A Saint or a Brute, Part 2 · Chapter 10 · Section 2
II. I Should next ſhew you the Delights of Holineſs, from the Helps and Concomitants that promote our pleaſure. But becauſe I am afraid of lengthening my diſcourſe too much, I ſhall only name a few things of many.
1. God being our God in Covenant, his Love is to the holy ſoul, as the Sun is to our bodies, to illuminate, warm, revive, and comfort them; and did not ſin cauſe ſome ecclipſes, or raiſe ſome clouds, or ſhut the windows, we ſhould rejoyce continually, and find how ſweet a thing it is, being juſtified by faith, to have peace with God.
2. We are in Covenant with Jeſus Chriſt, who intercedeth for our peace with God. And the Father alwayes heareth his interceſſion, John 11. 42. And therefore that meaſure of comfort which he ſeeth ſuitable to our preſent ſtate, we ſhall be ſure of. Who ſhall condemn us? when it is Chriſt that dyed, yea rather that is riſen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who alſo maketh interceſſion for us, Rom. 8. 34. We have a great high-Prieſt that is paſſed into the heavens, even Jeſus the Son of God; one that is touched with the feeling of our infirmities, and was in all points tempted like as we are, but without ſin; and therefore through him we may come boldly to the throne of Grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.] Heb. 4. 14, 15, 16. What comforting words hath he ſpoken to us in the Goſpel? and what comfortable relations hath he put us into? He calleth us his friends, if we do his Commandments, as if ſervanes were too low a title, John 15. 14, 15. Peace he leaveth with us: his Peace he giveth to us; not as the world giveth: commanding us that we let not our hearts be troubled or afraid, Joh. 14. 27. To thoſe that Love him, he hath promiſed his Fathers Love, and that they will come to him, and make their abode with him. John 14. 23. If any man ſerve him, let him follow him; and where Chriſt is, there ſhall his ſervant be; if any man ſerve Chriſt, him will the Father honour, John 12. 26.
3. That we might have ſure Conſolation, the Spirit of Chriſt is given to be our Comforter: and we are in Covenant with him alſo, who ſurely will perform his Covenants.
4. The ſervants of Chriſt have his holy image, the mark of his children, which is the in-dwelling Evidence of his Love, to aſſure them of their happineſs.
5. They have manifold experience of the kindneſs of their Father, in hearing their prayers, and helping them in their ſtraits, and delivering them in their diſtreſſes.
6. They have alſo the help of the Experience of others, even of all the godly with whom they do converſe, who can comfort them with their comforts, and tell them how good they have found the Lord.
7. They have the Miniſters of Chriſt appointed by office to be the helpers of their Faith and Jey: to be the meſſengers of glad tidings to them, and to tell them from God of the pardon of their ſins, and of his favour to them in Chriſt: and to heal the broken-hearted, and preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of ſight to the blind, to ſet at liberty them that are bruiſed, &c. Luke 4. 18. To have a deputed Officer of Chriſt to abſolve the penitent, and deliver them pardon in the name of Chriſt, and to pray for them, and direct them, and reſolve their doubts, and ſhew them the promiſes that may ſupport them, and help to profligate their temptations, muſt needs be much to the comfort of believers: As the care of a father is the comfort of the child; and the care of the Phyſicion is a comfort to the ſick.
8. They have all the Ordinances ſuited to their comfort: the Word read, preached and meditated on: the Sacraments and the publike praiſes of God, and Communion of the Saints (of which before.)
9. They have multitudes of Mercies ſtill about them, and every day renewed on them, to feed their comforts.
10. They have a promiſe that all things ſhall work together for their good; and ſo that all their afflictions themſelves ſhall be their commodities, and death it ſelf ſhall be their gain, Rom. 8. 28. Phil. 1. 21. and all their enemies ſhall be ſubdued by Chriſt the Prince of their ſalvation.
So that from this much you may ſee, that for Joy and Pleaſure, there is no life that hath the advantages that a holy life hath. As for the ungodly, they are not ſo; but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away, Pſalm 1. 4. Theſe pleaſures grow not in their wicked way, nor do ſuch ſtrangers know Believers joyes.