The Way to True Happiness, Sermon 5
The fifth SERMON.
For they shall be comforted.
HItherto of the point. It remaines to speake of the proofe here brought by our Sauiour: For they shall be comforted. But before wee come to the handling thereof, one point lyes in our way, which we may not let passe; and that is from the order here obserued. Our Sauiour, you see, beginnes in mourning, ends in Comfort; and the same way must we tread, if we would obtaine true happinesse. You see the point.
Doctr. Godly mourning goes before sound comfort, and vshers it in: This is our Sauiours method here, Blessed are those that first mourne, for they shall be comforted. Indeed, spirituall mourning, and spirituall ioy, they are twinnes of the same birth, come both from the same spirit, are conceiued both at once; (though not felt of vsus together) much like that birth spoken of, Gen. 38. Zarah first puts forth the hand, but Pharez was first borne into the world: so ioy first puts forth it selfe, and lends an hand (as it were) to godly sorrow, which first makes the breach; for no man can mourne kindly for sinne, till hee hath conceiued some ioy in God, but ordinarily godly sorrow is first felt of vsus, before spirituall Ioy; as here in the text, they vsually first mourne, that are afterward comforted.
And this is most agreeable to the course of Nature, Reason 1 which proceeds from lesse perfect to more perfect.
It is agreeable to Gods practise, who at the first Reason 2 drew light out of darknesse, the world out of rubbish.
It is agreeable to his prescription also, 1 Pet. 5.6. Reason 3 Humble your selues vnderunder the mighty hand of God, and in his season, hee shall rayse you vp. So also Iam 4.9, 10. Be miserable (you are so questionlesse, but see your selues to bee so) and weepe and mourne, let your laughter be turned, &c; turne all the streames into this channell to driue this mill to grind the heart; Humble your selues in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you vp. So Ier. 4.3.4. Breake vp your fallow ground and sowe not among thornes, first plow, and then expect a haruest. Circumcise your selues vntounto the Lord, and take away the foreskin of your hearts, &c. We all enter into Gods Church, as it were by Circumcision. 1. Circumcise, and be comforted: And this was not obscurely set forth in the sacrifices of the Law, which were first slaine, and then followed meate and drinke offerings.
And as it is Gods method, so it is most agreeable Reason 4 to our present estate. For by our fall in Adam we are all to pieces, out of ioynt, and broken: and being not well set, our bones must bee broken againe, that they may be set againe; which will not be done without sorrow and paine. Wee are riuetted and glued to our sins, and must be torne violently from them: which cannot be done without sorrow, which is therefore defined to be solutio continui, &c.
Ʋse. 1 Doth godly sorrow precede comfort? Let not then such of the Saints, as God hath humbled vnderunder his hand, bee discouraged; but expect a crop of comfort after a seeding of sorrow. It is ordinary with the Lord to breake his best children with troubles without, and terrours within; with breach vponupon breach, and what vse is commonly made hereof? why? they are apt enough to conclude, that God loues them not therefore; yea the greater the crosse is, the lesse they think themselues beloued of God. If hee exe…cise them with great afflictions, g…eat temptations, great corruptions, great desertions, &c: they are ready to grow into fits of despaire, nay, to be foole their owne innocency, as if they had washed their hands in vaine, to blesse the wicked, as Dauid and to conclude that all men are liars, euen Samuel also and the rest of the Prophets, by whom God had assured him of the kingdome, nay, to curse their birth, as Iob, and to wish themselues vnborne, as Ieremy. And all this out of ignorance and mistake of Gods vsuall manner and method, which is to set night before day, and to draw ioy out of sorrow, light out of darkenesse.
Ʋse. 2 Reflect vponupon your selues a while, and examine whether yet you hauehave euer entertained this guest, godly sorrow; for otherwise, you canno… expect any kindly comfort. But here, alas, is the misery of it, men catch at comfort too soone, before they hauehave beene throughly humbled, reape befo…e they are ready: and hence it is, that ministers hauehave so small comfort of them, hence they become proud, censorious, busy-bodies, vnsettled, as the stony ground, which withered so soone, because it wanted earth, the plow had not gone deep enough. Hence it is that hauing neuer been soundly humbled, they so soone start back, are easiely drawne to take the first opportunity of sinfull profits and pleasures, as an infant that is lately weaned, if the breast hauehave not beene made bitter enough at first, will soone bee drawne to suck againe. The Lord takes little content or pleasure in such vnhumbled sinners: Nay, if it were possi…le, and could comply with his pure nature, hee would take more pleasure in a broken and humbled deuill, then in a proud and swelling Angell.
