Spirit of Christ stamps the image of his Son upon us looking upon and beholding the glory of the Lord we are changed into the same image from glory to glory even as by the Spirit of the Lord 2. Cor. 3.18 that is the first reason God gives the Spirit of his Sonn to conforme us to the similitude of his Sonne Secondly God gives his people the Spirit of his Son which is the fruit of his death and intercession that we may be fully convinced of all the glorious perfections and fruits of the death and merits of Jesus Christ God hath convinced us of the perfection of his love by sending his Sonne into the world John 3.16 God so loved the world that he gave his Sonne if you will measure his love measure the gift but both the one and the other is infinite Christ was the ensuring earnest of his love having given him he will surely give all things with him Rom. 8.32 Now as Christ is an assuring testimonie of the perfection of Gods love so the gift of the Spirit is an assuring testimonie of the perfection of Christs merits and therefore it is called the earnest of our inheritance untill the redemption of the purchased possession 1. Ephes 14. greater is Christ then all other fruits of Gods love and greater is the Spirit then all other fruits of Christs merits as all the fruits of Gods love are intayled unto the person of Christ so all the fruits of Christs death are intayled unto the Spirit of Christ hee that hath Christ need not question whether God will give any other fruit of his love so he that hath the Spirit need not question any other fruit of Christs merits his Justification Sanctification Adoption Grace and Glory will follow God would not have us doubt of his love and therefore he hath given us the person of his Son neither would he have us doubt of the fruit of Christs merits aad therefore hath hee given us the Spirit of his Son the very gift of Christ being understood doth convince of the love of God and yet Christ in his person did also preach the love of God so the very gift of the Spirit doth convince of the merits of Christ and yet this Spirit doth preach and declare the perfection of Christs merits None in the world could be convinced of the love of God except Christ had preached it unto him so none in the world can be convinced of the merits of Christ except this Spirit doth shew it and preach it unto him Christ did bear witnesse of the truth of Gods love and his witnesse is true John 5.31 and it is the Spirit that beareth witnesse unto Christs blood and this Spirit is truth 1. John 5.6 What ever God gives and not his Son there is no testimonie of Gods love so what ever the soule hath and not the Spirit there is no conviction of the merits of Christ though the Word speakes peace and the Prophets of God speakes peace and all the people of God speakes peace yet the soule cannot heare it except God viz. by his Spirit cause it to heare the voyce of joy and gladnesse Psal 51.8 Thirdly God gives the Spirit of his Son unto his Saints to fit them for glory God doth not love disproportion when he made a woman for man hee made her a meet help 1. Genesis 18. When God sent Christ for the worke of Redemption he fitted him A body hast thou prepared or fitted Heb. 10.5 So God intending his Elect for glorie he makes them meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the Saints in light 1. Col. 12. and to sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus 2. Ephes 6. and this meetnesse is by the Spirit for the Elect of God are chosen to salvation through the sanctification of the Spirit and beleefe of the Truth 2. Thess 2.13 who living in the Spirit and walking in the Spirit wait through the Spirit for the righteousnesse of Faith viz. the end thereof which is the salvation of their soules Gal. 5.5 no uncleane thing shall enter into the Kingdome of God Revel 22.15 but the Saints shall therefore are they washed and sanctified and just fied in the Name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of ouâ— God 1. Cor. 6.11 The Sacrifices and all the appurtenances thereof under the Law were to be sanctified and set apart and the Priests that were to enter into the holy place were sanctified and chosen from the world for that purpose and this sanctification was tipified by the anointing oil sprinkled upon Aaron Exod. 29.21 So the Saints of God are sanctified chosen or separated out of the world being made spirituall Kings and Priests unto God and appointed to come into that holy place even the place of glorie wherein dwelleth righteousnesse to give glory and honour and thanks to him that sitteth upon the Throne that liveth for ever and ever Revel 4.9 which sanctification consisteth in the powring forth of the Spirit compared to oyle 1. John 2.27 upon the Saints and thereby fitting them for glory Lastly God gives his people the Spirit of his Son that so they may be enabled to doe and suffer his will in an acceptable manner God is a Spirit and will be worshipped in Spirit 4. John 23. hee