The Freeness of the Grace and Love of God, Sermon 2
SERMON. II.
2 THES. 2.16, 17.
Now our Lord Jeſus Chriſt himſelf, and God even our Father which hath loved us, and given us Everlaſting Conſolation and good hope through Grace; Comfort your hearts and eſtabliſh you in every good word and work.
HAving already treated of the freeneſs of the grace of God in reference to our Imployments and ſufferings; I do intend to ſhew you alſo the freeneſs of the grace of God, in reference to our Comforts and Conſolations; and this Text you ſee ſaith, God hath given us Everlaſting Conſolation, and tells us ſurther, that God hath given us this everlaſting Conſolation through grace.
Therefore without any further explication, you ſee that free Love is written upon all our ſpiritual Comforts. For what is more free than gift? Now our Lord Jeſus Chriſt himſelf, and God even our Father hath given us everlaſting Conſolation and hope through grace; Therefore it is by the grace, by the free grace of God, that we are truly comforted:
There is much of the freeneſs of Gods grace and love laid out in our ſpiritual comforts and conſolations.
For the opening of this Argument.
1. I ſhall ſhew you that it is a great mercy to be truly Comforted.
2. That it is poſſible for Gods own people, to live a great while without any conſiderable Comfort.
3. That it is not in the power of any Creature, or any thing on this ſide God or Chriſt, to comfort a poor diſtreſſed drooping ſoul.
4. That when God doth give or beſtow comfort upon any, he gives and beſtowes it in a way of free grace.
5. To ſhew wherein the grace and love of God is manifeſted, in the matter of our ſpiritual Comforts.
6. Why God will deal with us in the way of free grace and love, in the matter of our comforts.
7. When a man may be truly ſaid to be comforted in a way of free grace and love.
8. What a poor drooping ſoul muſt do, that he may be truly comforted in a way of free love; and in caſe he be ſo comforted, what returns he ſhould make. Of theſe in order.
Firſt, I ſay it is a great mercy to be truly comforted: For it is a promiſed mercy, and promiſed mercies are no ſmall mercies; now this is a mercy promiſed, Mat. 5.4. Bleſſed are they that mourn, for they ſhall be comforted.
Secondly, As this is a mercy promiſed, ſo it is the proper birth, fruit, and effect of the holy Ghoſt, Gal. 5.22. But the fruit of the ſpirit is love, joy, peace, long ſuffering, gentleneſs, goodneſs, faith. Joy and peace are the proper fruits of the holy Ghoſt, and therefore no ſmall mercies.
Thirdly, As this comfort is the proper birth, fruit, and effect of the holy Ghoſt; ſo it is the main part of the Kingdom of God, Rom. 14.17. For the Kingdom of God is not meat nor drink, but righteouſneſs peace and joy in the holy Ghoſt. It is a main part of the Kingdom of God, and if ſo, no ſmall matter.
Fourthly, This comfort is reward alſo, as well as a main part of the Kingdom of God. Comfort and Joy in the holy Ghoſt is both duty and reward; ſo it is promiſed in the forementioned Scripture, Matt. 5. Bleſſed are they that mourn, for they ſhall be comforted; and if ſo then ſurely it is no ſmall thing.
Fifthly, As it is duty and reward, ſo it is that grace whereby you are inabled to read your other graces. When a man is under great Temptations, Sorrows, and Afflictions, it is a hard thing to read his graces; but now this helps us to read our Graces: ſome will ſay they cannot read their graces, they lie at the bottom; As to explain it, take this plain compariſon, There are many Fiſhes in a Fiſhpond, but now in rainy and foul weather the fiſh lye all at the bottom, and are not to be ſeen; but in fair weather the fiſh ſwim and are viſible: So if it be foul weather upon a ſoul, if it be dark and gloomy weather, the ſoul cannot read his graces; but now when God ſhines upon him, then he is inabled to read them, yea though his graces lye at the bottom as I may ſay, yet the poor ſoul is abl… …o read them, and if it be ſo, it is no ſmall thing, 'tis no ſmall matter to read our graces, our other graces.
