A Good Day Well Improved, Sermon 5

A Good Day Well Improved · Sermon 5

p. 187And in the Comfort of the Holy Ghoſt.

VVHichWhich is the laſt particular 5. Sermon preached at St Maries in Cambridge. June, 17. 1655.to be obſerved in the Text, and is as the 2^d effect of their peace, ſo the 2^d cauſe or means of their being edified and multiplied: for ſo the right method is, God gave them reſt, upon it, they walked as in the fear of the Lord, ſo alſo in the comfort of the holy Ghoſt, and ſo they happily came to be edified and multiplied: ſo that in handling of this, I ſhall much what follow the ſame order that I did in the former particular, and labour to declare,

1. What is here meant by this comfort of the holy Ghoſt.

2. That it ſhould be a conſequent and concomitant of our outward peace and reſt.

3. That ſo it will be a ſpeciall means of the Churches edifying and multiplying.

p. 188For the firſt the word in the Greek is, foreign tranſlated Comfort, anſwering to foreign, a name given to the Holy Ghoſt, John 14 16. and there and elſewhere rendred by our Tranſlators, See Dr. Hammond on. John 14. 16. & 16. 7.John 14:16John 16:7Comforter. I acknowledge the word ſignifieth an exhorter, a pleader, or an Advocate, as well as a Comforter. And this word foreign in the Text, in diverſe places of the New Teſtament ſignifieth Act. 13. 15. Rom. 12. 8 Heb. 13. 22.Acts 13:15Rom 12:8Heb 13:22Exhortation, and accordingly ſome referring theſe words to the laſt word foreign were multiplyed, make this the meaning of the whole, They were multiplied See Dr. Hammond on. the Text.by the Admonition or Exhorting of the holy Ghoſt, i. e. many were converted by the Apoſtles diſcharging their office and duty in Exhortation &c. to which they were deſigned by the coming of the holy Ghoſt the true Paraclete: which Paraphraſe and Expoſition holdeth forth a ſober ſenſe, but yet me thinks foreign, is ſomething too harſhly tranſlated, The exhortation of the holy Ghoſt. And p. 189therefore hath need of that Paraphraſe to ſmooth it: whereas if we read it as our Tranſlators do, The Comfort of the holy Ghoſt, (in which ſenſe the word foreign is m…ſt commonly taken in the New Teſtament) it runn's more ſmoothly, and is underſtood more eaſily; and ſo I ſhall crave leave to take it, and accordingly the meaning is, that they converſing as in Gods fear, ſo in the comfort and joy of the Spirit, (viz. which he worketh and maintaineth) felt in their hearts, and expreſſed to one another, and to all in their lives, they thereupon were edified themſelves, and were multiplied by the acceſſion of others.

The Second thing therefore 2which we have now to do, is to ſhew that, as it was here with theſe happy Chriſtians in the Text, ſo it is incumbent on us now in this time of our peace to indevour to walk in the comfort of the holy Ghoſt. This the Scripture elſewhere calleth the walking in the light of Gods countenance, as Pſal. 89. 15, 16. Bleſſed is the p. 190people that know the joyful ſound, they ſhall walk ô Lord in the light of thy countenance, and in thy name They ſhall rejoyce all the day. That joyfull ſound ſignifieth the preſence of God with his people, as the ſounding of the trumpets did in the Law, when they went out to battell. When therefore Gods people hear and take notice of ſuch a joyfull ſound; ſo that as Balaam ſaid, Numb. 23. 21. God is with them, and the ſhoute of a King is among them, as overmaſtering their enemies, and giving them reſt and peace, then they are to walk and march on in the light of his countenance, ſo as in his name to rejoyce all the day. By it we ſhould be able to do as much in the darkeſt night, as Job ſaith, when Gods candle ſhow upon his head, by his light he walked through darkneſs, Job 29. 3. but with how much more joy in God, when in a brighter day the Sun of righteouſneſs ſhineth out in brighter beams of love and mercy? In outward peace, we ſhould have inward joy, and p. 191ſpiritual comfort in temporal Pſal. 18. 19.Ps 18:19refreſhments; and when in times of peace we may walk abroad at large we ſhould have hearts inlarged to walk as in the fear of the Lord, ſo in the comfort of the holy Ghoſt.

Firſt, that this tcomfort Reaſ. 1 may qualify that Fear, and characterize and evidence it to be the fear of God, when joyned with the peace and comfort and joy of the holy Ghoſt, a ſlaviſh fear hath torment, ſaith the Apoſtle, 1 John 4. 18.1 John 4:18and therefore no joy, but in heavenly and more ingenuous tempers Godly fear, and ſpiritual joy know the way how to meet, and imbrace, and uphold one the other. Natural, fear contracteth the heart, but an holy fear inlargeth it. Iſa. 60. 5. in thoſe happier days of the Church it is ſaid, Thy heart ſhall fear, and be inlarged, when taken with a reverential awe and admiration of Gods wonderfull goodneſs, then moſt inlarged in joyfull praiſes and thankſgivings: So it is, and will be moſt fully in heaven, God p. 192no where elſe ſo reverentially feared, nor no where ſo much rejoyced in and prayſed: ſuch a bleſſed heavenly temper, we ſhould be aſpiring to here below: to fear God and his goodneſs, Hoſ. 3. 5. and to rejoyce in his goodneſs, Nehem. 9. 25. together. Then eſpecially we ought to fear him, that our joy may not prove light and wanton, and yet even then to rejoyce in him, that our fear may manifeſt it ſelf, not to be ſlaviſh, but filial, becoming ſuch bleſſed children of ſo great and good a Father. Thus firſt in times of reſt and peace, we ſhould walk in the comfort of Gods Spirit, to qualify that former fear.

Secondly, to anſwer, and to Reaſ. 2 ſuite with our preſent peace, and ſo it proveth foreign a duty Eccleſ. 3. 11.Eccl 3:11in its ſeaſon, which maketh every thing beautifull. God expecting that his ſeverall diſpenſations ſhould be intertained with ſutable affections and deportments, In the day of proſperity be joyfull, but in the day of adverſity Eccleſ. 7. 14.Eccl 7:14conſider, and as there is a time to p. 193weep, ſo there is a time to laugh, Eccleſ. 3. 4. And what time more fit for that then when God ſmiles? As it is ſaid of the Jewes upon the reſtoring and ſettling of Jeruſalems peace, That they rejoiced becauſe God had made them to rejoice, Neh. 12. 43.

