Heart Treasure, Chapter 16
CHAP. XVI. How a Treaſure of Comforts is to be laid up in the Heart.
A Fourth Treaſure to be hoarded up in the breaſt of a Believer, is the ſweet and ſatisfying comforts of the Spirit. 'Tis true, theſe are the Arbitrary and immediate effects of the ſanctifying and ſealing Spirit, yet ordinarily comfort is dropped from Heaven into the believing Soul in a way of Duty and holy endeavour, the nearer we approach to the Sun, and the more light and heat, now exerciſes of Religion are a ſoules approaching to the Sun of Righteouſneſs, and for this cauſe 'tis good for us to draw near to God, that we may anchor and center our ſouls upon him, where only we ſhall have Reſt: This preſent Reward wee may finde in keeping Gods Commandements, Grace and Peace, Holineſs and Comforts go uſually hand in hand, for her wayes are wayes of pleaſantneſſe, and her paths are peace, Pro. 3.17. And great peace have they that love thy Law, Pſalm 119.165. Every gracious act hath ſome degree of comfort annexed to it,Gal. 6. peace is in them, as well as on them, that walk according to Rule, and theſe good old wayes bring us to reſt in God,Jer. 6.16. and produce a bleſſed Sabbath of Reſt in our ſpirits: if you keep Gods Commands, Chriſt wil ſend the Comforter to you, nay, himſelf will come unto you, and make his abode with you John 14.15, 16-23. Be much in the performance of holy Duties, and enjoyment of God in Ordinances, and therein you may behold his beautiful Face, and hear his pleaſant Voice: here you may ſuck and be ſatisfied at theſe breaſts of Conſolation, through theſe bleſſed Pipes you may derive ſolid Joy, and enjoy raviſhing ſweetneſſe: improve Scripture-truths, act ſpiritual Graces, lay up reviving Experiences, and the reſult of all will be refreſhing Comforts.
But beſides theſe, I counſel you to hoard up and make much of ſuch thoughts as may be ſtreams to feed and fill the well of ſolid, ſetled comforts in your hearts: Take only theſe four Directions:
1. Lay up all your comfort in God alone: God is the father of Mercies,2 Cor. 1.3. and the God of all conſolation; there's not a beam of Light or ſtream of Joy, but what proceeds from this Sun and ſpring of Grace and happineſſe: the great God that made all things with a word, can ſpeak and make peace in the confuſed heart, 'tis one of his Royal incommunicable Prerogatives, Iſa. 51.12. I, even I am he that comforteth you,—If God comfort,Job 34.29. who can ſadden? and if God afflict, who elſe can comfort? The Air lights not without the Sun, the fuel heats not without the Fire, neither can any Inſtrument chear up a drooping heart, where God ſuſpends his influence;1 Sam. 30.6. but Gods Children have been encouraged and comforted in God in the abſence of other comforts,Hab. 3.17, 18. as David and Habakkuk: O Chriſtians, learn this divine Art of fetching all your comforts from God, lay up your ſtock of comfort in the Rock of Ages, this will be as honey out of the Rock, as water from the fountain, that comes freely, ſweetly, purely and abundantly: if you lay up all your comfort in the ſtreams, what wil you do for comfort when the ſtreames are cut off? if you hang your comfort on every hedge, it will be far to ſeek in a day of need: but if God be your portion, the Antidote is at hand, ſo that you need not fear poyſoning or perplexing evils, for his very Rod and Staffe ſhall comfort you; Old Chytraeus had this only and all-ſufficient Medicine and Remedy in his troubled affaires, to ſupport his fainting heart, the Fathers heart, the faithful Word and powerful hand of Jehovah, and thus he ſings,
Unae eſt in trepidâ mihi re Medicina Jehovae,
Cor Patrium, os verax, omnipotenſ que manus:
Hence it was that holy David diſclaims all the world, and ſaith, he hath none in Heaven, or earth beſides God, Pſalm 73.25, 26. and when all was gone he had ſtil a ſufficient portion in the abſence or oppoſition of all the world; hence it is that the Saints have been like mount Zion, and remained impregnable in the midſt of waves, being ſetled upon the Rock of Ages: O Sirs, could you account God your exceeding Joy, how ſweetly and chearfullie would you go to his Altar upon all occaſions, Pſalm 43.4 And if you lay up your comfort in God, you may know where to finde it when you have loſt it, and none can take your joy, becauſe they cannot take your God away from you: That's the firſt:
2. Lay the ſtreſs of your Comfort on free Grace in juſtification: here only is the ſpring of all your comfort, Rom. 5.1. being juſtified by Faith we have peace with God—Yea, peace within, in our own conſciences, for we glory in tribulations, ver. 3. Gratuitous juſtification is the ground of all Conſolation: Chriſts righteouſneſſe imputed is the ſweeteſt word in all the Scriptures, which is ten times repeated in Rom. 4. though Papiſts make a mock of it, let Proteſtants make much of it, it is the ſweeteſt Flower in our Garden, the Jachin and Boaz of our Goſpel-Temple, the Ladder whereupon ſoules aſcend to Heaven, our only comfort is bound up in the Covenant of Free-grace, not in that of works: Stick to this, ſtickle for this, let all go, rather than let this go, it is the chief Article and principle of our Religion,Articulus