Sixthly, As it is that grace whereby you are inabled to read your other graces, ſo it is that whereby you joy in all good things. Grief and ſorrow ſtreighten the ſoul, ſtreighten the heart, but joy and comfort dilate the ſoul, widen and open the heart. Pſalm 119.32. I will run the way of thy Commandments, when thou ſhalt enlarge my heart.
Seventhly, As by this grace you are inabled to joy in all good things, ſo it is alſo that grace, whereby you are inabled to bear up againſt every evil thing; to bear up under all afflictions: Are you reproached? by this comfort you are inabled to bear up againſt reproaches; for ſaith the Apoſtle Peter, If you be reproached for the name of Chriſt, happy are you: Are you reproached? Comfort will turn that to your benefit and bleſſing: Are you perſecuted? Bleſſed are you when men ſhall revile and perſecute you, rejoyce, &c. Are you not only perſecuted but beaten too? Comfort will bear up your hearts under all ſtripes, and afflictions; for we find Paul and Silas ſung in the Stocks: well but this is not all.
Eighthly, This is that grace that will ſtrengthen and eſtabliſh you in the good waies of God. Mark how they go together in 2 Theſſ. 2.16, 17. Now our Lord Jeſus Chriſt himſelf, and God even our Father which hath loved us, and hath given us everlaſting conſolation, and good hope through grace, comfort your hearts, and ſtabliſh you in every good word and work. Comfort and eſtabliſhment go together, and if it be ſo, it is no ſmall matter.
Laſtly, This is that grace that will give a beauty and luſtre to your profeſſion. The comforted Chriſtian is the truly beautiful Chriſtian. If a man have never ſo much beauty in his face, yet if his face be wrinkled with grief, and blubbered with tears, the beauty of his face is not ſeen; but when joy and comfort comes, that wipes off all, and his beauty then is ſeen. So here, comfort doth not only take away reproach from your profeſſion, but it gives a luſtre, a beauty to your profeſſion; the comforted Chriſtian I ſay is the truly beautiful Chriſtian; and if ſo, ſurely it is a great mercy to be truly comforted.
That is the firſt thing in general, that it is a great mercy to be truly comforted.
2. As it is a great mercy to be truly comforted, ſo it is poſſible for Gods own ſervants and deareſt children, to live a long time without any conſideraable comfort, any fundamental comfort, their hearts may faint; My heart and my ſoul fainteth ſaith the Pſalmiſt: and you know how it was with Daniel, Dan. 10.17. You may ſee how he was bowed down, he complains there was no ſtrength remained in him, till there came one and touched him, and ſet him upon his legs again: a good man may faint and want comfort, and all the former comforts that he hath had may be Eclipſed. Reſtore to me the joy of thy ſalvation, Pſalm 51.12. ſaith David; his glory and comfort was eclipſed: yea poſſibly a gracious ſoul may live a long time without comfort; How long wilt thou forget, yea forget me O Lord, what for ever? Pſalm 13.1. I ſay a man may live a long time without any conſiderable comfort. There is a time when God will try his people; and ſee whether they will take comfort from his hand, or from another hand; it may be it may be ſo with you ſometimes: God may try, whether you will wait upon him, and believe in him, and reſt upon him for comfort.
3. As a man may live long without comfort, ſo it is not in the power of any thing, on this ſide God and Chriſt, to give comfort to a poor drooping ſoul: this is the Lords prerogative. I am the Lord that comforteth. This is his name. Father of mercies, and God of all comfort and conſolation; and 2 Cor. 7.6. Nevertheleſs God that Comforteth thoſe that are caſt down comforted us, &c. It is Gods prerogative only, to do it, comforting work is creation work; it is not in the power of the creature, but of the Creator. Iſa. 57.19. I create the fruit of the lips, peace, peace to him that is afar off, and to him that is near ſaith the Lord, and I will heal him. It is Gods work to comfort, and not in the power of any other; Man may be inſtrumental to comfort, but it is none but God alone that can do the work.
But ſome may object and ſay, can none but God alone comfort?