The contrary hereunto is one kinde of taking Gods name in vain in croſſing one of thoſe ends, which he intendeth in beſtowing ſuch mercies, which is, that we ſhould ſerve the Lord with joyfulneſſe and gladneſſe of heart, for the abundance of all things, Deut. 28. 47. and to delight our ſelves in the abundance of peace, Pſal. 37. 11. which being neglected, Gods end is fruſtrated, and ſo his Name is taken in vain; for that is in vain, which falleth ſhort of its end. And therefore it is, that there are ſo many and frequent commands of God to his people Iſrael to rejoice Deut. 12. 7 12. 18. 14. 26. 16. 11. 27. 7.Deut 12:7before him in their Feſtivals, and in every good thing which he gave them, Deut. 26. 11.

foreign, Deut. 16. 15. Thou ſhalt ſurely, or onelyonly rejoice. p. 194Now this a ſowre lowring either out of diſcontent or dejectedneſſe wholely fruſtrateth, and takes out (as to us) the ſweetneſſe of Gods goodneſſe, by the bitterneſſe of our ſpirits: For what good will a coſtly rich ſuite do on his back all whoſe bones are broken within? and although it be never ſo fair weather above head, yet deep foul way will make but uncomfortable travelling, and therefore ſuch uncomfortableneſſe of ſpirit under ſuch chearing providences is as ſutable as a mourning ſuite on a marriage day, or faſting on a Feſtivall, or on a Lords day, in the Die dominico jejunium n…ſas ducimus. Tertul. de corona Milit. cap. 3.eſteem of the primitive Chriſtians. It ſhutteth out clear day-light, that we may mope in the dark; and ſendeth up foggs from a muddled heart to obſcure the clear Sunſhine: This Nehemiah forbad his people, and would have them be of good cheer on a good day, and told them that the joy of the Lord would be their ſtrength, Neh. 8. 9, 10. God would have our hearts keep time with his hand, when there is peace without, would have a… p. 195anſwerable ſerenity within. Job expected that his bed ſhould comfort him, Job 7. 11. and ſo they here, in the Text when they had reſt, they walked as in the fear of the Lord, ſo in the comfort of the holy Ghoſt.

And its well ſaid, in the comfort Reaſon 3 of the holy Ghoſt, that it might not onelyonly be ſutable to their outward peace, but that it might alſo ſanctifie it, and ſpiritualize all the comfort and joy which they had in it.

For otherwiſe moſt commonly in outward peace and proſperity we are ready to take comfort enough, and in ſome kindes and caſes too much, (as we ſhall ſee more afterward in the application) we are very ſubject to make an idol of it (as Iſrael delivered from Exod. 32. 6Exod 32:6Egypt made a golden calf) and with them then to eat and drink and riſe to play. How eaſie a thing is it to over joy outward comforts, and to forget God by looking too much on his lovetokens? and ſo to ſpend and powr out our delight on the gift, that p. 196there is none left for the giver? as Nehemiah ſadly complaineth of that people, that although they delighted themſelvs in Gods great goodneſſe, Nehem. 9. 25. yet they could not finde in their hearts to ſerve him in his great goodneſſe, v. 35.

And on the contrary how hard a thing is it, ſpiritually to rejoice in God, when we have many temporall delights to intertain us? as it is with a man to keep up his appetite, and to taſte as much ſweetneſſe in his food, when he is uſed to a conſtant high feed, as he did when he was kept to ſhort pining commons. In ſummer when it is warmeſt without, we uſe to be fainteſt within: To what a bleſed height and ſtrength of grace hath that Chriſtian attained, who can delight himſelf as much in God in more peaceable and proſperous times amidſt all other delights, as he did in harder times, when he had nothing elſe but God to comfort him? That man lives much by faith, who by its hand can hang as much upon God in a promiſe, when he p. 197hath many other ſtaves of comfort to lean on, and to ſupport him, as if he had none. This hard leſſon God was teaching Iſrael under the Law, when in the beginning and ending of their harveſt, and other times of outward mirth and gladneſſe, He appointed them holy Feſtivals, in which he ſo often (as you heard) called upon them to rejoice, but ſtill it was to be before the Lord, as the Apoſtle would have us to rejoice again and again, but ever in him, Phil. 4. 4. As another Apoſtle, when we are merry would have us ſing Pſalmes, to keep our hearts in an heavenly tune, Jam. 5. 13. And this leſſon as hard as it is, theſe prime Scholars in Chriſts School had happily taken out, who could rejoice in God both notwithſtanding all troubles, and alſo In, yea and above all comforts. So we finde them eating their meat with gladneſſe, when under perſecution, Acts 2. 46. and here walking in the comfort of the holy Ghoſt in the midſt of all thoſe other comforts which their peace p. 198and reſt did afford them: Non inebriati ſunt deliciis & terreno gaudio, ſed freti Dei praeſidio plus animi & fiduciae ad Deum glorificandum ſumpſerunt, as Calvin obſerveth upon the Text. They were not drunk with theſe outward contentments, nor ſo immerſed in the comforts which their peace brought them, but that this oyl of gladneſſe, the grace and comfort of the holy Spirit, did ſtill ſwim on the top of all, and was more to them, as it was to David, Pſal. 4. 6, 7. then all corn, and wine, and oyl in their greateſt abundance. The comfort of outward peace they thankfully received and made uſe of, but it was the comfort of the holy Ghoſt that they walked in; this was their way and walk, and the other but their viaticum; without this comfort, all other would have been to them as Jobs friends were to him, very miſerable comforters; Iob 16. 2.Job 16:2but thorns to choak the word, and intangle and pierce their hearts; and like bird-lime have cleaved ſo faſt, as to have kept their ſouls p. 199from being upon the wing, and ſo imbaſe and defile them, that heavens light would not have been able to ſhine through thoſe windows ſo all over beſmeared with ſuch filth.

As therefore ſweeteſt honie ſtands in need of being clarified, ſo do our peace and ſweeteſt outward contentments by theſe more ſpiritual and divine comforts and joyes of the holy Ghoſt, that our delight in them may be foreign, more pure and limpid, and ſpirituall, may not be as weights to preſſe us down to the earth, but be onelyonly as onus alarum, as underſteps, nay as wings to lift and mount us up to God, and ſo to enjoy him, in them, and above them: not as craſs earthy bodies to terminate our ſight, but as tranſparent glaſſes to tranſmit to our eyes and hearts the light of Gods countenance in the face of Jeſus Chriſt. This is right, and as it ſhould be, when it is not meat but mercy that feedeth us, nor other ſweeteſt muſick, but a better melodie in our hearts that layeth us down to p. 200our reſt, as here in the Text, they had Reſt: But it was the comfort of the holy Ghoſt that made their ſleep ſweet, in giving reſt to their ſoul; according to that bleſſing which God would have put on his Iſrael, Numb. 6. 26. The Lord lift up his countenance upon thee, and ſo give thee peace. For theſe Reaſons in our outward peace, we ſhould walk in the comfort of the holy Ghoſt, which was the ſecond thing propounded to our conſideration in the handling of this Point.

The Third was to ſhew, That 3this our walking in the comfort of the holy Ghoſt, would much conduce to the Churches edifying and multiplying, as we here finde in the Text, that upon their thus walking, they were edified and multiplied, and this will here alſo afford two arguments to inforce this duty.

