reason that Rachel did because they are not for we know that they are living with God that dye in the Lord we know that the good theefe was on the day of his death with Christ the Lord in Paradise and as 't is a comfort to know where they are so 't is a further comfort to know what they doe they follow the Lambe wheresoever he goes and is it not a height of comfort to know what they say they cease not to cry day and night Holy Holy Holy they are still a singing Halleluiah and shall not we give over weeping on Earth for them who shall never give over singing in Heaven shall we refuse to be comforted because they are not on earth who are and enjoy all the comforts in Heaven Wherefore comfort one another with these words and with the words of that judicious Father y Contristamur in nostrorum mortibus necessitate amittendi sed cum Spe recipiendi inde angimur hinc consolamur inde infirmitas afficit hinc fides reficit The necessity of loosing our friends that cuts us but the hope of receiving them againe this heales us that is our griefe this is our comfort wherefore against the losse of our deerest friends comfort one another with these words As Apothecaries make singular use even of the dust of gold so the Jewish Rabbins those Apothecaries of the Hebrew simples make profession that great Mountaines hang upon the smallest Jods in the Bible Then surely a discourse like a Mountaine for largenesse but above a Mountaine for fruitfulnesse may be raised from this conjunctive particle in my Text {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} Itaque Wherefore and to make it so I passe from the particular relation of these words to S. Pauls former Doctrine I passe unto the generall Relation of these words to the whole Word of God Pars pro toto comfort one another with these words or with any the like words of Comfort out of Gods Word In the Greek {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} these Ratiocinations Arguments rather then bare words so it is that Scripture words are the strongest Reasons to evince and perswade Comfort the true Hearts ease growes only in Gods Paradise in Gods Word There may be some Tulip of Comfort some colour bark or flowre in the words and writings of men but the very pith and marrow of comfort effectuall for all the soules Maladies is no where to be found but in the Word of God in these words As it was said of the words spoken by the Word God Christ Jesus that Hee taught with Authoritie and not us the Scribes z the Scribes taught poore jejune heartlesse matter unprofitable uncomfortable and their forme of teaching was without Majesty without any command but our Saviours both Matter and Forme of teaching carried Authority with it the unusuall unheard of Majesty of the words accompanyed with matter most profitable and most comfortable did command his Auditors Now Christ hath still left the same Matter to us 't is true of all the Word of God that it comforts as having Authority and not as the Scribes not as humane writers who would usurpe upon this Authority which is the absolute Prerogative of Gods Word so that the maine point is this Only Gods Word hath full power and Authority to comfort mans heart 1. à Causa 2. à Subjecto 3. à Doctrinae certitudine 1. From the Efficient cause the Scriptures Authority of comforting is the same with Gods Spirit dictating both matter and words the saving worke of the Holy Ghost the Comforter that also goes along with the Word of God Gods Spirit and Gods Word goe together by way of Covenant Isaiah 59. 21. This is my Covenant with them saith the Lord My Spirit that is upon thee and my words which I have put in thy mouth where Gods Word is the Counsellor Gods Spirit is the Comforter 2. à Subjecto the Subject of Gods Word carries with it the greatest and most infallible Authority of Comforting because 't is the onely Store-house of true Comfort in it is that supreme Treasure the Mediator Christ Jesus that dyed to reconcile us to God Rom. 5. 10.
great Estimate according to the very waight of the Sanctuary My knowledge of it is now doubled tà m carendo quà m fruendo for eleven yeares and halfe I enjoyed a rare Religious Piece of Gods making and now God hath made up this his Iewell fit for His own Cabinet 't is most fit that I should want it And to my wants this is added that I want words to tell others what I want I want my Fellow-Helper my Bosome-Comforter my second Heart which did command my first Heart in a Religious way 1. Her Faith was founded upon the Rocke Christ Iesus witnesse Her every Dayes taske which was to say by Heart and in Her Heart the eight chapter to the Romans which chapter alone in it selfe is a compleat Confectionarie of spirituall Comfort beginning with No condemnation to them that are in Christ Iesus and ending with No Separation from the Love of God in Christ Iesus 2. Her Hope and Trust was fixed upon Her God witnesse that answer She gave me the last Day that She lived out in this World Now what is my Hope my Hope is in thee ô Lord d There was in her an admirable mixture of Godly sorrow for sinne and holy Ioy for that Sorrow which Ioy I perceived to be back'd by her Hope to get the upperhand though S. Ierome summes up the devout soules private carriage with God in these words Dolet de dolore gaudet Surely 't was her Practise to sorrow after a godly manner and to