No none but God alone can rate off Satan. If a great dog, or maſtiff be worrying a child or a ſheep, a ſtranger comes and ſtrikes him, and calls him off, but the dog takes no notice of him; but when the Maſter comes, he rates him off preſently; none but the Maſter can do it. So here it is none but God that can rate off Satan from worrying the poor drooping ſoul, when it is under temptation, none but God the Maſter: It is not in the power of any creature, but in the power of God alone; it is in the power of none but the third perſon in the Trinity, the ſpirit of God: what needed the third perſon in the Trinity to have come into the world as he is now, if any other could comfort. As none can redeem but Chriſt the ſecond perſon of the Trinity; becauſe the ſecond perſon came from Heaven on purpoſe to redeem. So none can comfort but God, and his ſpirit; becauſe the third perſon came from Heaven to do it, there is none but God alone that can comfort a poor ſoul.
That is the third particular.
4. When God doth beſtow comfort, he beſtows it, and gives it in a way of free grace, in a way of free love, and grace. See but how they go together in the Text, Who hath given us everlaſting conſolation through grace. I will give you one Scripture more to prove it, and conſider it well, Job. 33. you have there the draught of a mans Converſion. Firſt, he goes on in his ſin; and all on a ſudden God gives in a word to him at 14, 15, verſes. For God ſpeaketh once, yea twice, but man perceiveth it not: In a dream, in a viſion of the night, when deep ſleep falleth upon men, in ſlumberings upon the bed, Then He openeth the ears of men, and ſealeth their inſtruction, and then the ſoul is filled with horror of conſcience, as in verſe 19. He is chaſtned alſo with pain upon his bed, and the multitude of his bones with ſtrong pain. And when God hath done thus, then he juſtifies him, and gives him faith, and ſhews him true righteouſneſs, as in verſe 23. If there be a meſſenger with him, an interpreter one among a thouſand, to ſhew unto man his uprightneſs; This is juſtification, and when this is done, then the Lord comforts him, as in verſe 25. His fleſh ſhall be freſher than a childs, he ſhall return to the days of his youth. You ſee God comforts him in a way of free love; and in the 26. verſe He ſhall pray unto God and he will be favourable unto him, and he ſhall ſee his face with joy, for he will render unto man his righteouſneſs. God comforts in a way of free love, he comforts how he pleaſeth, and as far as he pleaſeth; but whenſoever he comforts, it is ſtill I ſay in a way of free love. You may ſee it in Iſaiah 65.14. It is ſaid, Behold my ſervants ſhall ſing for joy of heart, but you ſhall cry for ſorrow of heart, and ſhall howl for vexation of ſpirit; and thus alſo ſaith the Lord in the former verſe; Behold my ſervants ſhall eat, but ye ſhall be hungry, behold my ſervants ſhall drink, but ye ſhall be thirſty; behold my ſervants ſhall rejoyce, but ye ſhall be aſhamed. God comforts whom he pleaſes, and as far as he pleaſeth, and it is all free, out of free love; John 14.20. At that day you ſhall know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you: and at verſe 16. And I will pray the Father, and he will give you another comforter, that he may abide with you for ever. This work of comforting is properly the work of the Holy Ghoſt; and the Holy Ghoſt breathes as the wind, where it liſteth; and therefore I ſay comforts whom and how he pleaſeth, and all in a way of free love and free grace. That is the fourth particular.
5. Wherein is the love, the free love of God manifeſted to us in the matter of our comforts? I anſwer in many things.
I will pitch but upon three only.
