Christs Communion with his Church Militant, Part 1

Christs Communion with his Church Militant · Part 1

p. 1CHRIST'S COMMUNION with his Church Militant.

John 14. verſ. 18.

I will not leave you comfortleſſe, I will come to you.

CHRIST and his Church are deare each to other: the truth of this is at large manifeſt in this Chapter. Chriſt as a heavenly Husband, being to leave p. 2his earthly Spouſe, to wit, his Church Militant, and to live with his Father at his right hand in glory, with his Church Triumphant; endeavoureth in various Verſes of this Chapter, to comfort the ſad Spirit of his beloved Spouſe, which he perceived was much dejected. The Verſe which I have choſen to inſiſt on, is one of them: I will not leave you comfortleſſe, I will come to you. In more words let me repeate this Verſe againe. Thou O my Love, my Dove, my faire one, art ſad I ſee and diſconſolate at my departure! As a Lily in the valley; nay, as a Lily (indeed) among thornes I ſhall leave thee: the Prince of darkneſſe dwelling in the children of darkneſſe, will endeavour to devoure thee; Sons of Belial will beſet thee, perſecute and torment thee, as they have done me before thee: but be not at this, O faireſt of women! p. 3dejected, as one without all conſolation: for I will not leave thee comfortleſſe, I will come to thee.

What difference is there betweene a Priſon-houſe and mine own houſe, if ſweet friends continually come to me there? Tis a Priſon and no better, we abide in whileſt we dwell in the body: fetter'd we are with many luſts; and groane we doe, under the tyranny & oppreſſion of a body of death; and O! wretched men that wee are dwelling in theſe dungeons of Clay, if no friend from Heaven come to us? 'Tis true, O my Spouſe, what thou ſayeſt; and therefore that thy dweling in the body may not be comfortleſſe, I will come to thee. I will not leave thee comfortleſſe, I will come to thee.

The body is a Priſon to the ſoule, and the World is a Hell to both. The God of this world p. 4is a Devill, and the children of this world Devils, to the Spouſe of Chriſt. The Father torments her ſpirit, and the Children torment her fleſh: neither in body nor ſoule, whileſt in this world, can the Spouſe of Chriſt be quiet. We that are thus in Hell upon Earth, ſhall quickly be comfortleſſe, if no friend from Heaven come to us. True, O my Spouſe: but to prevent this, I will come to thee. From Heaven to Earth (indeed) is a long journey; but yet this I'le not ſtand on, rather then thou ſhalt be left comfortleſſe, in any condition upon Earth, I will from Heaven come to thee. Let it bee what weather 'twill; at what time 'twill; and be at midnight thou need'ſt me, I will come to thee. I will not leave you comfortleſſe, I will come to you.

Affliction hath made many p. 5friends upon Earth forſake me, O my Saviour! wilt not thou my heavenly friend ſo ſerve mee? What if the Devill caſt me into Priſon? wilt thou come to mee there? wilt thou viſit me when I lye in a naſty roome, amongſt naſty wretches, that curſe and ſwear, which thou canſt not endure to heare? Yea, O faireſt of Women! rather then thou ſhalt be comfortleſſe in ſuch a condition, I will come to thee.

Thou wilt come to me O my Saviour one day; but what if the Devill keepe mee in ſuch a Priſon ten dayes? a long time? till the iron enter into my ſoule? wilt thou not wax weary at laſt, and leave comming to me? No my love, I am reſolved to the contrary. [I will not] leave thee comfortleſſe [I will] come to thee.

Why, but what if Satan winnow me as wheat, and caſt me p. 6into ſinne, which is more odious to thee then any priſon; then any place, or any thing: wilt thou not then ſhake me off for ever, & never come to me more? This O faireſt of Women, may make me ceaſe comming to thee for a moment, but no longer; for I am reſolved not to [leave] thee comfortleſſe in any condition, either of ſin or puniſhment. I will not [leave] thee comfortleſſe, [I will] come to thee.

My Text you ſee, is Chriſts conjugall promiſe to his Spouſe, of all kindneſſe, during the time of his perſonall abſence. The matter of this promiſe is conſolatory; the forme according to which our Saviour expreſſeth this conſolatory language, is firſt negative, I will not leave you comfortleſſe. Secondly affirmative, I will come to you. Theſe latter words containe the reaſon of p. 7what is delivered in the former. Wee cannot bee comfortleſſe; [becauſe] Chriſt ſtill comes to us. And thus taking the words, you may reade them thus, viz. I will not leave you comfortleſſe, [for] I will come to you. No condition can bee comfortleſſe, if Chriſt come to us.

I will not leave you comfortleſſe,] foreign, I will not leave you fatherleſſe and motherleſſe, I wil not leave you Orphants, ſaith the Originall, foreign, the word comes from, that is here tranſlated comfortleſſe, which ſignifies, to be made fatherleſſe and motherleſs; which becauſe it is uſually a condition very comfortleſſe, therefore is the word thus rendered foreign comfortleſſe. Thus the children of Chriſt ſhall not be left. They are no Orphans which have Chriſt for their Father. They are never totally bereft p. 8of all comfort, to whom Chriſt comes: and thus he will ſtill do to his Church Millitant Chriſt will never leave comming from Heaven to Earth, although it bee a very long journey, as long as he hath any one childe upon Earth. I will not leave you comfortleſſe.

I will come to you,] foreign, I returne to you ſaith the Originall; ſpoken in the Preſent tenſe, and not in the Future, [I will] returne to you, as we have it tranſlated. Ac ſi diceret Chriſtus (ſaith one) ſe licèt nondum profectum, jam eſſe inreditu As if Chriſt had ſaid, although I am not yet gone from you, yet am I returning to you. Chriſt though not actually in perſon departed, yet was ready in Spirit to be preſent with his Spouſe to the end of the world.

Thus having Paraphraſtically p. 9gone over theſe words, I will put the plaine meaning of them into this Theſis in divinity. That the Church of Chriſt Militant, ſhall not bee left comfortleſſe, becauſe Chriſt will come to her. Or thus, No Childe of Chriſt upon Earth, ſhall be left comfortleſſe, for Chriſt will come to him. What Chriſt ſpake at his departure to his Diſciples, was not for them only, but for the comfort of all his people to the end of the world. In his Diſciples hee ſpake thus to all his children, that are or ever ſhall be upon the face of the Earth, I will not leave you comfortleſſe, I will come to you.

This comfortable doctrine, that I may fully and methodically handle, I will lay open unto you theſe foure things: Firſt, that Chriſt doth come to his children upon Earth. Secondly, how Chriſt doth come to his p. 10children upon Earth. Thirdly, when Chriſt doth come to his children upon Earth. Laſtly, why Chriſt will take ſo much paines, as to come to his children on Earth? I begin with the firſt of theſe, to wit, that Chriſt doth come to his Church and children upon Earth. The truth of this is evident by our Saviours own language, and by each godly mans evidence.

Our Saviour not only in my Text, but in many other places promiſed to come to his Church Militant, and therefore ſurely he doth come to his people on Earth: for Chriſt is God, and God cannot lye nor repent. What Chriſt hath ſaid, he will do, that he will faithfully performe to a tittle: for faithfull is he that hath promiſed, ſaith the Apoſtle. Go therefore & teach all Nations, &c. Teaching them to obſerve all things, p. 11whatſoever I have commanded you; and loe I am with you alwayes, even to the end of the world, Amen. Matth. 28.19,10.Matt 28:19Matt 28:10This place ſhewes plainly that Chriſt doth come to his children upon Earth; and that he will do this to the end of the world. For Miniſters (of all men) to walke faithfully in their places, teaching their flock to obſerve [all] things, that Chriſt hath given them in charge, will coſt them hot water, eſpecially living in corrupt places. This our Saviour tenderly conſider'd; and therefore that his Diſciples might not be diſheartn'd, he aſſures them of his company unto the laſt, to ſupport and comfort them. Loe I am with you to the end of the world Chriſt by this phraſe of ſpeech, doth hint us, that what he then ſpake, ſhould reach further then unto thoſe to whom he then appeared: namely, to all Miniſters p. 12and people to the end of the world, that ſhall faithfully diſcharge their places and callings to his honour.

I might here tell you, that not only Chriſts word, but alſo Chriſts name ſets forth the truth of this, that Chriſt is with his Church Militant, and ſo conſequently, that he doth come to her. He was called Emmanuel, which being interpreted, Is God with us. Mat. 1.23.Matt 1:23Which name was not only to note Chriſt, as then corporally preſent with his Church, but to note Chriſt as one having actually aſſumed our nature, and ſo to be more gloriouſly preſent with his Church to the end of the world, then ever before from the beginning after Adams fall. Now as ſhe ſaid of her Husband, as his name is, ſo is he; Nabal is his name, and folly is with him: ſo may the Spouſe p. 13ſpeak of her Husband Chriſt; as his name is, ſo is he. Emmanuel is his name; which ſignifies God with us, and ſo indeed, is Chriſt. He is continually with us. What David ſaid of himſelfe, in reſpect of Chriſt, that may we truly ſay of Chriſt, in reſpect of us. Nevertheleſſe (ſaith he) I am continually with thee; thou haſt holden me by my right hand. Though Chriſt dwell in Heaven, and wee on Earth, yet nevertheleſſe hee is continually comming to us, and abiding with us.

The godly have and do finde the truth of this by bleſſed experience, which is the ſecond thing; and that which I rather inſiſt on, for the confirmation of the truth in hand: becauſe againſt experience there is no diſputation. Peter found the truth of this, that Chriſt comes to his children upon Earth, that p. 14their condition may not be comfortleſſe. Herod caſt Peter into Priſon, and thought to have made him comfortleſſe; but Chriſt came to him, as you may ſee. And behold (ſaith the Text) the Angell of the Lord came upon him, and a light ſhined in the Priſon, and he ſmote Peter on the ſide, and raiſed him up, ſaying, Ariſe up quickly, and his chaines fell off from his hands. Acts 12.7.Acts 12:7The Jewes by a ſtorme of Stones, thought to have made Steven comfortleſſe, but Chriſts comming to him prevented. Chriſt ſo gloriouſly came to him in that deadly ſtorme, that he found more comfort then (I beleeve) then ever hee did before in his life: for he looked up ſtedfaſtly into Heaven, and ſaw the glory of God, and Ieſus ſtanding at the right hand of God: he ſaw the Heavens opened ready to receive him, which tranſcendantly p. 15revived him which glorious viſion he could never have ſeen, had not Chriſt come to him. Paul likewiſe found the truth of this point, when he had left Athens, and came to preach to the Gentiles at Corinth. He was very fearfull, what ſucceſſe he ſhould finde in his Miniſtery, amongſt the barbarous Gentiles. Now our tender Saviour, that Paul might not bee overborne with feare, and made heartleſſe and comfortleſſe, graciouſly comes to him in a viſion, as you may read. Then ſpake the Lord to Paul by night in a viſion, Be not afraid, but ſpeak and hold not thy peace; for I am with thee; and no man ſhall ſet on thee to hurt thee, for I have much people in this City. Acts 18.9Acts 18:9Thus at another time Chriſt came to Paul, that he might not be left comfortleſſe, when he was pleading his cauſe before Anomias, and p. 16like to be pull'd in pieces. And the night following (ſaith the Text) the Lord ſtood by him, and ſaid, bee of good cheere Paul, for as thou haſt teſtified of me in Ieruſalem ſo muſt thou alſo beare witneſſe at Rome. Acts 23.11Acts 23:11At another time Paul and Silas together had experience of this truth, that Chriſt comes to his Church Militant. As they were powring out their ſoules together in prayer, Chriſt wonderfully came to them: he came in an Earthquake, and made the foundations of the priſon ſhake, and ſo opened all the priſon doores, and looſed every priſoners bonds. Comfortable was Chriſts comming to Paul and Silas, but terrible to the Goaler; for he ſeeing in what manner Chriſt broke in and reſcued his ſervant, would have killed himſelfe; but Chriſt came graciouſly to his ſoule alſo, and reſcu'd p. 17it out of the hands of the Devill. Happy was it for this man, that Chriſt did finiſh two workes in one journey; to wit, come to Paul and Silas and deliver their bodies out of Priſon, and withall come to their Goaler and deliver his ſoule out of Priſon too. In an Earthquake Chriſt came both to Priſoners & Goaler: for the Goaler came trembling to the Priſoners of hope, as a man in deſpaire; and fell downe, ſaith the Text, before Paul and Silas. 'Tis no matter how Chriſt come to us, ſo he comfort us before hee leave us. Thus I have ſhewed to you, that Chriſt doth come to his Church Militant.