But here it may be obiected, Obiect. that God requires not such a deale of sorrow from his children?
Yes, hee doth, though not as an end,Sol. yet as a meanes of their happinesse and comfort: for godly sorrow is to bee reckoned inter remouentia impedimenta, among those things that remoue the impediments to sound ioy and comfort. For as in the body, proud flesh must be taken away, before sound can come in place: so must our proud hearts be tamed and taken d…wn, before true ioy can succeed; they must be humbled, before they can bee healed; else wee are too hasty in taking comfort, and there is no greater danger then to skin ouer the sore, before it hath beene searched and purged to the bottome.
Obiect. Yea, but God delights not that his Saints should be vexing themselues, and alwayes blubbering.
S…l.We told you before that this sorrow for sinne is not of a vexing, tearing property, but rationall; feeding, healing: for it is set vponupon its owne obiect (and eueryevery thing then works kindly, when it is set vponupon a right obiect.) It turnes the will the right way, sets the face of a man toward God, his backe toward sinne; puts the soule in ioynt, whence arises a great deale of ease.
Obiect. I, but many of Gods Saints hauehave neuer felt this piercing sorrow, hauehave gone to heauen without it?
Solu.It must bee considered that there is difference betweene sinne and sinne, and likewise betweene sinners and sinners. For sinnes, some are more heauy, and some more light. For sinners, som men see the remedy, as soone as they see their misery; the plaster, as soone as the wound; the bitternesse of their sorrow is soone put ouer: but yet, eueryevery one hath some measure of godly sorrow, before he is comforted. It must be vnderstood, that there is a double sorrow: 1. that precedeth ioy. 2. that followes soone after it: Nay, there is a concomitant rationall sorrow, that accompanies and goes along with a Christian his whole life throughout: this makes him at first to startle at sinne, as afraid to offend God; and in the act it causeth a renitency of the will together with remorse, and a reflecting vponupon a mans selfe after all. So that the point stands true; for sooner or later hee hath surely mourned, that is soundly comforted. And let vsus all looke to it, if we challenge comfort, see that sorrow lead the way, see that you be able to remember where & when you hauehave sighed, mourned, wept ouer Christ. There is no haruest, but there hath beene a seeding-time, no solid comfort, but sorrow hath gone before, or accompanied it, or at least wise followed after. But wee hasten
For they shall be comforted.
THe point that without any more adoe wee'll present vntounto you from these words, is: that
Godly sorrow will once end in sound comfort Doct.
And for this wee hauehave good security, whether we looke to Gods promises, or good mens experiences. For the first, God hath vndertaken it in many places. Ieremy 31. throughout, tends to this purpose. In the prophecy of Isaiah eueryevery where almost we finde it promised, as Chap. 35. vlt. The ransomed of the Lord shall returne and come to Zion with songs, and euerlasting ioy vponupon their heads: they shall obtaine ioy, and gladnesse, and sorrow, and sighing shall flye away. So Isay. 61.1.3. The spirit of the Lord is vponupon me, &c: to appoint vntounto them that mourne in Zion, to giuegive vntounto them beauty for ashes, the oyle of ioy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heauinesse, &c. Christ was sent for this, it was his message, his businesse into the world, and be sure hee will not forget his errand. So Chap. 65.13. Behold my seruants shall eate, but ye shall bee hungry; Behold, my seruants shall drinke, but yee shall be thirsty; Behold, my seruants shall reioyce, yea, sing for ioy of heart, but ye shall cry for sorrow of heart; and howle againe for vexation of Spirit: besides, many other passages, which we purposely forbeare to recite: Neither only shall godly sorrow end in ioy, but is attended, and accompanied with comfort, 2 Cor. 7.6. We are troubled, saith the Apostle, on eueryevery side: without were fightings, within were feares. Neuerthelesse, God that comforteth those, that are cast downe, comforted vsus, &c. So Ioh. 16. about the latter end. In the world ye shall hauehave trouble, but (euen then) in me ye shall hauehave peace. Christ can yeeld a man comfort euen while the world afflicts: Thus you see God hath promised ioy vponupon spirituall mourning, and therefore, it is sure enough; for what God promises, hee purposes; and what hee purposes, hee concludes; and his decrees shall stand.