Firſt then, Chriſtians walking 1in the joy and comfort of the holy Ghoſt, will much help to the edification and building up of the Church. We before heard that p. 201in fair weather without, it is beſt to build our own houſes; and truly Gods houſe goeth up faſteſt when we have ſerenity within: For whereas fear, and grief, and dejectedneſſe duls and deads the ſpirits, weakneth the man, and makes him unfit for any thing: on the contrary, The joy of the Lord is our ſtrength: a chearful ſpirit Nehem. 8. 10.Neh 8:10of our own bringeth life and ſtrength to our own work, and proportionably the joy and comfort of Gods Spirit will help to Iohn 2…. 4.John 2:4make better riddance of his. So we ſee that when the heart is inlarged, the foot runs the wayes of Gods commandments, Pſal. 119. 32. When the heavy-hearted proveth heavy-heeled, and cometh fainting and lagging behinde; a raiſed ſpirit, inlarged with the comforts of Gods ſpirit, as John overran Peter, ſo He another that faints and deſpondes, and Ilia ducit. Such an one waiting on the Lord reneweth his ſtrength, and mounteth up with wings like an eagle (flyeth ſtrongly and ſwiftly) runneth and is not weary, p. 202walkieth and doth not faint: or Iſa. 40. 31.Isa 40:31rather like the bleſſed Angels, who becauſe they alwayes behold the Matth. 18. 10.Matt 18:10face of God, in one ſenſe (viz. in joy) behold it alſo in another, viz. As the eyes of a ſervant look to the hand of his Maſter, (as ready Pſal. 123. 2.Ps 123:2preſt to do his commands) ſo they to mark the leaſt intimations of Gods will, and ſo preſently and ſpeedily to go about it, whoſe joy in God addeth wings to their hands, and maketh their feet ſparkle for haſte, as we have it in Ezekiels viſion; even ſo would this oyle Ezek. 1. 7, 8.Ezek 1:7Ezek 1:8of gladneſſe oyle our wheels in any way that God ſhould ſend us; and in particular in this great work of building up and edifying the Church of Chriſt.

1. Whether it be in helping up and ſettling his Houſe and Ordinances: for it never goeth faſter up, than when his ſervants lay the foundations of it with joyful ſhoutings and praiſes; as it was Ezr. 3. 11. and ſo at laſt bring forth the top-ſtone of it with like ſhoutfull acclamations, crying, Grace, Grace to it, as we finde it, Zech. p. 2034. 7. So then in that ſecond Temple, as before the people were joyfull and glad of heart in the dedication of the firſt Temple, 1 Kin. 8. 66. as the joy of Jeruſalem was heard afar off when the walls of it were afterward built up and finiſhed, Nehem. 12. 43. Thus under the Law.

And in the beginning of the Goſpel they were theſe that here in the Text walked thus in the comfort of the holy Ghoſt, who were the firſt happy promulgers of it.

And bleſſed Paul though he came in to this work after them, yet in this (as in all elſe) he came no whit behinde them. But he that laboured more abundantly then 1 Cor. 15. 10.1 Cor 15:10they all, was (as his ſtory and Epiſtles every where teſtifie) as chearfull, rejoicing, yea triumphing 2 Cor. 2. 142 Cor 2:14in God, as any.

Which, in part, may be the reaſon, why more ordinarily Gods Miniſters are leſſe foiled with uncomfortable dejections, and more inlarged with the conſolations of his Spirit then divers others, viz. p. 204That they may be in better caſe more effectually to comfort others, 2 Cor. 1. 4. and more ably to help up the houſe of God in the more lively diſpenſation of his Ordinances.

2. Or if we conſider the edification of the Church in the building up of our ſelves in our moſt holy faith, and the Graces of Gods, Spirit; truely the comfort of the holy Ghoſt is a very great heartner and furtherer of thoſe graces, which as ſweet flowers open themſelves, and flouriſh moſt in this happy Sunſhine, but too often cloſe up and droop, and hang down the head in a cloudy rainy day; ſo that if this part of the Churches edification conſiſt in pulling down the old building and ſetting up the new, in our eſtabliſhment and growth in grace, and mortification of ſin, nothing more effectually conduceth to it then this joy and comfort.

1. Nothing more furthereth the mortification of ſin, and corruption. Repentance indeed and godly ſorrow doth very much p. 205this way, whileſt it maketh us ſenſible of the loathſomneſs and bitterneſs of ſin, but this joy and comfort of the ſpirit doth more by its preſenting us with the unconceiveable ſweetneſs of Gods favour and grace, in Chriſt; as Paul when he had been wrapped up to heaven, was then moſt impatient of a thorn in the fleſh, 2 Cor. 12. In heaven where there is all joy, there is no ſin, and had we here more of heavenly joyes, we ſhould be leſs troubled with ſinfull corruptions; theſe ſpirituall comforts would ſo ſatiſfie, yea ſwallow us up with delight in them, that we ſhould not need the ſupply of any ſenſuall or ſinfull contentments, but they would make us deſpiſe them as low, poor, and empty, yea abhor them as moſt loathſome and abominable in themſelves, eſpecially to us then, when we are raviſhed with more high and holy, and heavenly delights; ſuch foggs would quite vaniſh in the Noon-day Sun, and this Summers heat would dry up even the ſprings p. 206of theſe polluted ſtreams. When a peaceable Solomon is ſetled on the Throne, all enemies are ſubdued, 1 King. 5. 4. and 9. 21. and never more than when we are ſetled and eſtabliſhed in the peace of God, and the comfort of his Spirit, are our corruptions mortified

2. Or our Graces confirmed 2and increaſed. The fruits of the ſpirit (ſaith the Apoſtle, Gal. 5. 22, 23.) are love, joy, peace, long-ſuffering, gentleneſs, goodneſs, faith, meekneſs, temperance: See what a duſter there is of them, but mark how love, joy, and peace are ſet in the head of them, as animating, actuating and giving life to all the reſt. The cheerfull Chriſtian, is the fruitfull Chriſtian, moſt agile and active for God. And although in his more nimble ſpeed he may have oftner trips, yet the melancholick ſpirit, though it's poſſible he may have fewer, yet uſually they are more ſad and heavy falls. The ſad Chriſtian may, by reaſon of his watchfulneſs feldome do evill, but the cheerfull Chriſtian, by reaſon of p. 207his activeneſs, uſually doth the moſt good. When the Sun of righteouſneſs thus ariſeth on us with healing in his wings, we then go forth and grow as calves of the ſtall, Mal. 4. 2. not for wantonneſs, but for lively activity. So in nature our cheerfull youth is the growing and active age and part of our life, whereas ſad old age ſitteth ſtill, ſhrinks up, and groweth, but it's downward. But as to the life and vigour of Grace, bleſſed bee God, that the aged decrepit Chriſtian may bee a hearty old man, and his ſetting Sun may ſhine bright and warm, ſo that he may be warm at heart in that cold winter of his old age. the comforts of Gods Spirits (in the decay of all other naturall, vitall, and animall Spirits) may be then greater then ever, and thereupon his Graces more lively then ever before; and ſo this plant of righteouſneſs which ſhot up ſo in the ſpring, doth ſtill grow even in winter, and brings forth more fruit in old age, and is fat and Pſal. 92. 14.Ps 92:14flouriſhing and ſo like the Crocodile) p. 208groweth as long as he liveth: and the more peace, and joy, and comfort of the Spirit that he hath, the more grace he hath, the good old man thriving well with ſo good a Nurſe, the more fruit he beareth, and the more ſweetneſs, and leſs harſhneſs it hath: and thereby this ſweet comfort doth not only thus help us to edifie our ſelves, but,

