Christs Love and Affection Towards Jerusalem, Chapter 26
CHAP. 26.
The comfort of ſuch as carefully apply themſelves to the things of Chriſt and the Goſpell.
Chap. 26 5 IF the things of Chriſt and the Goſpell, Vſe 5. Comfort to thoſe that are mindfull of Chriſt and the things of the Goſpell.bee things that belong to every mans peace, then may this ſerve for the comfort of all thoſe, who are mindfull of theſe things, and to follow and purſue after them with all their hearts; for what ever account the world may make of theſe things, yet they are matters of tranſcendent worth, and of the higheſt concernment; and ſo they will one day be found to bee, becauſe they are things that belong to their peace; things that will bring that peace at laſt which is worth all, and more than all, that poſſibly can bee laid out for it; for amongſt other advantages, it brings theſe foure ſingular priviledges with it.
1 It gives a man boldneſſe and confidence in his approaches unto God; a man that is not at peace with God, cannot bee ſo confident that he ſhall ſpeed in his ſuites and requeſts that he makes unto him; for God heareth not ſinnersaJohn 9.31.; and therefore he muſt needs be more faint, and heartleſſe, when hee goes about them; but when a man is at peace with God, this it emboldens him to come to the throne of grace, and with confidence to plead his intereſt in the Covenant: b1 Iohn. 5.14.This is the confidence that wee have in him, that whatſoever we aske of him, according to his will, in that hee heareth us: and this is a great priviledge, like as it is with a favorite at Court, who hath alwayes the Kings eare, and is ſure of audience whenſoever hee comes, and alſo to prevaile in whatſoever ſuite or requeſt he makes; even ſo it is with a man that is at peace with God.
2 It frees the heart from thoſe armies and changes of feares and doubts, which a guilty conſcience is ſubject unto, and continually aſſaulted withallcChryſoſt. to. 3. in V.T. edit. Gr…ecelat. pag 36. foreign.. A man that is not at peace with God; he is afraid of every thing, if it bee but the ſhaking of a leafe, if he doe but heare a noiſe in the dark, it puts him into a terrible paſsion and feare, he is ready to thinke, it is ſome evill meſſenger ſent to arreſt him, and carry him away to the place of torments: If he read the face of an angry God in the heavens, in thunder and lightning, &c. if he heare of dangerous and troubleſome times, his heart is ready to faile, and miſgive him, for feare, and for looking after the things that ſhall come upon the world; and when he thinkes upon death, which is the King of feares, that is a damp to all other contentments that hee doth enjoy, that holds him faſt all his life long, as it were in a priſon, under continuall bondage, as the Apoſtle ſpeaksdHeb. 2.15.; but when once hee is at peace with God, and findes peace at home in his owne ſoule, this moderates, and qualifies all thoſe ſmarting, ſtinging, perplexing fears.ePſal. 27.1. The Lord is my light, and my ſalvation, whom ſhall I feare? and againefPſa. 112.7., He ſhall not be afraid of evill tydings; his heart is fixed, & he truſteth in the Lord.
3 It ſweetens al conditions unto a man, and fils him with joy and comfort in the worſt times, even in times of trouble; and when hee is under the croſſe, it makes him to rejoyce in tribulation: a man that wants this peace, he may rejoyce in time of proſperity, while the coaſts are cleare, and all goes well with him; but when the times frowne, and looke ſad upon him, then he is dejected, and caſt downe; whereas hee that is at peace with God, he findes matter of comfort in all conditions; in his falling, as well as in his riſing, in his ebbing, as well as in his flowing; like the Holy Martyrs that found matter of joy and comfort in the middeſt of the flames: Paul and Silas being fil… with this peace, they could ſing Pſalms evē at midnight, and that in the bottome of the dungeon gAct. 16.25.; the Apoſtles being filled with this peace, when they were rebuked and beaten before the Councell, they went away rejoycing, that they were counted worthy to ſuffer reproach for the Name of Chriſt hAct. 5.41.: the beleeving Hebrewes, being filled with this peace, they endured with joy the ſpoyling of their goods iHeb. 10.34., &c.
4 It makes a man willing to leave the world, and to imbrace death; a man that is not at peace with God, he can never bid death welcome, becauſe it comes as an enemy to him, and threatens to deliver him up into his hands, who is able to doe him more hurt than all the enemies that hee hath in the world beſides; but when he is once at peace with God, then hee is not afraid to looke death in the face, becauſe hee knowes hee ſhall make a bleſſed and happy exchange by it, it will land him upon the coaſts of eternall peace, Chap. 27.where he ſhall be crowned with the perfection of peace for evermore; ſo it was with old Simeon kLuke 2.29., Lord now letteſt thou thy ſervant depart in peace, for mine eyes have ſeene thy ſalvation.