But as God hath promised it, so good men hauehave had the experience of it. Consult the Saints in all ages; Dauid, Psal. 94 19. In the multitude (saith he) of my thoughts within me, thy comforts delight my soule. the word in the originall is very significant, and imports (if I forget not, for I hauehave not looked the place) a double, a strong comfort. So Paul, 2 Cor. 1.5. As our sufferings abound, so our consolation also by Christ doth superabound, and, as it were, ouertop all our afflictions. And what is true of particular members, is also true of the whole body, Psal. 126. they that sowe in teares, shall reape in Ioy: and Psal. 97. penult. Light is sowne for the righteous, and ioy for the vpright in heart, the latter part of the verse expounds the former: what is meant by light? Ioy: and what by righteous? the vpright in heart: for these, it is that ioy is sowne, and as sure as an haruest followes a seeding; so to these comfort followes mourning.
But let vsus see some reason also for this point. Reason 1
And first from the nature of sorrow. It is an imperfect passion, not made for it selfe, but for some higher vse, as also all the rest of the declining affections are, as hatred for louelove, feare for confidence, &c; so also sorrow for ioy; vntounto which it is subseruient: like as launcing and searing are not for themselues, but for ease, and remedy; a potion is not for sicknesse (which yet it causeth for the time) but for health; so sorrow is made for ioy, and ioy is the end of sorrow; and God, we may be sure, will hauehave his end.
A second reason, wee may take from the nature Reason 2 of ioy, which is strong, Nehem. 8. The ioy of the Lord is your strength, it preuailes ouer all: like as the Sun being ouer-cast, and shadowed with a fog or cloud f…r the time, soone vanquisheth, and makes its way through all: so this spirituall Ioy, though it may bee ouerclouded for a season, yet it will breake through all, and clearely shew it selfe. Naturall ioy is weake, and may bee crusht: carnall weaker, and quickely vanisheth, but this that is spirituall, is vnconquerable; as oyle will ouertop all other liquours, and cannot bee kept vnderunder …o more can this ioy of the Lord, it will bee vppermost, and deuoure all sorrow in time,
Reason 3 Thirdly, godly sorrow and spirituall ioy, they grow both vponupon one roote, flow both from one spring, euen the same holy spirit. That spirit of grace and supplication that makes Gods people weepe ouer Christ whom they hauehave pierced, Zach. 12.10. is no lesse a spirit of ioy also, Gal. 5.22. for the fruit of the spirit is ioy, &c. Now the spirit is euer like it selfe, full of order, full of wisdome; and so makes a man to know his seasons as well of reioycing, as of mourning. In other ioyes (both naturall and carnall, and so likewise in sorrows) there is a confusion: but spirituall are alwayes with iudgement, by rule, and in order, the one makes way for the other; as the meanes for the end, to which it is subordinate, and so much sorrow as hath gone before, so much ioy succeeds and followes after.
Reason 4 Lastly, we may reason from the effects of godly sorrow, which still 1. humbles a man, and takes him downe, and by that meanes makes him cheerfull. A little child, when his stomacke is once taken downe with a twigge or two, you shall hauehave him the merrier all day after. It is certaine, the more humility is in the heart, the more ioy there will be. 2. Godly sorrow still vents its selfe in prayer, which also fils the heart with comfort, according to that of our Sauiour, pray, saith he, that your ioy may bee full. 3. It helps and furthers faith: Now Faith is our liuing, it is that which holds a Ch…istian vp in life, for the iust man liues by his faith. 4. It drinkes vp carnall, fretting sorrow, lets out pride, and other corruptions, lets in ease and comfort. Now lay all these together, and it will easily appeare, that godly sorrow goes before sound comfort.
Information, and so it serues to determine a Ʋse. 1 great question, viz. who is the happy man, and where happinesse is to be had. Runne not to Plato, to Solon, or other heathen Sages to be resolued in this point. Our Sauiour here tells vsus that when a man hath godly sorrow, and from thence spirituall ioy (and of sorrow and ioy, we know, mans life is made vp as the yeere of winter and summer, and as the naturall day of light and night) then he is to be accounted truly happy. He only is so to be held, if Christ may be heard, that both can mourn and reioyce in spirituall manner. We meddle not heere with naturall, but make comparison betweene carnall ioy and spirituall ioy: wherin you shall plainely see the spirituall man hath the start of the carnall.