Which is the 3^d part of the edification of the Church, it much helpeth us alſo to edifie others. For as in Nature, grief and ſadneſs make's us heavy and liſtleſs to ſtirre abroad, it contract's the ſpirits whileſt joy and cheerfulneſs dilate's them, and ſend's them out: ſo here, whileſt the drooping ſinner ſitteth moping in a corner, and the ſorrowfull Chriſtian is retired in private with Ephraim bemoaning himſelf, Ier. 31. 18.Jer 31:18and weeping over his own ſins; the cheerfull Beleever inlivened and inlarged with the comforts of the holy Ghoſt, with Elihu, is Iob. 32. 18, 19.Job 32:18Job 32:19full and muſt have vent; is lively, and ſo becomes active to p. 209do good to others as well as to himſelf, and as the forehorſe with the bells lead's on the reſt of the Teame. Thus David (as the choragus) with the voice of joy and praiſe, went in the head of the multitude that kept holy-day, Nehem. 4. 18.Neh 4:18Pſal. 42. 4. like Nehemiah who had the Trumpeter with him, and then the walls of Jeruſalem went up apace: never did Drum and Trumpet more animate the Souldier to fight, then a cheerfull Chriſtian the reſt of his company to Gods hardeſt and hotteſt ſervices. But this fitly leadeth me from the firſt benefit of the comfort of the holy Ghoſt in edifying the Churches, to the

Second, viz. the multiplying 2of them: for ſo we finde here, that when they walked in this comfort, they were not only edified, but alſo multiplyed. It doth not onelyonly much help and edify them who are already come in, but proveth a ſtrong attractive to them without; and ſo make's the company of Beleevers ſwell and break out into multitudes.

p. 210For whereas the uncomfortable droopings of Chriſtians like the evil ſpies bring an evil report Numb. 13Num 13on the good land, and make ſtrangers beleeve, that Gods Eden is a howling wilderneſs, and his Goſhen a land of darkneſs, that there is no joy or comfort to be found in the ways of God, when they who walk in them finde, or at leaſt expreſs ſo little, and ſo they are affraid to venture that way, and thereupon leave them to walk, or ſit down ſolitary in it, wherein they can meet with ſo little comfort, and therefore with as little company.

On the contrary, however howling wilderneſſes are ſolitary, yet more pleaſant walkes, and cheerfull perſons in them uſe to have more company: Muſick, we know, gathereth crowds about it; and ſo ſhould we finde about us, if we could ſing, and make melody in our hearts to God, we might then Epheſ. 5. 19.Eph 5:19hope to make up a fuller Conſort. When an experienced Chriſtian can ſay with David, Come and I Pſal. 66. 16.Ps 66:16will tell you what God hath done p. 211for my ſoul, indeed more then I can tell you; hath in this way of his Grace ſetled me in peace, and filled my heart with joy unſpeakable and full of glory (foreign 1 Pet. 1. 8.1 Pet 1:8the word is) even with glorified joy;

He can do no leſs then draw many to admiration and communion.

Thus the ſpouſe by ſo pathetically Cant. 5. 8. ad finem with chap. 6. 1.Song 5:8diſplaying her Beloveds love and lovelineſs, made the daughters of Jeruſalem to enquire after him, that they might ſeek him with her: and what think you did thoſe loud Proclamations made to all the world by Paul, and the other Apoſtles and Diſciples, of the unſearchable riches of Chriſt, and the length, and breadth, and height, and depth of the knowledge of the love of God, Epheſ. 3. 8. 18, 19.Eph 3:8Eph 3:18Eph 3:19what (I ſay) did it, what could it do leſs then alarme the whole world, and make them gather as clouds, and fly as Doves to the windowes? as the Prophet expreſſeth it, Iſa. 60. 8.

Whileſt the ſpirit of fear and p. 212Rom. 8. 15Rom 8:15bondage in the miniſtery of the Law, contracted it into the narrow bounds of Paleſtina; the Goſpel of peace, (when it was preached, and the love of God thereby more plentifully ſhed abroad Rom. 5. 5.Rom 5:5in Beleevers hearts) ſpred abroad in all the world, and inſtead of a few Proſelytes before, made all Nations Converts: How wonderfully ductile is this pure gold? how abundantly efficacious would the glory of God in the face of Jeſus Chriſt, ſhining out in the raiſed and inlarged hearts, and cheerfull carriages of Chriſtians be to draw all mens eyes and hearts to it? No wonder then, if when theſe firſt beſt Chriſtians did thus walk as in the fear of the Lord, ſo in the comfort of the holy Ghoſt, the Churches of Chriſt were thus both edified and multiplyed.

Which in the Application of it, Ʋſe. ſerveth to ſhew us both our ſin and duty, and both double.

1. That ſome Chriſtians at all Our ſin: either we want comfort,times, and moſt at ſome times, yea in the time of outward p. 213reſt and peace are too gloomy and dejected.

And therefore their duty is to labour to be more comfortable.

2. Our ſin on the other hand Or ours is not the comfort of the holy Ghoſt.is, that as at other times, ſo eſpecially in times of peace and outward proſperity whileſt we are jocund and pleaſant, our joyes are carnal, and ſenſual.

And therefore our duty is, that then eſpecially we labour to have them more ſpiritual, that if we then walk in comfort, we make ſure that it be in the comfort of the holy Ghoſt.

Firſt then the ſin that too many 1of Gods people are to be humbled for is, that contrary to this lovely example in the Text, they do not walk comfortably, or in the comfort of the holy Ghoſt. They do indeed after a faſhion walk in fear, but not in the fear of the Lord, but in ſuch a fear as Damaſcen makes ſegnities & ſtupor to be the two parts of it, in a dejected ſtupid diſconſolateneſs, or (as the Prophet expreſſeth it) in darkneſs, Iſa. 5. 10.Isa 5:10where they ſee no light, or p. 214what they ſee, troubleth them; as it uſeth to do to weak or ſoar eyes, They have ſuch an aguiſh diſtemper upon them, that (as was ſaid before) they ſtand ſhaking in a Summers Sunſhine. So that when God ſendeth outward peace, and therewith alſo means and materials of inward refreſhment, in ſtead of this walking in the comfort of Gods Spirit, they ſit down in the moſt uncomfortable dejectedneſs of their own. Yea although his Spirit be on purpoſe ſent to be a Comforter, John 14. 16. 26. yet, (with Rachel) they will not be comforted. Jer. 31. 15.

But (as the Prophet ſaid) wherefore Jer. 30. 6.Jer 30:6do I ſee every mans hands on his loynes, and ſo many faces gather Joel 2. 6.Joel 2:6blackneſs?

