Mount Pisgah, Part 3 · Section 5
Ever with the Lord.Uſe 3. 1 Cor. 15 ult.
It may ſerve as a ſpur to diligence and activity in the wayes of God. It is the very uſe the Apoſtle makes of this bleſſed Doctrine: Therefore, my brethren, be ye ſtedfaſt, unmoveable, alwayes abounding in the work of the Lord, for as much as ye know your labour is not in vain in the Lord. Not in vain? a foreign, more is to be underſtood than is expreſt, the meaning is, your reward ſhall be great and glorious: What is that? this motive hath relation to the glorious reſurrection treated on in the whole foregoing Chapter, q. d. on the other ſide of the reſurrection, God hath prepared an eternity of glory for you, and therefore beſtir your ſelves in good earneſt; do ſomewhat for God on this ſide the grave, that may (if poſſible) bear ſome proportion with your future expectation; Whatever thy hand findeth to do, do it with all thy might: Labour hard, here's eternal reſt after thy labours. Rev. 14.13.Bleſſed are the dead that dye in the Lord, for they reſt from their labours, Thou haſt but a moment to work in, but an eternity to reſt in; be induſtrious now, and anon thou ſhalt be glorious. Enter now into thy Lords Vineyard, and ſoon thou ſhalt enter into thy Lords Joy. Take pains here, there remains a reſt, an eternal reſt, not an eternity of being only, but an eternity of well-being; Ever be with the Lord.
Ply the Oar of duty, Chriſtians, a bleſſed Haven is at hand, you look for more than others, what do you do more than others? Never did ſervants expect ſuch a recompence of reward: The gift of God is eternal life. Rom. 6. ult.Oh let the fear of miſſing this glory urge you to the greater diligence; let it ſtir you up to the moſt ſevere and intenſive acts of holineſs and obedience: Phil. 2.12.Work out your expected ſalvation with fear and trembling; he that runs for a great prize, fears he ſhould fall ſhort; Let us fear, Heb. 4.1.leſt a promiſe being left us of entring into his reſt, any of us ſhould ſeem to fall ſhort; you cannot merit it by your diligence, but your may forfeit it by your ſloth: Oh work, and work out your ſalvation: Hope calleth up a Saint to duty; he is ſaid therefore to be ſaved by hope: Chriſt in the ſoul, and hope of glory, Rom. 8. 1 John 3.8.cannot be an idle and ſluggiſh principle: He that hath this hope purifieth himſelf, even as he is pure: There are no bounds to his holy endeavours after conformity to Chriſt; his hope to live with Chriſt in heaven puts him upon utmoſt eſſayes to live the life of Chriſt here on this ſide heaven.
Momentany enjoyments are ſtrong inducements to worldlings to greateſt pains and labours; and will not the everlaſting fruition of God make you ſtedfaſt, unmoveable, and alwayes abounding in the Lords work? 1 Cor. 9.52.They run (ſaith Paul) for a corruptible crown, but we for an incorruptible: Oh how ſhould we run? They riſe early to build an houſe, that in one hour may be conſumed to aſhes; what pains ſhould we take to get an intereſt in that houſe which is eternal with God in the heavens! They toil, and moil, and ſweat to heap up riches for an unknown poſſeſſor, and ſhall not we labour for that better portion, that cannot be taken from us. Heb. 3.2.Moſes was faithful and active in the houſe of him that appointed him, Chap. 11.26.and this did in a great meaſure excite him, he had reſpect to the recompence of reward, and ſhall we fear to over-do our work, who have a clearer proſpect of heaven than Moſes had? His face was vailed, we ſee with open face. There's no inducement to take pains comparable to this, ever with the Lord: 2 Cor. 3.13, 18.Ever in the Preſence-chamber of the greateſt Monarch in the world; may, ever upon the Throne, giving laws to Kingdoms, ever increaſing treaſures of gold, and ſilver, and precious ſtones; ever bathing in the full ſtreams of ſublunary pleaſures, is no wayes comparable to one moments enjoyment of the preſence of the Lord in heaven. Let that mans money periſh with him, ſaid that noble Marqueſs Galeacius Caracciolus, who eſteemeth all the gold in the world worth one dayes ſociety with Jeſus Chriſt and his holy Spirit, &c.
I have often thought with my ſelf, that if heaven were capable of grief, thoſe very rivers of pleaſures would ſwell with the tears of glorified ſouls, to think that they have ſerved God no more, ſerved him no better, did no more for that God, who hath prepared ſuch an heaven full of glory for ſuch an unprofitable ſervant, as I have been: Oh how coldly did I pray for this ineſtimable bleſſedneſs? How unaffectedly did I hear the report of this great ſalvation? And what little pains did I take for this exceeding and eternal weight of glory, which exceeds all hyperboly? While ſlighteſt expreſſions are too big for my diligence? What! all this joy, and ſo little pains to obtain it? All this glory, and ſo little zeal for the glory of God! So great an harveſt, and ſo little ſeed ſown! So great a reward, and ſo little ſervice! Surely there would be a day of humiliation kept in heaven (and it might well take up half eternity) to bewail the Saints remiſsneſs in the work of the Lord, were heaven capable of it, or did not the reflection of glorified ſouls upon the former iniquities of their holy things iſſue only unto the admiration of the riches of that grace, which hath brought them to glory.
But though heaven will not admit of grief, thy preſent eſtate will: mourn therefore, that thou haſt been ſo dead and ſo dull in the ſervice of God, who hath ſet before thee no leſs a reward, than the enjoying of himſelf to all eternity; and let the ſenſe thereof quicken thy dead heart to work after another rate for the little remnant of mortality yet behind: Say not, yet there is two much ſand left in the glaſs for God and eternity: ſay rather, Oh that, (were it not to keep me ſo much the longer from my Fathers preſence) oh that every hour yet behind were a day, every day a month, every month a year, every year a life! it were all too little for that hope which is laid up for me in heaven! Oh had I an hundred pair of hands, they were too little to imploy in my heavenly Fathers work! an hundred pair of feet they would not carry me faſt enough in the way of his Commandments! an hundred pair of eyes were not enough to behold God in every Creature round about me! Col. 1.13,a thouſand tongues were not ſufficient to trumpet forth his praiſes, who hath made me meet to be a partaker of the inheritance of the Saints in light! Oh, Eph. 5.16.what ſhall I do? If I cannot love God more, ſerve him better, bring him more glory, than hitherto I have done, I am undone, I am undone. Oh redeem.
Chriſtians, the eternal Jubile is at hand, the trumpet is ready to ſound, and the glorious eternal liberty of the Saints and Servants of God ready to be proclaimed; up and be doing now, as ye would be found, when Chriſt ſhall come with his mighty Angels, and his reward with him, that you may hear the bleſſed Euge, Well done good and faithful ſervant, enter into the joy of the Lord. Ʋſe 4
In the fourth place: This may ſerve as a preſervative to the people of God to keep them from fainting and falling away in time of ſufferings, and perſecution for righteouſneſs ſake; after a moments ſufferings they ſhall have eternity of reſt, they ſhall ever be with the Lord, and thenceforth there ſhall be no more ſufferings nor ſorrow: all tears ſhall be wiped from their eyes, and everlaſting joy ſhall be upon their heads, once hous'd in heaven, and they are ſafe for ever: Perſecutors, to be ſure, will not follow them thither, but they ſhall be looked up in hell for ever, bound in chains of everlaſting darkneſs for their fury againſt the people of God, ſuffering the vengeance of eternal fire.