ſtantis a…t cadentis Eccleſiae. upon which the Church ſtands, without which it fals, as Luther ſaith: O therefore let no mud defile this bleſſed ſtream, ſtudy free grace, aſcribe all to free-grace, lay up thoughts of undeſerved diſtinguiſhing grace. Remember what our bleſſed Redeemer hath done and endured, let the dolours of his ſoul be the ſolace of your hearts: fetch your onlie comfort from his bitter croſs: conſider, how fully Chriſt haſt ſatisfied divine juſtice, how large and liberal the Goſpel-proclamation is, how our dear Redeemer opens his armes and boſome to embrace repenting prodigals, how he bids all welcome, and never yet caſt off any that came unto him: how he hath pardoned infamous ſinners, and hath received gifts even for rebellious: roll theſe in thy minde, clap the promiſes warm to thy heart, let the hyſop of faith ſprinkle Chriſts blood upon thy conſcience, for generals afford no comfort; particular application is the only means of conſolation: an hungrie man takes little pleaſure in gazing upon a feaſt, while he taſtes not of it, David's Table ſpread with dainties in the midſt of his Enemies, rather vexed than pleaſed thoſe envious Spectators: 'tis a bleſſed thing to think of pardon of ſin, juſtifying grace, adoption, reconciliation, but what comfort can we take therein, except we can ſay,Gal, ….20. Joh. 20. Job 19.26. 2 Tim. 4.8. he loved me, and gave himſelf for me: my Lord, and my God, my Redeemer liveth, a crown of life is laid up for me? O this, this is the life of our lives, the ſupport of our ſouls! yet if you cannot alwaies ſay, that grace is yours, Chriſt is yours, and Heaven is yours, yet be much in the thoughts of free-grace, pore not upon your vileneſs and unworthineſs, but ponder upon that which can anſwer all in one word, I will have mercy, becauſe I will have mercy, and on whom I will have mercy: Lay up ſuch Scriptures as theſe, Rom. 3.24. Iſai. 53.4, 5, 6. & 43, 25. Heb. 8.12. That by the comfort of theſe and ſuch like Scriptures you may have hope: they may be worth Mines of Gold, and all the World, in a day of darkneſs to the doubting Chriſtian.
3. Store up your cleareſt evidences of ſincerity: the ſpirit ordinarily conveyeth comfort by ſhining upon its own work; and by helping the ſoul to make practical ſyllogiſms, as thus, whoſoever doth ſincerely cal on the name of the Lord ſhal be ſaved,Rom. 10.13 but ſaith the ſoul, I do ſincerely pray and performe other Chriſtian duties, therefore I ſhal be ſaved; or thus, grace is with them that love our Lord Jeſus Chriſt in ſincerity,Eph. 6.14. but ſaith the ſoul, I love the Lord Jeſus in ſincerity, therefore I have the grace or favour of God; the major propoſition is a Scripture-aſſertion, the minor, or aſſumption is from a ſouls inward experience of ſincerity, and the ſpirit of God witneſſing with an upright heart and conſcience, helps the ſoul to this demonſtrative inference and concluſion, that he is a Childe of God, in Gods favour, and ſhal be ſaved: and thence ariſeth ſatisfaction and conſolation: the poor ſoul by a reflex act doth view the ſeeds and ſproutings of a ſincere faith and love, and ſaith, though theſe have not purchaſed my husbands love, yet are they ſweet effects thereof; theſe divine Ornaments of ſaving graces do ſatisfyingly evidence that my ſoul is betrothed to Jeſus Chriſt: if your ſouls be all glorious within in ſanctification, 'tis a good ſign your cloathing is of wrought gold in juſtification… make ſure and clear your effectual vocation,2 Pet. 1.10 and then you clear up your eternal election: the ſanctifying ſpirit witneſſeth with the ſanctifyed ſoul that it is a childe of God:Rom. 8.16 and thus ſome underſtand thoſe three that bear witneſs in Earth, the ſpirit, water and blood,1 Joh. 5.8. to be the cleanſing acts of the ſpirit, evidencing the ſouls intereſt in our Saviours efficacious merits: but this I deſire of you, to clear up the truth of grace, fall upon the old trade of enquiring after marks of ſincerity, yet do not think the bare hearing of them, or having ſuch notes in your Books or memory, wil be ſufficient meanes of comfort, but lay your hearts by them, in a cloſe and convincing application, improve them by a ſelf-poſing examination, and then fetch inferences therefrom, in a rational way of argumentation, and lay up thoſe deductions againſt a time of need, write it down that thou maiſt have it to ſhew under thy hand againſt the quarrels of an unbelieving heart: treaſure up the meanes and inſtruments of your peace and ſettlement, the time when, and place where your ſouls were ſatisfied, the low and hopeleſs ſtate your ſouls were in before the Lord did viſit you from on high: O lay up carefully the various circumſtances about your ſatisfying comforts, the ſeaſonable incomes thereof, their powerful entrance, and ſelf-diſcovering, ſoul-recovering evidence: lay up the gradual progreſs, or ſudden illapſes of comfort into your hearts, with the ſtrong abiding impreſſion they left upon your ſpirits: finally lay up the ſweet reſult and ſtrengthening effects of thoſe your conſolations, that ſo for the future, in the multitude of your diſquieting thoughts within you, theſe comforts may again delight your ſouls: Pſal. 94.19.