Is God who was wont to love a cheerful giver, and to take pleaſure 2 Cor. 9. 7. Pſal. 35. 27.2 Cor 9:7Ps 35:27in the proſperity of his ſervants, now become like thoſe cruel Lords, which make their labourers groan out of the City? Job 24 11, 12. Exod. 1. 14, 15.Job 24:11Job 24:12Exod 1:14Exod 1:15Or an Egyptian Taskmaſter, to make his ſervants lives bitter p. 215with hard bondage? Is he become a wilderneſs, or a land of darkneſs: Jer. 2. 31.Jer 2:31ſo barren that no pleaſant ſent grows on it, or ſo dark that it cannot be ſeen and found if any do, when ſo much gloomineſs is on his ſervants ſpirits, and on their eyelids the very ſhadow of death? Or is his houſe, which uſed to be Job. 1. 16. Pſal. 110. 3. Pſal. 29. 9.Job 1:16Ps 110:3Ps 29:9the beauty of holineſs, and in which every one ſpake of his glory, become now a Trophonius's Den, after entrance into which we muſt never look for a ſmile more, nothing in it to be ſeen but melancholick ſad dumps, nothing to be heard but wilderneſs howlings, in ſtead of Temple ſongs? for joyfull prayſes, and glorious triumphings in him, ſhall we only have uncomfortable bemonings of our ſelves, nay diſcontented complaints made to him, yea and it may be ſometimes of him too? But (as Eliphaz ſaid) are the conſolations of God ſmall to us: Job. 15. 11.Job 15:11and the comforts of his Spirit not worth the looking after? are wiſdomes wayes, all of which were wont to be pleaſantneſs and p. 216Prov. 3. 17Prov 3:17peace, now turned quite out of that Rode? In a word, is the Spirit of God now become no more a Comforter, when his people are no more comfortable? Of ſuch I deſire this, that they would but conſider, what folly and ingratitude this is,

1. That they are thus alwayes, and in a manner onelyonly on the murmuring and complaining hand, as though amidſt all their ſorrowes, (and many of them not of Gods, but of their own making) therewere no ſweetneſſe of God for either outward or inward man to be felt, and which they might, yea and ſhould rejoice in, and praiſe him for; although we naturally are all, and alwayes, and onelyonly evill, yet is Gen. 6. 5.Gen 6:5God, are all, are any of his diſpenſations ſo too? Is hell broke looſe upon earth, that our cup ſhould be like that, Rev. 14. 10. foreign, of the wine of the fierce wrath of God poured out (or mixed) without mixture, i. e. ſo mixed with all ſorts of moſt bitter and deadly ingredients, that p. 217withall there is no mixture of any thing that may any way allay it from being altogether or onelyonly grievous and vexatious? In thy bittereſt cup was there no mixture of ſome ſweetneſſe, for which thou mayeſt well take the cup of ſalvation, Pſal. 116. 13.Ps 116:13and bleſs God? Was it wholely and onelyonly bitter, that with more ſowrneſs of ſpirit thou onelyonly makeſt ſuch a ſowre face at it? Hezekiah could ſay of his foreign It was bitter, bitter, very bitter, double bitter as his redoubled word expreſſeth it, but yet he could notwithſtanding that, taſte ſo much ſweetneſſe of Gods love to his ſoul with it, and in it, that as in a double word he had expreſſed the double bitterneſſe of that cup, Iſa. 31. 16. So in ſenſe of that intermixed ſweetneſſe he proportionably redoubleth his words of praiſe and thankſgiving: The living, the living ſhall praiſe thee, as I do this day, v. 19. take thee at thy worſt, yet as long as I hear thee complaining, I perceive that thou yet art, aliue & Hezekiah p. 218conceived that to be mercy: and therefore ſay thou likewiſe, although I am very ſick and poor, and deſpiſed from without, and wounded within, yet for all this I yet live, and therefore although that make me cry out foreign, Oh bitterneſſe, bitterneſſe, yet this onelyonly, if I have nothing elſe, is mercy that I live, and therefore I will with Hezekiah cry foreign The living, the living ſhall praiſe thee, as I do this day. I'ts ingratitude therefore, to be onelyonly complaining, there is ſome ſweetneſſe certainly, nay unleſſe thy palat were too much vitiated, thou wouldeſt taſte a great deal, and many wayes, for which thou ſhouldeſt chearfully give thanks.

2. Or in caſe it ſhould be onelyonly and every way ill with thee, yet think here again, might it not have been worſe? Hath God made ſuch a way to his anger, as to let it all out upon thee, Pſal. 78. 50. or rather is it not ſo with thee, as the Pſalmiſt in v. 38. of the ſame Pſalm ſaith it was with Iſrael of p. 219old, that he hath not ſtirred up all his wrath? Hath God, thinkeſt thou, as bad as thy caſe is, done his worſt to thee? So indeed ſaid a deſperate Woman upon the loſſe Donna Maria de Caſtilia. See Gages ſurvey, cap. 18. pag. 124.of her Husband and children, and was ſoon confuted by an heavier hand of that God whom ſhe ſo defied upon her ſelf and the very place where ſhe ſo blaſphemed. But I hope thou art not arrived at the height of her blaſphemy. Thou canſt not but acknowledge that although it be very ill with thee, yet it might have been, and thou haſt deſerved that it might have been much worſe, and that is ſome comfort.

3. But if for all this, you will be onelyonly on your ſad thoughts, then I pray you, amongſt many others of them, which will be worſe and which your own diſcontented hearts invent and buble up, let me ſuggeſt theſe few, which it would be well if you would, and that very ſadly think of, viz.

1. How much by this your unkinde grief you grieve your Comforter, the Spirit of God both in p. 220himſelf, and in the hearts of his people.

2. How much alſo you wrong and wound your own ſelves prove Heautontimorumeni ſelf-torturers and executioners, and this

3. Needleſly and fruitleſly, for which God will never thank you, but before he hath done with you, make you in a meeker way grieve over theſe diſtempered griefs.

4. Nay, miſchievouſly, whileſt they too oft kindle a ſmothered fire of hell in your boſomes, and make you fierce to fret againſt others, your ſelves, yea God himſelf. The whole frame of a mans ſpirits being no way made better, but every way the worſe by them, beſide what was before mentioned,

God diſhonoured as harſh and tyrannicall.

His wayes, as wholly uncomfortable.

His children, as ſo many moaping fools.

To the diſheartning of on commers, and the making of ſtrangers and enemies either to flye, or in p. 221a more full averſation, or more heavily to fall on with fiercer blaſphemies and oppoſition.

Now then if this be any of our ſins,

We have the more cauſe ſeriouſly Our Duty.to think, and ſet on our Duty, and that the Apoſtle preſcribeth us, Phil. 4. 4. to rejoyce in the Lord alwayes, and that alwayes includeth

The day of affliction: and ſo in the Saints coldeſt winter dayes their Sun oftentimes ſhineth very bright, as ſtars do in a froſty, and a clear Lanthorn in the darkeſt night. Such could rejoice for the whip, Acts 5. 41. and ſing in the ſtocks at midnight, Acts 16. 25. and clap their hands in the flames, as Hawks and Smith did amongſt Fox Acts & Mon. Tom. 3. pag. 265. 266. 410.our other Martyrs.

But eſpecially when God ſendeth peace and proſperity, our hearts ſhould keep time and tune with his hand, by rejoicing in his goodneſſe, Neh. 9. 25. and by walking comfortably and cheerfully in the light of his countenance: Let it not be foule way below, when it p. 222is fair weather above head, let us not lowre when God ſmileth. Be glad in the Lord, and rejoice ye righteous, and ſhout for joy all ye that are upright in heart, Pſal. 32. 11.

