Joy in Tribulation, Chapter 7
CHAP. VII. Comforts arising from the Word.
NOw as good Chyrurgians often heale some sores with lancing, and cure with wounds; so the Lord most frequently openeth some passage by affliction, and maketh an issue for the sinfull corruption of our soules, to drayne them, and draw out the sinfull matter which is in them; and maketh a lesser wound to cure the greater. But as hee useth these lancers and corrosives, so also hath he singular lenitives and anodynes to comfort and strengthen the wounded Spirit. Three especiall meanes hath the wisedome of God set out for sovereigne Cordials to a sicke soule. First, his Word: Secondly, those holy mysteries which we ordinarily call Sacraments: Thirdly, Prayer: all of them fitted by his wisedome to our necessity, and excellent helpes, as well to preserve the sound, as to heale the bruised heart. For Prayer is as the opening of a festered wound, and letting out the filth of the soule, that corrupt core of the old Adam, which filleth it with payne & anguish. The Word is as the playster, which applying the death and resurrection of Christ unto the sore, as well rotteth and draweth out the sinful matter, as also quickneth the sounder part, and causeth the spirit to grow and wax in health and strength. The Sacraments are as Roulers binding on, keeping close and fast the playster to the pa… affected. Of all these something would be noted severally, but briefly.
To begin with the Word, I purpose not to gather thence all those comforts which are every where stored up in it, this taske would take up al the time of Methuselah. It shall be sufficient evidently to demonstrate, first, That God hath given his Word to be a comfort to his chosen; and secondly, wherein generally it may be applyed unto us as a soveraigne Cordiall. Neither doe I intend to distinguish between the Word written and preached, the substance being in both the same, aud the difference onelyonly in the meanes and manner of conveyng it unto us; the one being as the Salve in the lumpe, the other as the same Salve, spread and applyed. Sufficient is it, that whether it bee delivered by hand or mouth,Psal. 11… 50.92. it is our comfort in affliction, and that which quickneth us. When wee are ready to perish in afflict…on, it is our delight. Oh when the spirit of a man is wounded with the sting, and vexed with the smart of sinne, when being strucken with the curse of the Law, it is sicke at the heart, striving and strugling for life with hellish agonyes;Ps… 119.103 How sweet then are his promise, unto our mouth? more then honey unto our taste. Looke as a weary and fainting Traveller, stifled with dust, and melted with heat, is revived with a coole streame, and gentle breath of ayre, so the soule of an humbled sinner tyred and tormented with fiery temptations, is wonderfully refreshed with those sweet breathings of the blessed Spirit, and these waters of Life flowing from the Sanctuary.Pro. 25.25. As are cold waters to a weary soule; so are good newes from a farre Countrey. Never did the chased, and embossed Hart so longue for the rivers of water, or more greedily plunge, or bathe himselfe in them when he had found them, as the afflicted Conscience, pursued by Satan, and hunted by the cryes of his owne lowd sins, thirsts, pynes, and even faynts for those joyfull newes of peace brought downe from heaven. Now to this very end was the Word written, That wee might have comfort from the Scriptures. Rom. 15.4.And therefore are wee commanded to comfort one another with those words. 1 The. ….18To this end was it put into the mouthes of Gods Messengers,Psal. 50.4. That they might administer a word in season to him that is weary; who are therefore with a fearefull adjuration straitly charged to comfort, 2 Tim. 4. 1,2.for so signifieth that word (foreign) the English (exhort.) And verily, therefore themselves are ordinarily more exercised with afflictions,2 Cor. 1.4, 5, 6. and in them sustained, and comforted by the blessed Spirit, that they may be the better experienced, and more able to comfort the afflicted: so that their affliction is for others consolation. Certainly, whether we consider the Word of God without us, either as a Torch or Lamp going before us in these darke and slippery wayes; or as a Guide behinde us, when we are ready to turne out of the way, to the right hand, or left; or whether we consider it as a Seed within us, immortall to beget us unto eternall life, and fruitfull to feed and sustayne us in it, how great in all these particulars, is the consolation which a weary soule receiveth by it.