requireth that wee should pray in the Spirit and sing in the Spirit 1. Cor. 14.15 that wee should walke in the Spirit and live in the Spirit Gal. 5.25 that wee should doe every thing from a spirituall principle according to a spirituall rule with reference unto a spirituall end God is not a hard Master requiring to reap where he did not sow exacting a tale of bricke and give no straw but that they may doe the will of God in an acceptable manner he gives his Spirit unto all his Saints the Apostle saith that through Christ we have accesse by one Spirit unto the Father 2. Ephes 18. through Christ viz. the blood of Christ wee are brought into this grace and by the Spirit wee are enabled to improve this grace viz. in all spirituall services so that God gives them his Spirit that so they may be enabled to offer up spirituall sacrifices acceptable unto God by Jesus Christ 1. Pet. 2.5 And so likewise for passive obedience he hath given them his Spirit that with comfort and spirituall joy and consolation they may undergoe that hard worke of bearing the crosse which leadeth me to the solution of the second generall Question Namely how the Spirit doth comfort beleevers in evill times How doth the Spirit of Christ support Beleevers in evill times Answ First by his owne naturall genuine and proper strength and influence 1. John 4 4. You are of God little children and have overcome the world because greater is he that is in you then he that is in the world the Saints of God are as little children in meeknesse humilitie singlenesse of heart simplicitie of mind freedom from envie dependance upon God and
though little children yet able to grapple with and overcome the whole world how so because they are of God viz. of his antient love and the birth of his Gospel Secondly because God is in them viz. by his Spirit and greater is he that is in them viz. to support to comfort to incourage to preserve then he viz. Satan the prince of the power of the aire the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience Ephes 2.2 that is in the world viz. carnall and wicked men to cast down to grieve to discourage to destroy We have another Scripture for this in the third to the Ephes 4.16 I how my knee to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ that he would grant you according to the riches of his glory to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man this our God grants unto beleevers first because he is the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ and in him their Father and so interressed in the same power by which he was strengthened in the inner man in the daies of his flesh and sufferings upon earth Secondly because it is according to or falling in with the riches of his glory viz. the glory of his grace by which he hath the revenews of his glorie coming in even in the highest degree Luke 2.14 and whereof there are riches even treasures wherein he hath abounded towards them Ephes 1.8 Thirdly because this is the joynt request of all the Saints in each others behalf I viz. Paul how my knee viz. in prayer unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ that he would grant you c. the person of the Lord Jesus Christ intercedes in heaven for all his Saints Hebr. 7.25 and the Spirit of our Lord Jesus Christ intercedes in the earth for the same Saints Rom. 8.27 and the Father heareth him who did his will interceding both by his blood and Spirit in heaven and earth Joh. 9.31 this is that divine nature 2 Pet. 1.4 and that power of God 1 Pet. 1.5 whereby the Saints are kept against all their discouragements even unto salvation this is that whereby the Saints are comforted in all their tribulation 2 Cor. 1.4 and whereby their consolations do abound in them beyond the abounding of their afflictions vers 5. it is the Spirit of comfort called the Comforter Joh. 14.16 which shall be as a continuall streame or waters of life in the bowels of the Saints to refresh and chear them in all their losses and troubles of this life the comforts whereof the Spouse of Christ prayeth for Cant. 2.5 Stay me with flaggons and comfort me with apples for I am sick of love all the troubles sorrows and afflictions of the Saints are sicknesses of love as they are from God they proceed from love are steered by love love is the root and rule and end of all as they proceed from man they are because of their love to God therefore in all their afflictions they may be said to be sick of love What is her prayer why stay me with thy flagons and comfort me with thy apples with thy flagons viz. of wine which cheareth the heart Prov. 31.6 Comfort me with thy apples viz. the glorious fruits of Jesus Christ the tree of life under whose shadow the Saints do sit with great delight and whose fruit is pleasant unto their taste vers 2. what are all these expressions but the setting forth of those sweet Consolations of the Spirit of Jesus Christ supporting their hearts in evill times This is that whereof the Church reports