The ſecond thing that I am to ſhew you, for the opening of the point, is, how Chriſt doth come to his Church Militant. To this I will anſwer, Firſt, more generally, and briefly: Secondly, p. 18more particularly and fully. More generally and briefly, I anſwer thus; Chriſt viſits his Church Militant, as David viſited & comforted Hanun, to wit, mediately by his ſpirit, as David did mediately by his ſervants. And I wil pray the Father, & he ſhal give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; even the [Spirit of truth,] &c. Iohn 14.16,17.John 14:16John 14:17Peter found the truth of this, that Chriſt by his Spirit comes now to his Church Militant. While Peter thought on the viſion, [the Spirit] ſaid unto him, behold three men ſeek thee.

But in the ſecond place, that I may more particularly and fully anſwer to this queſtion, to wit, how Chriſt doth come to his Church Militant to comfort her in all conditions; I will lay before you the generall conditions of mankinde, and ſhew you p. 19how Chriſt by his Spirit, as a Comforter, comes to us in them. The general conditions of mankinde are two, proſperity and adverſity.

Proſperity would ſoon bring the ſoules of Gods people, to a comfortleſſe condition, did not Chriſt by his Spirit come to them. Satan, that evill Spirit is ſo buſie, comming to the children of God, when in proſperity, that did not Chriſt alſo come to them by his Almighty Spirit, to quench all his fiery darts, their ſoules would ſoone be comfortleſſe, the Lord knowes. When Peter was warme in the High Prieſts Hall, then the Devill by a Damoſell came to him, and ſo far he prevail'd on him, that had not Chriſt lookt back upon him, and by his Spirit come to him, he had beene in a comfortleſſe condition indeed. And thus p. 20would the condition of good men now be, which are warme in their neſts with outward things, did not Chriſt come to them: when the ſons of God be honourable, and great amongſt the ſons of men, as David and Solomon, Iob▪ Iacob, and Abraham were; then the Devill in point of polity, though not out of love, viſits them often; and by often comming to them then, drawes their precious ſoules into many ſins, as pride, ambition, malice, ſenſuality, and the like; which like Cankers, quickly fret and eat out all divine conſolation in the ſoule, and leave it like the Prodigall feeding upon husks; ſolacing it ſelfe with no other joy & content, then what the bare creature dipt in ſin, will afford the ſenſe; which you muſt needs ſay, is of all comfortleſſe conditions, the moſt and worſt p. 21comfortleſſe. Now that theſe may not be left in this comfortleſſe ſtate, to periſh eternally, Chriſt by his Spirit, thus comes to them. Firſt in a ſweet ſtill voice behinde them, as the Prophet ſpeaks, ſaying, ſometimes, in the midſt of their ſenſuality; this is not the way to eternall joy: no, this is the way, O ſenſuall ſoule! walk in it. This ſtill voice ſtrikes a damp in the merry ſenſuall foule of a Chriſtian, & makes his heart, in the midſt of vaine laughter, ſad. If this be not prevalent enough to turne him, but on againe he will in his ſinfull way; then Chriſt comes with a witneſſe, in thundering and lightning, to convince and ſting the conſcience, as he did to the Iſraelites, to bring them to ſee their wickedneſſe in chuſing a King. Untill God thunder'd and lighten'd from Heaven p. 22fearfully, they layd not to heart their rejecting God as their King, but went on ſtrongly and unaffectedly in their way. And juſt thus oft times it is, with many of the Sonnes of God in proſperity: the ſtill voice of Chriſt ſweetly ſuggeſting, and mildely checking for fin, is not ſtrong enough to ſtop and turne them; untill the Angell of the Covenant come downe into the conſcience, and ſtand with a flaming Sword, threatning nothing but Hell and Death, if they make on a ſteppe further, they ſtop nor turne not; which though not Chriſts naturall carriage to his children, yet he will in tender love, deny himſelfe thus farre, as to put on an affrighting Vizard upon his ſmiling countenance, and come terribly, and ſave violently, by plucking his children out of the p. 23fire, rather then hee will leave any of his ſo comfortleſſe, as to periſh remedileſſe. Chriſt will ſpeak out and ſpeak plaine, as he did to David by Nathan, when a ſtill voice, and ſecret ſilent hints and becks will not do. He will come and lay his mouth to a mans eare and cry aloud, when he perceives that the pleaſure or profit of ſin, hath made him very deafe: he will never leave crying and calling, ſtriking and knocking, till he hath made the deafe ſoule heare, and humble himſelfe with Peter and David, and then he puls off the terrible Vizard from his countenance, and lookes upon the mourning penitent, with a countenance like Lebanon, and his lips drop ſweet ſmelling myrrh, into his broken ſpirit, and ſo is not left cōfortleſſe, according to Chriſts promiſe, I will not leave you comfortleſſe, p. 24I will come to you.

But ſuppoſe Satan ſhould not be buſie, comming to the ſons of God in proſperity; yet would worldly proſperity be a comfortleſſe condition, ſhould not Chriſt by his Spirit come to them. Riches and honours, together with all other delights of the Sonnes of Men, they are as the white of an Egge, things without ſavour, unleſſe Chriſt come along with them to us: they tyre and weary, prick, diſtract and vex a man: they rob him of his ſleepe, and many times of his wits, nay, of his precious life: they drowne mens ſoules in pride, voluptuouſneſſe, ſecurity, and ſo ſet them in the next way to Hell. This ſnare waits at every ungodly mans table, which makes proſperity to him comfortleſſe. This Snare that it may not catch the godly, p. 25Chriſt comes to them by his Spirit, and ſanctifies proſperity to them; he teaches them how to a bound; that is, how ſo to uſe the creature, as to enjoy ſervice and comfort from it, and to bring honour and glory to God by it.

The creature is empty of what it promiſeth; and entiſing with what it hath: and this makes proſperity to every carnall man, a comfortleſſe condition. Now to take off both theſe, Chriſt comes to his children which enjoy the creature plenteouſly: he comes in the creature, and ſo cures the emptineſſe of it: that is, by his bleſſing he makes it ſatisfiable and contentfull to the enjoyer, which it is not of it ſelfe: this is the peculiar gaine that attends the godly; Chriſt comes in the creature to them, and ſo cures the emptineſſe of it, and puts ſuch a ſupernaturall vertue and p. 26ſweetneſſe in it, that they are therewith contented. And as Chriſt comes [in] the creature to cure the emptineſſe of it, ſo hee comes [with] the creature, to cure the entiſing of it. He doth by the creature leade the ſoules of his children to the Creator: by the ſweet of the one, he lifts up their ſoules to Heaven, to admire the ſweetneſs of the other: ſo that, that which others are entiſed and beſotted with, and reſt in, that they take wing from to flee to Heaven, from whence comes every good and perfect gift, which is that indeed that makes proſperity a comfortable condition; which otherwiſe is comfortleſſe enough, the Lord knowes.

Secondly, adverſity would be a comfortleſſe condition to the godly, if Chriſt by his Spirit did not come to them: This I ſuppoſe p. 27none will deny; for no affliction in it ſelfe is comfortable or joyfull, but comfort leſſe, if Chriſt by his Spirit do not come to us. Corporall affliction is a comfortleſſe condition, unleſſe Chriſt come to us, and be our Phyſitian. Spirituall affliction is a more comfortleſſe condition, if Chriſt do not come to us.

Here theſe two queſtions are neceſſary to be anſwered: Firſt, how doth Chriſt come to us in corporall affliction? Secondly, how doth Chriſt come to us in ſpirituall affliction?

To theſe queſtions both together I thus anſwer: Chriſt the Phyſitian of ſoule and body, comes to both with comfort in one way; and that is by helping the ſoule to apply the promiſes of God, which are ſuitable to his diſtreſſe. If a childe of God be ſad and ſorrowfull, becauſe p. 28of corporall affliction, Chriſt comes to him by his Spirit, with this comfortable language, I am all-ſufficient. Chriſt by his Spirit, ſpreads abroad this Cardinall promiſe before the ſad ſoule, and ſhewes him what a depth of mercy is foulded up in it. There is a ſufficiency of wiſdome in me, to find out wayes and means to deliver thee, though never ſo low brought. There is likewiſe a ſufficiency of power, to proſecute right meanes to accompliſh their right end. Nay, there is a ſufficiency of power in me, to work about good for thee, O ſad ſoule, without meanes. There's a ſufficiency of affection and will, to declare power and wiſdome, with every Attribute elſe, for thy good. If for all this application and amplification of a generall promiſe, the ſoule ſtill droope under ſome p. 29corporall calamity; Chriſt doth then in ſuch a ſoule, as Iacobs ſons and daughters did for him, They all roſe up (ſaith the Text) and comforted him: Gen. 37.35.Gen 37:35ſo Chriſt by his Spirit after a lively manner indeed, riſes up in ſuch a ſoule to comfort him: and now hee leads this mourning Chriſtian, to ſome particular promiſe; that is, ſuch a promiſe as ſpeaks not of deliverance in generall, but of deliverance in particular, out of this or that kinde of diſtreſſe, which he groanes under. As to give you an inſtance, ſuppoſe a Chriſtian be ſad & take thought as Chriſt ſaith, what he ſhall eat, what he ſhall drinke, and wherewithall he ſhall be cloathed: then the Comforter comes with this particular promiſe, w^ch ſpeakes of deliverance out of this particular diſtreſſe. Firſt, ſeeke the Kingdome of God and his righteouſneſſe p. 30and all theſe things ſhall be added unto you: take therefore no thought for to morrow, for to morrow ſhall take thought for the things of it ſelfe. Mat. 6.33,34.Matt 6:33Matt 6:34If yet for all this, the ſpirit of a Chriſtian ſtill complaine, as one fearing he ſhall want daily bread for him and his; then the Comforter comes, and perſwades the ſoule to reſt quietly upon the promiſe of God. Hee ſpeakes now to the complaining Chriſtian, as the Levits father in law did to him, Comfort thy ſelfe I pray thee, with a morſell of bread. Iudges 19.Judg 19Comfort thy ſelfe O mourning ſoule, I pray thee, with this particular promiſe, which is but a morſell of that bread, which came downe from Heaven, one of the leaſt favours that Chriſt hath procured for thee, to wit, a right and intereſt in the creature: with this perſwaſive language, doth p. 31Chriſt follow the complaining ſoule, untill he hath perſwaded him, to own his own mercy and ſo he keeps his children in poverty, from being comfortleſſe.

As Chriſt in corporall afflictions comes to his children, and keeps them from being comfortleſſe; ſo likewiſe he comes to them in ſpirituall afflictions, that they may not be left comfortleſſe. If a childe of God be ſad and ſorrowfull, becauſe of this or that ſtrong temptation, the Comforter then comes to him with this ſweet language, My grace is ſufficient for thee. Thou prayeſt, and Satan tempts thee; thou doeſt faſt and pray, and yet Satan and thy luſts are more violent upon thee: thou doeſt all this with bitter teares, and Satan is the more bitterly bent againſt thee, and thou art foil'd every moment. By this, O p. 32winnowed ſoule! Chriſt would ſhew thee, that thou wilt bee comfortleſſe, in the midſt of all thy ſore ſoule-labour, unleſſe he come to thee. This ſame ſhall comfort us, concerning the work and toile of our hands, ſaid Lamech of Noah: ſo may we ſay of Chriſt; this ſame muſt comfort us, concerning the labour and toile of our ſoules with any temptation, or elſe we ſhall be comfortleſſe, though we labour never ſo much: and this Chriſt doth and will do, I will not leave you comfortleſſe, I will come to you.