rejoyce for that Sorrow 3. Her love to man let all that knew her speak it Her love to God I judge it sincere by the most cleare Expressions of it She loved his house so dearely that the large distance of her Habitation from Church nigh a mile was no Remora to keep her at home the last Lords Day She lived She was twice at Church She prayed Constantly eight severall times every Day I knew it to be most true who was nearest to her when she drew neare to her Father in secret She had by heart a distinct Prayer for every Evening and Morning in the seven dayes of the weeke besides other Prayers for other times What a loving Mistris She was to her servants they would quickly speak if they could for crying How transcendent her love was to me her Husband my tongue would faile because my heart is readie to faint for want of such love and faint it might had not Gods Spirit brought to my remembrance how earnestly on her Death-bed She desired me not to grieve so immoderately for her for we should meete in Heaven and 't is my Hope that as we were Caro una on Earth we shall be sydus unum in Heaven e of that one Holy Companie of Starres attending the Sun of Righteousnesse And here I cannot but fixe my Contemplation on those rayes of divine Beautie which shined in her soule for She mightilie delighted to set before her Solomons Copie of a good wife Prov. 31. They that knew her may easily compare her life written according to that exact Copie Sure I am her Sisters child whom She educated can rise up and call her blessed Her Husband also praiseth her Prov. 31. vers. 28. How why thus in Solomons style Favour is deceitfull and Beauty is vaine but a Woman that feareth the Lord She shall be praised Vers 30. the Pronowne {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} Emphatically argues a Negation of any other Woman worthy to be praised but She that feareth the Lord She shall be praised the garland of praise only to be set on her head This is her Remuneration therfore Solomons last vers shall be mine Give her of the fruit of her hands and let her owne workes praise her in the Gates that is in publique This This is the Woman the Woman to whom I Subscribe William Gilbert perdidit Invenit nullus super teram Recepit Deus in coelum TO THE SEEKER OF COMFORT NOT READER ONLY MOST sorry I am for the Occasion f that induced me to Preach and now moved me to Print but the Providence of God being the First Mover may not onely command bounds to my Sorrow Hither and no further but also give me a licence as to Preach so to Print it both for the Commemoration of the Dead and Consolation of the Living What though I lye open to some Exceptions I had rather doe it in this partlcular then not doe all the Right I can to the Dead and wish all true Comfort to the Living who shall read this Art of Building Comfort not to censure one another but to Comfort one another according to this Apostolicall Exhortation which is my Text 1 Thes. 4. 18. Wherefore Comfort one another with these words which if thou dost I am Thine in Christ the Fountaine of Comfort William Gilbert A GENERALL REPRESENTATION OF THE Method of this Manuell a or rather Cordiall of Comfort containing the Ingredients of Five Sermons 1. THe Accommodation of the Text to the Times calling for comfort p. 1. 3. 2. 4. 5 2. The Division following the Metaphore of Building in the eight Parts of it p. 6. 1. The Specificall Difference of this from other Buildings p. 7. 8. 2. The Necessity of this Building in a Christian Common-wealth p. 9. 10. 11. 12. 3. Perswasives inducing to goe about this Building and to studie this Art of Divine Comfort p. 13. 14. 4. Disswasives from the Neglect of going forward with it p. 15. 5. The Materialls of this Building These words in the Text 1. In a particular Relation to S. Pauls former Doctrine p. 16. 17 18. 19. 2. In a generall Relation to Gods Word p. 20. 21. 22. 23. 6. The Habituall Ability to make good use of this Art of Comforting p. 24. 25. 7. The Actuall Abilitie to make good use of it in the Platforme of Comfort set up according to the exact Rule of Gods Word p. 26. 27. 28. 29. 30. 8. The Strength and Duration of this Building where yee shall see p. 31. 32. 33. 34. 35. 1. The Contignation and Knitting of the Building of Comfort by five Attributes of God Wisdome p. 36. Power p. 37. Iustice p. 38. Mercy ibid. Truth p. 39. 2. The Butteresses of the Building set up by three Duties of man 1. Submission to Gods Will p. 40. 2. Right Reason sanctified p. 41. 3. Prayer for strength and Continuance of Comfort p. 42. c. 1 Thes. 4. 18. Wherefore Comfort one another with these words MAY it please your Attention to begin with the accommodation of the Text to the Times which like a woman in Labour cry out for Comfort sickly Times most uncomfortable Times God knowes a rare thing even an house without one or other sicke in it if not dead out of it Is it not Time then to exhort you to comfort one another The Naturalists write of a pretious Stone a called b Ceraunias that is found
