The Best Interest, Chapter 1
CHAP. I. Containing the Doctrine and Evidences, of ſaving Intereſt in Christ.
IT is ſaid of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt; Cant. 1.3. Thy name is as Oyntment poured forth, therefore do the Virgins love thee. Among the ſeveral names given to Chriſt to render him amiable, and deſireable to the Children of Men, this is none of the meaneſt, that he is ſtiled, The Conſolation of Iſrael, Luk. 2.25. The hearing and believing that, may cauſe us to love him, and long after him on ſeveral accounts. For
1. Comfort is greatly deſired and ſought after by all men, we are all ready to pray with David. Pſal. 51.8. Make me to hear joy and gladneſs. Pſal. 86.4. Rejoyce the Soul of thy Servant. We are ſo deſirous of comfort, that if it be with-held from us but a little while, we ſcarce know how to bear the want of it, but our Souls are ready to faint within us. Pſal. 119.82. Mine eyes fail for thy word, ſaying, when wilt thou comfort me? And if God grant us our deſire in giving us comfort, we rejoyce greatly, and look upon our ſelves obliged to bleſs and praiſe God. Act. 15.31. They rejoyced for the Conſolation. Iſa. 12.1. O Lord, I will praiſe thee: though thou waſt angry with me, thine anger is turned away, and thou comfortedſt me.
2. And as all men deſire, ſo they have great need of comfort, both in reſpect of the manifold troubles, that they are expoſed, to while they live, and the ſorrows and terrors they are liable to, when they dye. The beſt of men, ſuch as live holy and righteous lives, do meet with many and great afflictions and troubles. Pſal. 34.19. Many are the afflictions of the Righteous. Yea, it is the lot of ſome eminent ſervants of God, to have their whole life ſpent in grief and ſorrow. Pſal. 31.10. My Life is ſpent with grief, and my Years with ſighing. And David was a man of eminent Piety, yet we Read of him, that when he was under the apprehenſions of Death, he was under Trouble and Sorrow. Pſal. 116.3. The Sorrows of Death compaſſed me, and the Pains of Hell took hold upon me, I found Trouble and Sorrow. And as he met with Sorrows, ſo alſo with Horror and Terrors, and that to ſuch a degree, as that he was even overwhelmed thereby. Pſal. 55.4, 5. My Heart is ſore pained within me, and the Terrors of Death are fallen upon me, Fearfulneſs and Trembling are come upon me, and Horror hath overwhelmed me.
3. There is abundance, and there is a ſufficiency of Conſolation to be had in Chriſt, and from Chriſt, under all the Troubles, that we are liable to, while we live, and all the Terrors and Sorrows of Death. There is not only Conſolation, but abundance of Conſolation to be had in Chriſt, and that when we meet with abundance of Troubles in the World. 2 Cor. 1.5. For as the ſufferings of Chriſt abound in us, ſo our Conſolation alſo aboundeth by Chriſt. There is ſuch abundant Conſolation to be had in Chriſt, that a Chriſtian may through Chriſt Jeſus not only be of good comfort, but he may at all times, both Living and Dying, Triumph in and through Chriſt Jeſus, whatſoever Troubles and Diſtreſſes he be exerciſed withall. 2 Cor. 2.14. Now thanks be unto God, which always cauſeth us to Triumph in Chriſt Let it be conſidered what great troubles the Apoſtle Paul went through. He gives us an account of his ſufferings. 2 Cor. 11.23, 24, 25, 26, 27. In ſtripes above meaſure, in Priſons more frequent, in Deaths oft, &c. His Troubles and Perſecutions were ſo great and ſharp, that he went continually in danger of his Life. 2 Cor. 4.9.11. We are troubled on every ſide—We which live, are always delivered unto Death for Jeſus ſake. Yet under all his Troubles, he was enabled always to Triumph in Chriſt, and Triumphing is the higheſt expreſſion of joy.