1. For this is comely for the upright, Pſal. 33. 1.

2. The badge of Gods, people according to that phraſe of the Pſalmiſt, The gladneſſe of thy nation, Pſal. 106. 4.

3. It proclaimeth to all the world, that we ſerve a good Maſter, and that there is no unrighteouſneſs in him, Pſal. 92. 14. that he is All-ſufficient for our good; for, Non perfectè gaudet quis de aliquo, niſi cui perfectè ſufficit illud de quo gaudet, as Aquinas truly …2^• q. 79. art. 2. ad. 6.determineth it.

No man can perfectly rejoice in that perſon, who is not ſufficiently and perfectly poſſeſſed of that thing in which he moſt rejoiceth.

4. It is the ſigne and evidence of a good conſcience, 2 Cor. 1. 12. that our debts are diſcharged, when we can be ſo merry, and that we p. 223have no inward gripings, when we have ſo cheerfull a countenance.

5. It is that which will inable us to ſervice, Neh. 8. 10.

6. And render both us and it amiable and acceptable both to God and man. For he that in theſe things ſerveth Chriſt, is acceptable to God, and approved of men, ſaith the Apoſtle, Rom. 14. 18. And thoſe things which he ſo commendeth, in the 17. v. immediatly going before you ſhall read to be righteouſneſs and peace and joy in the holy Ghoſt.

7. In which (he there ſaith) the kingdom of God conſiſteth moſt fully in the ſtate of glory, where there is all joy and no grief, where David doth not groan, nor Pſal. 6. 6. Iſa. 38. 14. Mat. 26. 75.Ps 6:6Isa 38:14Matt 26:75Hezekiah chatter, nor Peter weep bitterly. Sighs are then turned into Hallelujahs moſt fully (I ſay) in the kingdom of glory hereafter; But very comfortably, yea and gloriouſly now alſo in the eſtate of grace: where righteouſneſſe is the root, and peace the pleaſant bloſſom, and joy the ſweeteſt fruit.

p. 224Make we therefore ſure of the firſt, that we begin with it, but reſt not till we attain to the laſt, till we be poſſeſſed of all that which this bleſſed Kingdom conſiſts in: For if Kings will fight, and meaner men will ſue for the leaſt part of their kingdom and inheritance, why ſhould not we as earneſtly ſue to God, and fight againſt all the powers of darkneſſe for the whole of ours? not onelyonly for righteouſneſſe, but alſo for peace and joy in the holy Ghoſt? But here that laſt clauſe muſt eſpecially be taken notice of, and anſwerable care taken, that it be the joy of the holy Ghoſt; which the kingdom of God (there we ſee) in part conſiſts in; and ſo here it was comfort, but the comfort of the holy Ghoſt, which theſe Churches in the Text walked in: which leadeth me to the conſideration of

The ſecond part both of our ſin Ʋſe 2 and duty: for we live in too merry Our Sin.a world, in which although there be too little of the comfort and joy of the holy Ghoſt, yet there is too too much of other mirth p. 225and jollity. Hilary ſomewhere diſtinguiſhes of a Palace and a Priſon joy. Not onelyonly kings and great ones can be merry in their Palaces, but even condemned malefactors can in their priſons ſometimes make a deſperate mad merriment and frollick immedidiatly before their execution, as we ſee in the example of Belſhazzar Dan. 5. and the rich Glutton in the Goſpel, Luke 12. 91, 20. moſt joviall at their feaſts the very ſame night that they were called to their laſt great reckoning. Particularly,

There is a feather-joy: as when two fools (who are uſed to be painted alwayes laughing) make themſelves ſport in blowing a feather from the one to the other; to which I cannot but compare the vain froth of your Jokes and leaſts, as in other places, ſo eſpecially in the Univerſities, and this both in private meetings, and publick Schools, without which Sales, in this wanton age, all exerciſes a moſt are accounted inſipid, and this not onelyonly by Juniors, but p. 226alſo by others, whoſe greater ſtanding ſhould perſwade them to give better example, for the honour of God, and of the Univerſity. Theſe which ſavour onelyonly, and that ſo rankly of the vanity and rottenneſſe of our hearts, are for certain, none of the Divine Spirits breathings: Do you in your conſciences think that theſe vain jeaſts and merriments have the leaſt ſavour of the comfort of the holy Ghoſt, which theſe beſt Chriſtians walked in? had their communications one with another been at the rate of theſe our vain and frothy jeaſtings, (the vying and bandying of which is like Solomons Prov. 21. 6.Prov 21:6vanity toſſed to and fro of thoſe that ſeek death) they might have gathered company enough to them, but it would have been no gathering of Churches as the Text here calls theſe, but (as Abimelecks Judg. 9. 4.Judg 9:4was) of light and vain perſons; and if by them they might have been multiplied, yet ſurely not ſo as therewith to be edified.

There is a Tavern or more 2profane mirth, in drinking and p. 227roaring and revelling, and in ſtead of another Minſtrell, David muſt Pſal. 69. 12.Ps 69:12be the ſong of the drunkards; nor can the Philiſtines be merry, unleſs Samſon be made the fool in Iudg. 16. 25.Judg 16:25the Play: unleſs they ſcoff and jear the wayes and ſervants of God (as M^r Greenham ſaith) the fools cannot tell how to be merry, and then the Devill is merry with them for company. But what? not merry without abuſing their hoſte? This ſome muſt dearly pay for, when a reckoning is called for, or they rather called to make it. Then they will be off from their merry pinnes, and will find that this was very far from being the comfort of the holy Ghoſt, wherein and whereby that good Spirit and our comforter was grieved, and holineſſe ſcoffed and laughed at.

And the like we may ſay of all thoſe joyes and comforts which men take in any ſinfull wayes and practiſes; as in this kind Eſau comforted himſelf in his thoughts of revenge, Gen. 27. 42. The King of Iſrael was made glad with lyes, Hoſ. 7. 3. And when the Chaldeans p. 228could oppreſſe, it's ſaid, that then they rejoiced and were glad, Hab. 1. 11. But as the Lord ſaid of his peoples idolatries, Should I have comfort in theſe? Iſa. 57. 6. So may ſuch ſay to theſe their Idols, but can we have comfort in theſe, which provoke God, and greive his Spirit, and for which we our ſelves alſo muſt grieve, either here bitterly, or in Hell eternally? That was a ſmart expreſſion of the Jeſuite Cotton in one of his Epiſtles to Chamier. Non eſt mi Chamire, non eſt Salus, ruere in Epiſt. Ieſuit. pag. 97.ſempiternum interitum alacriter. It is no true mirth thus to go leaping merrily into hell. It is no comfort of the Spirit, which grieves the Spirit, no joy of the holy Ghoſt, that is thus fed with ſuch unholy practiſes. And then as Joab asked David, Why delighteſt thou in this thing? 2 Sam. 24. 3. canſt thou give a good reaſon for it? Me thinks this is a very ſtrong one againſt it. That in any thing, wherein God giveth thee leave to rejoyce and take comfort, thou not onelyonly mayeſt, but thou oughteſt p. 229before thy ſetting upon it to pray to him for a bleſſing upon it, and afterwards to return him thanks and praiſe for it: But canſt thou, dareſt thou do ſo in theſe thy ſinfull delights? although thou beeſt ſo ſenſual and profane as to make bold with them, yet I hope thou art not become ſo impudently bold, and deſperate, as to pray to God, or to praiſe him for them. Remember that the Kingdome of God is firſt in righteouſneſs, and Rom. 14. 17.Rom 14:17then in peace, and joy in the holy ghoſt. Gaudium in fine, as Bernard obſerveth upon that place, joy cometh at the end, but ſo as to begin at righteouſneſs, and therefore we are not praecipiti ſaltu (as he there ſpeaks) by leaping over righteouſneſs, or rather by deſpitefully trampling upon it, to Commence Doctors of this mad Muſick per ſaltum, to be ſure it is no joy or comfort of the holy Ghoſt, which maketh a mock or ſcorn of holineſs.