Cant. 2.6 His left hand is under my head and his right hand doth embrace me See here the Churches posture in the time of her trouble is lying in the bosome of her beloved grasping her like a tender husband between his arms Jesus Christ hath bosome consolations for his sick Saints watens of life for fainting fits Manna is reserved for the wildernesse and the best wine when all is spent when all forsake the Lord stands by he is light in darbuesse Psal 112.4 Act. 12.7 and mans casting into dungeons is but Christ bringing into his banqueting house where his banner over them is love his left hand is under them and his right handimbraceth them Christ hath left hand mercies viz. the comforts of this lift which though they be contracted within a small bulk even into a little oyl in a cruce 2 King 4.2 five barley leaves and two fishes for five thousand Joh. 6.9 that is a poore something next to nothing to support and maintain a great charge why this is Christs left hand and yet this shall be sufficient if he puts but the effecacie of even his left hand it shall be enough but his right hand mercies are most high and spirituall and when the Lord doth any thing with his right hand he doth it most dextereously even unto perfection as appears if you look Psal 60.5 That thy beloved may be delivered save with thy right hand And so Psal 20.6 45.4 c. So when God imbraceth or comforteth with his right hand he doth it so as none can discourage when all secondarie means of comfort are gone the Lord Jesus doth then comfort most immediately and therefore most perfectly for whatsoever God doth without secondary causes alwayes are without imperfection When he made all things at first coming immediately from between his hands behold all were very good so it is in his immediate consolations Hence it is we read of joy unspeakable and glorious 1 Pet. 1.8 even in the time of heavinesse through many temptations vers 6. thus Jesus Christ viz. by his Spirit becomes a hiding place from the wind and a refuge from the tempest as rivers of water in a dry place and the shadow of a great rock in a wearie land Isa 32.2 Jesus Christ is a sutable good unto all his people and what he is he makes good unto his people by his Spirit So that as Eliiah stretched himself upon the dead child 1 King 17.21 and the soul of the child came unto him again and he revived so when the Saints are as it were kill'd and slain at the first encounter with troubles and persecutions and losses of all their comforts why then doth the Lord Jesus Christ by his Spirit as it were stretch forth himself over them and then their life and joy and peace returns again yea like unto that of the resurrection after death in that perfection that the weak flesh is scarce able to bear it Comforts indeed sutable unto glorified Saints Thus the Spirit chears and comforts the hearts of the Saints by his naturall genuine and proper strength and influence the Spirit of God being in it self a Spirit of comfort Secondly the Spirit chears the hearts of beleevers in evill times by presenting God in Jesus Christ as a deare and loving Father unto them a most sweet and glorious vision and assurance whereof for the most part he vouchsafeth unto them in the dayes
the disproportion between one condition and the other here is affliction there is glory here light affliction there is weight of glory here is momentany afflictions there is eternity of glory But that that is chiefly for our purpose in this text is the influence that these afflictions have towards this glory in the word worketh knowing that these afflictions c. worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternall weight of glory the suffering of Christ hath wrought it for us but our own suffering worketh us for it namely by the sweet growing of grace and subduing of sin through these afflictions And the Apostle saith that by afflictions that is through the kind working of afflictions we are made partakers of his holinesse Hebr. 12.10 the Apostle vindicates a necessitie of afflictions to this purpose Now for a season if need be you are in afflictions through manifold temptations if need be that is if the glorie of God and your good doth require it For so saith the context that the triall of your faith being much more precious then gold that perisheth though it be tried with fire might be found unto praise and honour and glory of God at the appearing of Jesus Christ 1 Pet. 1.7 8. Let me appeal unto the experiences of the Saints whether they do not find and feel the quiet fruit of righteousnesse the fruits of sufferings do not corruptions weaken the sweet influence of divine joy dependance patience hope meeknesse contentednesse humilitie and love to God increase more and more when they are under the crosse Thus the Spirit convinceth that God as a Father chastiseth in measure in love and to fit them thereby for that glorie whereunto he hath appointed them That is the second particular the Spirit convinceth and comforteth