only in a day of thunder glistering when the skye is overcast with darkenesse such a qualified Gemme is mutuall Comfort shining most brightly in the gloomy times of adversitie when God thunders from Heaven and all the Earth is full of dark sad melancholly sicknesse that consumeth the eyes and causeth sorrow of heart c thus when the heart is overcast with sorrow and the eyes clowded with dimnes then to open the bowells of Consolation one to another is the most comfortable Christian Sun-shine Was it not Time then to exhort you to comfort one another when there is vox querelae a voyce of complaint of sicknesse and Mortality in our Streets and in our houses is it not time there be vox Doctrinae a voyce of Instruction preaching Comfort in our Churches that as that learned d Father compares the Church of God persecuted and yet flourishing to the Bush out of which Gods glory shined to Moses the Bush burned yet consumed not so many Members of Gods Church in our Land burned yet consumed not with Strange Agues out of which shines Gods glory and our Comfort so farre as to compose the like excellent Harmony that Saint Paul e makes of seeming Discords We are troubled on every side with sicknesse yet not distressed as without Hope Perplexed with strange new Diseases but not in Despaire {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} premimur non opprimimur pressed under not trodden under and oppressed as altogether without helpe Persecuted by cold and hot fits but not forsaken by him that rebuked Peters Wifes Mothers Fever Cast downe on our sick beds but not destroyed but raised up by him who made our beds in our sicknesse devoute David often harpes upon this sweet String heare one admirable lesson f The Lord hath chastned me sore but he hath not given me over unto Death how many this yeare that may set this dolefull Ditty the Lord hath chastened me sore but with this comfortable close but he hath not given me over unto Death When I fall I shall rise when I sit in darknesse the Lord shall be a light unto me g Christians cannot looke to be so nice and tenderly brought up as not to endure the sight of their heavenly Fathers rod they must looke to fall into sicknesse to sit in Darknesse to be chastened sore and because the bitter cup of trembling cannot passe but first or last we must all drinke it 't was Davids diet-drinke and Iob took it all off we are not better then they and who is too good to pledge his Saviour Wherefore that we faint not under the rod that the draught overcome us not let us sweeten it for one another let us daily strengthen one another with Cordialls of Comfort against the evill Day Wherefore comfort one another with these words Glance but upon the Coherence yee shall quickly perceive this Consolatory Exhortation of Saint Paul to be very opportune and most seasonable which may produce this Observable That the seasonable opportunity of Comforting one another is to be taken Stale Comfort is unacceptable to the palate of the Memorie 't is the freshnesse of the occasion that ingratiates Comfort to the Appetite of the longing soule Comfort may come too late and although it be never so good of it selfe the tarditie and latenesse will argue the Messenger of no little indiscretion Justly in this did Tiberius h taxe the Indiscretion of the Ilienses comforting him long after the Death of his sonne Paulò seriùs consolantibus saith the Historian something too late reviving the obliterated Memorie of his Griefe he taxed them with this Sarcasme Se quoque vicem eorum dolere quod egregium civem Hectorem amisissent That he also was sorry for them because they had lost that worthy Citizen Hector one dead many hundred yeares before Time eates away griefe which otherwise would eate out the Heart griefe for losses is commonly worne away in time this is the Reason why the late Comforter is a Comforter both Miserable and Ridiculous Miserable by Application of a good Remedy to a very ill purpose even to force healed wounds to bleed a fresh Ridiculous for a man out of Time to doe that which Time it selfe hath done before him unseasonable Physicke exasperates the Disease when as give it but Time and Patience 't will doe well enough else apply a timely Consolation Were he not to be laughed at that brings a Handkerchiefe to wipe away teares already dryed But better late then never nay in the Case of Consolation better never then too late better not doe that which is good then to do it when 't will doe hurt Whilst the Occasion of griefe is hot strike and if thou canst beate upon the very {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} the very Instant of Griefe say not to thy Neighbor Goe and come againe to morrow for Comfort To day is Gods voyce of Comfort To morrow may be the Devils of being swallowed up with griefe at least Delay breeds danger and the Raven of Hell still puts in this his Caveat against Comfort Cras Cras to morrow is soone enough but yee see that the Dove from Heaven lighting upon St Paul did inspire him to set downe the Time present in my Text the very instant of the time present no deferring of the matter for yee are not now to seeke for Comfort 't is at hand in these words Wherefore Comfort one another with these words In these words I finde the Art of Building Comfort a very usefull Art for all Christians to study throughly therefore my Methode shall keepe close to the Metaphore of Building 1. The specificall Difference of this from other Buildings 2. The Necessitie of this Buildlng in a Christian Common-wealth 3. The Perswasives inducing to goe about this Building to studie the Art 4. The Disswasives from the neglect of going forward with it 5. The Materialls of this