Ever with the Lord; here's a ſhort fight, but an eternal triumph, a ſhort race, but an immarceſſable crown of glory; a ſhort ſtorm, but an eternal harbour, who would not almoſt be covetous and ambitious of ſuffering upon ſuch gainful terms? One day with the Lord will more than pay for all the Saints ſufferings, how much more this ever with the Lord? There is no proportion between a Chriſtian his Croſs and his Crown, Rom. 8.18.if the Apoſtle have brought us in a true account, I reckon that the ſufferings of this preſent time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which ſhall be revealed in us. Compare a Mole-hill with a Mountain, a Glow-worm with a Sun beam, a drop with the Ocean: and more diſproportionable are a Saints ſufferings unto his glory; here he lets drop a few tears, there he ſwims in a river of pleaſures for evermore. To convince us of the odds, the Apoſtle puts both into ſcales, and the ſcales into the hand even of Reaſon it ſelf, ſee (ſaith he) how infinitely the reward praeponderates the ſufferings: 2 Cor. 4.17. foreign.Affliction light, Glory heavy; a weight of glory, yea, an exceeding weight, yea, a far more exceeding weight, hyperbole upon hyperbole. Affliction but for a moment, Glory eternity, let ſenſe and reaſon give ſentence; what equality or proportion! an heavy burden may be born a moment, how much eaſilier a light one eſpecially if ye add this conſideration, that after that little little moment paſt, burden ſhall never be laid upon the back any more for ever! We are apt to think, that our ſufferings are not only heavy, but intollerable, the only unparallel'd affliction in the world, never ſorrow like our ſorrow! but they will appear as they are poor and inconſiderable, when we come to heaven; then our Mountains will appear Mole-hills: How will a priſon look then? when for a few dayes confinement we ſhall have the glorious liberty of the Sons of God in the higheſt heavens dayes without end! How will then the reproach of Chriſt appear to be greater riches than the treaſures of Egypt, when for a little ſhame and ignominy thou ſhalt ſhine as the Sun in the Firmament, for ever? How will thy former poverty for Chriſt look then, 1 Pet. 1.5.when thou ſhalt be poſſeſſed of the inheritance of the Saints in light; Incorruptible, undefiled, that fadeth not away, reſerved in heaven for thee? Nay, if thou ſhalt looſe thy life for Chriſt, it ſhall ſeem but a poor ſtake, when thou ſhalt be crowned with all the beatitudes of life eternal.
Oh labour for ſuch thoughts of ſufferings now, as thou wilt have then, and this will carry thee through fire and water for Chriſts ſake, and, with the Daughter of Sion, cauſe thee to ſhake thy head at them. Though ſufferings offend thee now, and are very grievous to the fleſhy part, yet it will be no grief of heart to thee then, when thou comeſt to put on thy Robe, and thy Crown, and to ſit down with Chriſt on his Throne. If there could be grief in heaven about ſufferings, it would grieve a Saint, that he had ſuffered no more for Chriſt, or ſuffered with no more patience, courage, and holy inſulting over the perſecutors, 40. Martyrs in Baſil.now led by his ſufferings into ſo much glory. Pore not then upon thy ſufferings, but look up to the Crown that is prepared to be ſet upon thy head after thy ſufferings; behold Martyrdom it ſelf ſhall be but as Elijah's Chariot to carry thee up to heaven in triumph: If we ſuffer with him, we ſhall alſo reign with him; if we wear his Crown of thorns, we ſhall wear his Crown of glory; if we dye with him, we ſhall alſo riſe with him, and reign with him for ever. Think much of the Kingdom to expel baſe fears in ſufferings. This is the glorious recompence which Chriſt ſets before his Church, Luke 12.32.to encourage her in the midſt of her perſecutions; Fear not, little flock, it is your Fathers pleaſure to give you the Kingdom. If a Kingdom (yea, the Kingdom of Heaven) be able to make you amends for your ſufferings, you ſhall not be loſers by them, well you may be loſers for Chriſt, but, to be ſure, you ſhall not be loſers by Chriſt. Our Lord Chriſt himſelf did ſet the joy of this Kingdom before himſelf in his temptations and ſufferings, Heb. 12.2.and the Apoſtle (therein) ſet Chriſt as an example before us, Looking unto Jeſus, the author and finiſher of our faith, who for the joy which was ſet before him, endured the croſs, and deſpiſed the ſhame, &c.
Surely the joy of our Lord may well make the ſervant willing to endure, and able to deſpiſe the greateſt ſufferings, to laugh at reproaches, and to ſing in priſons, to be like the Leviathan, Job 41.27.He eſteemeth iron as ſtraw, and braſs as rotten wood, the arrows cannot make him flee, ſling-ſtones are turned with him into ſtubble, darts are counted as ſtubble, he laughs at the ſhaking of the ſpear, &c. Heaven in our eye will make us thus heroick in our perſecutions, Rom. 5.3.We glory not only in God, but we glory in tribulation: Hold out then faith and patience, but one ſtile more, ſaid Doctor Taylor. when he went to the Stake, and I am at my Fathers houſe; Oh this word, at my Fathers houſe, at home, Ever with the Lord, this made the holy man to leap over the ſtile, as if he had been a young man going to be married to his Bride.
Ever with the Lord: Ʋſe 5 It may, ſerve as a ſoveraign cordial againſt the fear of death; man having an immortal ſoul, naturally deſireth and breatheth after eternity; but man in his corrupt eſtate, being ignorant and mindleſs of a bleſſed eternity with God, is not willing to dye, to leave the ſhore of this life, and to venture upon the unknown immenſe Ocean of eternity, therefore the ungodly mans ſoul is ſaid to be taken from him, Luke 12.20. Thou fool, this night ſhall thy ſoul be required of thee. Sinners do not willingly part with their ſouls, they are torn out of their bodies by violent hands, none but a Paul (who is ballaſted with the hope of everlaſting cohabitation with the Lord) can deſire foreign to looſe from the ſhore, to hoiſe up ſail, and make for the heavenly Canaan. And well may he, that hath made a rich (though ſtormy) voyage to the Indies, ſet ſail for his own native Country, where he may ſit down in peace, and enrich himſelf with the gain of his adventure.
Come hither then, oh you trembling ſouls, who through the fear of death have all your lives time been ſubject to bondage, come hither, I ſay, and ſet your feet upon the neck of this King of terrors, and fear not to make that triumphant challenge of the Apoſtle, Oh death! 1 Cor. 15.55.where is thy ſting? O grave! where is thy victory? Death is ſwallowed up in victory, and (being conquered) ſerves to that high and honourable end, ſcil. to be the Saints Ʋſher of State to bring them into the preſence of the King of glory, to behold his face, and to hear his wiſdom, from thenceforth for ever to be with the Lord: Death ſerves the Saints now for no uſe, but to kill mortality, and to extinguiſh corruption; This corruptible muſt put on incorruption, ver. 33.and this mortal muſt put on immortality, i. e. We ſhall ever be with the Lord a in perfect incorruptible ſtate of glory; and this muſt be effected by means of death: Oh, what were ten thouſand deaths, uſhering in the Soul into ſo much glory!