1. The greater he is that giveth, and the greater the thing is that is given, and the leſſer or meaner the perſon is, that the thing is given unto, the more free is the love of him that gives and beſtows the thing. Now this comfort and conſolation is a great thing, it is a very great matter, it is a birth of the Holy Ghoſt: Is that a ſmall thing? It is part of the Kingdom of God: Is that a ſmall matter? It is both duty and reward: Is that ſmall? It is that which exceeds all the Joy of the world: Lift up the light of thy countenance upon me: Thou haſt put more gladneſs into my heart, more than in the time that their oyle and their wine Increaſed, Pſalm 4.7. Ask a poor drooping ſoul, and he will tell you that it is a great thing, for it comes from a great God. Iſaiah 57.15. For thus ſaith the high and lofty One, that inhabiteth eternity, whoſe name is holy; I will dwell in the high and holy place, with him alſo that is of a contrite and humble ſpirit, to revive the ſpirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite Ones; Unto that ſoul that trembles, unto that ſoul will God bring comfort, and will be nigh unto him. Now if a Prince ſhould riſe from his Throne, to come and help up a poor fallen Cripple; would it not be looked upon as an act of very great favour: Yet thus God does, when he comes to comfort, the great high and lofty One, comes down from his Throne, as it were to lift up a poor drooping ſoul: O what free grace is this! But,
2. The more God doth croſs hands, (underſtand me) the more I ſay that God doth croſs hands in the matter of our comforts, the more doth the free grace of God appear in our comforts; when Jacob bleſſed Joſephs two children, he croſt his hands, and he laid his right hand upon the younger, and his left hand upon the elder; not ſo father ſays Joſeph; now what doth this ſhew but only the freeneſs of his love; and ſo if God ſhall croſs hands in the matter of our comfort, what doth this argue but the freeneſs of his love, and grace; and God doth ſometimes do thus when he comes to comfort, he doth croſs hands. Sometimes two men have been in the ſame tranſgreſſion, and the one hath been comforted, and the other not: what ſhall we ſay of Peter, and of Francis Spira. Spira having profeſſed the Truth, and being called to witneſs to it, did deny it; ſo did Peter, he denied Chriſt, yet Peter was comforted, but Spira never comforted, but lay deſpairing and roaring out to his death, I am a reprobate, I am a reprobate, no hope for me, no hope for me; Peter was comforted, Spira was never comforted: What do you think of David and Cain, Cain murders his brother Abel a godly man; David murdered Ʋriah a godly man too: Ʋriah had been with him in all his troubles, and was a very good man, but though David was an adulterer alſo, yet a meſſenger is ſent to him that ſays, thy ſins are forgiven thee: but Cain not comforted, but driven out from the preſence of the Lord. So that I ſay there may be two in a tranſgreſſion, and the one may be comforted, and the other not. Look into the Scriptures, and into your own experiences, and you will find great ſinners comforted, and leſſer ſinners not comforted, and great ſinners converted and comforted ſooner than others. Zacheus was a great ſinner, and yet was comforted: the Jaylor was a great ſinner, and yet comforted; and yet many that have walked very cloſely with God, have not been comforted. Pſalm 88.15. Hemau complains ſadly in verſe 14. Lord why caſteſt thou off my ſoul, why hideſt thou thy face from me: I am afflicted and ready to dye from my youth up: while I ſuffer thy terrors I am diſtracted; and yet he walked cloſe with God, as you may find in the former part of the Pſalm. Yet we find ſometimes (I ſay) the greateſt ſinners converted and ſooneſt comforted. Now what is this but croſſing of hands in the matter of our comforts, and this is only to ſhew forth the freeneſs of the grace of God; and the free grace and love of God is moſt abundantly, moſt eminently manifeſted to the ſoul by this croſſing of hands.
3. The more unbelieving any man is that is comforted, the more doth the freeneſs of the grace of God appear. Dearly beloved Brethren, it is with our conſolation, as it is with our juſtification, and our ſanctification; when God comes to juſtifie a man he finds him ungodly, yet He juſtifies the ungodly, and not only the ungodly, but the unbelieving alſo; and therefore the Lord ſaid, Go and compel them to come in; They were unbelieving perſons, yet God calls them: And ſo it is alſo in the matter of our ſanctification; when God comes to ſanctify men, He finds them unwilling to be ſanctified; but as God juſtifies them though unwilling, becauſe he doth it freely; ſo He ſanct fies them too though unwilling, becauſe he ſanctifies freely: And ſo it is alſo in the matter of our comforts; when God comes to comfort, he finds the ſoul unwilling many times, my ſoul refuſed to be comforted ſaith the Pſalmiſt Pſalm 77.2. and ſo again, Remember the word unto thy ſervant, upon which thou haſt cauſed me to hope, Pſalm 119.49. I was unwilling, but thou cauſedſt me to hope whether I would or no. When God comes to comfort, He doth it though men are unwilling to be comforted: It is very ſtrange that it ſhould be ſo, and yet ſuch is the unbelief of mens hearts, that as before converſion they are unwilling to be turned, ſo after converſion they are unwilling to be comforted. Now this is that I ſay, that the more unwilling any man is to be comforted, yet if God doth comfort him, the more free doth the grace of God appear in it; God doth comfort though ſouls are unwilling: O the freeneſs, the freeneſs of the grace of God, in the matter of our comforts. Thus you ſee how and wherein the free grace of God appears, and is manifeſted in our ſpiritual comforts and conſolations. That is the fifth particular.