And 1. the wicked mans ioy is a false deluding ioy, gaudium vanitatis, as one speakes, a flashing,August. they reioyce in the face only, and not in the heart; there is heauinesse in the heart many times, when the face counterfeits a smile. But now spiritual ioy is solid, substantiall, massie, it is in the heart (not in the face onelyonly) and diffuseth it selfe, as it were, into all the veynes of the soule. The carnall mans ioy lyes quite without himselfe, lies without doores as it were; in his pots, in his sports, &c: but the godly man hath matter of ioy in himselfe, 'tis rooted in himselfe, God is his ioy, yea, the ioy of his ioy, as Dauids, &c; and so it is more solid.
Secondly, godly ioy is more safe then carnall, which many times proues dangerous, hazards mens wits; yea, their liues also: for some hauehave lost both wits and liues through excesse of ioy, which hath so dilated the heart, as it hath let out the soule.
Vid. Valer. Max.Thirdly, spirituall ioy is more lasting, sure, and durable, then that which is carnall. The good mans sorrowes are temporary, and transient, but his comforts euerlasting. The ioy of the wicked quickly vanisheth, 'tis as the crackling of thornes vnderunder a pot, a sudden blaze, and soone extinguished: But spirituall ioy abides with him still in life, in death; yea, it out-liues life it selfe.
Fourthly, as it is more lasting, so is it more rationall: It is a wise, iudicious, well-composed ioy, whereas carnall mirth is a meere madnesse: you shall hauehave a mad man will sing and daunce, and shout and hout, and seeme to be the merriest man in all the towne. Oh, but this is but his distemper: What sober-minded man would wish to be in his case, or doth not rather pitty his misery? And such is the mad mirth of all gracelesse, and wicked men: for indeed, they hauehave no reason at all to reioyce, vnlesse it bee in hope that they may become godly, but the godly man hath iust cause to reioyce, he doth it for good reason, God calles vponupon him to doe it, shewes him reason why he should doe it. And thus for the point of Ioy, the good man hath the aduantage of the wicked. And no lesse also in his griefes.
See it: 1. In the cause, in the spring of his sorrow. The godly mans griefe comes from a rectified will, from a sound iudgement, a soft heart, &c. as wee told you before: but, the carnall mans sorrow proceedes from distemper, &c.
See it, secondly, in the matter: the wicked takes on extremely for a matter of nothing, his heart is ready to breake at a trifle, for a thing that's not worth speaking of; as some small vnkindnesse, or discourtesie from a friend, or that he was passed by vnsaluted, yea, many times of mere curstnesse of heart: But now the good man findes himselfe somewhat else to doe, then to be troubled for such trifles: His griefes are for sins, his owne and others, but specially his owne, that which troubles him, is the dishonour daily done to Gods name, the afflictions and miseries of Gods Church and people, &c.
See it thirdly in the manner: The carnall man mournes vnreasonably, vnmodestly, absurdly, he howles vnderunder any crosse, like a dogge that hath lost his Master: but the good man mournes with reason, with moderation; his sorrow is a iudicious well composed sorrow,Vide Bellar. de gem. colum. hee knowes why hee grieues, and how to grieue, and how much, hee needs not pray for moderation here, as some hypocritically speake of some Iesuites, this sorrow knowes it's bankes.
Lastly, they differ in the effects: carnall sorrow, desperate vexing, tormenting sorrow, it raises mud, prouokes a man to belch out oathes, curses, and words not farre from blasphemy: but spirituall sorrow is hopefull, easefull, comfortable, leads a man to God by praier, &c. And thus you see the good man hath the best both ioyes, and sorrows, and so is to be reputed the only happie man. And so much for the vse of information.
Ʋse. 2 Instruction and exhortation to vsus all, to perswade vsus to entertaine this guest of godly sorrow, as euer wee desire to attaine true comfort. All men are willing to bid comfort welcome, and would gladly enioy a contentfull estate; why, now then learne to beginne at the right end, euen in godly sorow; (carnall and naturall sorrow wee neede not to be perswaded vntounto, they will come on too fast, but against them we must hold possession) but this godly sorrow comes on slow enough; draw it on therefore, grow acquainted with it, as euer you would be acquainted with sound comfort: Goe this way to worke, else you lose your labour, first, know the thing secondly, the meanes.
How shall I know my sorrow to be such as will end in comfort?
Wee hauehave said somewhat to this question Quest. before, somewat more wee will now say, and in anther manner.