If a Chriſtian lye languiſhing, becauſe of Satans prevailing upon him by temptation; that hee may not be comfortleſſe in this condition, Chriſt by his Spirit comes to him, and ſhews him the fountaine of his blood, how deep it is, & how free it is. 1 Ioh. 1.7.1 John 1:7How deepe it is, that it will drowne p. 33all ſin. 1 Iohn 1.7.1 John 1:7Sins after converſion, as well as before: ſinnes often repeated, as well as ſins once only committed. And then he ſhewes the wounded ſoule, how free this fountaine is, for any that hunger and thirſt for it, for any that are weary and heavie laden, and deſire to be eaſed by it; and ſo by degrees drawes the wounded ſoule, to waſh his wounds in it by faith, and ſo Chriſt heales and comforts him. As the brethren of Ephraim comforted him, when he mourned becauſe the men of Gath had ſlaine his ſons.I Chro. 7.22.1 Chr 7:22 So Chriſt comes to us, and comforts us, when the Devill by his temptations hath almoſt ſlaine our ſoules, hee like the good Samaritan, powres in oyle and wine into our wounds, and cures us. Though Satan paſſe by, and his limmes paſſe by, and leave us comfortleſſe, in the day p. 34of our wounds and bleeding, yet Chriſt cannot, ſo full of bowels is he, nor will not, I will not leave you comfortleſſe, &c.

If a Chriſtian lye languiſhing, becauſe of often and frequent relapſes, after promiſes and purpoſes to do better; If this Chriſtian in the anguiſh of his ſpirit ſpeak to every godly friend, as the Prophet did to his, Therefore ſaid I, look away from me, I will weepe bitterly, labour not to comfort me, becauſe of the ſpoiling of the Daughter of my people; Iſay 12.4.Isa 12:4Looke away from me O ye my Chriſtian friends! yea, and you my faithfull Miniſter; for I will weepe bitterly, labour not to comfort mee, becauſe of the ſpoiling of my ſoule, by ſo often ſinning, againſt vowes and promiſes, favours and bleſſings: Chriſt comes to this ſoule, and will not leave him comfortleſſe p. 35in this condition, (though it be indeed a very deſperate condition.) The Comforter uſually takes this courſe, with this comfortleſſe ſoule, to powre in ſome oyle into his deepe wounds: he reaſoneth with him from the mercy of man, to the mercy of God; from a drop to the Ocean; and it may be, faſtens upon his own language once delivered to Peter. Peter came to our Saviour and ſaid, Lord, how oft ſhall my brother ſin againſt me, and I forgive him? till ſeven times? Ieſus ſaith unto him, I ſay not unto thee untill ſeven times, but untill ſeventy times ſeven. Matth. 18.21,22,Matt 18:21Matt 18:22From this ſpeech, the Comforter thus reaſoneth, with this ſaid and ſore wounded ſoule, viz If Chriſt would have Peter, a ſinfull man, ſhew ſo much mercy to one, ſo often offending him; ſurely Chriſt a holy God, and infinite in love, is p. 36ready to ſhew much more compaſſion himſelfe, to thoſe that are penitent, though they have ſinned times without number againſt him. Thus the Comforter leades this deſperate Chriſtian, as a weak wounded man by the hand, from the mercy of man, to the mercy of God, and enables him this way, after ſome ſpace of time, to take in comfort: for Chriſt is reſolved, he will not leave this Chriſtian comfortleſſe. Chriſt will never leave comming to this comfort leſſe ſoule, with this ſpeech of his to Peter, and others of like nature (as Chriſt is well furniſht for a Comforter) untill he hath brought him to drink willingly (for Chriſt forceth no Phyſick upon any Patient) of the cup of conſolation more or leſſe; and the longer ſick ſoules turn away their heads from this cup, the p. 37more (many times) he perſwades them to drink, at laſt.

If Chriſt tentandi gratiâ for trials ſake, hide himſelfe from a Chriſtian, & ſo ſet him a mourning. I ſhall ſhew you by and by, how he comes to him. This is a condition (though of all deſerted conditions, the beſt) which will make a Chriſtian heart comfortleſſe indeed. Thou didſt hide thy face, and I was troubled. Pſal. 30.7.Ps 30:7Gods hiding his face, though but for trials ſake, will ſo trouble a Chriſtian, that hee will quickly be a burthen to himſelf, and feare round about, as 'tis ſaid of Paſhur. 'Twill make him weary of the night, and weary of the day; weary of his owne houſe, & weary of Gods houſe; weary of mirth, and account it madneſſe; weary of riches, honours, yea life it ſelfe, and wiſh for death. O that I might have my p. 38requeſt, and that God would grant me the thing that I long for, even that it would pleaſe God to deſtroy me, that he would let his hand looſe and cut mee off, then ſhould I …et have comfort: then ſhould I ſee the face of God, which I long like Moſes to ſee; then would he lift up the light of his loving countenance, and cauſe his face to ſhine gloriouſly upon me, whereas now I walke in the vally and ſhadow of death; dark dayes are all that goe over my head; the glorious Sunne of righteouſneſſe ſhines not upon my ſoul, from morning to night. To this ſad ſoule thus bemoaning himſelfe for want of his beloved, Chriſt his well beloved thus comfortably comes. There hath no temptation taken hold on thee yet, O mourning ſoule, but that which is common to man: and be aſſured of this, that God is faithfull p. 39by whom thou art tempted, and will not try thee above that which thou art able: but with the temptation alſo make a way to eſcape, that ye may be able to beare it. 1 Cor. 10.19.1 Cor 10:19For a moment O faireſt of Women; I ſay, juſt cauſe to hide my face from thee, to try the truth of thy love to me; but know, that with everlaſting kindneſſe will I have mercy on thee. Thy dulneſſe alſo in my ſerice, and thy low-priſing my company, did ſomething trouble me; but know, that the mountaines ſhall depart, and the hils bee removed, but my kindneſſe ſhall never depart from thee: for this is as the waters of Noah unto me; as I have ſworne that the waters of Noah, ſhould no more go over the Earth; ſo have I ſworne that I will not be wroth with thee, nor rebuke thee. O thou afflicted, and toſſed with tempeſt, and not comforted, behold I will lay thy p. 40ſtones with faire colours, and lay thy foundations with Saphirs, and I will make thy windowes of Agats, and thy gates of Carbuncles, and all thy borders of pleaſant Saphirs. Iſay 45.8,9.Isa 45:8Isa 45:9Out of this ſweet language of the Prophet to the naturall branch, the Comforter will fetch ſuch precious water of life, to revive this deſerted ſoule: with theſe kiſſes of his lips will he ſo comfort him, that he ſhall be conſtrained to ſay with David, Thou which haſt ſhewed me great troubles, haſt quickned me againe, and haſt brought me up againe from the depths of the Earth; thou haſt increaſed my joy and comforted me on every ſide. Pſal. 71.6.Ps 71:6I could hitherto O my God, ſee thy back-parts; ſome ſad attributes of power and juſtice, which did terrifie my ſoul to look on; but loe now I ſee thy glory, thou haſt cauſed it gloriouſly to paſſe by me, nay, p. 41to ſhine upon me: I ſee thy face like Lebanon, comely as the Cedars; and herewith is my longing ſoule ſatisfied, as with marrow and fatneſſe. This is my comfort, in mine affliction, for thy Spirit O Chriſt, by thy word hath revived mee. So that this ſoule, though very ſorrowfull, yet is not left comfortleſſe, neither. Thus I have anſwered the ſecond Quaere to wit, how Chriſt comes to us.

The third thing that I am to ſhew you, is, when Chriſt comes to us. I will not leave you comfortleſſe, I will come to you. But when, O my Saviour, wilt thou come to us? To this I anſwer firſt more generally, then more particularly and determinately. More generally and briefly, I anſwer thus, Chriſt is already come, and is preſent with his Church Militant, and will be to p. 42the end of the world, as hath beene already proved. I am come into my garden, my Siſter, my Spouſe, I have gathered my Mirrh with my Spice; I have eaten my honey combe with my honey: I have drunke my wine with my milke. Cant. 5.1.Song 5:1Chriſt we ſee by this ſweet language, is come, and is with us already. I am come, &c.

But when will he come to me in particular, as a Comforter? this is the queſtion. To this I anſwer firſt negatively, then poſitively. Negatively I anſwer thus: viz. Chriſt doth not come to us in this valley of teares, as Aaron was commanded to come into the holy place: Let him not come at all times, ſaith the Lord, leſt he die. Levit. 16.2Lev 16:2If Chriſt ſhould not come to us at all times of our diſtreſſe, we ſhould die under our burthen, ſo comfortleſſe would be our condition. When my body p. 43is afflicted, I ſhall be comfortleſſe, if Chriſt doe not come to me. When my ſoule is afflicted, I ſhall be more comfortleſſe, if Chriſt doe not graciouſly come to mee. When my head akes, teeth akes, back akes, or belly akes: yea, when my leaſt finger, or joynt in my body akes, I ſhall be comfortleſſe, unleſſe Chriſt come to me, ſo dolorous and comfortleſſe a creature is man.

Wherefore as a poſitive anſwer, to the queſtion ere-while propoſed, know, that Chriſt comes to his Church militant, at all times: as long as his people live in this valley of teares, and are in any diſtreſſe of ſoule or body. He comes to them in proſperity, to ſweeten that, or elſe there would be but a little comfort and ſweetneſs in it: but he comes to them in all adverſity, after a more ſpeciall manner p. 44to ſweeten that, being of it ſelfe very bitter; bitterneſſe in the abſtract: my meaning is, altogether bitter, without the leaſt ſweetneſſe or pleaſure in it, to ſoule or body: for no affliction is in the leaſt manner or meaſure joyous, but as Chriſt, by his kind comming to us then, makes it ſo.

But here I ſhall be thus queſtioned: viz, if Chriſt as a Comforter comes to his Church Militant, in every diſtreſſe of ſoule and body; how is it that many of Gods children, in corporall and ſpirituall afflictions, utter comfortleſſe and hopeleſſe language, as thoſe that finde no Comforter come to them? Is thy mercy cleane gone, and haſt thou forgotten to be gracious, ſaith David, haſt thou ſhut up thy loving kindneſſe in diſpleaſure, and wilt thou be no more intreated, &c. Many p. 45ſuch like ſad and dolorous complaints are ſtill uttered by ſome of Gods deare children: now if Chriſt as a Comforter, come to his in every diſtreſſe, why is it thus with theſe?

To this I will give anſwer firſt more indirectly thus. Poſſibly that ſoule which thus complaines, cannot but confeſſe that Chriſt hath come and tender'd comfort to him, though hee through anguiſh and unbeliefe refus'd it. Now if our ſoule-Phyſitian come from Heaven to us and brings Cordials for us, and we will not take them, but caſt them behinde ourbacks; ſhall our Phyſitian bee blamed for unfaithfulneſſe and negligence towards his Patients, as one that did not viſit them?