Building These words in the Text 6. The Habituall Ability to make good use of this Art of Comfort 7. The Actuall Abilitie to make good use of it in the Platforme of Comfort set up according to the exact Rule of Gods Word 8. The Strength and Duration of this Building 1. The specificall Difference of this from other Buildings 'T is the spirituall comfort in this life differenced 1. From carnall Comfort in this life 2. From Eternall joy in the Life to come 1. Spirituall Comfort is the Lighting or easing of the Heart of that sorrow or feare wherewith it is surcharged {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} in the Text is the exciting encouraging and strengthning of our fainting and languishing spirits Carnall Comfort is raised up from the creature by corrupt Nature no higher then the sensitive apprehension of a Naturall man whose belly is his God i whose glory is his Shame and such was the glory of that great King who dyed commanding this Epitaph to be set upon
have a curing vertue in them strengthning and corroborating the heart there are words even those words in my text that are Cordialls against all faintings of spirit they will beget new spirits in a man Wherefore comfort one another with such words Every relation wherein we stand towards others are so many bonds and sinewes whereby one member of Christ is fitted to derive comfort to another through love the bond of Perfection Col. 3. 14. we can attaine to no perfection of comforting without love if ye love one another ye will comfort one another yee are of relation neere enough that is the chiefe enforcement of this duty from our Christian Sympathy Now very briefly of other Perswasives which have their force too and no doubt but if they all concenter and meet together in our practise there will quickly be comfort sealed up to one anothers soules 2. Perswasive others may comfort us as much another time when we may suffer what others now feele wherefore comfort one another 3. Sorrow is a gulfe in which many are swallowed up for want of comfort and if God commands us to pull an oxe out of the pit and to cover the pit that the oxe fall not into it againe doth God take care for oxen and not we for one another 4. We receive comfort from God to this very end that we might be able to comfort one another 2 Cor. 1. 4. Let us give to others as we receive from God 5. By comforting others we emprove the stock of our own comfort 't is not empaired but encreased by giving it to others the heate of comfort by warming others is not abated but enflamed In strengthning others we strengthen our selves at the same time with the same acte this should encourage us to comfort one another Lastly we derive upon our selves the blessing pronounced on those that consider the needy Psal. 41. 1. the Hebrew signifies the needinesse of the soule as well as of the body Depauperari to be any way empoverished now the want of comfort is a miserable poverty of the soule better be a beggar then need comfort and 't is better to give spirituall almes then any other they may doe more good Now 't will be our comfort here and crowne hereafter a double recompence God and man shall blesse us if we comfort one another thus blessed is the man that gives comfort to them that need and if I cannot perswade you to be happy give me leave to passe from the Perswasives to the Disswasives The Disswasives from the neglect of going forward with the Building of Comfort 1. 'T is a vilifying and slighting of an Ambassador sent from Heaven his Ambassie is this waighty businesse in the Text of mutuall comfort any neglect of an Ambassador is a disrespect to the Master if yee care little for Saint Pauls exhortation yee despite despite yee the Holy Spirit dictating to St Paul and what shall we be guilty of if we will not come in by faire entreaty when St Paul exhorts us but to doe our Duty 2. 'T is no lesse then high Treason a revolting from our God yee may read this heavy imputation on those that comforted not the weake Ezek. 34. 4. and Iob 6. 14. if we neglect to pay this due debt of comforting each other marke the heavy censure 't is no lesse then the forsaking of the feare of the Almighty oh fearefull Revolt they feare not God that comfort not men in misery Thus 't is when men will not owne men in trouble but as the heard of deare forsake and push away the wounded deere from them they will turne their backs and only cry God comfort thee indeed immediate comforts from God are the sweetest yet for the most part the Sunne of Righteousnesse that hath this healing in his wings conveigheth the Beames of comfort by the help of others and he is an unworthy Servant that thinks scorne to carry a message of comfort from his Master to any one of his Fellow-Servants Now if yee love to flie such an heavy imputation and censure from God and man or if yee love the blessing of God and man or if yee love the encrease of your owne comfort or if yee love to attaine to the end of Gods comforting you or if ye love to keep others or to be kept your selves out of the gulfe of sorrow or if yee love to carry your selves as fellow-travellors to heaven as members of Christ and as good Christians neglect not this Apostolicall exhortation Wherefore comfort one another with these words The materialls of this Building these words in the Text We must use the right and lawfull