Is it a small comfort to a weake and sliding foo…, travelling in a darke and dangerous way, to have a light before him, directing where to step and tread safely? Is it not a great vexation when wee are journeying in a vast and perillous desert, that wee neyther know the way, nor have any hope of direction?Gen… 37.15 Oh when wee are wandring (as Ioseph seeking for his Brethren) travelling in a search for the Lord Jesus, stragling in a solitary way, seeing no print of any foot before us, how welcome then would any man of God be unto us, who would set us in the path which leadeth to Life, and that Lord of Life? Can we account it a light blessing that the Lord went before his people in a pillar of a Cloud by day, and a piller of fire by night through that roaring wildernesse, till they arrived at that land of Canaan? But how much greater a mercy doth God vouchsafe us, in allowing us so perfect a Guide which shall never leave us till wee are brought unto himselfe, and to our eternall and glorious rest? which is not onelyonly a piller of fire, or cloud, to point out the way unto us, but a store-house also, filled with all needefull helpes to supply us in the way, and furnish us in all our wants and necessities.
Are we hungry? it is our food: Are we thirsty: it is a Well of Life: Are wee stung with that fiery Serpent? it holdeth out the bra…en Serpent unto us: Are we assaulted with strong enemies? It is the sword of the Spirit wounding that crooked Serpent,Eph. 6.17. and keeping off those Principalities, powers, and spirituall wickednesses in high places. Are wee resisted in our possession by these cursed Canaanites (whose stature and wals were up to heaven) our sinfull corruptions? It is the mighty ordinance of God to batter downe these strong holds, 2 Cor. 10. 4,5.and high towers exalted against the knowledg of God, and to bring every thought in subjection to Christ. But above all the rest, how sweet a comfort is it that even in the horrours of death, and agony of temptations we comfortably finde and feele it in us as a powerfull seede of life, quickning and repayring our fainting soules, so that when wee are sunke in the depths of tryall, and seeme even inclosed in the belly of hell, it underproppeth the weary hand, & sharpneth the voyce of our drooping faith, saying, yet God is good to Israel.Psal. 23.1.
Surely, when I heare the Lord with his owne voyce testifie,Luk. 10.42 That when this better part is chosen, it shall not bee taken away: 1 Pet. 1.23 24,25.when his holy Spirit witnesseth to our spirits, you are borne not of mortall but immortall seed, the Word of God. All fl…sh is grasse, and the glory of it as the flower of grasse: The grasse withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away; But the word of the Lord endureth for ever: and againe strongly assureth us, that we cannot fall wholly, or finally away by sinne, because the Seed of God remaineth in us. 1 Ioh. 3. 9…I cannot conceive what any soule could wish to it selfe more comfortable on earth.Pro. 23.5. Riches have wings as an Eagle, and flye away. Esa. 5.14.Hell hath opened her mouth wide to swallow the glory, pompe, and joy of the mighty. Beauty is vanity, and favour deceitfull. Pro. 31.30All our strength but sorrow and labour. Psal. 90.10Children, if good, our continuall feares; if evill, our perpetuall griefes: and in a word, Every man in his best earthly estate altogether vanity: Psal. 39. 5.Life decreasing by the growth of it; the earth, yea, even the heavens also passing away; but this blessed Word never passeth; never, but as the truth of God, in his covenant with Christ, hath evi…ntly expressed:Esa. 59.21… My Spirit, and my Word which I have put in thy mouth, shall not depart out of thy mouth, nor out of the mouth of thy seed, nor out of the mouth of thy seeds seed from henceforth, sa…th the Lord, for ever. Verily, were there no other comfort to a Christian, but only that word of Truth, the seed, and food of everlasting life, begetting him to God, and still remayning and waxing in him, it were sufficient, (if the ballance be even, and the hand steddy which weigheth it) to sinke downe all the discomforts of this world, and to establish a Christian heart with strong consolations, and glorious rejoycings.