The glimmering preſence of God with a believer here below may conquer the fear of death, Pſal. 23.3.Though I walk in the valley of the ſhadow of death, I will fear no evil, for thou art with me; How much more may the hope of a full fruition of God in glory deliver the Saints from the bondage of fear.
Ever with the Lord: This puts Lillies and Roſes into the ghaſtly face of Death, and makes the King of terrors to out-ſhine Solomon in all his glory: Ever with the Lord, this makes death not only tolerable, but amiable, deſirable; For we know, 2 Cor. 5.1.that if the earthly houſe of this tabernacle were diſſolved, we have a building of God, an houſe not made with hands, eternal in the heavens, and for this we groan carneſtly, deſiring to be cloathed upon with our houſe, ver. 2.which is from heaven.
For in this we groan, i. e. in this tabernacle (for this is earthly) earneſtly deſiring to be cloathed upon with our houſe, which is from heaven; the reaſon is, becauſe that houſe is eternal in the heaven: A Saint looks out of the windows of this earthly Tabernacle, and cryeth out (as the Mother of Siſera) Why ſtay the wheels of his Chariot thus long? When ſhall I be carried to thoſe eternal Manſions, where I ſhall ever be with my Lord and Bridegroom?
Is any thing ſweeter than life? Yes, death to a believer: That of Solomon holds beſt in this caſe, the day of death is better than the day of birth: It is tranſcendently ſo to a Child of God, who is conveighed by death into his Fathers preſence, where he ſhall dwell for ever: The paſſage is dark, Pſal. 16.1.but it ſhall be quick and ſpeedy; Thou wilt ſhew me the path of life; the path of life lieth through the grave, but Chriſt hath gone it already, and will take the believer by the hand, and lead him through it into the Preſence-chamber of the King of glory, where he ſhall hear the Bridegrooms voice, and his joy ſhall be fulfilled; then tremble thou not believer at the approach of death, but go forth and meet him with this friendly ſalutation, Come in thou bleſſed of the Lord; Art thou come to fetch me to my Father? Welcome death! thou art my beſt friend next to Jeſus Chriſt: Death is only my paſſage into a bleſſed eternity. Death is Joſeph's Chariot, not to carry the Saints down into Egypt, but up into Canaan, and how quickly doth he carry a believer thither? It is but winking, and he is at home; as ſoon as the eye of the body is cloſed here, the eye of the ſoul is open there (O bleſſed viſion!) to behold at once all the glories of eternity! Say then (with Jacob) Jeſus, my Lord and Redeemer, is yet alive, and ſeated on the Throne at the right hand of the Majeſty on high, there proclaiming in the cars of all his trembling followers, Rev. 1.18.I am he that liveth, and was dead: and behold, I live for evermore. Amen, and have the keys of hell and death. Fear not, O thou believer, to ſay with Jacob, I will go and ſee him, not before I dye, but I will dye, that I may go and ſee him: Death is but the flames that muſt ſinge aſunder the cords of thy mortality; the hand that ſhall open the Cage, that thy ſoul may get looſe, and take her flight for the Mountain of Spices, the glorious immortality and liberty of the Sons of God.
Be of good chear, Believers thou ſhalt dye but once, and then ever be with the Lord, with whom is the fountain of life; life bubbling up unto all eternity: The damned are alwayes dying, repeating death every moment, their flames only ſerve them to read over the black lines of death, which have neither Full-point or Comma: But death enters not into the borders of the heavenly Canaan; they ſay, there is no Spider in Ireland, it is certain, there is no putrid matter in heaven to breed the vermin of mortality; in heaven only death cannot live, when thou dyeſt, thou ſhalt riſe again, and dye no more, but death ſhall dye, and ſhall riſe no more; thy grave ſhall be the eternal grave of death: It is appointed for all men once to dye, and for believers to dye but once. Do but clear up thine intereſt in the death of Chriſt, and thou mayeſt bid farewell to the fear of death for ever, for the worſt thing that death can do to thee, is thee beſt thing that can be done for thee, even to guide thy poor ſtraying ſoul home to thy Fathers houſe, and ſo ſhalt thou ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with theſe words.
Laſtly, It may teach us how to prize Chriſt, Ʋſe 6 that triumphant Grace, a Grace that hath eternity ſtampt upon it, it out-lives Faith; for faith gives way to viſion, and it doth out-laſt hope, for hope is ſwallowed up in fruition, what a man ſeeth, why doth he yet hope for? Whether there be propheſies, they ſhall fail, whether there be tongues, they ſhall ceaſe, whether there be knowledge, it ſhall vaniſh away, but charity never fails, but as long as God lives it lives, for God is love, and they that love dwell in God, and God in them.
I have finiſhed, I cannot ſay perfected, the main work intended, ſeil. the opening of the ten words, or Arguments of Comfort here laid down in this model or platform by the Holy Ghoſt, as ſo many ſoveraign Cordials to revive diſconſolate and fainting Chriſtians over the death of their hopeful Relations, with the ſeveral improvements which each word (by it ſelf) may afford unto us.
But before I do, Manum de tabula tollere, diſmiſs this diſcourſe, I do obſerve divers uſeful Corollaries and Inſtructions lye couched in the general improvement of theſe words, Comforting one another, which will ſerve as ſo many branches of information, which (without guilt) I cannot omit, and they are ten.
1. Several branches of Information ariſing from this general exhortation, Comfort one another. 1. Branch of Information.Sorrow not as men without hope, but comfort one another.] Obſ. There is a ſorrow for departed friends, which God condemns not. We are forbid an hopeleſs ſorrow, v. 13. but ſimply to mourn for the loſs of our gracious Relations we are no where forbidden. He that hath wrapt up natural affections in our bowels, doth not prohibit the due and moderate exerciſe of them. Thoſe foreign, perſons without natural affections are in the black Roll amongſt the moſt ulcerous and excreſcent part of mankind: To be without natural affections is to do violence againſt Nature her ſelf, and to violate the law of humanity. Covenant breakers without natural affection] are monſters, not men. Chriſt himſelf, who knew no ſin, yet being acquainted with all our griefs, even had this kind of ſorrow for the dead, John 11.35. Jeſus wept, and his tears do here inſtruct us in our duty. Holy Paul blots his Epiſtle to the Epheſians with his tears for Epaphroditus, Leſt (ſaith he) I ſhould have ſorrow upon ſorrow; he was ſorrowful for his ſickneſs, had he dyed there would have been another flood of tears, ſorrow upon ſorrow. Where mention is made of the death of publick perſons, there publick lamentations for them is mentioned alſo: The Spirit of God doth no where reprove thoſe tears, but rather puts a value upon them as ſo many pearls. As in the mourning for Jacob, Gen. 50.11. for Joſias, 2 Chron. 35.24. for Samuel, 1 Sam. 25.1. for Stephen, Acts 8.2. Its reckoned amongſt Gods thunderbolts, Pſal, 78.64.Their widows made no lamentation. The removal of Gods peace from a people, and prohibition to mourn for their dead, are twin-judgments, or one the birth of another: Enter not into the houſe of mourning, neither go to lament, nor bemoan them, for I have taken away my peace from this people. Tears are like wine, you may pour them out, but take heed of exceſs; Be not drunk with tears, wherein is exceſs: you may weep, but as thoſe that weep not; you may mourn, but not as others, which have no hope: 1 Cor. 7.30.theſe affections are natural, but this hope will baptize and regenerate them.