meanes of comfort {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} these words Either in the particular relation of these words to St Pauls former Doctrine or in the generall relation to the whole Word of God Pars prototo comfort one another with these words or any the like words of comfort out of Gods Word 1. These words in the particular relation to St Pauls former Doctrine the first word of the Note of Illation {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} Wherefore is St Pauls inference of a good use of Consolation raised from his former Doctrine touching the estate of the dead in Christ a blessed change they make that dye in the Lord that 's our Christian Hope Give hopelesse menleave to tremble at Death whose portion is in this life let Gods children lift up their heads for joy towards their dissolution and solace themselves on their death-beds as Simeon sings his Nunc Dimittis quasi necesitate teneretur in hac vitâ non voluntate St Ambrose descants r as if the Childe of God staide in this life of necessity and not by his good will sure I am St Paul by his good will would faine be with Christ which is much more the better Phil. 1. 23. {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} by farre very farre much more and very much more the better both simply in it selfe and in respect of St Paul himselfe had there been no necessity of his living in respect of others For as St Cyprian reasons it in his Book to this purpose s Cum mundus oderit Christianum quid amas eum qui te odit non magis sequeris Christum qui te redemit diligit The World hates a Christian Christ doth not command us to love the World that hates us but rather to follow Christ who is our Redeemer and best Lover too Wherefore if yee be Christians comfort one another as not to feare the death of your selves so not to mourne immoderately for the death of others though never so neare to us that dye in the Lord Here I shall trouble you to cite the forenamed Father t Hoc nos oftendamus esse quod credimus ut neque Charorum lugeamus excessum cum accersitionis
That is the Fountaine of all Comfort Zech. 4. 12. Christ is the Fountaine out of which all Comfort is emptied the two Testaments of God are the two Olive branches as Beda but Christ is the roote and juycy oyle and what though many Expositors a make the two Olive branches Enoch and Elias converting the Jewes to be Christians yet that cannot be but by preaching and emptying out the golden Oyle that makes a cheerefull countenance a joyfull Convert to Christ so that still Christ is the Fountaine of saving soule-suppling Oyle A sealed Fountaine to the world but for Gods Word to reveale it and set it open Indeed Tully and Seneca writ large discourses of Comfort but St Augustine ravished with Tullies style yet one thing discomforted so farre as not to care so much for Tully Quia Nomen Christi non fuit ibi That Treasurie of Comfort the name Jesus of Christ not once to be found in all Tully And surely had Seneca been so well acquainted with S. Paul as some will have him being of Neroes houshold then Seneca might have learnt to have knowne nothing for his Soules comfort but Christ Iesus and him crucified and not have stood so much upon those common Pleas of Comfort against death as he doth Eâ lege nascimur the Law of being borne is to dye Death is inevitable foolish for a man to grieve for that no man can avoyde Exitus communis none scapes it alasse poore Comfort But what Comfort is to be looked for in their writings who knew not how that to die in the Lord is to rest from our labors but God be praised we know it out of Gods Words and happy are we if we beleeve that Death separates not from the Love of God in Christ Jesus b That is Comfort indeed And not to grieve for the Death of friends as without Hope of the Resurrection of the Dead that is the very point S. Paul treats of in my Text The wisest of the Heathen judged it the best thing first not to be borne the next to dye as soone as we are borne any Christian may be wiser to judge it the best thing first to be borne againe in Christ Jesus the next to dye in the Lord as soone as it pleaseth God we must not leave off worke till he that sets us a worke calls us off Seneca used to comfort his friends at Funeralls thus praemittimus non amittimus We send our friends before us we loose them not yet they were at a sore losse they knew not to what place they sent their dead friends before them But beloved to gather Grapes of thornes comfort from them who had not the true comfort if they so esteemed of death who knew of no life after death no abiding out of the body what is fit that we Christians should prize death at who ought to make reckoning of no life but after death no abiding but out of the body no dwelling but in heaven We have heere no abiding Citie but we looke for one that is to come c The Greek is we seek out we look out earnestly for one to come and that we may not loose all our looking our Saviour directs us where to look for it d In my Fathers house are many Mansions 't is my Fathers house 't is your Fathers house as ye are in me that is the Comfort and to fill up the comfort they are Mansions there places of aboad there but Innes here or rather Tents or Booths moveable Everlasting habitants there Luk. 16. 