Thirdly, there is a wordlings 3joy. As we read of Amnons heart merry with wine, 2 Sam. 13. p. 2302 Sam. 25. 36.28. As they in Amos 6. 5. with their Muſick, and others with Zech. 11. 5.Zech 11:5their wealth, Hab. 1. 15. The honours, pleaſures, and profits of the world, are the things which worldly men take up, and make merry with, but as the Prophet ſaid in an other caſe, Is this your joyous Iſa. 25. 7.Isa 25:7city? ſo may I in this, But are theſe the cordials which your hearts are ſtrengthned and cheered with? is this the joy which (I do not ſay as you are Chriſtians, but) as rational men you can take up with?

1. They are not fit to comfort you, being ſo vain, groſs and ſenſual, which the worſt men moſt partake of, and the very brute Beaſts in many of them exceed you; ſuch froth and dreggs are too courſe to be the flower of that cup that ſhould make thy heart glad, as either thou art Chriſtian or Man, they as ſuch unfit to comfort thee.

2. And (it maybe) Thou, in ſuch a condition as thou art, not fit to receive comfort from them, for what ever they are, let me further p. 231ask thee, art thou the man that art in caſe ſo much to rejoyce in them? for then I hope thou art ſure that thy God is reconciled, thy ſins pardoned, thy peace made. If thy heart ſay No, then both it and God ask thee, But canſt thou then be ſo merry and jolly? Before thou makeſt thy ſelf drunk with theſe ſweets, there are other greater matters ſoberly and ſadly to be thought of; and to be taken care of. Auguſtus wondred that a man deep in debt could Macrob. Saturn. lib. 2. cap. 4.ſleep, and therefore would needs buy his bed. And Chryſoſtom when he conſidereth that we muſt all ſtand before the judgement Seat of Chriſt, asketh how we can laugh? And may not then ſuch wonder at themſelves, that when they are ſo deeply obnoxious to Gods wrath, and ſo certain to be brought at laſt to a ſtrict account ſhould be ſo merry. What! walk a while and frisk it by the light of theſe poor ſparks, and at laſt lye down in ſorrow? Iſa. 50. 11.Isa 50:11laugh, and ſing, and roar it here for a while, and roar in Hell to …ernity?

p. 232Which therefore on the contrary Our duty.ſhould teach us our duty. As the Apoſtle ſpeaketh of marrying, ſo may we of all our rejoycing, whatever our liberty otherwiſe be, yet it muſt be only in the Lord. God 1 Cor. 7. 39.1 Cor 7:39envyeth not our joy, but he would not have us grieve him with it, He ſometimes giveth us outward peace and proſperity, & with it free liberty and good leave to rejoyce in it; provided, that we write after our copy here in the Text, and that eſpecially in theſe 3 particulars.

1. That we begin at the right end, and uſe a right Method; that we begin with righteouſneſs, if we would end in joy, and let the Rom. 14. 17.Rom 14:17firſt ſtep in our walk (as it was here in the Text) be in Gods fear, before we take this ſecond, to joy and comfort, and to this end

2. That we be ſure, that our joy be not in things unlawfull, nor we inordinate and ſenſual in our over doing in thoſe that are lawfull, as here they had reſt, but it was not after they had drunk drunk with preſent injoyments, as before we obſerved out of Calvin.

p. 2333. Nay that we Sublimate, and Spiritualize all our joy and delight in outward and temporal injoyments: that in the midſt of them all not onelyonly (as it was with Solomon, Eccleſ. 2. 9. our wiſdome may remain with us) not as Hounds which loſe the ſent whileſt they hunt in ſweet fields, it were well if we did not the ſavour and reliſh of the things of Heaven whileſt we are immerſed buryed in the ſweets of this lower region, but that whileſt we injoy them we may be our own men, and injoy our ſelves, nay injoy God in them, and above them, nay yet more, and by them, that they may be improved as helps and advantages to our more ſpiritual and heavenly delights in Chriſt and the things of his kingdome, as by their having reſt and peace from the ſollicitations and oppoſitions of men, they thereupon walked in comfort, but it is carefully added, that it was the comfort of the holy Ghoſt. Oh let us not then be of the Serpentine brood that feedeth onelyonly on the p. 234Gen. 3. 14.Gen 3:14duſt of the earth, nor let us drink drunk with the dreggs of earthly pudly contentments, but let us draw the wine of our conſolation off from theſe feculent lees, and ſo have our pleaſure and delight more limpid, ſpiritful, even truly ſpiritual. Ariſtotle telleth us that the pleaſure of his contemplative happineſs is foreign ſincere, ſine cera, without the commixture of corporeal dreggs; how much more ſhould the Chriſtians be ſo, who aſpireth to an higher happineſs? and if our terreſtrial bodies be not nouriſhed, with the maſſy and droſſy pulp or bulk of what we eat, but with the more ſpirituous juice of it, how much rather ſhould the celeſtial ſouls of Chriſtians be with the ſpiritual comforts of the holy Spirit, even in the midſt of all outward enjoyments: which ſhould not be inſtar velorum, (as Calvin ſomewhere expreſſeth In Hoſ. 6. 13.Hos 6:13it) as vailes over our eyes that we cannot ſee God in them, and ſo forget him, as they there did, but rather as Frontlets to put us in p. 235mind of him, and our duty, which is in the midſt of temporal mercies, to maintain in them, yea and by this bleſſed Art of divine Chymiſtry to extract out of them ſpiritual joyes. Our practiſe indeed herein is too often quite contrary, for when filled with outward contentments we through a brutiſh ſenſuality make them contentments indeed, i. e. ſuch as we are fully content, and take up with, to the dulling at leaſt, if not the extinguiſhing of all ſpirituall joy, as fat men uſe to be frigid, and when we are full fed, we grow drowſy; the luſciouſneſs of theſe feculent ſweets taking away the taſt of more divine and ſweeter comforts, we are ſo drunk with the one, that we are neither ſenſible nor capable of the other; nay ſometimes we prove worſe, as ſome men when drunk grow fierce and outragious, ſo in this kind of drunkenneſs we do not onelyonly fall ſhort of theſe diviner comforts, but too often riſe up againſt God himſelf the giver of them, even Jeſurun, when grown p. 236fat, begins to kick, Deut. 32. 15. At leaſt the heaping of ſuch groſſer fewell, keepeth the fire from burning, as it was in Ridleys Martyrdome, and ſo too often in Fox Acts and Mon. Tom. 3. pag. 204.our hearts, thoſe ſparkling joyes which ſhould mount up to heaven, are ſmothered and choked; as the thornes of pleaſures and luſts of other things, are ſaid to Luk. 8. 14. Mark. 4. 19.Luke 8:14Mark 4:19choak the word, and ſo theſe ſtifle all our ſpiritual comforts. And what is this but in the clear warm Sunſhine to ſit dulling over our culinary fire? and to ſhut out Heavens light, that by ſuch candle-light we may work the works of darkneſs.