by convincing that God afflicteth as a Father tender and loving in Jesus Christ Thirdly the Spirit of Jesus Christ comforteth Beleevers in evill times by opening unfolding and breaking up the exceeding rich and precious promises of the Gospel and applying the same unto the soule the word of God is that River the streams whereof shall make glad the Citie of God Psal 46.4 and these waters breakes out in the wildernesse and these streams in the desart Esay 35.6 When poor Hagar was in the wildernesse with her child and her accomodations gone she casts her thirstie infant under a shrub and not able to heare the pittifull cryes of her bemoaning babe then doth the Angel of the Lord shew her a Well at hand which was there before though not discerned Gen. 21.16.19 just so when outward comforts are gone and spent and the poore soule at a losse not knowing what to doe but to lift up the eye towards God and weepe why then doth the Lord by his Spirit shew them the sweetnesse and fulnesse of such and such promises which before were not regarded Tell me you plundered beleevers that are driven as Hagar out of house and home did you ever feel the sweetnesse of the promises in that measure as you now feele them have not these breasts of Consolation been sweet and luscious unto your tasts Psal 119.50 saith David This is my comfort in my affliction thy word hath quickned me and many such passages as these I had fainted had it not been for thy word I rejoyce at thy word as one that findeth great spoiles 162. verse Hath not this been your case have you not found those treasures in the promises the spoiles of the victories of Jesus Christ for you which you never looked for hath not the word of promise been more precious then gold and sweeter then the honey yea and the honey comb have you ever seene your rich and glorious estate in Christ so cleare and evident as of late hath not the Lord fince he separated you from your comforts relations estates and employments brought you as once he did Peter and James and John to the Mount and transfigured himselfe before you shewed himselfe in such fulnesse of glory and satisfaction that you have said it is good for us to be here hath not this time of trouble compared with the rest of your former time of your lives been like Gideons fleece most sweetly filled with the fatning dew of inward joy and peace and comfort did not many of the sweet promises of the Gospel before lye by you as uselesse did you ever know the meaning of them as of late Experience is the best knowledge and now have you not experience of the fulnesse and truth of such promises as these In ill never leave thee nor forsake thee I will be with thee when thâ—u art in the fire it shall not burn thee and in the water it shall not drown thee I will be thy God all-sufficient Have you not seen the truth of this great promise Trust in the Lord and do good so shalt thou dwell in the land and verily thou shalt be fed Psal 37.3 Can you not read the truth of the promises in your experiences as you did before the letter of them in your Bibles Have you been a looser by your sufferings Would you sell if it were possible your experiences for your former injoyments Can you not say with Solomon Blessed be the Lord God of Israel who hath with his hands fulfilled that which he spake with his mouth 2 Chron. 6.4 That is the third way whereby the Spirit comforteth in evill times by opening the treasures of the promises and by staying and chearing the heart with the comforts thereof Fourthly the Spirit of Jesus Christ comforteth beleevers in evill times by translating or carrying away the soul above out of the reach of all present troubles and sorrows so that as I may allude unto that of Philip in Act. 8.39 the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip from the Eunuch and he could see him no more but he was found at Azotus just so when troubles and sorrows arise the Spirit of the Lord catcheth away the heart and soul of beleevers and these cannot find them Isa 33.16 it is said of a beleever that he shall dwell on high his place of defence shall be a munition of rocks And in Cant. 2.14 the Church is said to dwell in the clefts of the rocks that is in the wounds of Christ for securitie from the guilt of sin in the attributes of God for his securitie in respect of the power and reach of sin and sorrow having all the attributes of God as so many mightie Rocks for his safetie and in or among the promises of the Cospel for his inward chear and spirituall consolation and here she dwels it is the place of her habitation and constant abode that no trouble or sorrow can come at her nor touch her at any time Revel 12.1 she is said to have the Moon under her feet So that it is as easie for men yea more casie for men to hit the Moon and pluck her out of the firmament then it is to come at the