Againe, poſſibly too, this ſoul which thus complaines, muſt confeſſe that Chriſt came to p. 46him, at the very beginning of his untractablenes towards God, and told him that this would quickly bring him into a comfortleſſe condition, if not timely lookt unto; and bid him againe and againe, by a ſweet ſtill voice behinde him, to be more pliable to God, as hee tendered his favour, and his owne comfort. Chriſt came to his Spouſe, ſaying, Open to me my Siſter, my Love, my Dove, my faire one, for my head is filled with dew, and my lockes with the drops of the night. But though Chriſt thus kindly came to his Spouſe, yet ſhe unkindly put him off, and upon the matter no better then ſlighted him. I have put off my coat, how ſhall I put it on? I have waſhed my feet, how ſhall I defile them? &c. Becauſe of this untractable carriage, Chriſt departed from his Spouſe, and then ſhe made many p. 47complaints: I opened to my Beloved, but he had withdrawne himſelfe and was gone. The Spouſe could not now truly ſay, that Chriſt had not come to her; but ſhe might truly ſay, that he did come to her, but ſhee ſlighted him, and therefore he was forc'd to leave her. Thus 'tis with many now. They mourne like Rachel in their miſery, and are not comforted, becauſe none from Heaven comes to them: ſuch as theſe, cannot challenge Chriſt, for not making good his promiſe, to come to them, if formerly hee have come to them, and they have ſlighted him. If my Phyſitian, obſerving my intemperancy in this or that, come to me and tell me, unleſſe you refraine ſuch and ſuch things, you will certainly fall into ſuch and ſuch diſeaſes, which are very dangerous; if I ſlight him in p. 48this, and afterward fall into thoſe diſeaſes, and lye groaning under them, I cannot blame my Phyſitian, for not comming to me, but blame my ſelfe that did ſo ſlight him. So 'tis betweene Chriſt and many a mourning ſoule. Chriſt hath come to them and told them, that if they go on in this ſinfull courſe and that, that it will rob them quite of their heavenly comforts; but he in this friendly way hath beene ſlighted, the ſoule hath beene ſo far taken with the ſweetneſſe of ſomething below Chriſt, and ſo at laſt hath found the evill of his owne way, according to Chriſts prediction, and yet complaines of Chriſt not comming to him; but how juſtly, judge you.

Againe, as this ſoule poſſibly cannot juſtly complaine, that Chriſt hath not come to him: ſo p. 49poſſibly hee cannot juſtly complaine, that Chriſt is not come to him. That ſoule which complaines after Chriſt, cannot truly ſay, that Chriſt is not come to him: for we can never truly deſire to come to Chriſt, or that Chriſt ſhould come to us, unleſs he were already with us, and we with him. Chriſt I conclude then is come to this complaining ſoule, though not in that manner and meaſure as hee deſires him. The thought of that I long for, if I have the leaſt hope of attaining it, is a degree of conſolation.

Finally and more directly, I anſwer to this complaining ſoul thus, Chriſt as a ſenſible and ſatisfactory Comforter, comes to us at his time, and not at ours. Now Chriſts time to come to comfort mourners, is then, when mourners will make him moſt p. 50welcome; and that is uſually when the ſoule is brought to the greateſt extremity, that it is capable of, and not utterly miſcarry. When Peter was ready to ſink on the Sea, and cryed out, Maſter ſave mee or I periſh, then Chriſt came to him, and catcht him by the hand: thus doth Chriſt uſually come with ſenſible and ſatisfactory conſolations, when poore ſoules are almoſt quite ſpent with temptations, and ſoule anguiſh, and look every houre when they ſhall die and drop into Hell. He ſhall come to us, as the latter and former raine unto the Earth, ſaith the Prophet.Hoſ. 6.3.Hos 6:3 That is, at the ſeaſonableſt time, when the ſoule will make him moſt welcome; and that is, when burnt and ſcorcht with Satans fiery darts, as the Earth with the fervent heat of the Sunne; when parcht and chapt, gaping for p. 51ſome heavenly ſhowers: then Chriſts viſits will be kindneſſe indeed: and Chriſts conſolations, ſweet indeed. This ſtill remember, O mourning ſoul, that Chriſt keeps his word, if he doe not leave us comfortleſſe: and this be aſſured he will not do, I will not leave you comfortleſſe, I will come to you.

But why wilt thou come to me O my Saviour? To this I anſwer firſt thus, viz. Chriſt will come to his Church Militant to be a Comforter to fulfill his Fathers will. The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, ſaith Chriſt, becauſe the Lord hath anointed me, to preach good tydings to the meeke, he hath ſent mee to binde up the broken-hearted, to proclaime liberty to the Captive, and the opening of Priſon to them that are bound, to proclaime the acceptable yeare of the Lord, to comfort all that mourne, p. 52&c. Eſay 61.1,2,3.Isa 61:1Isa 61:2Isa 61:3By this Text we ſee, that Chriſt is anointed for this end, to come to us and be our Comforter, whileſt we live here below mourning in Zion. What is ſaid of the three friends of Iob, that may I ſay of the bleſſed Trinity. They made an appointment together, to come to comfort him. So the bleſſed Trinity, have made an appointment together to come to us by Chriſt, and in all diſtreſſes, ſweetly to comfort us.

Secondly Chriſt will come as a Comforter to his Church Militant, becauſe he hath promiſed it. As Chriſt promiſed this in my Text, ſo in many other Texts. Iohn. 2.11.John 2:11And if I goe away, I will prepare a place for you, and will come againe: and I will pray the Father, and he ſhall give you another Comforter, that may abide with you for ever. By theſe promiſes p. 53Chriſt hath obliged himſelfe, to come as a Comforter to us: let therefore our deſervings of comfort bee what they will, Chriſt will come to us, becauſe he hath promiſed he will. Chriſt ſtands much upon his word: Chriſt is God, and God cannot lye. Tit. 1.2.Titus 1:2Though we beleeve not, yet he abideth faithfull, and cannot deny himſelfe. 2 Tim 22 Tim 2A Chriſtian is ready to ſay to Chriſt as Iephtha to the Elders of Gilead: did not ye hate me? and expell mee out of my Fathers houſe? and why are ye come to me now, when yee are in diſtreſſe? ſaid Iephtha. So ſaith a Chriſtian, did not I hate thee O my Saviour, and did not I doe what in mee lay to expell thee from my ſoule, by my ſinning againe and againe againſt thy Spirit? And why art thou come to mee now, to comfort mee in my diſtreſſe? Why, this that was foreſad, p. 54ſaid, may ſuffice, O ſinfull ſoul, as an anſwer▪ Chriſt looks not at what thou haſt done, but at what he hath promiſed; and his word he will keepe, though we change as the Heavens: Heaven and Earth ſhall paſſe away, but not one jot of his word ſhall fall to the ground. I will not leave you comfortleſſe, I will come to you.

Theſe I conceive are the principall grounds, why Chriſt comes as a Comforter to his Church Militant: two grounds more may be alledged, as Cauſae minus principales, leſſe principall cauſes; the firſt whereof is this, Chriſt comes to us in our diſtreſſes as a Comforter, that we may not ſtretch out our hands unto iniquity. Man in diſtreſſe is ſo deſirous of eaſe, that if Chriſt do not come to him and comfort him, he'll go to Sin and Satan for eaſe. Cain was diſconſolate, p. 55and becauſe Chriſt did not come to him as a Comforter, he ran like a vagabond up and downe the world, to finde eaſe in any thing. Iudas was diſconſolate, and becauſe Chriſt as a Comforter did not come to him, he made a halter his Comforter. Saul being in diſtreſſe by the Philiſtines, becauſe Chriſt did not come to him by Urim, nor by Viſion, nor by Prophets, he went to the Devill for comfort. Now that Chriſts children may not thus do, Chriſt will not leave them comfortleſſe, but will come to them.

The ſecond ground why Chriſt will come to his Church Militant as a Comforter, is this, That he may ſtop the mouthes of all ungodly wretches, who ſay of the godly when in great diſtreſſes, Perſecute and …ak… them for there is none to deliver them, A p. 56wicked man looking upon a wounded ſoul with a carnal eie, breaks cut into ſome ſuch language as Achiſh did concerning David, Loe you ſee the man is mad, 1 Sam. 21.14.1 Sam 21:14This man is a diſtracted perſon, fitter for Bedlam, then for Gods houſe: an idle crackt-braine fellow, unfit to come into ſolemne aſſemblies. Now that Chriſt may ſilence ſuch black mouth'd men as theſe, he graciouſly comes to ſuch wounded ſoules, and heales their broken hearts, & binds up their wounds; he powres the Spirit of conſolation upon ſuch as went mourning all the day long, and makes them walke with joy and ſtrong conſolation, ſo that ſuch as cenſured them for this and that, are forc'd to lay their hand upon their mouth, and to condemne themſelves as blinde Bats, and not able to diſcerne the wayes p. 57of God towards his children.

Having thus opened the point in hand, I will in the next place ſhew you how uſefull it is, to the wicked and to the godly. Will not Chriſt leave any of his children upon Earth comfortleſſe, but ſtill as a Comforter come to them? Then you which live in your ſins, and ſo conſequently none of Chriſts children may collect the unhappineſſe of your condition from this point. You ſhall live and dye comfortleſſe, for Chriſt will not come to you as a Comforter; thus he comes only to his children. Chriſt will not come to you in proſperity as a Comforter; and therfore in the midſt of ſenſuall laughter, your hearts will be ſad: in the midſt of all thy worldly contents, thy ſpirit will at times gnaw and beat within thee, and never will all thou enjoyeſt give p. 58any complacency of comfort to thee, becauſe Chriſt as a Comforter comes not to thee. All outward comforts, without the inward conſolations of Chriſt, they are as good broath unſeaſoned, which rather cloys then contents the appetite; they weary, diſtract, and vex, and not revive the owner. Be it, that thou art as wiſe as Achitophel, as eloquent as Herod, as learned as Gamaliel, as rich as Nabal, as honourable as Haman, as great in the Church as Iudas; why, yet ſhalt thou live comfortleſſe; that is, utterly deſtitute of Celeſtiall conſolation, one droppe whereof hath more ſoule-reviving ſweetneſſe in it, then all the things of this life can afford. Alas! what is learning? what is wit, wealth, honour, or any other worldly thing to comfort me, if Chriſt do not come to me? p. 59A man may have all that this world can afford, and yet hang himſelfe for want of comfort, if Chriſt come not to him, as Achitophel, Iudas, and others have done.

Ob.No men laugh lowder, nor laugh oftner then wicked men in proſperity: no man merrier in an Alehouſe, Playhouſe, Taverne, Faire, or Market, then they: and are not theſe then the only comfortable men in this world?

Sol.To this I anſwer firſt thus; laughter is one thing, and ſpirituall conſolation another thing. Every one that laughs hath not a cheerefull ſpirit within: for in the midſt of laughter a mans heart may be ſad, ſaith Solomon. And ſo on the other hand, every one who hath a comfortable ſpirit, hath not a laughing face: we do not reade that Chriſt ever p. 60and yet had more comfort in his Spirit, then all the merry men of this world.

Secondly I anſwer thus, ſome mens ſpirits are ſo left of God to levity and vanity, that they will laugh at the wagging of a ſtraw (as wee ſay.) This is a great judgement of God upon the ſpirit, and not to be accounted a comfortable and happy condition? 'Tis a paſtime to fooles to do wickedly, ſaith Solomon. This is not properly called mirth (ſaith he) but madneſſe. You ſhall ſee mad men laugh ſometimes exceedingly, and hoope and hallow, as if their ſpirits were as full of joy as they could hold: what ſhall wee conclude now, that theſe forlorne creatures are in a comfortable condition? Alas! ſay we, if they were but ſenſible of their condition, they would ſoon ceaſe laughing, and p. 61begin lamenting. And ſo may I ſay to you of all that laugh and rejoyce, and yet live in their ſins, and ſo conſequently have no Comforter from Heaven come to them, they are mad men: were their eyes open to ſee their forlorne condition, they would quickly change their note, and turne their mirth into mourning as Iames ſaith.

Queſt.Why, but doth not Chriſt come to the wicked in proſperity?

Anſw.Yes, no doubt to be made of of it. Chriſt came to Belſhazzar whilſt hee was quaffing in the golden veſſels of the Temple, and wrote downe his wickedneſſe in the wall. And thus hee comes to all ungodly perſons in proſperity, to write downe all their ungodly deeds, that ſo he may exactly judge them at the great day of account.

p. 62Queſt.Why, but doth not Chriſt come as a Comforter, to wicked men that are great and wealthy?