9. but nothing will last here yea here we thrust one another out of house and home there are severall Mansions enough for us all to live by one another Wherefore comfort one another with these words 3. And briefly à Doctrinae certitudine Only Gods Word hath full power and authority to comfort mans heart from the certainty of the Doctrine which the Word of God hath from God himselfe 1. Virtute the strength and vertue of Gods Word accompanied with Gods Spirit can never faile to worke comfort 2. Veritate the whole Truth of solid Comfort that is communicable to mankinde is sincerely and truly published in Gods Word in that onely and yet in that perfectly 3. Complemento in fulfilling and in the accomplishment of all the comforts prescribed in Gods Word for they are all most certaine and true as in the substance so in the event of them Heaven and Earth shall passe away but my words shall not passe away e there shall be a revolution and a passing away too of all things in this world but this very Word of God that all things shall passe away this Word shall not passe away no nor any one Word of comfort in Christ Jesus shall ever passe away Wherefore comfort one another with these words But what good doth the bare knowledge of the Materialls without Habituall and Actuall Abilitie to use them 1. The Habituall Abilitie to make good use of this Art of comforting that is the sixt generall Part. Now the spring head of comfort infusing into this habituall ability either we must goe out of the world for that or that must come from another world for us but we cannot stir one foote of the soule the least affection or so much as one winged thought to goe to that that must come to us to raise our flight with the wings of that Dove whose wings are silver and her feathers like gold I meane the Holy Ghost The Eternall Breath of the Father and the Sonne must breath into us the breath of Life a Life of comfort the Love of the Father and the Sonne descending upon the Sonne in the likenesse of a Dove without gall must purge out of us all gall of malice and bitternesse that we may comfort one another in all meeknesse of spirit the invisible spirit descending visibly upon the sonnes of men in the liknesse of fiery tongues must enable us to give light and warmth of comfort to one another If it be urged that Faith is the only strong Conveyance and true Receiver of spirituall Comfort 'T is quickly satisfied that even Faith also is the gift of the Spirit The Comforter gives us Faith to take Comfort from him else we can take none at all so that in the conclusion 't is the Comforter that workes all in all in us For as it was said of the Masse and Chaos f Tohu vavohu an emptie vast solitary solitude 'T was without forme and voyde darknesse that is a Privation of Light was upon the Face of the Earth before the Spirit of God moved upon the Face of the Waters The soule of a naturall man is like the earth lumpish sad without forme and voyde of comfort darknesse of discontent is upon the face of the man inward and outward a vacuity a vast solitary Privation of comfort untill the Spirit of God move
with a bush but no good wine within as merry as he is about the mouth his soule finds but poore entertainment within the wine of the wicked has lost it nature to cheere the heart of man and like oyle it only makes him have a cheerefull countenance but the wine of the godly comforts the spirits within a man Davids merry soule was given from God thy comforts delight my soule {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} Sept. Thy comforts have loved my soule have embraced my soule with love Exhortationes tuaejocundaverunt St August Thy Exhortations make my soule merry and pleasant and cheerefull He only is merry at heart and delighted in his very soule who doth what God exhorts him to doe whose soule takes daily many a Comfortable walk in the severall roomes and conveyances of the Palace of divine Comfort He oft makes it his soules Recreation and delight to view the Divisions and the distinctions that God hath made of Creation Preservation Redemption Provision Protection the rare Contrivances of Election Vocation Justification Sanctification and the stately Mansions of Glorification prepared for us these are the Comforts that will delight our soules our very soules Wherefore comfort one another with these words Now we have seene the maine Body of the Building of divine comfort what remaines but to lay on the roofe Psal. 55. 22. Cast thy Burthen upon the Lord and he shall sustaine thee doe but thou cast thy burthen on him and let him alone to sustaine thee this Roofe will hold out against all weather of affliction stormes and tempests may beate but God is able to beare the Burthen which we cannot beare But what burden may we be bold to cast upon the Lord Any either the greatest burden that is in the world sinne cast thy sinnes upon the Lord Jesus or the lesser burdens crosses troubles and losses In all and under all the Lord shall sustaine thee with things necessary at least with that one thing necessary Patience So long as thou losest not thy Patience so long thou losest not the Lord who shall sustaine thee to sustaine thy losses Be it the burden of the losse of health wealth wife child friend cast thy burden upon the Lord by remembring that they were the blessings of the Lord upon thee and unlesse by Impatience thou lose the Lord too the Lord