Secondly, Hence we learn, 2. Branch of Information.There is another work or duty incumbent on Chriſtians, under the loſs of gracious Relations, Then only to mourn for them, namely, to enquire, yea, 1 King. 20.33(with Benhadad's ſervants) diligently to obſerve what words of comfort do fall from the lips of Scripture, and haſtily to catch at them: q. d. Comfort another with theſe words: yea, Lord! with theſe words do thou comfort thy ſervant!
We are uſually either ſenſleſs under, or ſwallowed up with great loſſes; either our bowels, are made of iron, or they melt like wax, and we faint away: Vehement ſorrow is like raging fire, that turns every thing into its own nature. It's thy work therefore to ſtudy recruits, as well as to pore upon thy loſſes, to ballaſt thy ſoul with divine comforts: If I go not away the Comforter cannot come: John 16.7.Many times the beſt of our earthly enjoyments ſtand between us and our heavenly conſolations: But if I go away I will ſend him unto you. It is good to reſolve with our ſelves, be my loſs in this world never ſo great, it is capable of a reparation. For certainly, if the loſs of Chriſt in his bodily preſence were to be repaired, there is nothing under the whole heaven, the loſs whereof we can ſuſtain, but may much eaſilier be made up with advantage, to be ſure the preſence of the Comforter is able to do it with an infinite overplus. It is thy wiſdom therefore to ballance thy ſoul with divine comforts; as afflictions abound, run to thy Cordial, theſe words, that thy conſolations may abound alſo: if the affliction ſcale be heavier than the conſolation ſcale, thou wilt certainly ſink in thy ſpirit, and then thy burden will break thy back: Prov. 18.14.The ſpirit of a man is able to ſuſtein his infirmity. Thou mayſt mourn, but that is not all thou haſt to do, 2 Cor. 4, 14.it concerns thee to get a cordial to keep thy heart from fainting: For this cauſe we faint not. Mark, the Apoſtle had (alwayes) his Cordial about him, ſo do thou, be equally juſt to thy ſelf, as to thy deceaſed friends. Thou oweſt them a debt of tears, haſt thou paid it? Now be juſt to thy ſelf, thou oweſt a care to thy ſoul, that thou ſin not, to thy ſpirit, that it ſink not; muſt thou needs dye, becauſe thy Husband, thy Child, thy Friend is dead? Look after divine conſolation, let it not be a ſmall thing to thee, neither ſay thou (by interpretation) nay, if God will have this comfort from me, let him take all. Take heed of weeping thy ſelf blind, as to the conſolations of God, as Hagar did, there was a well ſpring of water cloſe by her, but ſhe had cried out her eyes, and could not ſee it, Gen. 21.16. until God opened her eyes, verſe 19. There is too much of the pride and ſullenneſs of the Babyloniſh Favourite in us, who when he had made a large and boaſting recital of his Court favours, could throw away all in a pet for want of a complement, Yet all this availeth me nothing, Heſt. 5.12, 13.ſo long as I ſee Mordieai the Jew ſitting at the Kings gate.
In all things pray and give thanks, Phil. 4.6. Oh labour for the quick eye of faith, which can ſpy out a little mercy in a great deal of affliction, and can fit down and give thanks: A Chriſtian is never in ſuch an affliction, but he hath as much cauſe to praiſe God, as he hath to pray unto him, Lum. 3.2.yea, many mercies for one affliction; that it is not ſo bad, but it might be worſe, to be ſure it is not hell… 2. That when ever he takes away one comfort he leaves more: 3. Pſal. 30.5.That heavineſs may continue for a night, but joy in the morning. 4. And in the mean time he hath a God to go unto, Oh love the Lord all ye his Saints, Pſal. 31.23.
3. 3. Branch of Information.Obſerve further the goodneſs and condeſcentions of God, who hath laid in comfort before hand againſt a time of ſorrow and mourning: Cordials ready prepared to keep the hearts of his people from fainting in the hour of temptation, like a good Chirurgeon, he hath in his Cheſt a Salve for every Wound, a Cordial for every Qualm; there is not a fear in Gods peoples hearts, but there is a fear not in Gods Book to antidote it withall, and yea here in this model of divine comfort, you have ten fear nots for one fear; ten words of comfort for one grief, conceived for the loſs of a dear Relation, Theſe words, 2 Cor. 1.5.that if our ſorrow ſhould abound, our conſolations may much more abound by Chriſt.
God dealeth in this caſe with his people, juſt as he dealt with our firſt Parents, providing a plaiſter before-hand to clap on the wound of conviction of ſin, in the promiſe of the ſeed of the woman, that ſhould break the Serpents head. Gen. 3.15.Leſt the wound ſhould take cold, feſter, and (by delay) prove incurable, all the Promiſes in Scripture, they are but ſo many Receipts written down beforehand in the Book of the great Phyſitian of ſouls for the uſe of all Gods Family, the Saints of God from the beginning of the world; there are given unto us exceeding great and precious promiſes, i. e. concerning exceeding great and precious things, 1 Pet. 1.4.and they are all yea and Amen in Jeſus Chriſt, verity and infallibility. Thither, therefore, let all Gods Patients go, and ſearch, and read, and take whatever Receipt ſuiteth beſt with their Malady, and they ſhall (rightly applied) find preſent eaſe, and infallible cure, in the conſtant and believing uſe thereof: For whatſoever was written aforetime, was written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope, Rom. 15.4.
Gods compaſſions over his mourners are great, and therefore his conſolations are not ſmall. Though God would have his people deeply humbled and tried to the quick, yet he would not have their ſpirits ſink under the temptation; and therefore, when he obſerves them to begin to faint, he ceaſeth contending with them, and begins his comforting work for the iniquity of his covetouſneſs, Iſa. 57.18.I ſmote him, and was wrath, but when God ſaw that would do no good, he trieth another courſe, I will reſtore comforts to him. Juſt as when a Parent is correcting a Child, and the Child cryes, and ſwoons, preſently away goes the rod, and the ſtrong-water-bottle is ſnatcht up, and applied to the mouth of the Child; ſo compaſſionately dealeth God with his fainting Children.
It is a wonderful expreſſion which God uſeth towards Ephraim, Jer. 31.20. My bowels are troubled for him. Ephraim ſaith, I ſmote upon my thigh, and preſently God ſmites upon his heart, and cryes out, My bowels are troubled for him, I will have mercy upon him: O ineffable ſympathy! anſwerable whereunto, God hath a cup of conſolation prepared in his hand, which he putteth to their mouths, and bids drink, yea, drink abundantly of it, till they forget their ſorrows, even that overflowing cup, Fulneſs of joy and pleaſures for ever at his right hand. Ever with the Lord. Pſal. 103.13.Surely as a father pitieth his children, ſo the Lord pitieth them that fear him; and ſuch compaſſions would he have to fill the bowels of all his Evangelical Meſſengers: Iſa. 40.1, 2.Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, ſaith their God, ſpeak ye comfortably to Jeruſalem, &c. Thus doth God fill up his Title brim-full, and running over, The Father of mercies, 2 Cor. 1.3.and the God of all comfort.