Anſw.Chriſt regards no man for his wealth, or for any externall greatneſſe. If a man be never ſo rich, or never ſo honourable, yet if hee have not denyed his luſts, and given up himſelfe to Chriſt, to be ruled by him, Chriſt will never come to comfort him, if hee would give him all hee hath for his paines; he will not ſteppe a foot out a doores to a Prince, if he be wicked.

Ob.Why, but though hee will not come to ungodly men as a Comforter in proſperity, when they can make ſome ſhift without him, yet hee will come to them as a Comforter in adverſity, when all other comforters faile.

Sol.No hee will not. Chriſt will not know thy ſoule in adverſity, p. 63which art a diſobeyer of him. As he would not let Dives have a droppe of water to coole his tongue, though in unutterable torments, where many oceans would not in the leaſt meaſure have quenched the flames; ſo neither will hee afford thee the leaſt drop of conſolation in thy greateſt extremity; though thou cry Lord, Lord, and cut thy fleſh in the fervency of thy ſpirit, like Baals Prieſts to prevaile, yet ſhalt thou be ſent empty away. Nay Chriſt will be ſo far from being a Comforter to ungodly men when in miſery, that hee will adde to their outward miſery, inward miſery. When thy body is in diſtreſſe, Chriſt will awaken thy ſoule, that now lyes aſleepe, and ſet thy conſcience a gnawing within thee, which will bee greater torture then if thou wert rackt in every p. 64limbe. Thou maiſt ſend for godly Miniſters & godly friends to comfort thee then, and they poſſibly may deliver very comfortable things, but they ſhall be of no more ſavour to thy ſoule, then the white of an Egge, becauſe Chriſt as a Comforter will not ſpeak thoſe ſweet things to thy ſoule, which thy friends do to thy eares. As the Lord bewailes the miſerable condition of Ieruſalem, ſo may I bewaile the miſerable condition of all ungodly men. Theſe two things are come unto thee, who ſhall be ſorry for thee? deſolation and deſtruction, and the famine, and the ſword: by whom ſhall I comfort thee? Iſay. 51.19Isa 51:19So ſay I to all ungodly perſons, miſery upon miſery will firſt or laſt ſeize upon you, and who then will be ſorry for you? Famine, and ſword, and peſtilence; ſickneſſe, and death, and p. 65judgement; and by whom will you bee comforted? your honours cannot comfort you: your riches & friends cannot comfort you: your father the Devill hee will not then comfort you: your conſcience which you have often ſinned againſt, ſhall not comfort you, but torture you, becauſe Chriſt will not come to you, to ſprinkle it with his blood, and pacifie it. So that I conclude all thus: you will live comfortleſſe, dye comfortleſſe, and abide in Hell after death everlaſtingly comfortleſſe.

'Tis true all that you ſay Sir: man is a comfortleſſe Creature indeed, unleſſe Chriſt come to him, I finde it by wofull experience. I have much wealth in my purſe, and yet but little peace in my ſpirit. I ſee the Devill (mee thinkes) now & then ſit a ſtride upon top of my money-bags p. 66waiting for me, when I come to comfort my ſelfe in the beholding of them; and to what this will come at the laſt, I cannot tell. Sinne I am ſure I do; and comfortleſſe becauſe of ſinne I am; and more comfortleſſe every day I look to be, unleſſe Chriſt come to mee; and yet how to get him to come to me, I know not.

Would'ſt thou, O comfortleſſe creature, have Chriſt to come to thee? Do then to Chriſt as Lydia did to Paul, lovingly invite him to come to thee. Make knowne thy comfortleſſe condition to Chriſt, and then earneſtly entreat him to viſit thy poore ſoule. The ground why I exhort thee O ſinner thus to doe, is, becauſe God hath promiſed to give his holy Spirit to them that ask it.Luk. 11.13.Luke 11:13 If therefore thou wouldſt have Chriſt by his p. 67Spirit to come to thee, invite him, aske him, beg, and intreat him to come and dwell in thy ſoule; and tell him that he ſhall have every roome in thy heart at command. As Rebeckahs brother ſaid to Abrahams ſervant, So do thou ſay to Chriſt. Come in thou bleſſed of the Lord, wherefore ſtandeſt thou without? for I have prepared the houſe, and roome for the Camels, &c. Gen. 24.31Gen 24:31Come in thou bleſſed of the Lord, wherefore ſtandeſt thou without? here is roome for thee and all thy glorious traine. Here's an underſtanding, will, memory, affections, they ſhall be all at thy uſe and ſervice O Chriſt, wherefore come in thou bleſſed of the Lord, & make thy aboade with me. Thus continue crying to Chriſt, and longing for him, and by this thou wilt declare thy great love unto him, and ſo p. 68make thy ſelfe capable of that ſweet promiſe, which ſaith, If a man love mee, the Father loveth him, and wee will come unto him, and make our aboade with him. Iohn 14.12John 14:12Then will thy condition bee comfortable indeed, when thou haſt got ſuch glorious in-mates as theſe to dwell with thee.

Having thus ſpoken what I thought fit to the wicked, by way of application from this point, I will now addreſſe my ſelfe to ſpeake unto the godly, and ſhew them how uſefull this point may be unto them. I ſhall firſt ſpeake to ſtrong men, and then unto Babes in Chriſt: to ſuch as can tell me, that Chriſt as a Comforter is come to them. Secondly to ſuch as can tell mee they never yet found Chriſt as a Comforter come to them: and laſtly to ſuch who can tell mee that they have found Chriſt as a p. 69Comforter come to them, but now they have loſt him. To you that tell mee you finde the truth of this doctrine by bleſſed experience, that Chriſt is come to you; I have only two things to ſay: firſt this, Make it ſure to thy ſelfe that Chriſt indeed as a Comforter is come to thee, and that thy ſoule is not deluded in thy joy & conſolation. Secondly, ſtrive ſo to walke, that thy Comforter which is come to thee may never depart from thee. Firſt ſtrive to make it ſure that Chriſt is indeed come to thee: that the comfort which thou haſt is from the Comforter, to wit, the Spirit of Chriſt, and not from the ſpirit of deluſion.

There is great need that I ſhould preſſe this inſtruction upon you, becauſe the ſpirit of deluſion is plentifully powred out in theſe latter dayes. The hypocrite p. 70hath his joy; and he judges that this his joy, is the joy of the Holy Ghoſt, and as good as need to bee, whereas it is a joy that ſhall periſh (ſaith the Scripture) a joy that will end in deſperate ſorrow. He thinks that Chriſt as a Comforter is come to him, whereas 'tis onelyonly the Devill transformed into an Angell of light. And thus indeed are many thouſands gulled and cheated in their comfort. Sadneſſe would overſhadow the ſmiling face of many a man, if he did but diſcerne how groundleſſe his joy and comfort is; and what a vaine ſhadow inſtead of a true ſubſtance, his poore ſoule is deluded withall. Wherefore my brethren it concernes you, that tell me, you are ſenſible that the Comforter is come to you, to take paines to make it ſure to your ſelves, that your ſoules are not deluded.

p. 71When the Spirit of God came upon Saul that hee propheſied, the people that knew him before ſaid, What is come to the Son of Kiſh? is Saul amongſt the Prophets? 1 Sam. 10.11.1 Sam 10:11Thus doe thou ſay to thy ſoul who art ſo merry and comfortable, viz. What is come to thee O my ſoule! that thou art now ſo joyfull and cheerefull? Once I am ſure thou went'ſt mourning all the day long: is Chriſt as a Comforter come to thee? If Chriſt by his Spirit have brought glad tydings to thee, why then O my glory, continue in thy mirth: but if not, why art thou ſo merry O my ſoule? thy mirth is but madneſſe. As David queſtioned his ſoule for ſadneſſe, ſaying, Why art thou ſo ſad O my ſoule? and why art thou ſo caſt downe within me? So maiſt thou doe well to queſtion thy mirth, ſaying, why art thou ſo merry p. 72O my ſoule? and why art thou ſo much lifted up within me? Is thy Comforter our Lord Jeſus Chriſt indeed come to thee? O then my glory ceaſe not to declare thy comfort, by any comely poſture and geſture: but if not, a houſe of mourning, O my ſoule, is fitter for thee then a houſe of mirth; garments of Sackcloth and ſadneſſe, would better become thee, then garments of joy and gladneſſe. You know how Iſaac once ſpake to his ſonne, Art thou (ſaid he) my very Sonne Eſau? Gen. 27.24Gen 27:24So doe thou humbly queſtion thy Comforter. Art thou my very Comforter indeed? Art thou the very Chriſt the Sonne of God, which ſpeakeſt conſolation to my ſoul? You know how Iohn queſtioned Chriſt much after this manner, that hee might not be deceived concerning him. Mat. 11.3Matt 11:3Art thou he that p. 73ſhould come, or do wee not looke for another? So do thou ſay, Art thou hee that ſhould come and comfort my ſoule? or ſhould not I look for another? There be many falſe Chriſts, and falſe comforters now in the world, and they deceive many: wherefore I beſeech thee ſpeak out, and ſpeak plainly to my ſoule, whether thou bee hee that ſhould come and comfort mee yea or not, that if I have obtained the true Comforter, I may give God the glory of his great kindneſſe; if not, I may ſeeke out for another.

How ſhould I know (may the ſtrong man in Chriſt ſay to me) whether hee that is come to my ſoule with conſolation, bee hee that ſhould come, or not? How ſhould I be able to make it ſure to my ſoule, that the conſolation which I have is from the Spirit p. 74of Chriſt, and not from a ſpirit of deluſion?

To this I thus anſwer, viz. If he that is come to thy ſoule bee hee that ſhould come, to wit, Chriſt; thou ſhalt finde that hee doth more workes then one in thy ſoule: he doth not only comfort thee, but hee doth many great works beſides this. Chriſt doth many great workes in a mans ſoule before he comforts him; and hee doth many great workes in his ſoul, after he hath comforted him. Chriſt doth many great workes in the ſoule of man, before he comforts him: he doth break the heart before he bindes it up: he firſt wounds the heart, before he will heale it: he caſts downe the ſoule for ſinne, before he will raiſe it up. Now to break the heart of man, which the Scripture compares to an Adamant for hardneſſe,Zech. 7.12.Zech 7:12 is p. 75a great work; and yet this doth Chriſt throughly, before hee comforts throughly. The breaking of the hard heart of man, hath many great works about it, ere it be effected. The convincing the ſoule of ſinne, which ſelfe-conceited man is not eaſily brought unto. The making of ſin out of meaſure ſinfull, in the ſoules apprehenſion, which blinde man is not eaſily brought to ſee. The making of man to loathe himſelfe, for the evils which hee hath committed againſt God, which man full of ſelfe-love is not eaſily wrought unto. The making of man to long for peace and reconciliation with God, as the greateſt happineſſe in the world, and to beg this bleſſing with teares, as a ſoule that ſees hee ſhall dye and periſh eternally without it; which man that naturally hates p. 76God, is not eaſily wonne unto. Yet all theſe difficult workes doth Chriſt doe in the ſoule of man, before he comes as a Comforter to him. Which Chriſt confirmes where he ſaith, Bleſſed are they that mourne, for they ſhall be comforted.

Now would'ſt thou know whether he that is come to thy ſoule, bee hee that ſhould come or not? why then tell me, What did precede thy comfort which now thou haſt? Did Chriſt leade thee to the Wels of Conſolation by the waters of Marah? Did hee bring thee to ſowe in teares, ere he gave thee to reape thy great harveſt of joy? Waſt thou ever in the houſe of mourning? Did the ſpirit of heavineſſe for ſin ever take hold on thee? Was thy hard heart firſt broken, and after this bound up? Firſt wounded, p. 77and after this healed? Didſt thou goe mourning for diſhonouring God all the day long, and after many dolorous dayes thus ſpent, did thy Comforter come to thee? Surely then he that is come, is he that ſhould come, and do not looke for another: but if otherwiſe, thou haſt juſt cauſe to bee jealous of thy joy.