knowes how to blesse thee againe with all these as he did Iob of whom S. Augustine speakes thus Haec amisit sed illum tenet qui abstulit Iob lost his goods but he took hold of him who took them away The Lord gives and the Lord takes saith that patterne of Patience o the Lord takes and no matter what he takes from us so long as we have him still that takes them who is able to regive them with advantage It was S. Chrysostomes way of comforting his Auditors at Antioch p {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} It is a great part of true Piety and godlinesse to cast thy burthen upon the Lord and he will give thee better things then ever thou lost the like Cordiall the judicious Father hath q quamvis arca exinanita sit auro cor tamen plenum est fide the lesse in the chest there may be the more in the heart The want of a husband mâ—y fill the heart with her best husband Christ Jesus The losse of a wife may make the stronger contract betwixt the soule and her God The losse of a childe may be a Testimony to my heart that God receives me as his childe for he chasteneth every sonne whom he receives Vbi multum crucis multum lucis that man of crosses r was wont to say the more affliction from God may prove the more instruction to the soule The reall Alphabet of Christianity is speld out by suffering Christs Crosse and not by reading of Christs Sufferings Faith comes by hearing and by feeling too by suffering that is the best triall of Faith by suffering losses we learne to beleeve what God can doe for us What wicked Cain said of his sinnes they are greater then can be forgiven no childe of God must think of his losses they are greater then can be given againe sin the cause of all losses is not greater then can be forgiven much lesse any losse the effect greater then can be given againe Cast thy burden Pagn ine reads it Pondus thy heavy crosses and waighty losses but Montanus Donum punctually to the Hebrew roote and every losse or crosse is the gift of God sent to thee from God somtimes greater gifts sometimes lesser now returne these gifts whence they came cast them upon the Lord The Sept. use a word by themselves {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} thy anxious care thy cutting dividing solicitude look to thine owne work cast thy burden upon the Lord that is thine own work look to that and be not solicitous what is Gods work to sustaine thee eke out thy Patience awaite the Lords goodnesse cast it all upon God and he shall sustaine thee This is the fairest roofe the greatest height we can raise up the Building of Comfort to yet I might give you another Platforme of the particular furniture belonging to every severall Roome of Comfort look how many things we had need to be comforted against so many severall Roomes of Comfort but not knowing what entertainment this Art of Building Comfort will finde if yee like to make use of it this is enough by way of direction but if yee like it not this is toomuch therefore I hasten to the last generall Part proposed in our Methode The eight Part is the strength and duration of this Building for if it were but slight weake or not lasting long it were but poore comfort The Building of Comfort not only stands by the benefit of the Foundation that sustaines and supports it but the strength of the Building is much augmented and encreased by the benefit of the contignations that knit and unite the Parts together and also of the butteresses that comprehend and embrace them without The Foundation being surely laid will not suffer the Building of Comfort to sinke the contignation and knitting will not suffer it to cleave the Butteresses will not suffer it to swerve all these together by a joynt force which is the stronger make greatly for the strength and duration of the building of Comfort Yee see the Foundation laid before in it proper place briefly here of the contignations and the Butteresses as they are necessary for the strength and duration of Comfort 1. Gods Wisedome Power Justice Mercy Truth will abundantly doe all the Offices of the Contignation of this Building 2. We must supply the Butteresses from without and they are three speciall ones among the rest 1. Submission to Gods Will 2. Right reason rectified sanctified Reason 3. Prayer for strength and continuance of comfort But before we
Greek Epithet is so expressive 6. Consolation never goes single without confortation a strengthning power of the Grace of God accompanies it this is a reparation of our Christian forces and a congruous fortification against all evill y There remained no strength in Daniel untill one touched him and said O man greatly beloved feare not be strong yea be strong and when he had spoken unto me I was strengthned saith Daniel Gods comforting of us is a strengthning comfort Beloved this is a strong durable Building of Comfort for no Earth-quake no heart quake can shake the foundation of it no Canon shot with all the powder and power of hell can batter down the walls of it no Tempest of affliction can beat down the Roofe of it no theeves though they be subtile evill spirits can rifle the roomes of it no cruell Land-lord to thrust us out of doores but a loving kinde Lord our God who doth all to keepe us within doores within comfort no false Neighbours can take our house over our heads no envying at one anothers dwellings