4. Lay up teares in Gods bottle, prayers in God's book, comforts in others breaſts, and promiſes in your own; I put all under one head, for brevity ſake. 1. Lay up many teares in God's bottle,Mat. 5.4. Iſai. 61.2, 3 comfort is the portion of mourners, it is promiſed by God, purchaſed by Chriſt, applyed by the ſpirit of comfort, & only ſuitable to weeping mourning ſouls,2 Cor. 7.6. Pſal 147.3. Iſai. 57.15. it is the uſual conſtant deſign of God to comfort thoſe that are caſt down, to heal the broken in heart, to revive drooping ſouls, and contrite hearts; Do you mourn for your ſins, and God wil comfort you in your mourning, the ſorrowes of the Saints are like the pangs of a travelling Woman, that tend to and end in comfort, John 16.21. Repentance is the ready road to contentment:foreign Doluit, Paenituit, 1 Sam. 15.35. the ſame word in Hebrew, that ſignifieth firſt to repent, doth alſo denote comforting or ceaſing from ſorrow, becauſe true comfort belongs only to the penitent: the Jews fable,Niph. foreign dedoluit, dolore deſiit, vel conſolationem dat, invenit, Iſa. 40.1. that with ſuch as weep in the night, the ſtars and planets weep, and if they let the tears fal down their cheeks, God is ready with his bottle to receive them, which he pours (ſay they) upon the Enemies Edicts to blot the writings that the Jews ſhal receive no hurt thereby: But ſure I am, God is much affected with his Childrens teares, and comes (as it were) with an Handkerchief to wipe away thoſe tears,Pſal. 56.…. or rather (as the Scripture ſpeaks) puts their tears into his bottle, and reſerves them as a precious Liquor for their future comfort: ſhedding penitential tears is a ſpiritual ſeed-time,Pſal. 12… 5.6. and they that ſow in tears ſhal reap in joy; even ſheaves of comfort are the harveſt of this precious ſeed-plot: this briny water ſhal be turned into refreſhing wine: according to the depth of your ſorrow, wil be the height of your comfort: not a tear ſhal be loſt that's of the right ſtamp: every gracious groan is ſet before the Lord as delectable incenſe, and every drop diſtilled from a broken heart, ſhal in time multiplie to a flood of joy: who was more diſſolved into tears than holie David? and who had a heart more ful of joy, or a tongue ſo ful of the high praiſes of God, as that ſweet Singer of Iſrael? O ſirs, grieve much for ſin, and you ſhal rejoice in, and for your grief: plentie of tears prepares for, and uſhers in plentie of joy: But 2. Lay up many prayers in Gods book, as wel as tears in his bottle, be much in approaching to the Throne of Grace: the ſighs of your ſpirits wil be ecchoed with the ſweet guſts of God's ſpirit: the ſpirit of grace wil be a ſpirit of peace; as prayer goeth up, comfort comes down; God makes Children joyful in the dutie of prayer, as wel as in the houſe of prayer: for this (ſaith the Pſalmist) ſhal everie one that is godlie pray unto thee,—ſurelie then in the Floods of great Waters they ſhal not come nigh unto him, Pſal. 32.6. Prayer reacheth to Heaven, and fetcheth heaven into the heart: prayer ſeeketh, and the ſoul by faith in prayer ſeeth Gods face,See Pſal. 34.4, 5. which is a heart rejoicing ſight: it ſcattereth fears, lighteneth the ſoul, and preventeth ſhame and ſorrow: ask, ſaith Chriſt, and yee ſhal receive, that your joy may be ful, Joh. 6.24. Therefore, Chriſtians, pour out your heart to God, and he wil pour in comfort to you: And then, 3dly. Comfort others, as you are able, emptie your ſelves of experiences, by communicating them to afflicted ſouls, and they ſhal recur and retreat upon you with double advantage: there is much pleaſure in opening our hearts to Chriſtian friends: when you ſay, come and I wil ſhew you what he hath done for my ſoul, God wil do more for your ſouls: if you help others, God wil help you: you little know how it may comfort you to impart comforts to others: Mr. Knox roſe off from his ſick and death-bed, and would needs go to the Pulpit, that he might impart to others his ſweet Meditations on Chriſts Reſurrection, and the ſolacing conſolation he felt in his ſoul: there's no envie in ſpiritual things, it's the propertie of a Childe of God to long, that others might taſte of that which his ſoul feels comfort in: and indeed, God makes the breaſts of ſome, to be the ſtore-houſe of comfort for others, 2 Cor. 1.6. Whether we be comforted, it is for your conſolation, and ſalvation: not onlie by way of ſympathy and affection, but by way of intercourſe and communication: Beſides, the more you comfort others, the more you have to pity and comfort you, the law of gratitude wil ingage them, and the treaſure you have laid up in them wil diſpoſe them to be helps to you in the day of your ſadneſs. 