Againe, Chriſt as hee doth great workes in the ſoule before he comforts it, ſo he doth great workes in the ſoule after hee hath comforted it. That ſoule which Chriſt comforts, he makes a very fruitfull ſoule in all grace to his glory. No waters make the ſoule of a Chriſtian grow in grace, like the waters of conſolation. The comforting Spirit of Chriſt is to a Chriſtian in the wayes of obedience, as winde and tide to a Ship: that which p. 78makes him runne the wayes of Gods Commandements. That Chriſtian which is comforted by Chriſt, prayes fervently, and prayes frequently. Conſolation gives winges to ſupplication. That Chriſtian which is comforted by Chriſt, prayſeth God with ſtrong affection. A ſoule comforted by Chriſt, is as an inſtrument well tuned by a skilfull Muſitian: hee will, upon every occaſion, make ſweet me lody in the eares of the Almighty. True conſolation is from Heaven, and it carries that ſoule ſtrongly to Heaven, in which it is. True conſolation is from Chriſt, and it will make a Chriſtian live wholly to Chriſt. To whom much is forgiven they love much: and this love conſtraines them to deny themſelves, and to follow Chriſt unto death.

p. 79Would'ſt thou know then for certaine O ſtrong man in Chriſt, that hee which is come to thy ſoule, is he which ſhould come? Why then look what activity is in thy ſoule to duty. Is thy ſoule as a Gyant refreſhed after wine? ſtrong and vigorous to the practiſe of all good duties? Art thou abundant in the worke of the Lord? Art thou a ſweet Singer in Iſrael of the prayſes of the Lord? Is thy heart at thy mouth leaping within thee, like the Babe in Elizabeths wombe when thou art telling what God hath done for thy ſoule? Art thou (in a word) a holy & heavenly man, as one comforted by a holy and heavenly God? Doth thy joy tranſcend the joyes that this world affords, in ſweetneſſe? Doth it raiſe thy ſpirit to admire the love of God? and doth it make thee dead to ſecular delights? p. 80and to account naked carnall mirth madneſſe? empty huskes for brutes to feed on? Then mayeſt thou comfortably conclude, that he which is come to thy ſoule, is he which ſhould come, and do not look for another: but if thou art merry and cheerfull, but not holy and heavenly, hee that is come to thy ſoul, is not he that ſhould come, wherefore I beſeech thee to look for another.

A ſecond inſtruction which I would commend to ſtrong men in Chriſt is this: after thou haſt made it ſure to thy ſoule, that Chriſt as a Comforter is indeed come to thee, then ſtrive ſo to walke, that he may never depart from thee. So a man may walk, that Chriſt as a Comforter may forſake his ſoule. David had wofull experience of this truth, and ſo doubtleſſe have many elſe of p. 81the godly. So a man may walke that Chriſt as a Comforter never depart frō him. But how ſhould I thus walk, ſaith the comforted ſoule, that I might enjoy this heaven below, till I come to that above, and ſo go from joy to joy; from joy unſpeakable and full of glory, to joy that cannot enter into any mortall heart to conceive of?

To this I thus anſwer, Do not grieve Chriſt that is come to thee: Secondly, do all that thou canſt to delight him, if thou would'ſt have him continually abide with thee. Doe not ſit downe and reſt, as one that hath a licence to be lazie, and as if all thy work were done, now thy Comforter is come to thee; this will grieve him, and quickly make him leave thee. Thou haſt obtained Chriſt to come a Comforter to thee, well: yet let mee p. 82tell thee as Moſes did the Iſraelites, You are not (ſaid he) as yet come to the reſt, and to the inheritance which the Lord your God giveth you. So ſay I to thee O comforted ſoule, thou art not yet come to thoſe degrees of conſolation, which thou mayeſt attaine unto in this life, if thou continue to be thrifty. The joy of the Holy Ghoſt is a bottomeleſſe Well, which thou canſt never draw dry: and the more thou draweſt, the freſher and ſweeter ſtill ſhalt thou finde it. The joy of the Holy Ghoſt is no ſurfeting thing, as ſome earthly ſweets are: and therefore thou mayeſt ſafely ſay, Lord ever more give me of this bread: fill my ſoule with Flagons of this precious liquour: let thy love bee ſhead abroad in my heart by the Holy Ghoſt: let my ſoule delight her ſelfe in this fatneſſe.

p. 83Secondly, now Chriſt as a Comforter is come to thee, doe not wax wanton againſt him, this alſo will grieve him, and make him quickly forſake thy ſoule as a Comforter Let all the manifeſtations of thy comfort be ſuitable to thy Comforter; holy as he is holy; ſpirituall and heavenly, as he is. When yee are come into the good land, take heed that ye doe not forget the Lord (ſaid Moſes to Iſrael.) So ſay I to you that finde Chriſt with you as a Comforter, which are come to the fellowſhip of the Spirit, and to the participation of that tranſcendant comfort which is by him: take heed that you grow not giddy headed, and forget God and your ſelves. The waters of conſolation are ſtrong waters, and mans weake head and heart cannot beare much of them ſteadily, but are ready to p. 84reele to one ſide or other. When the clouds of heaven have well watered the Earth, then doe weeds as well as good hearbes ſpring apace: ſo when Chriſt by his Spirit, ſweetly waters the ſoul w^th conſolation, then levity and vanity, as well as Chriſtian mirth and cheerfulneſſe ſpring amaine; If a Chriſtian bee not very watchfull over his ſoule, to pluck up ſuch weedes by the rootes, as ſoone as they begin to ſhew themſelves. I conclude this thus: thou that art comforted by the Spirit, let not the manifeſtations of thy comfort grieve the Spirit. This remember, that Satan hath an art to bring evill out of the greateſt good, as God hath an art to bring good out of the greateſt evill: and therefore beg that thou mayeſt not be ignorant of any of his devices, nor unable p. 85to reſiſt them, if thou would'ſt not looſe thy Comforter.

Secondly, if thou would'ſt have thy Comforter to abide ſtill with thee; as thou muſt not grieve him, ſo thou muſt doe all that thou canſt to delight him. Let it be thy meat and drink to follow all the motions of the Spirit of Chriſt: whitherſoever Chriſt would have thee go, or whatſoever Chriſt would have thee do, cheerefully obey him; this will delight thy Comforter exceedingly, and make him to rejoyce to continue with thee. If Chriſt ſay unto thee as to the Fiſhermen, Follow me: Mat. 4 19.Matt 4:19do thou readily reply as the Scribe, Maſter, I will follow thee whitherſoever thou goeſt. Mat. 8 19.Matt 8:19This is to declare the genuine diſpoſition of Chriſts people, which Chriſt is exceedingly taken withall. Chriſts people are a willing people in p. 86their obedience, Thy people ſhall be willing in the day of thy power, &c.Pſal. 110 3Ps 110:3

2 Humbly and compaſſionately tell diſconſolate ſoules, what Chriſt hath done for thy ſoule: this will delight thy Comforter much, and make him rejoyce to continue with thee. Chriſt delights to ſee his children communicative of the ſweet meates which hee gives them. And therefore as Iael ſaid to Barak, ſo do thou O comforted ſoule, to ſuch as yet go mourning all the day long: Come (ſaid ſhe) and I will ſhew thee the man whom thou ſeekeſt. Iudg. 4.22.Judg 4:22Come O ſad ſoule, that canſt not finde him whom thy ſoule loveth, I will ſhew thee the man whom thou ſeekeſt; the manner of his comming to my poore ſoule; and how long hee made me waite upon him, ere he would come to me; and how p. 87well hee hath now made mee amends for all his ſtaying. And therfore Although thou ſayeſt thou ſhalt not ſee him, yet judgement is before him, therefore truſt thou in him. Iob 35.14.Job 35:14For the viſion is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it ſhall ſpeak and not lye: though it tarry, wait for it, becauſe it will ſurely come, it will not tarry. Hab. 2.3.Hab 2:3The more imparting of experiments of love wee are, to the glory of Chriſt, the more ſtill will Chriſt graciouſly give us to our further comfort. And this indeed is Gods end in comforting ſome of his children, that they may bee able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith they themſelves are comforted of God: 2 Cor. 1.4.2 Cor 1:4as the Apoſtle ſweetly affirmes.

3 Thank Chriſt humbly and heartily for his comming to thee; if thou would…ſt have him p. 88abide ſtill with thee. The Iſraelites when they came into the promiſed Land which flowed with milk and honey, they were to take the firſt of all the fruits of the Earth, and put them in a basket, and ſo preſent them to the Prieſt ſaying, viz. And now behold, I have brought the firſt fruits of the Land, which thou the Lord haſt given me: thus were they to ſet their firſt fruits before the Lord, and to worſhip before him, as you may ſee at large.Deut. 26.Deut 26 Why you that enjoy Chriſt as a Comforter, you have received the firſt fruits of that good land, which Canaan typified, which flowes with Milke and Honey. Bring therefore theſe firſt fruits, and ſet them before God and worſhip: bring the ſweet comforts of the Holy Ghoſt in your hearts, before the Lord and ſay, Behold ô Chriſt, theſe and theſe p. 89are the ſweet conſolations of thy ſpirit: and loe for them all I humbly render praiſe to thy name. Such mighty enemies of my peace, haſt thou conquered: ſuch doubts which ſo long troubled me, haſt thou anſwered: ſuch wants which ſo long time kept mee exceeding low, haſt thou ſupplyed: to thee O God be the glory of thine own goodneſſe.

You have great cauſe thus to magnifie the Lord for his mercy, which finde Chriſt as a Comforter come to you. You enjoy that bleſſing which exceedeth all outward bleſſings. The light of Gods countenance lifted up, upon a poore mourning ſoule, 'tis of farre greater value then Corne, Wine, Oyle; then Corrall, Rubies, or any choice thing that this world can afford. The naked revelation of Chriſt in the p. 90ſoule of man, is of more worth then all theſe, ſaith Solomon: the moſt glorious revelation of Chriſt then to the ſoule, which the ſoule of man is capable of in this life, muſt needs be of much more tranſcendant worth. You enjoy that bleſſing which exceedeth many inward bleſſings. It exceedeth knowledge: for what is knowledge in the head, to the joy of the Holy Ghoſt in the heart? One beame of light in the underſtanding, is of more worth then all the Silver and Gold, Gemmes, and Jewels in the world; and yet one beame of the light of Gods countenance, ſhining upon the heart, though but by reflexion from the face of Jeſus Chriſt, is of more worth then all knowledge which humane ſtudy can attaine unto. I cannot ſay that this bleſſing, exceedeth the leaſt ſaving p. 91grace in the ſoule: but this I can ſafely ſay, that conſolation 'tis the gloſſe and glory of every grace: every grace ſhines in its full luſtre where the Comforter dwels. This I can further ſay, that you enjoy that bleſſing which makes Heaven a Heaven, and which makes Earth a Heaven to you: and therefore you have great reaſon to magnifie the Lord for his mercy. The more of Heaven we enjoy upon Earth, the more ſhould we ſet our ſelves to doe the worke of them which are in Heaven, whileſt on Earth.

4 Finally let Chriſts mediate comming to thee by his Spirit, make thee long earneſtly for his immediate comming to thee in his owne perſon: this delights Chriſt, that his Spouſe ſhould ſay, Come, as the Spirit doth.Rev. 22.17Rev 22:17 That ſhee ſhould long for the p. 92wedding day, as he doth. When good old Simeon had imbraced the conſolation of Iſrael, for which hee ſo long waited, hee then deſired preſently to be diſſolved: ſo thou that haſt imbraced the conſolation of Iſrael, ſhould'ſt in a holy manner with Simeon, Iob, and Paul, deſire to bee diſſolved and to bee with Chriſt which is beſt of all. You whom Chriſt hath kiſſed with the kiſſes of his lips, ſhould long earneſtly to lye betweene his breaſts all night; my meaning is, to have a full enjoyment of Chriſt. Thus have I done ſpeaking to ſuch, who can tell me that Chriſt as a Comforter is come to them.