here are severall Roomes of comfort for young and old rich and poore well and sick men and women husbands and wifes King and Subject widowes and orphans comfort enough for all beleevers of all Families Townes Cities Countries Nations and Languages under Heaven Now where can I better lodge my discourse then in this strong durable Building of most divine comfort and so I shall at this very instant if ye will but promise me to doe your best to comfort one another with these words or with any the like words of comfort out of Gods holy Word And we beseech thee O Lord to teach us this art and to make us all such spirituall Builders that we may not be cast down under the Burthen of temporall losses and crosses or of spirituall temptations but that every one upon all occasions may expostulate the matter seriously with his own soule Why art thou cast down ô my soule and why art thou disquieted within me hope thou in God for I shall yet praise him who is the health of my countenance and my God Whom have I in heaven but thee and there is none upon Earth that I desire besides thee and thy Comforts for in the multitude of my thoughts within me thy comforts delight my Soule Therefore ô my soule cast thy Burden upon the Lord and he shall sustaine thee Even so O God of all Comfort now and ever sustaine us with the Comforts of thy sacred Word and of thy Holy Spirit Amen An Electuary in forme of a Prayer called a Manus Christiani a comfortable Confection out of the former Treatise to repell the Infection of all kinde of Affliction O Lord my God and I beleeve there is no other Gods besides I beleeve therefore I call upon thee that as the first Commandement thou givest to me is to have no other gods but thee so my first care may be to settle all my thoughts and affections words and actions upon nothing in Heaven or in Earth besides thee b For whom have I in Heaven but thee and there is none upon Earth that I desire besides thee Thou art my Refuge my Rock of defence my sure stay my whole Hearts delight O Lord accept this Expression of my Faith whom have I in Heaven to relye on but thee in all my Necessities accept this expression of my devotion whom have I in Heaven but thee to call upon in all my troubles accept this expression of my affections whom have I in Heaven to love but thee the Giver of all things to be beloved whom have I in heaven to feare but thee the Disposer of all things to be feared Whom have I in Heaven to rejoyce in but thee the Infuser of all true Joy Whom have I in Heaven to desire but thee the Satisfier of all lawfull desires and there is none upon Earth that I desire besides thee yea I confesse there is nothing in the World that is worth the desiring but in thee and from thee In the multitude of my thoughts within me thy Comforts delight my soule In the great throng of all my perplexed thoughts thy Comforts delight my soule the Comforts of thy Providence over me as a faithfull Creator and Preserver thou didst create me of nothing hast preserved me from nothing even from my Mothers wombe and wilt still preserve me even to my last houre these thy Comforts delight my soule Nay more Comfort of thy speciall care as a gracious Father and Redeemer Care of Provision and Protection of all good from all evill of Mercy Grace and Favour from Sinne Satan Death the Grave and Hell These are thy Comforts O Lord And whensoever these thy Comforts doe not delight my soule give me grace to check and chide my soule sharply for it d Why art thou cast downe ô my soule why art thou disquieted within me thou hast no reason to be cast down or to be disquieted at all as long as thou hast a God to hope in hope thou in God I lay this charge upon thee O my soule and this my charge is grounded upon my confidence of better times to come when I shall yet praise him and this my confidence is strengthned by my experience of what God is unto me the health of my countenance Salvation to my inward man Joy to my heart 〈…〉 my outward man cheerefulnesse 〈…〉 And this my experience is well backed by my interest that I have in God my God in Christ Iesus my Saviout and if my God be with me what can be against me neither health nor sicknesse neither wealth nor want neither principalities nor powers nor death nor life 〈◊〉 nor depth nor things present nor things to come nothing can separate me from the Love of God my God in Christ Therefore will I now and ever cast my Burden upon thee O Lord with assurance that thou wilt sustaine me e the greatest Burden in the world Sinne My sinnes are gone over my head and are too heavy a Burden for me to beare therefore will I cast them upon thee my Lord and my Saviour yea the afflictions and punishments that lye at the doore of my sinnes they are able to presse me down to the lowest pit but in an humble awfull submission to thy will trusting that thou wilt lay no more upon me then I am able to beare I will beare according to my Ability and awaite thy goodnesse either to deliver me from or to sustaine me in all thy Will be done O Lord and give me Patience Amen Glory be to God on high On Earth Comfort FINIS Imprimatur Iohannes Hansley Feb. 4. Anno Dom. 1639. 1. By Reason 2. By Scripture b. 2 Sam 18. 18. b Gen. 35. 19 20. a Psal. 112. 6. b Satis est coram Deo Angelis totóque piorum theatro benedictam esse eorum Memoriam Cal. in locum c Worthy Dr 〈◊〉 Manual 1.