6. Why will God deal with us in a way of free grace, in the matter of our comforts and conſolations? would it not be better in a way of ſettlement, in a conſtant way; would not that be beſt? No, take notice of this, that there is no way to make a mercy ſure like this; I know no mercy that is ſo ſure, as that which is wrought and given in a way of free grace, and free love, they go together in the Text; Everlaſting Conſolation through Grace: The only way I ſay to make a thing ſure, is to receive it in this way, in which God gives it, that is, in a way of free grace. Pray tell me, did not God chuſe David freely, and his houſe? Yea, it was freely in oppoſition to the houſe of Saul, 2 Sam. 6.21. Says David to Michal Sauls daughter, It was before the Lord, which choſe me before thy Father, and before all his houſe; to appoint me ruler over the people of the Lord, over Iſrael, &c. God choſe him freely, alſo in oppoſition to his own brethren: And was not his houſe ſure; the covenant was ſure: 2 Sam. 23.5. Although my houſe be not ſo with God, yet he hath made with me an everlaſting covenant, ordered in all things and ſure, for this is all my ſalvation and all my deſire. God hath made me his choſen, and his mercies to me are ſure; God will deal with us in a way of free grace, that our mercies may be ſure; By grace ye are ſaved, and if ſo, what a comfort is it that God will ſo order and diſpoſe of it that we may be ſure of it, and depend upon it; for God will have us depend upon him for our ſpiritual comforts, and what will make us more depend upon him, than to know that he gives all in a way of free grace; we muſt depend upon God both for our ſpiritual and our outward comforts, ſeeing what He doth He doth freely; we muſt freely depend upon him for comfort. But,
7. When may a man be ſaid to be truly comforted in a way of free grace? I cannot deny but I am comforted (ſaith a poor ſoul) but I know not whether it be in a way of free grace and free love; now how may I know that I am comforted in a way of free grace.
I ſhall ſpeak to this Negatively and Affirmatively.
Firſt Negatively, There is a comfort that is the daughter of time; a man or woman is ſorrowful, but time wears it out, time comforts him; this comfort that ſprings from, and ariſeth out of time, is not true comfort; neither is that man truly comforted by free grace. But when the ſoul is truly comforted in a way of free grace, then he is comforted by the Holy Ghoſt, the Holy Ghoſt bearing witneſs that he is the Child of God.
Secondly, There is a comfort that ariſeth from the ſatisfaction of a natural conſcience: A man knows by nature, that there is a God, and that this God is to be prayed unto, and therefore he prayes accordingly; and when he hath done, his natural conſcience is ſatisfied, and he is then comforted; but no… if a mans comfort ariſe only from this, …m the ſatisfaction of a naturall conſcience, that man is not truly comforted; for he that is truly comforted, is comforted by joy in believing: in whom believing ye rejoyce, Rom. 15.13.
Thirdly, There is a comfort that ariſeth from a mans non-attendance to his own condition. Men may be comforted. Why? Becauſe they never look into their condition, how it ſtands between God and their ſouls: There is a comfort ariſing not only from a mans conſcience, but from the non-attendance to his own condition, and hereupon he is ſecure: but this is not the comfort that ariſeth from free grace and free love.