4. Laſtly, ſtore up Scripture-cordials, Covenant-promiſes in your ſouls: Pſal. 119.50. This is my comfort in affliction, thy word hath quickened me: this was David's portion, heritage, and his Song in the houſe of his Pilgrimage; eſpecially improve and apply Goſpel-promiſes, theſe are (faſciae Chriſti) the ſwadling-cloaths of Chriſt, theſe are like Aqua vitae to the fainting ſoul: the Scripture is ful of them, ſome have obſerved that the Covenant of grace is mentioned directly an hundred times, but by clear and neceſſary conſequence a thouſand times in the book of God: God hath laid in all theſe promiſes for our comfort, that we through patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope:Rom. 15.4. to this very end is it, that God hath not only ſpoken but ſworn, that we might have ſtrong conſolation, Heb. 6.18. Promiſes are the breaſts of conſolation,Promiſſiones ſunt ſacrae Anchorae, vela candida, mulctralia evangelica, coeleſtes uteres, ſpirituales Aurifodinae: See Dr. Spurſt. of Promiſes. at which you may ſuck and be ſatisfied: promiſes are ſacred Anchors, to faſten the ſoul upon the Rock of Ages, white ſales for the bleſſed ſpirit to waft over ſouls by, to the haven of reſt; they are Goſpel-pailes, bowles and breaſts to ſuckle and feed the Lords Lambs, and rich Mines to make the Chriſtian rich in grace, and rich in comfort: therefore let Chriſtians alwaies have theſe divine Antidotes at hand, for the help and ſupport of their fainting ſouls: onlie look to your right to, and improvement of the promiſes: Divines obſerve a two-fold right to promiſes: 1. An hereditary right, [jus haereditarium] as we are co-heirs with Chriſt, ſo an intereſt in, and union to Jeſus Chriſt, gives us this right. 2. A right of aptitude, fitneſs, diſpoſedneſs, [jus aptitudinale] and this is by having holy diſpoſitions, Goſpel-qualifications, and the required conditions of conditional promiſes; this is neceſſary as wel as the other, look you after both, and then you ſhal have the comfort of the promiſes, and a ſure foundation of lively hope.
Thus I have endeavoured to help you to hoard up theſe four precious and neceſſary treaſures of truths, graces, experiences and comforts, let none of your ſouls be found deſtitute of theſe, or of a large ſhare thereof particularly, for this laſt: O let not the conſolations of God be ſmal in your eyes,Job …5.11. ſet an high price upon them, ſtore them up, they are not the leaſt part of your treaſures; theſe will fit you for Gods ſervice, qualifie you for enduring afflictions, fortifie your ſpirits againſt temptations: you that at preſent are dandled upon the knee of Gods fatherly indulgence, ſatisfied with favour, and ſit at the high Table eating and drinking in Gods preſence, feaſting your ſoules with the dainty-meates of Aſſurance. Conſider how ſoon may the Lord turn the Tables, give you bare commons and water of gall to drink, and fill your ſoules with bitterneſſe, be ſure, you ſhal not alwaies live by this kind of ſpiritual ſenſe, a time of heavineſſe may come, when you muſt caſt anchor in the dark, and act a faith of adherence upon an unſeen Redeemer; yea,Job 13.15 truſt in that God whom your ſoules do alſo fear as one that is ready to kill, you: and you'l finde it an hard thing, to hang about an angry, chiding, ſcourging Father; therefore lay up the comforts your ſoules do now partake of, give God the glorie of them, and recollect them in a time of darkneſſe, plead them before the Lord, and upon a due ſenſe of thoſe, though now you ſee him not, yet love him, and believe in him, and in due time you ſhal rejoyce with joy unſpeakable and full of glory, 1 Pet. 1.8.