God my high tower God gives unto the soule the wings of a Dove as David hath it Psalme 55.6 viz. of his Spirit whereby he flies away and is at rest Tell me you experienced holy ones did you ever feele the strength of faith more glorious in you then since these troubles came upon you have you not found your faith a great deale weaker under lesser troubles then now when happily you are plundered of all you have Fourthly as the Spirit of God shewes the soule where his sccuritie is and the doore hereunto and gives legs and spirit to run unto it it shewes God and Jesus Christ and brings the soule unto God through Christ So in the fourth place it enables the souleta treat with God in prayer and to prevaile with him to be his securitie his rocke his defence c. The Spirit of Christ moves the soule towards God through Christ and then suggests and dictates its request unto him Gal. 4.6 Because you are sonnes God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Sonne into your hearts whereby you cry Abba Father the Saints of God are sons of God Ye are sons saith the Text the free grace of God maketh them so by adoption the Spirit of God makes them so by the infusion of the Divine Nature viz. so farr as communicable the sons of God have the Spirit of Christ because you are sonnes God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts where hee gives the priviledges of his Sonne he gives the Spirit of his Sonne into their hearts not onely the knowledge of his Sonne into their heads and the confession of his Sonne into their tongues but the Spirit of his Sonne into their hearts whereby ye cry the Spirit of Christ is a spirit of prayer and of fervency in prayer ye cry Abba Father the Spirit of Christ is the Spirit of adoption and that to the Greeks as well as to the Jewes and the Spirit perswades that now the sonnes of God are not onely of the Jewes but the Gentiles and that hee is a Father to all that call upon him in Truth whether Jewes or Greekes and therefore the Apostle here speaketh in the language both of the Jewes and Greekes viz. the whole world Abba Father the maine that we note here to our purpose is that the Spirit of Christ is a Spirit of prayer and it cheares the soule in time of trouble by enabling it to powre out it selfe unto the Lord in prayer which is a sweet supporting exercise God commands in nothing to be carefull but in every thing to let our requests be made knowne unto him in giving of thankes Philip. 4.6 God would have his people live in quietnesse not in anxious troubles and solicitous cares of the minde be so carefull for nothing turne not your troubles into cares but into prayers in every thing by prayer and supplication let every thing occasion prayer and supplication and let your prayers be alwayes dasht with thanks-giving your present wants may move your prayers and earnest requests your supplications and your present enjoyments calls for your thanks-giving This God commands in many places in the holy Scriptures Open thy mouth wide I will fill it Psal 81.10 we cannot out pray Gods power and goodnesse No he is able and therefore willing to doe abundantly above all that we are able to aske or thinke Ephes 3.20 I might bring in many more places as that in the Canticles 2.14 Let me see thy face let me heare thy voice and againe Call upon me in the day of trouble I will heare thee and turne thy prayer into prayses thou shalt praise me Psal 50.15 The Spirit puts the soule into an improvement of these incouragements in this duty And here againe let me appeale unto you Oh ye afflicted and persecuted Saints did you ever feele the Spirit of prayer so swectly breathing in your souls as since your troubles Have you not found that freenesse and inlargednesse of spirit which you neuer found in all the dayes of your pilgrimage cannot many a secret corner witnesse such pantings such movings such powring forth of prayers and teares and holy and heavenly affections as you never knew before and hath not this been a most sweet strengthning ordinance unto you though God hath touched you as it were in the hollow of your thigh I mean your estate your friends and outward comforts that perhaps you may halt all the dayes of your life in respect thereof yet have you not had such a blessing through your wrastling with God as that you would not want it for all your former wonted comforts That is the fourth particuler Fiftly as the Spirit of God doth minde the soule of God his tower of Jesus Christ the doore into it gives strength to come unto it enables to pray and prevaile with God for protection and supplies so in the last place the spirit proves in the soule grace sufficient to support to uphold during the trouble it lies under 2. Cor. 12.9 The Apostle Paul lying under some great pressure of spirit what it was is the different judgement of many godly learned yet it drove him unto God in Christ and his answere was that the grace of God was sufficient for him the grace of God that is the favour of God is sufficient to appease and satisfie his conscience from guilt and the grace of God that is the Spirit of grace is sufficient to