In the fourth place, 4. Branch of Information.here you may ſee the abſolute and indiſpenſable neceſſity of faith, without which, all the choiceſt conſolations, and richeſt cordials the Word can afford, are but ſo much water of life in a dead mans mouth, or as Eliſha's Staffe upon the face of the dead Child, … King. 4.which cauſeth neither voice nor motion: Heb. 10.38.The juſt ſhall live by faith; an unbelieving man is but a dead man; for as faith is the firſt principle of ſpiritual life, ſo it is the conſtant medium, whereby the ſpiritual fewel and reſtoratives of that life are brought in, and made vital to the ſoul, The life I now live in the fleſh, I live it by the faith of the Son of God. Chriſts fleſh is meat indeed, and his blood is drink indeed, but it is to faith only, it is not meat indeed, if there be not faith indeed; He that cometh to me ſhall never hunger: What's that? He that believeth on me ſhall never thirſt. The Word of God is the power of God to ſalvation, Rom. 1.16.but it is to them only who believe. God hath provided a cup of conſolation for his fainting people in their ſwooning fits, but it is the hand of faith that muſt take it, and the mouth of faith only that can drink it. The unbeliever is an unhappy man, nothing can do him good; Heb. 4.2.The word doth not profit, not being mixt with faith. The body and blood of Chriſt proves poyſon inſtead of divine nutriment, becauſe it is not received by faith: This is the will of him that ſent me (ſaith our Lord) that he that believeth on me may have everlaſting life: Divine Cordials ſo magiſterial, that they are able (as it were) to put life into a dead man: give them to an unbeliever, they ſignifie no more than water in the ſhooes: Oh get faith, Saints, act your faith, or elſe ye are undone. Great notions are but ſmall comforts to a natural man, and the reaſon is, becauſe they are above him: nothing can act above its principle, you can never comfort a Swine with arguments of reaſon; no more can ye comfort a carnal heart with heavenly conſolations; the reaſon is, Quiequid recipitur, recipitur ad modum recipientu.becauſe both are above the conſtitutive principles of either: Divine notions may ſerve a man (without faith) to diſcourſe by, but they will never ſerve him to live by; reaſon may diſcourſe upon them, but faith muſt live upon them: The life I now live I live by the faith, &c. Therefore doth the Apoſtle there put the cup of conſolation into the hand of faith, ver. 14. If we believe, that Jeſus died, and roſe again, &c. There is an inexhauſtible fulneſs of comfort in Chriſt, and in the Promiſes, but not one drop to be drawn forth without faith. The breaſts of Scripture-conſolation are full, they even drop again; but it is the mouth of faith that muſt ſuck them out: the ſtill-born Child may as well-draw the Mothers dug, as a faithleſs Chriſtian make the teats of Scripture to afford any drop of divine influence to his drooping ſoul; but to the believer it is cried (at leaſt by way of accommodation) Suck ye, Iſa. 66.11, 12.and be ſatisfied with the breaſts of conſolation, milk out, and be delighted with the abundance of glory. A man may as well live and laugh without a ſoul, as have true evangelical comfort without faith, which is the bond of union between Chriſt and the Soul, and ſo being united to the fountain, 1 Pet. 1.18.Believing ye rejoyce with joy unſpeakable, and glorious. This is that golden pipe, through which all the golden oyl of grace and comfort is derived into the heart. Zech. 4.12.The men of the world may have vaſt proportions of knowledge, both natural and divine, but meer knowledge is light without heat, but faith warms the heart, as they ſaid one to another, Did not our hearts burn within us, when he ſpake unto us? If I aſſent and conſent to the glorious Doctrine of the Reſurrection, knowing, with Job, that my Redeemer liveth, &c. I can (in that) triumph over all occurrent evils, over the Grave it ſelf, though it ſwallow up my deareſt Relations: If I believe not, I am like a thirſty man at a well without a bucket, where I may ſooner drown my ſelf than quench my thirſt. Oh get the bucket of Faith, and then with joy may ye draw water out of theſe wells of ſalvation, Theſe words.
Hence we are informed, 5. Branch of Information.that it is a ſpecial duty of Chriſtians, to adminiſter words of comfort to their mourning friends, according to their various temptations and trials. It is the very law of thoſe conſolations, wherewith the Holy Ghoſt doth comfort us in our afflictions, that we may be able to comfort them, which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we our ſelves are comforted of God: A leſſon (it ſeemeth) Job's friends had learned, and came to put in practice, when by mutual conſent they met together at Job's houſe, Job 2 11. this was their end, though unhappily they miſtook their work, by ſpicing their cup of conſolation with too many bitter ingredients, (whoſe error may it be our caution.) Thus alſo we read in the Goſpel of many friends, who came to comfort Marth… and Mary concerning their brother, ſuppoſed to be dead.
Chriſtians, your eyes are not your own; we are commanded to rejoyce with them that rejoyce, and to weep with thoſe that weep in point of affection, we ſhould he like the primitive Chriſtians, have all things in common; we ſhould joy our brethrens joyes, mourn their ſorrows, lament their ſufferings, and endeavour their comfort as our own, elſe we turn engroſſers, yea, we become guilty of Sacriledge in robbing one another of divine treaſure; our comforts are not given us for our ſelves only, but for the afflicted: Saints they have a common right one to anothers graces, comforts and experiences, and Chriſts word ſhould alwayes ſound in our ears, Strengthen thy brethren. How ornamental were thoſe Chriſtians in the once famous Roman Church, of whom the Apoſtle preſumeth, I my ſelf alſo am perſwaded of you, my brethren, Rom. 15.14.that ye alſo are full of goodneſs, filled with all knowledge, able alſo to admoniſh one another: Oh that as many as do abound in abilities, would pray for wiſdom to parcel out thoſe abilities into all the Chriſtian Offices commended to them by the Holy Ghoſt in their ſeveral ſeaſons: To warn the unruly, comfort the feeble-minded, ſupport the weak, &c. Oh how beautiful are the feet of thoſe Chriſtians, Tit. 3.1.who are ready to every good work, as the hand in joynt ready to turn every way for the uſe and ſervice of the body? A Chriſtian ſhould nevor be unfurniſhed of a reproof for ſinners, nor of a word of comfort for diſtreſſed Saints. Let none have cauſe from thee in their ſorrows to complain, as the blubbered Church in the Lamentation, ſaying, There is none to comfort me. Oh that Chriſtians would ſtudy to ſhew themſelves good Scribes inſtructed to the Kingdom of God, bringing out of their treaſures things new and old! Be not of the Sect of the ſtony-hearted Levite, that had not one drop of pity to pour into the wounded Traveller, leſt thy wounds another day (as ſo many mouths) plead for pity to deaf ears: Haſt thou not thy ſelf been comforted in thy troubles? John 14.18.Hath not Chriſt made good that great promiſe, I will not leave thee comfortleſs, I will come unto thee? How often have the everlaſting arms kept thy ſoul from ſinking! How frequently have the Meſſengers of Chriſt refreſht thy weary ſoul! And haſt thou forgot thoſe arms of mercy, as not to help thy brother with thy little finger! Hath God conferred on thee ſuch treaſures of comfort, and haſt thou not one mite to beſtow upon thy diſconſolate Brother.
It is their infirmity ſometimes, that they are not in a capacity to cloſe with comfort when it is tendred unto them, but, with Rachel weeping for her children, they refuſe to be comforted for their children, or friends, becauſe they are not: but it is thy ſin and guilt, if at any time they faint, becauſe thou draweſt not forth thy ſoul unto them in a way of ſeaſonable relief, if they fall at thy door for want of bread.