Fourthly, There is a comfort that doth ariſe from the uſe of the creature, men are troubled in their minds, and they run preſently to the Tavern, to their Muſick, or merry Company to put it off; and ſo it may be are comforted: but if a mans comfort ariſe only from the creature, he is not truly comforted, not comforted with the comfort of free grace and love: he that is comforted in this way, it is but a diverſion to him, and not true comfort: as ſtraw when ſet on fire will make a flaſh and a flame, but black aſhes remain behind; ſo when men are troubled, and they run to the Tavern, or to Muſick, and merry Company; all this is but a flaſh, black Aſhes remain behind: provoked trouble will be angry trouble, and angry will be moſt troubleſome; when men run to merriment to divert trouble, they provoke it.
Fifthly, There is a comfort that doth ariſe from the common work of the Holy Ghoſt; Some who have taſted of the Heavenly gift, and are made partakers of the Holy Ghoſt, and yet fall away, Heb. 6.4. The falſe ground received the word with joy: Now if a mans comfort ariſeth from theſe common workings of the Holy Ghoſt, it is not true comfort: for he that is truly comforted, is comforted in a way of free love, his comfort is unſpeakable, 1 Pet. 1.8. Whom having not ſeen you love, in whom though you now ſee him not, yet believing ye rejoyce with joy unſpeakable and full of glory. Thus you ſee Negatively, when a man is not truly comforted in theſe five particulars; a man is not truly comforted from time, nor from the ſatisfaction of a natural conſcience, nor from a non-attendance to his condition, nor from the uſe of the creature, nor laſtly from the common workings of the Holy Ghoſt.
But Secondly Affirmatively, we have heard when a man may be ſaid not to be comforted. Now when may a man be ſaid to be comforted, truly comforted in a way of free grace? Beloved in the Lord, are you willing to have your comforts tried; falſe and counterfeit things do not love trial; now if you be willing to be tried, to have your comforts tried, it is a ſign and a hope that your comforts may be true; but I ſhall not inſiſt on this. There are two or three things I ſhall ſpeak to here.
Firſt, If you have been comforted by the word of promiſe, ſet on upon your ſouls by God, then are you truly comforted in away of love and free grace, for what is the promiſe but the word of grace. But ſome may ſay, I have had a promiſe, but I fear it may be from the Devil; for the Devil may bring a promiſe: did he not bring a pomiſe unto Chriſt, Mat. 4.6. Saying, He ſhall give His Angels charge over thee, and in their hands they ſhall bear thee up. This promiſe was brought to Chriſt by the Devil, and it may be my promiſe may be handed to me by Satan, and ſet on upon my ſoul by him. But do but mark this, I will only ſay this one thing to thee, poor ſoul, to eaſe thee of this objection. If Satan bring a promiſe to you, it is to lead you into ſin, to draw you into ſin, and to that which is evil, as this to Chriſt here, He will give His Angels charge concerning Thee, caſt thy ſelf down. He brought a promiſe to do evil, caſt thy ſelf down: but now if God hand a promiſe to you, it is for your doing of good; therefore ſays Chriſt to Satan, It is written I have a word and a promiſe too, It is written thou ſhalt not tempt the Lord thy God: The Devil brought this that he might do evil, and God gave Chriſt a word to keep him from evil: and ſo when you are brought into temptations, great temptations; if you have a word of promiſe brought home to your hearts, to bear you up under temptation; it is not the Devil that gives it in to you, that hands it to you: No, for the Devil is no friend to faith, no friend to ſtay you up; for the Tempter will not act againſt the Temptation; ſaith Luther, though the Devil be Magnipotent, yet he is not Omnipotent; though he be Mighty, he is not Almighty: And therefore I ſay, if you have a promiſe comes to you, to help you to do good, it is not of Satan but of God; for he is Almighty, he is able to comfort. That is the firſt.
Secondly, Would you know whether you be comforted in a way of free grace and love, you may know it by the ebbing and flowing of your comforts, which will ebb and flow according to the cauſe: They ſay the Marygold opens and ſhuts with the Sun, when the Sun ſhines it opens, when the Sun withdraws it ſhuts, it opens and ſhuts according to the withdrawing and ſhining of the Sun: and ſo if your comforts be true, the more the righteouſneſs of Chriſt opens before you, the more the Sun of righteouſneſs ſhines upon you, the more you will be comforted: If your comforts be true, the more the freeneſs of the love of God is opened to you, the more will the comfort of the ſoul be enlarged; if your comforts be true, the more God ſhines with his countenance, the more is the ſoul comforted: Lord ſaies David in Pſalm 4.6. Lift up the light of thy countenance upon us, Thou haſt put more gladneſs in my heart than in the time that their Corn and their wine increaſed. Now according to the opening and ſhutting of theſe things, ſo will your comforts be. How is it therefore with you? Is there any ebbing and flowing? How is the righteouſneſs of Chriſt? How is the light of Gods countenance diſcovered to you? Are they laid open to you? Then are you truly comforted in a way of free grace and love. That is the ſecond.