support and keepe up the heart notwithstanding the power of the affliction This Spirit of Christ convaies as it were the influence of Gods attributes his power goodnesse and mercy and the influence of Christs Offices and Merits and applyes and brings home the sweet and luscious promises and the strength of supporting ordinances in that experimentall and sutable manner unto the condition of the soule that no man knowes the meaning hereof but spirituall Christians indeed And tell me againe O ye afflicted of the Lord have you not felt the secret workings of the attributes of God Offices Blood and Merits of Christ the Promises of the Gospel and Ordinances of Gods Worship like the still dew of heaven dropping upon your soules and making you fruitfull in all peace and joy in beleeving filling you with patience meekenesse and all other graces of the Spirit to the praise of his grace And have not you beene in respect of your inward and spirituall security like God himselfe a bove all storms and troubles belowe able to laugh them to scorne have you not felt such refreshings to come from the presence of the Lord which have been as waters out of a rock in a thirsty land Have you not been hereby able to see all things beneath you and your selves like God in securitie when clouds and darknesse have beene round about you solacing your selves in your God pertaking of that fulnesse of joy and drinking from those rivers of pleasure which are in his presence for evermore And that is the fourth generall
answer to the second generall question namely how the Spirit comforteth beleevers in evill times viz. by tâ—anslating and carrying them above the reach of all trouble and sorrows here belowe and setting them in God as in a sure rock and defence Fifthly the Spirit comforteth Beleevers in evill times by setting before them and clearing up unto them the glory of and their interest in the excellencie of the other world the inheritance incorruptible undefiled that fadeth not away reserved for them in the heavens revealed unto them by the Spirit of Christ is that wherein they greatly rejoyce though now for a season if need be they are in heavinesse through manifold temptations 1 Pet. 1.4.6 verses those glorious things which eye hath not seen nor eare heard nor mans bea rt conceive prepared by God for them that love him and revealed by the Spirit 1 Cor. 2.10 God having given them the Spirit that they may know the things that are given to them of God verse 12. These things I say bear up the heart in evill times this made Steven seeing the glory of God and Jesus Christ standing at the right hand of God and all the glorious vision of heaven opened unto him insensible of that stonie strome by which he was translated unto that glory quietly refigning his soul unto God and begging mercie for those that killed him Act. 7.60 This was that that made those holy Martyrs in the old time an extract of the storie whereof we have in the 11. to the Hebr. to indure cruell mockings and scourgings bonds and imprisonments tortures and stonings sawing in sunder and to be killed with swords wandring up and down in sheep skins and goats skins being destitute afflicted tormented Hebr. 11.35 36 37. viz. They looked after a Countrey better then this world even heavenly and a City prepared for them by God verse 16. Their eyes being fixed and directed by the Spirit upon the recompence of the reward verse 26. This made both them and the Lord Jesus himself with patience to run the race that was set before them to indure the crosse and to despise the shame viz. the joy that was set before them Hebr. 12.12 And this was that that made the Apostles in after times not to faint in the sad various and manifold perishings of their outward man namely their looking not at the things that are seen but at the things that are not seen 2 Cor. 4.16 17 18. And their certain knowledge that when their earthly tabernacles were dissolved they had a building of God an house not made with hands but eternall in the heavens 2 Cor. 5.1 This made them rejoyce in partaking with the sufferings of Christ because they knew that when his glory should appear they should be glad also with exceeding joy 1 Pet. 4.13 and that if they suffered with Christ they should also reigne with him 2 Tim. 2.12 And this also made the Saints of God after the Apostles times in the time of the ten Persecutions to indure burning stoning frying roasting scalding cutting whipping with hot wiers tearing in peeces with wild beasts boring out of eyes tearing of the flesh from the bones with hot pincers and iron instruments plucking out of their bowels and all other exquisite tortures as divellish cruell heart of men taught by the Devill himself could invent the severall stories whereof are extant which would make our very hearts to ake and bleed yea enough to overcome our very thoughts even unto swounding to read and beleeve the same yet the Spirit of God made them able by shewing them the glory of a