It is angelical employment to comfort a weary ſoul; a great part of their miniſtration is to comfort the elect in their temptations, as you may ſee by comparing Matth. 4.11. with Heb. 1.14. It is the work of the malignant Angels, to grieve and add to the ſorrow of the Saints; and the world may know by this whoſe work they do, when they deride the tears, and bitter moan-makings of Gods Iſaacs, Gen. 21.9. Gal. 4.29.upon which the Holy Ghoſt ſets the black brand of perſecution, he mocked, ſaith the Story, he perſecuted, ſaith the Interpretation. Well Chriſtians, do as much as ever you can of this Angelical work, of which there will be no need in heaven, to give or take the great work enjoyned here in my Text, Comfort one another with theſe words; which doth alſo hint unto us another inſtruction. Theſe words.
Gods words of comfort are the only words of comfort: 6. Branch of Information.God is the God of conſolation, 2 Cor. 1.3. The Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort: God is the cauſ… …ontan… of comfort.all comfort doth emanate from God as water out of the fountain; nothing can be in the ſtream, but what was firſt in the fountain; he is the Father of mercies; there are no mercies pure and legitimate but what are of his begetting, which can call God Father; no waters are pure, and vital, but thoſe that are fetched out of the fountain: And therefore thoſe Pronouns are very ſweet, and carry the greateſt emphaſis with them, Thy comforts delight my ſoul, Pſal. 94.10. My peace I leave with you, John 14.27. A ſoul throughly awakened will never take its reſt again, or be comforted, until God ſpeak a word of comfort from his own mouth: Make me to hear joy and gladneſs, Pſal. 51.8.that the bones which thou haſt broken may rejoyce. It was not all the honours and pleaſures of David's Dominions, it was not all the victories and ſpoils of his enemies, yea, it was not all his prayers and tears (though every night he made his couch ſwim with them, Pſal. 6.) that could whiſper a ſyllable of comfort to his ſin-ſcorched conſcience, until God himſelf ſpake them with his own hand, (that's the ſpecially of comfort, which the Apoſtle begs for his Theſſalonians) Now the God of peace himſelf, 2 Theſſ. 3.16. Chap. 2.16,give you peace: Now our Lord Jeſus Chriſt himſelf, and God even our Father, i. e. himſelf comfort you. That is right peace which God himſelf giveth, and that is true comfort which Chriſt himſelf ſpeaks: Therefore prayeth the holy man, Make me to hear joy and gladneſs, q. d. Lord ſpeak ſo loud, that I may hear the voice, and ſpeak ſo diſtinctly, that I may know whoſe voice it is; that I may know it is thou thy ſelf that ſpeakeſt to my Soul, that I may ſay, It is the voice of my Beloved, &c.
Chriſtians, I know God may, and doth oftentimes convey his comforts by the lips of his faithful Meſſengers, and Servants, Iſai 40.1.Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, ſaith your God, ſpeak ye comfortably to Jeruſalem, &c. ſpeak to her heart (as the Hebrew phraſeth it) I ſay the Prophets were but Gods mouth to deliver the meſſage, and ſo are the Miniſters of the Goſpel, and other of his Saints; but be ſure the comforts which you adminiſter be Gods comforts, ſee that ye can ſay with the Apoſtle in another caſe, 1 Cor. 11.13.That, which I have received of the Lord, deliver I unto you. Be ſure what you diſpence from God be theſe words, be ſure your words of comfort be none but ſuch as Chriſt himſelf would ſpeak were he upon the place: Do not my words do good, Mic. 17. Jer. …3 28.ſaith the Lord? Yes, they be Gods words only that can comfort fainting ſouls: But what is the chaſſe to the wheat, ſaith the Lord?
It is true, the Devil and the World have their counterfeit Cordials, their guilded Pills and Plaiſters, which, like Quackſalvers, make quick Cures, but they never heal to the bottom; they may for a time ſtupifie the ſenſe, but they do not mortifie ſenſuality, eaſe the ſmart, but not cleanſe the wound. Saul, when the evil Spirit was upon him, calls for a Fiddle, and when God hath forſaken him, he goes to the Witch, as if, becauſe God would not anſwer him, the Devil ſhould: Moſt people have learn'd a way of their own, ſome to drink down their ſorrow, and ſleep out the ſenſe of thoſe breaches, which God hath made upon their Relations, or in a crowd of worldly buſineſs can loſe their ſorrows, yea, many carnal Profeſſours there are, when they have diſturbed their peace, and wounded their Conſciences, can make a ſhift to lick themſelves whole with their duties, a few Pater-noſters, Church-abſolution, a morſel of Sacramental bread, and a drop of the Sacramental cup will make them as well as ever, though that which ſtilleth conſcience never killeth corruptions, what a world of ſouls doth Satan gain by ſuch cures, Eating and drinking damnation to themſelves, 1 Cor. 11.30.
In this affliction of the loſs of dear Relations, the World, when ſhe comes to viſit the ſurviving Mourners, wants not her Cordials, but oh what pitiful puddle water, inſtead of water of life, doth ſhe adminiſter! We muſt be contented (ſay they) there is no remedy, God will have it ſo, we cannot help it; and however their friends have lived, in-grace-a-God they are well, we muſt live by the living, and not by the dead; and with ſuch dirty rags, as theſe, they bind up one anothers dreadful ſtinking wounds; or peradventure others there be, that with the ſtout ſhoulder of fortune may bear their wounds without complaining; ſome Porters can carry greater loads than others can; or elſe (on the other hand) ſome corky ſpirits ye have, whom much lead will not make ſink in the waters of affliction.
But alas all theſe are but lying vanities, and will ſtand men in leaſt ſtead when they ſtand in moſt need of comfort. Oh that men had faith to believe, that all theſe are Phyſitians of no value! Chriſts words are the only words of comfort, Then ſhall we be ever with the Lord. So our Lord again, Let not your heart be troubled, John 14.1, 2.ye believe in God, believe alſo in me, in my Fathers houſe are many manſions: With thee is the fountain of life, Pſal. 36.9.and in thy light we ſhall ſee light, Theſe, theſe indeed, are Apples of gold, which, when they meet with Pictures of ſilver, Prov. 25.11.hearts truly capable of ſuch conſolation, are very beautiful, Comfort one another with theſe words.
Hence be we inſtructed, 7. Branch of Information.If it be the duty of Chriſtians to adminiſter words of comfort to Mourners, then it is alſo the duty of Mourners to open their ears and hearts to receive thoſe words; if thoſe Apples of Gold meet not with pictures of ſilver, they are loſt and caſt away. If God ſhould ſend an Angel, or any Meſſenger of peace to comfort you in your trouble, what a ſin would it be to make him go away aſhamed, with an Who hath believed our report? Or, Lord, I have delivered thy meſſage, and all thy precious Cordials were of no value. I know there be few or none of Gods Mourners, that dare do this in terminis, in expreſs language; but what and if a deaf ear, and a dejected countenance, and a dead heart; unchearful converſation alter all the words of comfort, which God ſends thee by his Meſſengers, be ſo… with God, by interpretation? May not this provoke God to afflict thee more, and to increaſe thy ſorrows, until the pride of thy heart be abated? May I not ſay unto thee, as Joab to David, when he grew ſullen upon the death of Abſalom, Thou haſt ſhamed the face of Gods Meſſengers, … S…m. 19.5.and haſt declared, that the conſolations of God are ſmall in thine eyes? Now therefore ariſe, and thankfully embrace their meſſage of peace, or elſe it may be worſe unto thee, than all the evil, that befell thee from thy youth; until now. Surely it is as great an indignity to ſlight Gods comforts, as it is to ſcorn Gods counſels: this ſpurns againſt Gods Authority, that tramples upon his compaſſion; this man doth reſiſt the Spirit, that man doth grieve the Spirit, and if thou grieve away the Comforter, who ſhall comfort thee at length? If David took the affront which Hanun put on his Meſſengers ſent to comfort him over his Fathers death, ſo heinouſly, that he armeth Joab, and all his men of war againſt him, to avenge the indignity, how juſtly may God ſend forth Armies of afflictions againſt thee, for thy ſullen refuſal of his tender hearted conſolations?