But ſuch of us, as are children of the day, what ever our outward condition be, let our delight be, to be in heavens light, in the ſhine of the Sun of righteouſneſs; and if others will have theirs to be in corn and wine, let ours with David be in Gods lifting up the light Pſal. 4. 6, 7Ps 4:6Ps 4:7of his countenance upon us, that not onelyonly his face may be towards us (for ſo a mans may be, and yet, if held down, may not be p. 237ſeen by us) but ſo lifted up, as to be beheld of us: that not onelyonly God may be reconciled to us, but that we may ſee and know ſo much, and let the ſame Davids prayer ever be ours, let thy mercifull kindneſs be for my comfort Pſal. 119. 76. not my eſtate, honour, friends, or any thing elſe, but thy mercifull kindneſs, Lord let that, let that be for my comfort, and then as He addeth in another Pſalm, Thou haſt made him exceeding glad with the light of thy countenance, Pſal. 21. 6. Glad we may be of outward refreſhments, even glad at heart in the ſweet comfort of friends, as Aaron was of Moſes, Exod. 4. 14. but exceeding glad, the light of Gods countenance ſhining out in the face of Jeſus Chriſt onelyonly ſhould make us, as in this bleſſed example in the Text, they were no doubt joyfully thankfull for their outward reſt and peace.

But the comfort of the holy Ghoſt was their moſt pleaſant walk, which it's therfore ſaid, they walked in: in whoſe ſteps p. 238we ſhould tread, and for our incouragement herein conſider that

1. On the one ſide this ſpiritual Motive.joy in God will be more then able to fill up what ever ſhall be wanting (as a great deal always will be) in our outward comforts: Have we never ſo much, if there be never ſo little wanting, that little want troubleth us more then all that great deal elſe which we enjoy can ſatisfie, or in that caſe can pacify us; at a little hole in the wall or window we feel a cooler winde come in then if the window had been all open; Haman is in ſuch a pett, for want of a cap and a knee, as without it all the glory of his riches and the multitude of his children, and that great deal more which he reckoneth up, Eſth. 5. 11, 12. availeth him nothing, v. 13. but he that hath this comfort of the holy Ghoſt, hath more then enough to anſwer and ſatisfy for all that otherwiſe he wants. I have all, I abound, I am full ſaith Paul, Phil. 4. 19.Phil 4:19he ſpeaketh at the rate of one p. 239that had now riſen from a full and rich feaſt or banquet, whereas this great all that he is ſo filled with, was but a preſent that thoſe Philippians had ſent him, and Calvin thinks it was no great matter, and yet as though he had received as much as all the world was worth, he crieth out I have all, I am full, viz. becauſe he was filled with all joy and peace Rom. 15. 13. Iohn 4. 32.Rom 15:13John 4:32in beleeving: Such with their Saviour, have meat to eat that others know not of: even hidden Manna; as that was laid up in Revel. 2. 17.Rev 2:17the ark, ſo this hid in a Chriſtians breaſt, and there it abides incorruptible vinum in pectore, able to make us a full meal of hungry Commons, and to make up what ever our diſh or cup wants of full, as the aire doth all the Caverns, yea and leaſt chinks in the earth, ſo that there is no vacuum: on the one ſide I ſay the comforts of the Spirit ſweetneth and ſupplyeth what ever is bitter or defective in outward comforts.

2. Whereas on the other hand, our ſitting down, and taking up p. 240(and ſo committing folly) with theſe outward mercies, takes out, yea imbittereth all the ſweet of them, as a child begotten of fornication or adultery may be a very ſweet and pleaſant one, and how much comfort and joy ſaith the parent ſhould I have in it, but that it is a baſtard, and that dampeth all, and how much refreſhment (may others ſay) might we have in this eſtate, pleaſure, preferment, but that our hearts have gone a whoring from God after them, as it's ſaid of Ephraim, Hoſ. 13. 1. though when he ſpake trembling he exalted himſelf in Iſrael, yet when he ſinned in Baal he dyed; or as it is ſaid of the King of Tyrus, Thou waſt perfect in thy ways from the day that thou waſt created, till iniquity was found in thee, Ezech. 29. 15. that blaſts and kills all. And therefore as it is ſaid of Abiſhag, that ſhe miniſtred to David, and 1 King. 1. 4.1 Kgs 1:4cheriſhed him, but He knew her not. So with Gods good leave (and much good do it you) let theſe outward comforts cheer p. 241and refreſh us, but let us not commit folly with them, that they do not befool us of better, i. e. of ſpirituall delights, but that in their greateſt entertainments, we may retain (nay have quickned by them) a ſpirituall appetite and ability to taſte more ſweetneſs in more bleſſed dainties, as here in their outward peace, amidſt the crowd of other comforts they had hearts not ſhrunk up and contracted but inlarged to walk in the comfort of the holy Ghoſt.

A help hereto, would be in Means.our Survey and valuation of Gods gifts to us, in temporall mercies to be ſenſible of ſpiritual, as Jacob in his children of the Grace of God which had given them, Gen. 33. 5. and accordingly the foreignPſalmiſt all along in Pſal. 136. ſpeaking of outward deliverances and proviſions, in redeeming from enemies, and giving of food &c. at the mention of every one of them endeth every verſe, with this thankfull Epiphonema for his mercy indureth for ever. p. 242Labour we with him to ſee ever induring mercies in tranſitory injoyments, that they come to us from a Fathers love, by the blood of his Son, in the way of a covenant, proceeding from electing love, and leading to everlaſting life, and that will add to them more worth and weight, not to abaſe and preſs down, and bury our ſouls under them, but ſo as to raiſe up our hearts to God by them, and to that more precious love of the Giver, which hath put ſo much worth into them. So (with theſe in the Text) in outward peace we may maintain yea and advance in our Hearts the fear of the Lord and the comfort of the holy Ghoſt.

But there is yet one word more, which we muſt think of, and that Ambulans. Vulgat. Vergentes. Beza.is foreign. They walked in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the holy Ghoſt, and that containeth and holdeth forth to us, Aſſiduity, conſtancy, and Progreſs. It was 1. their daily practiſe. 2. And this in their conſtant continued courſe, and p. 2433. Which they advanced in: and ſo ſhould we, joyn both holy fear, and heavenly joy together, and then labour to be aſſiduous, and conſtant, and increaſing in both, for elſe either ſuddain uncertain pangs of fear, or flaſhes of joy will be no evidence of ſuch as walk with God to heaven and happineſs, but if both be joyned, and dayly and conſtantly held on, and advanced in, it will be the due temper of a right travelour in the way, and a ſure pledge and firſt fruits of what we ſhall come to, and meet with at our journeys end; where our fear ſhall be only and yet moſt fully reverential, and our comfort and joy moſt ſpiritual, full, and eternal.