better resurrection as the Apostle hath it Heb. 11.35 And this was that that made likewise the people of God under Queen Maries dayes of later times to indure such cruell burnings c. even the glory of another life this made a burning flame a bed of roses and this was light in darknesse and life in death unto them And again I appeal unto you O ye that now fill up the rest of the sufferings of Christ do ye not feel the vision of glory chearing up your hearts and silling you with inward glory and joy Did you ever see the heavens so clear over your heads as now Doth not your waiting for the hope of the glorie of God raise up your hearts Doth not this make you look upon your present troubles and losses of your estates and comforts with more inward joy and peace and quietnesse of spirit then ever you could look upon them when you had them Hath not God by quitting you of your estates and large enjoyments here belowe quitted you likewise of a great deal of trouble and perplexitie and made you exult in the enjoyment of himself in his Son by his Spirit and of al chose giorious things wherunto he hath reserved you wel that is the 5. Answer to the Question the Spirit comforteth Beleevers in evill times by setting before them the glory of another world Lastly the Spirit of Christ comforteth Beleevers in evill times by furnishing them with and enabling them to the exercise of those suffering gifts and graces that are suitable unto such a condition Afflicted Saints are strengthened with all might according to the glorious power of God unto all patience and long-suffering with joyfulnesse Colos 1.11 They are in themselves weak but of weak God makes them strong and therefore they are strengthened with all might God hath no strength beyond all might and beleevers in God are strengthened with all might unto patience the Saints have need of patience unto all patievce they are obnoxious unto all troubles and therefore need all patience and long-suffering not patience for a time but with perseverance even long-suffering and that not with grief and discontent but with joyfulnesse Patience imply sorrows and comforts imply sufferings and yet with joyfulnesse for the truth is the verie grace of patience is more precious then deliverance and freedome from the trouble which is the cause thereof The Apostle saith Rom. 5.3 We glory in tribulation why so because saith he tribulation worketh patience and patience experience and experience hope It is a beleevers joy and crown of rejoycing to see the thriving of the inner man and that his heart and every part there may be as a fruitfull garden sweetly flourishing with the beds of spices he will pray and desire that North wind viz. cold winter afflictions or South wind viz. the warme comforts of the inner or outward man may blowe upon it Song 4.16 And it will glory even in afflictions when the fruit thereof shall be such prosperity in the inner man If so be that the blessed prosperitie of afflictions shall be such a sweet of-spring as that as Abraham begat Isaac and Isaac begat Jacob. c. So afflictions shall beget patience and patience experience and experience hope c. Surely a beleever cannot chuse but rejoyce yea glory in afflictions as much as ever Sarah did rejoyce and glory in
I Have perused this Discourse entituled Honey out of the Rock and find it answerable to the Title full both of strength and sweetnesse and therefore do approve the publishing of it in Print April 19. 1644. Joseph Caryl HONEY OUT OF THE ROCK OR GODS METHOD IN GIVING THE SWEETEST Comforts in sharpest Combates Chiefly intended As Spirituall Plunder for Plundered Beleevers Judges 14.14 Out of the eater came forth meat Hebr. 10.34 And took joyfully the spoiling of your goods knowing in your selves that ye have in heaven a better and an enduring substance LONDON Printed by Francis Neile for Henry Overton in Popes-Head Alley 1644. TO ALL THE PERSECVTED Members of Iesus Christ especially the Exiles and Plundered of Bristol Exeter Westchester Oxford and elsewhere in these bleeding Kingdoms of England and Ireland Right precious in the Lord IT is hard to say whether would first have devoured the persecuted Saints in the Primitive times either the depth of their miserie or the weight of their glorie had not the Almightie enlarged their capacity to bear the one as well as the other and therefore not doubting the Father of mercies continued dispensations towards you afflicted for his sake in a way of like abounding consolations your poore brethren not yet honoured as your selves to suffer for Christ do look upon you they know not whether with more compassion or holy emulation t is true your outward condition hath a sad aspect to the eye of reason you are driven from the creature but it is to the Creator from the lower to the upper springs from the streame to the fountain is this miserie before your troubles you had your ordinarie commons with your fellow-beleevers but now your daily food is choice morsels your