In the next place I addreſſe my ſelfe to ſpeak to ſuch of the godly, who can tell me that they never yet found Chriſt as a Comforter come to them. Two p. 93or three things I have to ſay to you from this ſweet doctrine. 1.Firſt, I would have you to labour to beleeve this doctrine, that Chriſt will not leave you comfortleſſe, but will certainly (at laſt) come to you. Chriſt hath repeated his promiſe, which is as a bond with many ſeales; and therefore thou haſt juſt ground to beleeve, ô comfortleſſe ſoule, that Chriſt will not leave thee comfortleſſe, but will come to thee.

Object.What juſt ground have I to beleeve, that Chriſt will come to me, ſeeing he is holy, and I am unholy: hee is glorious in holineſſe, and I am abominable in ſin and wickedneſſe, ſaith the weake comfortleſſe ſoule.

Sol.Art thou more vile then Manaſſeh? Chriſt came to him and comforted him. Art thou more muddie and earthy then Zacheus? Chriſt came to him and comforted p. 94him. Art thou more diveliſh then Mary Magdalen, out of whom were caſt ſeven Devils? Chriſt came to her, and filled her ſoule with ſtrong conſolation. Why ſhould'ſt not thou beleeve, that Chriſt will come to thee too, and quiet and comfort thy mourning ſpirit?

Sol.But ſecondly I anſwer thus: viz. Chriſt doth not ſo much lock how thou art qualified, as at what hee hath promiſed: Chriſt hath promiſed hee will come to thee, and he is faithfull and will doe it. If thy ſoule were never ſo poore, never ſo blinde, never ſo wretched, never ſo naked, yet Chriſt having promiſed to come to thee, hee will make good his word; though he come backward, with a mantle to cover thy nakedneſie, as Shem and Iaphet did to Noah. If thy ſoule were full of wounds; if thy ſoule p. 95were full of running putrifying ſores; if thou wert as black with ſin as an Ethiopian; if thou wert as ſpotted with ſin as a Leopard; nay, if thy ſoule did ſtink within thee, as Lazarus body after taken out of the Earth againe, yet Chriſt having promiſed to come to thee and comfort thee, he will doe it, though he hold his noſe while hee bee comforting thy ſtinking naſty ſoule. Heaven and Earth ſhall paſſe away, but not a jot or tittle of Chriſts promiſe ſhall faile. The voice of my Beloved, behold he commeth leaping upon the Mountaines, and skipping upon the Hils. Cant. 2.8.Song 2:8Though there bee mountaines and hils of ſin in thy ſoule, yet Chriſt will come skipping over all theſe with comfort to thy ſoule, rather then thou ſhalt be left comfortleſſe.

Wherefore, O weake, comfortleſſe ſoule, ſay not of thy Saviour p. 96and Comforter as Balaam did, I ſhall ſee him, but not now; I ſhall behold him, but not nigh. Num. 24.17.Num 24:17I ſhall ſee Chriſt come with a witneſſe: nay with many thouſand witneſſes, at the great day, when every eye ſhall ſee him: but I ſhall not ſee him come to me now, in this ſoule dolour, as a Comforter. I ſhall behold him peradventure, as Moſes beheld the Holy Land, afar off: he will never come nigh my poore ſoule, to ſtay it with thoſe comforts w^ch it needs. Ceaſe, O weak ſoule, this incredulous language; and ſtrive to beleeve, and this ſweet promiſe I treat of ſhall be made good unto thee. No ſinne ſo mighty to keepe thy Comforter from thee, as unbeliefe. Say then O mourning Chriſtian to thy comfortleſſe ſoule. Yet a little while, and he that ſhall come will come, and will not tarry. Heb. 10.37Heb 10:37He that p. 97hath ſaid he will come as a Comforter to thee, will come, and will ſatisfie thy ſoule with conſolation, as with marrow and fatneſſe. Say to thy ſad ſoule, with the Pſalmiſt, My God will come, and will not keepe ſilence: he will ſpeak conſolation ſo plainly, that my ignorant ſoule ſhall underſtand; ſo powerfully, that my incredulous ſoule ſhall beleeve, and owne her own mercies. Thou art now toſſed and almoſt drowned, O my ſoule, with reſtleſſe waves of miſery; but the Spirit will move upon theſe waters; thou ſhalt ſee Chriſt comming towards thee, upon theſe troubleſome waves anon, and ſay, be not afraid, it is I: I that have loved thee, and given my ſelfe for thee, and none ſhall pluck thee out of my hand.

Secondly, as I would have p. 98thee to ſtrive firmely to beleeve this truth, ſo I would have thee endeavour patiently to waite the accompliſhment of it. Beleeve that Chriſt will come to thee, and waite patiently untill hee doe come. There is good ground why every ſoule ſhould patiently waite for Chriſt, comming to him, whither we conſider our ſelves which are to bee viſited, or Chriſt our viſitour. If thou O comfortleſſe ſoule conſider thy ſelfe which art to bee viſited, there is great reaſon thou ſhould'ſt waite patiently till Chriſt come to thee, how long ſoever he ſtay. Firſt, thou art a creature, and Chriſt is thy Creator; and ſhould not a creature wait on his Creator? Thou art a ſervant, and Chriſt is thy Lord: and ſhould not a ſervant waite on his Lord? Conſider thee in thy higheſt relations, and p. 99they all call for waiting. Thou art a Sonne, and Chriſt is thy Father: and ſhould not a Sonne wait on his Father? Thou art a Wife, and Chriſt is thy Huſband: and ſhould not a Wife wait on her Huſband?

Secondly, conſider that thou haſt deſerved, that Chriſt ſhould never come to thee, and yet for …ll this, ſeeing hee will come to …hee, haſt not thou juſt cauſe …o wait patiently till hee doe come, how long ſo ever it bee firſt? Before thy calling thou didſt reject Chriſt; and ſince …hy calling, thou haſt often grieved Chriſt; and haſt not thou …hen deſerved that Chriſt ſhould never come to thee? Thou haſt quenched many a ſweet motion of the Spirit of Chriſt: thou haſt …urned the deafe eare, to the ſweet ſtill voice that hath ſpoken behinde thee, times without p. 100out number, and ſo ſlighted the Spirit of Chriſt; and haſt not thou then juſtly deſerved, that Chriſt as a Comforter ſhould never come to thee? yet ſeeing he will come, for all this unkindneſſe; haſt not thou juſt cauſe to wait patiently for him, how long ſoever he ſtay? Thou haſt many weekes, many moneths, nay many yeeres, gone along in a courſe of grieving Chriſt; and doeſt thou think much of waiting a few weeks, a few moneths, a few yeeres, for Chriſt to come to comfort thee?

Take this in another forme: thou didſt make Chriſt wait a long time upon thee, ere thou wouldſt let him abide with thee as a ſpirit of reformation: and is there not juſt cauſe then, that thou ſhouldſt wait patiently a long time upon him, if he will have it ſo, ere hee abide with p. 101thee as a Spirit of conſolation? how many knocks did Chriſt give at thy ſtubborne heart, ere thou wouldſt open to him? how much dew of the night diſtilled upon his locks, ere thou wouldſt give him houſe roome in thy heart? how many mercies? how many corrections, were all ſpilt upon thee, ere Chriſt could win thee to reſpect him? canſt thou tell? if thou canſt not, think not much, if Chriſt make thee ſhed a few teares, and breathe out a few groanes, ere he bring glad tydings of peace unto thee.

Secondly, if thou conſider Chriſt thy viſitour, there is all the reaſon that can be, that thou ſhouldſt wait patiently, till hee come to thee. Chriſt will certainly come to thee: Chriſt will come to thee at the fitteſt time: Chriſt will come richly when he doth come; which are all ſpeciall p. 102grounds of patience. Chriſt will certainly come to thee, O comfortleſſe ſoule, though it may ſeeme to thee, ſomething long firſt. Thou doeſt not wait for one that will not come at all, as the Turk waiteth for Mahomet: nay, thou doeſt not wait for one that will frivolouſly delay the time of his comming. Thou doeſt not wait for one that will deceive thee. Chriſt hath promiſed to come to thee, and he is faithfull, and cannot deny himſelfe. There is two things in faithfulneſſe: firſt, that a man ſhould own what he hath ſaid; & then ſecondly, that he ſhould make it good. Now both theſe will Chriſt do: Chriſt will not eat his words, as we ſay: what he hath promiſed he will confeſſe, and will make good; whatſoever labour or loſſe he be at to do it. Chriſt is not mutable as p. 103we are, to promiſe one thing to day, and recall it againe to morrow: he is immutable and changeth not, therfore we are not conſumed.

Thou doeſt not wait for one that will frivolouſly delay the time of his comming. Chriſt will not deale with thy comfortleſſe ſoule, as thoſe ſorry gheſts dealt with Chriſt, make excuſes: one had bought a yoke of Oxen, and therefore could not come: an other a Farm, &c. Chriſt will not tell thee, as Abrahā Dives in hell, between thy ſoul & him is a great gulfe, ſo that there can be no intercourſe between them. Nor, that from Heaven to Earth, is too long a journey for him to make: He will not tell thee, that the place where thy ſick comfortleſſe ſoule lyes, is filthy, and altogether unfit for him to come to. Hee will not tell thee that thy ſoule is ſo far gone in griefe p. 104and deſperate ſorrow, that 'tis in vain for him to come to thee. Chriſt puts none of theſe delayes upon any of his patients.

No, the ground why Chriſt ſtayes is, that hee may come at the fitteſt time; and then he will come with healing in his wings, if all the Devils in Hell ſhould oppoſe him, which me thinks ſhould be a ſatisfactory ground of patience, to any diſconſolate ſoule. If a Phyſitian yet apply this and that for further evacuation, rather then cordials, as knowing the body not yet fit for cordials, will not any wiſe man ſubmit patiently to his way? ſo if Chriſt for bear giving thy ſick ſoule cordials, as hee that well knowes thy ſoule not fit yet, for ſuch luſcious things, wilt not thou with much thankfulneſſe acknowledge his great care over thy ſoule, and with all patience p. 105waite his leaſure? I patiently undergoe the paine of drawing plaiſters, when I know my ſore is not fit for healing: thus ſhould it be in ſpirituall diſtreſſes: wee ſhould patiently undergoe griefe and ſorrow, untill our ſoules bee fit for conſolation, and then we ſhall bee ſure to have it.

Finally, bee ſure of this, O mourning ſoule, that Chriſt will come richly, when hee doth come; and therefore methinkes thou ſhould'ſt waite patiently for him: what Merchant but would waite patiently, the returne of his Ship in the longeſt voiage, if hee were ſure that it would richly returne at laſt, Chriſt will come very richly furniſhed, with the comforts of the Holy Ghoſt, which are unſpeakable and glorious, to your ſoules that mourne after p. 106him, and waite for him. What the Apoſtle once ſpake of himſelfe in relation to the Romans, that may I truely ſay of Chriſt, in relation to all that mourne after him And I am ſure that when I come unto you, I ſhall come (ſaith he) in the fulneſſe of the bleſſing of the Goſpell of Chriſt. Rom 15.29.Rom 15:29Chriſt I am ſure O mourning ſoule, when he doth come unto thee, hee wilt come in the fulneſſe of the bleſſing of the Holy Ghoſt: thou ſhalt have joy in the Holy Ghoſt unſpeakable and glorious. Thou by long waiting art made a more vaſt Veſſell, to hold the precious waters of conſolation; and Chriſt by long ſtaying doth (as I may ſay) the more furniſh himſelfe, with theſe waters of life, to refreſh, fill, and ſatiſfy thy thirſty ſoule, when he comes to thee. Chriſt will heale throughly thy broken p. 107heart, and binde up all thy woundes: he will anſwer all thy doubts, and cleare all thy ſcruples: hee will quiet thy quarrelling conſcience, and ſtill thy complaining Spirit: he will fill thy ſadde ſoule with joy and gladneſſe, and thy dejected ſpirit with Songs of thankes giving.