Surely there is more pride in ſuch refuſals, than Chriſtians are eaſily convinc'd of; for is it not by interpretation to ſay, my loſs is not to be repaired, my wound is incurable, there is no balm in Gilead that can heal thy hurt! Is it not, as if thou ſhouldſt ſay, there was but one intollerable thing in the world, and God muſt needs ſend that upon thee! Dear Chriſtian, be afraid by thy frowardneſs of running the hazard of ſuch an interpretation: That Queſtion of Eliphaz to Job, J…b 15.11.Are the conſolations of God ſmall with thee? implieth greater unkindneſs in refuſing divine comfort, than Mourners are willing to believe. God could not do thee wrong in taking away thy amiable Relation from thee (it was but calling for his loan again, which he lent thee) and yet doth he ſend to comfort thee. Oh how thy head, and worſhip, and ſay, Behold the ſervant of the Lord, be it unto me according to thy Word.
Poor diſconſolate ſoul, know thou that every crumb of comfort, which falls from Chriſts mouth, is more precious than a Ruby; and who art thou, that thou ſhouldſt refuſe Cordials from Heaven made of the blood of Chriſt? Jewels taken out of Gods own Cabinet. Away, away, Chriſtian, with Rachels peeviſhneſs, and Jonas his paſſion, which ſerve for nothing, but to turn ſorrow into ſin. I do well to be angry doth ill become meekneſs of Chriſts Spouſe, ſay rather, I will bear the indignation of the Lord, Mic. 7.9.becauſe I have ſinned againſt him. What if God hath given thee a bitter potion, he comes now to comfort thee, he offers thee a ſovereign Cordial, Oh ſpill it not upon the ground, as a vile thing, nor ſay in thy paſſion, Let God keep his Cordials to himſelf, and ſo, as it were, take revenge on God for afflicting thee: Oh lay thine hand upon thy mouth, yea, put thy mouth in the duſt, that it may not cauſe thy fleſh to ſin.
Thou art a man, or woman of ſorrows, it were thy wiſdom, as well as thy duty, to look out for ſome ſpiritual Cordials, and not to reject ſoul refreſhment when it is offered; ſay not to thy comforters, with the Prophet Iſaiah, Look away from me, Iſai. 22.4.I will weep bitterly, labour not to comfort me, and thy caſe will not bear it: He was weeping the Churches tears, thou art poring over a private perſonal trial, conſider in ſo doing, thou art but preparing new cauſes of ſorrow for thine own ſoul, and when thou haſt done ſorrowing for thy loſs, thou wilt begin anew to ſorrow for thy ſin in ſo ſorrowing. Heark ſoul, Ever be with the Lord. Is not there a word, that may wipe away all tears from thine eyes, even on this ſide heaven!
In the next place, 8. Branch of Information.hence we gather this ſad truth, ſcil. That there is not a word of comfort belonging to wicked men when they die, nor while they live in ſin. Comfort one another; none other but one another; not the ungodly; they and their paraſites may flatter themſelves and one another; but there is not one word of comfort belonging to them: of all thoſe Rivers of pleaſures that are at Gods right hand not one drop for a Dives. Of all thoſe treaſures of glory not one mite for an Eſau. Indeed pity belongs to wicked men, and reproof belongs to them, Reprove them rather, Epheſ. 5.11. and counſel belongs to them, Let the wicked forſake his wickedneſs: and expoſtulation belongs to them, Why will ye die? &c. And prayer belongs to them, Father forgive them, &c. But comfort doth not belong to them. Conſolation is none of their portion in the ſtate wherein they are. As there is no peace to the wicked, ſo conſequently no comfort for them. Indeed a wicked man hath his portion, but 'tis a dreadful one, Pſal. 11.6. Ʋpon the wicked ſhall the Lord rain ſnares, fire and brimſtone (alluding to the deſtruction of Sodom) this ſhall be the portion of their cup; theſe fiery ingredients ſhall be put into their cup, after the delicious draughts of ſinful pleaſures: this was Dives his caſe, Luke 16.23, 24, &c. after his delicate fare, the Devils ſnap dragon, draughts of flaming fire was his portion for ever; and this is all the comfort that is to be adminiſtred to them, Iſai. 3.11. Say thou to the wicked it ſhall be ill with him; They ſhall be caſt into utter darkneſs with the Devil and his Angels for ever, &c. Theſe are their words of comfort; they are miniſters of hell, who have any better words of comfort for wicked men (while wicked:) for the Devil would have them dance about the ſnare till their foot be taken in his gin. They that can cry peace, peace, when there is no peace, are the Devils Factors, who bring him in the greateſt revenues to his Kingdom.
But alas! how ſhall a wicked man be comforted? His death is not a ſleep, but death indeed; Rev. 6.8.death armed with all its horrors; death with its ſting, which is ſin, death with hell at the heels of it, death with the wrath of God, and death with the loſs of eternal life.
Indeed a wicked man ſhall riſe again, but it is that he may have the more ſolemn trial, and more tremendous ſentence from the Judge, in the face of heaven and earth, and who can comfort him, that doth truly repreſent his condition to him?
How much then are we concerned to labour to be ſuch as may have comforters in our own death, 9. Branch of Information.and leave matter of comfort to our ſurviving friends? It is a duty incumbent on us, to make our death as comfortable to our ſelves, and our godly friends as may be: And how is that done? but in a word to get an intereſt in Chriſt, Scripture evidence of that intereſt, and the Seal of the Spirit to thoſe evidences.
The death of ſome perſons is exceeding dreadful, not only to themſelves, but to ſtanders by; this is the (ſuppoſed) reaſon of that lamentable ingemination of David, Oh my Son Abſalom, my Son, my Son Abſalom, q. d. Abſalom dyed in his rebellion, I fear he is fallen into a worſe hand than Joabs: Oh that my death might have prevented ſo dreadful a miſcarriage; Oh Abſalom! would God I had dyed for thee!