Thirdly, If you be comforted in a way of free grace and love, then your comforts are true friends to holineſs of life. That comfort that is wrought by the grace of God without you, is the greateſt friend to the grace of God within you, and to holineſs in your lives: Falſe comfort is a friend to ſin, a neighbour; a guard to ſin; but no friend to true and gracious comfort; yea thoſe that have this falſe comfort can indure ſins againſt conſcience: But now where there is true comfort, and comfort from the grace of God, there conſcience is as the Apple of the Eye, and the man cannot indure the leaſt ſin, he cannot bear the leaſt Mote of ſin to lie upon his conſcience: How is it therefore with you? is your comfort a friend to holineſs of life? and can you ſay, the more comforted I am the more holy I am? Then you are truly comforted.
But ſuppoſe I want comfort now, and that I am one of a drooping, trembling ſpirit, and of an afflicted heart; what ſhall I do that I may be comforted, and comforted in a way of free grace? I Anſwer;
Firſt, Go away, and be ſenſible of your unbelief; for it is want of believing that hinders our comfort, and when the comforter comes, he will convince the world of ſin, and eſpecially of unbelief: would you then be comforted in a way of free love? Go then I ſay, and be ſenſible of your unbelief, and be humbled for it.
Secondly, Obſerve what thoſe things are that hinder your ſpiritual comforts, and take heed of them. They are many. I will only name ſome of them. As,
Firſt, Worldly fears, and worldly delights; theſe are enemies to true comfort.
Secondly, Sins againſt conſcience, they that ſin againſt knowledge, will hardly have peace of conſcience; nay it is pitty they ſhould have peace, leſt they be ingaged and incouraged thereby to ſin; thoſe that ſin againſt Conſcience will hardly have peace. Do you think to have the Spirit to be your friend whom you grieve ſo often, if then you would be truly comforted, you muſt have a great care of ſinning againſt conſcience, and thereby grieving the ſpirit, that ſpirit whereby you are ſealed to the day of Redemption, Epheſ. 4.30. would you then be truly comforted? Obſerve I ſay theſe things that hinder your ſpiritual comfort: can you think that what you grieve moſt, ſhould comfort you moſt. Therefore as you expect true comfort, have a care of grieving the ſpirit of God.
Thirdly, If at any time God make a tender of grace, or offer a word of comfort and peace to you; be ſure you do not refuſe it. We are apt to refuſe to be comforted; but be ſure you accept of it, eſpecially in a time of Temptation.
Fourthly, Be ſure you do not reſt upon your own performances in reference to your comforts. Brethren and Beloved think on theſe things, and compare them with your own daily experiences. I ſay if you would be truly comforted, do not reſt on your own performances. As we are apt to reſt upon our own Righteouſneſs, in reference to our Juſtification; ſo we are apt alſo to reſt upon our own performances, in reference to our comforts. O take heed you do not go about to eſtabliſh your own comforts upon the bottom of your own performances, for if you do, you will not ſubmit to the conſolations of God.
Fifthly, If you would be comforted in a way of free grace and love, then ſtudy much the freeneſs of the grace of God. What is the reaſon people are no more comforted? It is becauſe they ſee no more of the grace of God, the free grace of God: the more you look into the riches and freeneſs of Gods grace, the more you will be comforted.
Sixthly, If you want comfort at any time, walk graciouſly in the want of it. When you want comfort go to God and ſay; Lord although I cannot ſee thee, yet will I ſerve thee; and although I cannot enjoy thee, yet I will obey thee; and although I cannot ſee thy face, yet I will follow after thee, if by any means I may obtain thee. Walk graciouſly in the want of your comforts.