ordinarie liquids waters of life and superlative refections Benjamins messe your daily share the love of God the power of Christ the Spirit of glorie the care of Angels the prayers of Saints are all upon the wing for your present welfare is this miserie the Summum bonum the great inquirie of this blind world searching for it in all aboundancie of outward glorie is found by you and you by it sitting in sackcloth and ashes is this miserie your earth is dissolved before your bodies and your heaven prevents you before your time your joyes are immediate you reap without sowing you feed on the kernels and break not the shels you rest from your labours the vision of God the blood of Christ the joy of the spirit the food of Angels are not these your daily repast is this miserie dearest brethren it is my ambition to be your unworthy servitor in your present supports whereby if I can but help on your joy and insinuate my self among the number of your benefactors and share with them in your daily requests at the throne of grace it will be a double reward unto him who is unworthy to be mentioned with the meanest of you all J. P. Hony out of the Rock HOlinesse is the object of mans hatred and Gods love and in what subject soever it be found it produceth the contrary effects of love and hatred from God and man there is not one thing wherein wretched man more contends with his maker then about the peace and trouble joy and sorrow life and death of the Saints of God this the Apostle speaks of 2 Cor. 4.8 9. We are troubled on every side but not distressed perplexed but not in despair persecuted but not forsaken cast down but not destroyed And Christ expresly affirmeth that in the world they should have trouble but in him peace Joh. 16.33 The great contention between Michael and the Devil is not now about the body of Moses as of old Jude vers 9. but the body of Christ viz. his Church Revel 12.6 whose habitation though it be in the wildernesse and mountains of Lebanon and Amana Shenir and Hermon the Lions dens and mountains of the Leopards Song 4.8 yet even there is she leaning upon her beloved Chap. 8.5 and there hath God prepared a place for her where she is fed and supported Revel 12.16 where he maketh peace her borders and filleth her with the finest of the wheat Psal 147.14 and with honey out of the rock Psal 81.16 Extracts of spirits are most vigorous how much more the Spirit of spirits which is a beleevers recoverie in fainting fits and therefore the subject matter of our present discourse shall be this The Spirit of Christ is unto beleevers the sweetest comforts in their sharpest combates In which Proposition two things are considerable First that God hath given unto his Saints the Spirit of his Son Secondly that this Spirit yeelds forth the sweetest comforts in the sharpest trials The â—oynt confirmation prosecution and application whereof shall be endeavoured in the solution of these Questions First why God gives unto his people the Spirit of Christ Secondly how the Spirit of Christ doth comfort beleevers in evill times Thirdly how the Spirit of Christ may be discerned from the Spirit of delusion First why God gives unto his people the Spirit of his Son Answ First God gives the Spirit of his Son unto Beleevers that so they may be made like unto his Son Christ is the expresse image of God and the Saints are the expresse image of Christ if you will know what God is study Christ there you may read his infinite justice mercy love truth and goodnesse if you will know what Christ was here in the world study the Saints viz. Quatenus Saints there you may read the holinesse meeknesse humilitie patience love gentlenesseâ— with the like glorious perfection of Jesus Christ Psal 45.7 God is said to anoint Christ with the oyle of gladnesse above his fellows This is spoken of the Spirit which in many places of Scripture is compared to oyle 1. John 2.27 and else-where and the anointing oyle under the Law consisting of many sweet spices Exodus 35.8 did tipifie the powring out of the Spirit under the Gospel consisting of many sweet and precious graces and fruits therof and this is called the oyle of gladnesse to denote the chearing property of the Spirit of Christ which is as ointment Pro. 27.8 to rejoyce the heart and with this was Christ anointed above his fellows that is in respect of measure 3. John 34. but not in respect of kinde the Saints having received it of his fulnes Joh. 1.16 it pleased the Father that in him all fulnesse should dwell 1. Col. 19. but yet that this fulnesse powred forth upon the head should reach even unto the skirts of his garments Psal 133.2 the Saints are called Christs fellows God hath given them fellowship with Christ in the same inheritance Rom. 8.17 and therefore in the same Spirit Gal. 4.6 Gods designe was to make his Elect like his Son and in him like himselfe we shall be like unto Christ in glory John 3.2 and we must be made like him in grace even pure as he is pure verse 3. the