Answ. First, if it be a godly sorrow, it is taken vp about godly matters, 'tis a sorrow after God, &c. A Christian prayes, he can hauehave no answer, seeks Gods face, but cannot finde it towards him, sues for his fauour, but cannot get the sense of it; this sets him a grieuing, and now as a little child that in some field or croud hath lost his mother, hee sets vp his note, and cries, His mother, his mother, what shall hee doe for his mother! hee fills the ayre with his moanes and complaints; so the good man, when he wants the sense of Gods louelove in his soule, he mournes after his father, laments after God, whom he hath lost by his vngraciousnesse, carelesnesse, vnwatchfulnesse: And as this is a matter of greatest griefe vntounto him, so likewife to behold the prophanation of Gods holy name, and day, and all other the common sinnes and abominations of the time.
2. You may know godly sorrow by the source and spring, whence it floweth, viz. Zeale for Gods name, indignation against sinne, &c.
3. By the effects, for it takes a man off from sinne, brings him out of louelove with it, drawes him to God, casts him vponupon his knees, makes him weepe ouer Christ, &c. Now, if your sorrow be such, it is a godly sorrow, and shall end in comfort; but how shall I get it: Here resolue vponupon these three things: 1. That you must entertaine this guest of godly sorrow; there's a necessity of it; God requires it, the state of the Church calls for it, the time calls for it, the weather calls for it, mine owne sinnes, and the sinnes of others call for it. 2. That it is possible to be done; resolue, that you may do't: to vsus indeed of our selues it is impossible, but 'tis possible for vsus to goe to God, and he can giuegive vsus a soft heart. Encourage thy selfe therefore hereunto, and say, Hee that tooke away the stone out of Dauids heart, out of Nehemiahs heart, &c. Hee can doe as much for mee, to him therefore will I goe. 3. Resolue vponupon this also, that as you must, and may, so you will do't: and for that end, take conuenient time and place; you hauehave had your time to sinne in, and many places can witnesse of your forwardnesse that way; finde out therefore some fit time, some corner, wherein to sigh and sob, to weepe and lament after God, whom you hauehave offended, ouer Christ, whom you hauehave pierced, the holy Ghost, whom you hauehave grieued, the church, which, by not helping, you hauehave betrayed, and yet further, hazarded your owne soules and bodies, which you hauehave endangered.
Ʋse. 3 Comfort to those that mourne in spirituall manner, euerlasting ioy shall rest vponupon their heads. And first, in generall, for the whole Church, here's comfort, though shee fall, shee shall arise, though shee sit in darknesse, the Lord shall giuegive her light, Micah. 7. Her enemies indeede are many, but her friends more; a strong Prince, strong Angells, &c. God himselfe will comfort his Sion, and all her mourners, Isai. 7. yea, make himselfe maruellous in their deliuerance, when all other humane helpes and comforts faile, Isai. 43.18, 19, 20, 21. Secondly, for particular persons that mourne, here's comfort: Shew me godly sorrow, and I'll shew thee ioy & comfort for present, and such as shall be more afterwards: for the ioy of the Lord is a strong joy, and will more and more multiply. It is foreign, as Basil call it, a kinde of vse, yea, vse vponupon vse; the teares that now we spend in a spirituall manner, will minister vntounto vsus comfort a thousand thousand yeeres hence, bring vsus euerlasting ioy.
If I were sure (may some man say) my sorrow were a godly sorrow, and accepted, Obiect. I could take the comfort you speake of; but I make great question of that: For, 1. It is not a constant sorrow, as the word, here vsed in the present tense, imports it should be.
Grant it be not alwaies in like measure constant, yet if there be a constancy:Sol. 1. in the truth of it: 2. in the root of it, you hauehave a disposition still to mourne, though you be not alwaies mourning: 3. in the endeuour of being constant in it, prouoking your selfe thereunto, and lastly, a reflect act vponupon your selfe, that you are troubled, because you are no more troubled, grieue, because you can grieue no more: your griefe is a constant griefe, and shall surely end in comfort.
Yea, Obiect. but though I might be assured of it for the constancy, yet because my sorrow is not a deepe sorrow, as the word in the originall, here vsed, implies it must be, (for foreign imports a funerall sorrow, such as wee conceiue in the death of a dearest friend, most neerly allyed vntounto vsus) therefore I am discomforted.