Seventhly, Set your ſelf to rejoyce in him that gives you comfort, Rejoyce in the Lord alwaies, and again I ſay rejoyce, ſaith the Apoſtle, Phil. 4.4. He doth not only ſay humble your ſelf for ſin, which is a duty and a great duty; but he ſaith Rejoyce, and again I ſay rejoyce in the Lord; Rejoyce in the Lord who gives you comfort freely. As much as you have been humbled for ſin formerly, ſo much ſhould you now rejoyce that you have been comforted, and freely comforted by the grace of God; Rejoyce ſo much in the Lord of your comforts.
Eighthly, (To name them only:) If you would be comforted in a way of free grace and love, then be thankfull for your comfort: He that is thankfull for a little, ſhall have much; be thankfull therefore to God for your comfort.
Laſtly, Would you be comforted in a way of free grace and love; then go to God for that comfort: Friends and Beloved; God is willing, moſt willing to comfort; and what will you not go to him? God is willing to make good his name, and his Title; now this is one of his Titles, I am the Lord that comforteth: He is willing to do what Chriſt was ſent to do; the ſpirit of the Lord is upon me to comfort all that mourn, Iſa. 61.2. Is not God willing to do it; He hath ſent the comforter alſo to comfort you, yea he hath given his Miniſters charge to comfort you; Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, Iſa. 40.1. and are not you willing now, to receive what God hath promiſed, I will not leave you comfortleſs, I will come unto you. John 14.15. You will be troubled and reaſon with your ſelves, yet I will not leave you comfortleſs. As one whom his mother comforteth, ſo will I comfort you, and ye ſhall be comforted. Iſa. 66.13. Therefore now O poor drooping ſoul go to God, for he is willing to comfort thee, if thou be but willing to go unto him. Only in your going to God obſerve theſe two or three directions.
Firſt, When you go to God for comfort, go to the Office which he hath ſet up for comfort, the Office of the Holy-Ghoſt.
Secondly, When you go to God, ſhut your eyes, and caſt your ſelf at an adventure upon the free grace of God.
Thirdly, In going to God for comfort you muſt ſtay Gods leaſure; ſome come and ask of God, and becauſe they do not receive an anſwer preſently, they are gone; but be ſure you do willingly ſtay Gods leaſure. Thus I ſay, would you have comfort? you muſt obſerve theſe things, to go to Gods Office, to ſhut your eyes, and to caſt your ſelves at adventure upon the free grace of God, and then you muſt ſtay Gods leaſure; Thus doing you ſhall be truly comforted; and when you have obtained this comfort, and are thus truly comforted; Then take theſe few rules with you, and ſo I conclude.
Firſt, Take as much pains to keep your comfort, as ever you did to get it.
Secondly, Labour more and more to increaſe it, for if it do not increate, it will certainly decreaſe.
Thirdly, Be comfortable to, and comforting of others; for how do you know but that God hath comforted you, to this very end that you might comfort others; Paul was ſo, and be ſure to ſhew comfort, for comforts ſake.
Brethren and Beloved in the Lord, Do not receive this grace in vain; But go all you that have this comfort, and magnify the riches of Gods grace, the freeneſs of the grace of God that hath comforted you, and ſay, What ſuch a one as I comforted! Others of thy Children Lord have walked cloſely with Thee, but I have walked looſely; and ſhall I be comforted and not they? O what free grace is this! I have been a great ſinner Lord, and what am I comforted? O what free grace is this! There are ſome that have walked in the light, and they are now in darkneſs; but I have walked in the dark, and yet am now in the light, O what free grace is this! Go away therefore, and magnifie the riches of Gods grace in the matter of your comforts.
Thus you have heard how the freeneſs of the grace of God is written upon all your comforts, your comforts and conſolations are all deeply inamelled with the free grace of God; and that much of his free love is laid out in your comforts and conſolations. And thus I conclude with the words of my Text, Now our Lord Jeſus Chriſt himſelf, and God even our Father, which hath loved us, and given us Everlaſting Conſolation and good hope through grace; Comfort your hearts and eſtabliſh you in every good word and work.