If theſe things, O mourning ſoule, will not make thee waite patiently, till thy Comforter come to thee, but thou wilt murmure and repine, and fall upon indirect wayes to get conſolation, know that by this practice thou wilt make thy condition more miſerable, then at preſent it is. Thou wilt grieve him that ſhould come as a comforter to thee: and if thou by ſinne make Chriſt grieve, how can Chriſt by his Spirit make thee rejoyce? and if thou ſet p. 108him a mourning that can onelyonly comfort thee, by whom wilt thou bee comforted? Doſt thou thinke to winne Chriſt to thee, by a dogged diſpoſition? Chriſt may pitty, and cure thy humours, but t'will never bee by conſolation. He will bring thee to bee lowly and meeke ere thou ſhalt find reſt to thy ſoule; hee will make thee willing to lye under his Feete; glad of crummes of comfort; and willing to waite for them till Chriſt hath dined, and every Child ſerved.

If thy corrupt ſoule hanker after the pleaſure of ſinne againe, becauſe Chriſt as a comforter doth not come to thee, and thou bee reſolved to picke and chuſe, amongſt all the ſins thy ſoule knowes, to finde out one that thy ſoule moſt loves, to make a comforter to thee, as p. 109the Iſraelites in their dogged humour made them a Captaine to returne to Aegypt againe, know this, that what ſinne thou pitcheſt upon to make a comforter, that ſinne will Chriſt make a Divell to torture thee: Chriſt will make thee know by woefull experience that the ſweeteſt ſinne, is a bitter and miſerable comforter: that the leaſt ſinne, is too great an evill, truly to comfort the ſoule: that to goe to the Divell for conſolation, is to make faſter haſt for comfort, then good ſpeed: that neither ſinne, nor any thing in the world beſide ſin ſhall comfort thy ſoule, when he himſelfe will not.

The laſt Inſtruction that I have to commend to thee, O comfortleſſe ſoule, that did'ſt never yet finde Chriſt as a comforter come to thee, is this, obſerve p. 110how Chriſt comes, and do not put him off. Chriſt comes to comfortleſſe ſoules with comfort, in a promiſe; as I have at large ſhewed you.Tis with many Chriſtians in their minority, as twas with Samuel, the… doe not know the voyce of the Lord, ſpeaking …n a promiſe, & therefore I thought good to note this laſt inſtruction. The promiſe Chriſt opens before the ſoule, that hee may ſee the bleſſing wrapt up in it, which he needes: and then often repeates it to the ſoule, that he may rely upon it: inſtances to illuſtrate this way of Chriſt, I have given you, things muſt not bee here againe repeated. That which here I would preſſe by way of application, is, that you which are comfortleſſe ſoules, would obſerve this ſecret way of the comforter, and meet him. Art thou tempted? and doſt thou now heare a ſweet ſtill voyce, as it were behind thee ſaying, My grace ſhall bee ſufficient for thee? Why this is the voyce of thy beloved, that is come to p. 111thee, embrace what hee ſaith, reſt upon it, turne not thy comforter away now, by unbeliefe, and peeviſh pettiſh humours. Haſt thou fallen into ſinne, by the ſtrength of temptation, and thine owne corruption? and doſt thou heare ſuch a ſweete voyce behind thee as this, The bloud of Ieſus Chriſt cleanſeth us from all ſinne? 1 Ioh 1.7.1 John 1:7Why this is the language of thy beloved, hee is come to comfort thee, O mourning ſoule, doe not thruſt him away by unkinde language of unbeliefe and paſſion. Heare what he ſaith, for it is ſweete: ſtrive to believe what he ſaith, for it is ſure. As Iſaac ſaid unto Jacob his Sonne, after hee had had ſome diſcourſe at a diſtance with him, Come neere now and kiſſe mee my Sonne: Gen. 27.26.Gen 27:26So ſhould ſuch comfortleſſe ſoules ſay to Chriſt, when they heare Chriſt p. 112ſpeaking, as it were at a diſtance, ſoftly and coldly to them, the ſweet promiſes of his word; come heere now, O my beloved, and kiſſe mee with theſe kiſſes of thy lippes for thy love is better then Wine: what thou ſayeſt to my ſoule, ſay it with ſuch life, that my heart may no longer be faithleſſe, but believe, and give glory to thee. I have now done ſpeaking to you, who never yet had the comforter come to you.

I come now in the laſt place to ſpeake a word or two particularly, to ſuch of GODS people, who can tell mee that they have found Chriſt as a comforter come to them, but now have loſt Him. Three things I have to ſay to theſe. Firſt, labour to bee ſenſible of thy loſſe. Secondly, blame not Chriſt for departing from thee. p. 113Thirdly, uſe all holy meanes to get him to returne to thee againe. Firſt I would have thee, O deſerted ſoule, to labour to bee truly ſenſible of thy loſſe Though it bee that ſome are deeply ſenſible of this great loſſe, yet others are as deeply ſtupid, which moves mee to note this inſtruction. For a man to bee ſtupid and ſenſeleſſe under corporall afflictions, argues a very ill temper of ſpirit; but for a man to bee ſtupid and ſenſeleſſe under ſpirituall affliction, under ſuch a ſpirituall affliction as this, the loſſe of the Sunne, the loſſe of Chriſt as a comforter, argues a very ill temper of ſpirit indeed. Strive therefore, O deſerted ſtupid ſoule, to affect thine heart throughly with thy loſſe. Thou haſt loſt more then Iob: when hee had loſt Children; p. 114ſubſtance, health, honours, and friends: nay thou haſt loſt more, then if thou hadſt loſt this World; nay, thou haſt loſt more then if thou hadſt loſt thy life, which is of more worth then the World: thou haſt loſt Chriſt, which is richer then this World, and ſweeter then thy life. What an infinite loſſe were it to this World, to loſe the Sunne? 'twere at once to looſe all: Pereunte ſolep, ereunt omnia.for all things ſerviceable for the uſe of man, depend upon the motion and influence of that glorious Body. What a loſſe then is it to the leſſer World, to looſe Chriſt the Sunne of Righteouſneſſe? 'Tis to looſe all good at once, for ſoule and body. All graces cloſe and wither when Chriſt departs, as all fragrant flowers when the Sunne withdrawes his influence. And when p. 115theſe flowers wither in the ſoul, a man is a moving Dung-hill, that ſtinkes in the Noſtrils of God and man, where ever hee comes. A man that hath loſt Chriſt, may truely ſay as ſhee when the Arke was loſt, that his glory is departed. As the Sunne is the glory of the greater World: ſo Chriſt the Sunne of righteouſneſſe, is the glory of the leſſer World, to wit, man.

Thou haſt loſt that in the world, that is more worth then the world, and which all the world can never helpe thee to. Thou haſt loſt that which would have made the worſt condition in this life, a Heaven; whereas the beſt without it, is but a hell. Thou haſt loſt that which would have beene to thy ſoule, a continuall feaſt; whereas now thy ſoul is in a continual p. 116famine and leanneſſe. Thou haſt loſt thy ſpirits, and thy ſoule is in a dead Palſie, ſo that thou art a living dead man, fit for no ſpirituall ſervice. Thou haſt loſt thy head, thou haſt loſt thy eyes, thou haſt loſt thy hands, thou haſt loſt thy feet, thou haſt loſt thy bread, thou haſt loſt thy cloathing; nay, thou haſt loſt thy beſt father, thy beſt huſband, thy beſt friend; all this and much more comfort is Chriſt to man. Thou haſt great reaſon then O deſerted ſoule, to lay to heart thy loſſe.

2.Lay to heart thy loſſe, this is comely, but do not blame Chriſt for departing from thee, this is uncomely, and unrighteous. Uncomely; for it doth not ſuit with wiſdomes children, to lay folly to their Maker. Unrighteous, for thou conſtrainſt him to depart from thee, otherwiſe he had never p. 117left thee: thou didſt ſin again and again of weakneſſe, and yet Chriſt as a Comforter did not depart from thee: untill thou beganſt to take pleaſure in unrighteouſneſſe, and to make ſin a cuſtome, a right eye, a very ſerviceable thing unto thee, Chriſt did not leave thee. Thou beganſt to wax wanton againſt Chriſt, and then Chriſt caſt thee off. Thou beganſt to play the Apoſtate, and to backſlide in heart from Chriſt; and then he fell off from thee, and filled thee with thine owne wayes. Now theſe things ſeriouſly conſidered, haſt thou any cauſe to blame Chriſt for departing from thee? It is a comely and a very righteous thing for Wiſdomes children to juſtifie wiſdome in all his waies, as to others, ſo to our ſelves. Wherefore thus do, O deſerted ſoule; ſay, righteous art thou, p. 118O Chriſt in departing from me, and righteous mayſt thou be, if thou never returne to me, ſo unkindly have I dealt with thee.

3.Then ſet thy ſelfe ſeriouſly to the uſe of all holy meanes, whereby thou maiſt get thy Comforter to returne to thee. Examine thy ſoule throughly thou muſt, to finde out what evill deprived thee of ſo great a good; and in ſerious ſoule ſearching, God will ſpeak to thy conſcience, and conſcience will ſpeak plainly to thee, and tell thee wherein thou didſt give diſtaſte to thy Comforter, and what was the cauſe he forſook thy ſoule.

And when thou haſt found out that evill, which conſcience tels thee, deprived thee of ſo great a good, thou muſt fall very foule with it, how ſweet ſoever it hath been unto thee. Thy p. 119great worke muſt be, to bring thy heart to a holy revenge upon this ſin: to abhorre it, and thy ſelfe becauſe of it: and to become very vile, as Iob ſaith, and very low in thine owne eyes. Bring thy heart to admire the infinite patience and mercy of God, that things are no worſe with thy ſoule. That God had not cut thee off, in the acting of that ſinne for which he deſerted thee: that he hath left any place for repentance, and given the leaſt deſire to ſet about this work.

And when thou art come thus farre, poſſibly the light of Gods countenance may begin now and then, to glance into thy ſoul, as at ſome little cranny: or at leaſt ſome more then ordinary lightſomneſſe, may appear in thy dark dull ſoul, as there doth in the dark morning, ſome ſpace p. 120of time before the Sun appears, that had left this Horizon. Now this beame of light, or this little lightſomeneſſe of ſoule, thou muſt much admire; and acknowledge an unfathomed depth of love in it; that God ſhould ſo much as once ſtoope, to caſt an eye after thee more, to give thy ſoule the leaſt refreſhing, that did abuſe flagons of love.

By this glimpſe of light, or glimmering light, you are to ſtrengthen your faith, in the beliefe of this, that light will more and more appeare, as the light of the morning unto the perfect day: and ſo conſequently to follow God with ſo much the more fervency of prayer, for the returne of his wonted kindneſſe. Toſeph, you know, carried himſelfe very roughly to his brethren which had abuſed him, for ſome p. 121ſpace of time; and put them in great feare of the loſſe of their lives; told them they were Spies, and many harſh words he gave them, and harſh looks: but at laſt, when his Brethren had brought to him Benjamin, and diſcourſed a while, Ioſephs bowels began to work, and he could no longer with-hold his brotherly love, Come neare to me. I pray you, I am Ioſeph your brother, &c. Gen. 45.4.Gen 45:4Thus Chriſt our elder Brother deales with us, who do unkindly & unbrotherly uſe him: he will handle us very roughly, and put us in fear of the loſſe of our beſt lives: he will make our conſciences ſpeake bitter things againſt us; and let looſe the Devill to tell us that we are Spies, hypocrites, and falſe friends to Chriſt: in this diſtracted, affrighted, perplexed ſtate, hee may hold us many dayes, many p. 122weeks, many moneths; but hee cannot hold in his brotherly love alwayes, if wee patiently beare his frownes, and kindly intreat him, and bring Benjamin to him, his own blood and merits; this will make his bowels worke, and make him unmask himſelfe and ſay, come neare to me, O mourning ſoules, toſſed and not comforted; I am Chriſt your elder brother, whom yee unkindly uſed: in a little wrath I hid my face from you, but now with everlaſting kindneſſe will I embrace you.

Trinuni Deo gloria.

FINIS.