For answer to this, we must tell you,Sol. that there is a twofold sorrow: the one rationall, the other sensible; this latter is most stirring, but the other more precious, and better esteemed, though composed and silent. Here then you must looke, which of these two sorts of sorrowes you prize most, which is the greatest with you, appreciatiuè, as the Schooles speake, to another sense, which you set the highest price vponupon in true iudgement: worldly and carnall sorrow comes on vsus indeede, in a more sensible manner, for present being, as a land-flood, or a sudden storme; whereas spirituall is a constant guest, deepe and soaking, and in true reason you preferre one teare for sinne, before all that blubbering for an outward crosse. Secondly, in worldly sorrow a man is a meere patient, hee grieues indeed, but sore against his will; whereas in godly sorrow a man is an agent, hee vseth meanes to hauehave his heart broken, hee goes to God for that blessing, hee comes to the Word with the same desire and intent, and prayes before hand, that God would so worke by and with his owne Word, that hee might be more and more humbled for his sinne. Thirdly, looke to the reflect act (for eueryevery thing reflects more or lesse, according to the strength thereof) Dost thou mourne, that thou canst no more mourne in spirituall manner? In worldly sorrow, a wise man befooles himselfe afterward, for being so much vexed, troubled: hee repents of what hee hath done, this way, and vndoes it againe, hee vnsorrowes all his worldly sorrowes; but here 'tis otherwise, a man cannot satisfie himselfe in his godly sorrowes, but when hee hath done his vtmost, hee would faine doe more, he holds it his happinesse, and is neuer more merrie, then when he hath mourned most. If then in true reason you preferre godly sorrow before other sorrowes, can be actiue here, and prouoke your selfe to it, and when you cannot mourne to your minde, you are thereat greatly troubled, your sorrow is a godly sorrow, it passeth with God, and shall be accepted.
Yea, if it were true and right; Obiect. but how shall I know that?
Why, Answ. What hauehave wee beene doing all this while? Briefely, if your sorrow be right: 1. It is sincere, for sinne simply, as it is sinne, that is, for eueryevery sinne, and for sinne in whomsoeuer I see it, though firstly and chiefely for sinne in my selfe: Secondly, it is a constant sorrow; there is some constancy at least in the endeauour, in the reflection I condemne my selfe, because I can doe it no more, no better, &c. EueryEvery day hee deales with God, and with his owne heart, he is best apaid, when hee can mourne to purpose; most at ease when his heart melts; greatly grieued, when he findes it hard; and when he findes it not yeeld, and relent, he ariseth displeased, and griefe for not grieuing is deepest: Sen. controu. lib. 4. Ille dolet vere, &c. Thirdly, it is a secret sorrow (though, if there be iust occasion, he can do it also in publike) that's the truest sorrow, that is sine teste, done in priuate. Many can weepe at a sermon, or publike meeting, but here's the triall of the truth of our sorrow, if it be secret, in coole blood: in times of peace, when all goes well with vsus, if then wee can bewaile before the Lord our vnprofitablenesse, vnthankfulnesse, impatiency, vncharitablenesse, and other like secret corruptions, &c. Fourthly, it is voluntary. A man sends for it (other sorrowes will come on, whether one wil or no) prayes for it, Cares not in what else he breake, so his heart may be broken, thinkes he cannot ouer-rate it, is thankfull for it, whatsoeuer it cost him. Fifthly, it leads a man to God, as it did those Israelites at Bochin, Iudg. 2. They wept and sacrificed, and as it did Iacob, he wept and prayed, Hosea 12 It mingles it selfe with our prayers, thanksgiuings, &c. This is that godly sorrow that carries comfort in the mouth of it: giuegive way to that by all meanes, and entertaine it gladly; If euer you come to heauen, it would repent you (if 'twere possible) that you hauehave mourned no more, such an abundance of ioy shall be heaped vponupon your heads. The Lord hath pronounced you blessed in the Text, and vndertaken you shall be comforted.
Obiect. I, but when shall wee hauehave this comfort?
Sol.Some you shall hauehave presently in this life, whensoeuer you shall hauehave most neede of it, but especially in the life to come. Here you can hauehave but the first fruits, but there you shall hauehave the whole haruest. Christ himselfe hath said, Blessed are those that mourne, for they shall be comforted.
And now we hauehave brought you past the worst part of your way to happinesse (that which remaines is more easie) so farreforth as you are poore in spirit, and broken in heart, you are the blessed of the Lord; Christ himselfe here entitles you to the happinesse and comfort of an heauenly kingdome.