But alas, my brethren, it is not freedom from ſuch parricidious villanies, no, nor all the moral innocence in the world, nor civil righteouſneſs in the foreign, the altitude of it, that can fill a dying Saint with joy, or the ſurviving godly Mourners with comfort: whatever blaze unregenerate perſons make in the world, they go out like a ſtinking ſnuffe, but a Saint leaves a perſume behind him, he embalms his own death, he leaves every one of his weeping friends a Legacy of hope concerning his eternal ſtate; he ſets up a luſtre in the Houſe of mourning, brighter than thoſe were with which Great mens Hearſes are watched, and in an inſtant turneth it into a Houſe of rejoycing; he is entered into glory, and hath left behind him the prints of his feet to guide us thither, and being dead yet ſpeaks to us, as Chriſt to Mary Magdalene, Why weepeſt thou? The wicked is driven away in his wickedneſs, but the righteous hath hope in his death, Prov. 14.32: Study therefore, I ſay, an intereſt in Chriſt, that while you are raviſhed with the joyes of Heaven, you may leave comfort on Earth for your godly Relations.
Carnal friends are ſatisfied with a negative holineſs for themſelves, or for their Relations that dye before them; to be better than the worſt is evidence enough to them of a bleſſed ſtate; or whatever their life hath been, put but in, a little dead repentance into the premiſes, they will put heaven into the concluſion; Oh, ſay they, he is happy, he is in heaven ſure enough.
But Chriſtians, whoſe eyes have been opened to look into the horror of the bottomleſs pit, out of which free grace hath redeemed the Saints, the purity of the Goſpel rule, and the glory that ſhall be revealed at the appearance of the Lord Jeſus, they cannot take up with ſuch miſerable comforts as men uſually dye with. And it muſt needs be an addition to the torments of hell, to leave godly Relations mourning under the dreadful apprehenſions of a Relation miſcarrying to all eternity. And to be regardleſs of our friends anxiety of ſpirit even in this reſpect, is ſomewhat leſs charity than they have in hell. Dives in hell was ſollicitous to prevent his brethrens coming thither.
Graceleſs Relations dying, with the marks of their unregeneracy upon them, do even ſcorch the hearts of their gracious ſurviving friends, with the ſence of thoſe flames which they ſuffer. So it will be to them while they are yet in the body, Woodcock his Sermon of Heaven, p. 657.though at the Reſurrection (as one ſaith) it ſhall be no more allay to their joy, than if they ſaw ſo many fiſhes caught in a net.
Impartially therefore and accurately examine your own eſtates, make your Conſciences faithfully to anſwer this Queſtion.
Can I give my ſelf or friends comfort in this preſent ſtate, ſhould I dye this very moment?
If Conſcience, aſſiſted with Scripture light, ſay no, this is a loſt eſtate, this is a damnable condition I am now in, oh poor wretch! how highly doth it concern thee this very hour to look about thee? for thou knoweſt not how near thou art to the laſt point and period of thine appointed time. Vide Morning Exerciſe Giles in the Fields, 1659.It is a vain thing for thee to comfort thy ſelf without ſome Scripture grounds of intereſt in Chriſt, who is the reſurrection and the life. Paul ſends Tychichus to comfort the Coloſſians, but he muſt know their ſtate firſt, Coloſ. 4.8. That he may know their ſtate, and comfort their heart.
We have a generation that comfort others, without knowing their ſpiritual eſtate; which is to clap on a plaiſter without ſearching the wound; a way to lead men to hell hoodwinkt; the ſpiritual eſtate muſt be known before comfort can be well applied. Examine therefore, and ſuffer others to examine and ſearch how it is with your ſouls in relation to Chriſt and Grace, what knowledge, what repentance, what faith, what mortification, what contempt of the world, what love to Chriſt, what thoughts of the world to come?
If theſe things be in you and abound, then comfort your hearts; For ſo an entrance ſhall be miniſtred unto you abundantly, into the everlaſting Kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jeſus Chriſt.
In the tenth and laſt place: 10. Branch of Information.Hence we are informed how much it concerns every man and woman, that would comfortably obſerve this bleſſed Command, of adminiſtring comfort to himſelf, or others who are in tribulation; I ſay, how much it concerns them to ſearch the Scriptures: O ſtudy the Scriptures, that Magazine and Store-houſe of all divine comfort! eſpecially, in the reading of Scriptures, to make a Collection of the Promiſes, which are the neſts and boxes of Chriſts Cordials and Antidotes againſt the fainting Fits to which Believers themſelves are ſubjects there are the ſoul-refreſhing water-brooks, the wells of ſalvation, ever ſending forth ſtreams of conſolation, to make glad the City of God Here is Chriſts Wine celler, and Banquetting-houſe, Cant. 2.4.to which he doth invite his diſconſolate Spouſe, and where he doth revive her fainting ſoul, according to her longing deſire: Stay me with apples, and comfort me with flaggons, for I am ſick of love.
What though the Scripture and the Promiſes do abound with conſolation, if we be ignorant and unacquainted with the variety, nature and uſe of theſe heavenly Ingredients? they ſignifie no more to us, than for a man to be in an Apothecaries ſhop, fraught with the richeſt Drugs, but he knows not the boxes where they are laid, nor the vertue of them; he and his friends may dye in a Fit, and miſcarry in the midſt of all thoſe Preſervatives; or if he venture on them, he may (peradventure) take poyſon inſtead of Cordials. Wherefore ſtudy the Promiſes, and in ſtudying of them, be careful to refer them to their diſtinct heads: Make your ſelves Catalogues of Promiſes, that refer to ſeveral ſoul diſtreſſes and exigencies; and do as Apothecaries, Collect the Promiſes of Scripture into diſtinct heads.write their titles over their Heads: Promiſes for pardon; Promiſes for power againſt corruption; Promiſes for comfort; priſon Promiſes; ſick-bed Promiſes; Promiſes relating to the loſs of gracious Relations, &c. I ſay, be careful skilfully to ſort your Promiſes, that you may know whither to go, when you repair to the Scriptures, and may not adminiſter miſtaken Ingredients, Coraſives inſtead of Cordials, as Job's friends did; nor Cordials inſtead of Coraſives, as the generality of ignorant Chriſtians do.
2. Study the great art of officing the Promiſes; labour to know to which of the Offices of Chriſt every Promiſe doth relate; which to his Kingly Office, as the Promiſes of grace, and increaſe of grace, and power againſt temptation, the conquering of death, and the fear of death: which, belong to his Prophetical office, as promiſes of knowing God, and Chriſt, and the Spirit, promiſes of being taught of God; inward, powerful, experimental knowledge: what Promiſes belong to his Sacerdotal office, as promiſes of reconciliation to God, peace with God, acceptance of perſon, and performances, peace of Conſcience, joy in the Holy Ghoſt, comfort in the loſs of ſweeteſt Relations: and this will be of great uſe to inable you in prayer to plead the Promiſes, and to put them in ſuit in the proper office; a great honour to Chriſt, and a mighty help and incouragement to faith.
3, Pray for the Spirit, whoſe Office is to make good the Promiſes to the Children of Promiſe, and upon that very account called, foreign, the Comforter, The Promiſes are never comfort, until the Spirit apply them to the Conſcience, and then they are Cordials indeed, whether to our ſelves or others; then they are full of life and power, and can with one taſte comfort more than all the Arguments of Philoſophy in the world.
And verily, Chriſtians, as all the Cordials in Scripture are no Cordials, until they are applyed to the Conſcience by a powerful hand, and breathed into the ſoul, by the warm vital animation of the Spirit of God to know it; your ſelves are Phyſicians of no value, in this great work of comforting one another, until ye learn to joyn the words of prayer with the words of comfort; until by prayer you call in the preſence and power of the Comforter, who only is able to make theſe words to be ſo many real conſolations. Amen.
Soli Deo Gloria.
FINIS.