The Holy Spirit, so as to attain the sure hope of grace to bear them, and of glory to crown them.' All the types and prophesies, histories and examples, laws and doctrines, recorded in the Scriptures, were designed to increase the consolation of believers, under their various troubles. Accordingly, they all, in the hand of the adorable Spirit, serve, either directly or indirectly, to advance their comfort. For this end, were the Old and New Testaments written, that they might, like breasts of consolation, be sucked by the children of God". blessed word is, in all its parts, a magazine of comfort to the saints. Even those parts of it, which seem least adapted to afford them comfort, do, notwithstanding, promote their consolation and their delight. The strictest of its commands, prescribe to them delightful work. The severest of its threatenings, deter them from wandering out of such ways, as are ways of pleasantness and paths of peace. The law as a covenant, is subservient to the gospel, and both serve, to bring the believing soul to holy comfort. One commendation of the statutes of God, is, that "they rejoice the heart." The holy word of God is, in all its parts, inexpressibly sweet to the exercised Christian: it is "the joy and rejoicing of his heart." The most delicious honey, is not so grateful to the palate, as the holy Scriptures are, to the spiritual taste. How unspeakably important and useful, then, must spiritual consolation be; when it is the great design z Isa. lxvi. 11. a Ps. cxix. 140. Rom. vii. 12. d Jer. xv. 16. of every part of sacred Scripture, to advance it in the souls of believers! 5. So important is this comfort, that all the dispensations of Divine grace and providence, are continually concurring, to increase it in the saints. "We know," says an apostle, "that all things work together for good, to them who love God, to them who are called according to his purpose f " By the "good" which is here mentioned, is meant, the spiritual and eternal happiness, or welfare of the saints. But the spiritual and eternal happiness of the saints, consists in spiritual joy, as well as, in spiritual knowledge and true holiness. All things, then, all dispensations and occurrences of provi dence, however diversified, however afflictive; do, even now, under the special influence of the over ruling wisdom and grace of God, co-operate, in all their diversified connections and consequences, one with another, to promote the spiritual joy, the holy consolation, of them who sincerely love him. All hands, in heaven, and earth, and hell, are presently and continually at work; in order to increase, either directly or indirectly, the comfort of them who delight in the Lord: and, if all things, do continually work together for their consolation, nothing remains, to work against it. How important, then, f Rom. viii. 28. 8 The Jews tell us (Sanhedrim Fol. 108. 2.) that, one Nahum a Jew, was usually called Gamzu; because, of every event that happened to him, be used to say, 10 11 □ Gam zu letobah, This also is for good:' and they give instances of several afflictions, that befel him, which, after he had often used those words, proved, in the issue, to his advantage. How much more reason, has the true Christian, to say of every thing, however afflictive, which befals him, This how useful, to subserve the purposes of the Divine glory in their salvation, must the consolation of believers be, when all things in the universe, are continually employed in advancing it! when all persons, all dispensations, all events, are incessantly concurring to promote it! Prosperity and adversity, whether in things internal or external, work together, and under gracious and providential influence, form a curious checker-work, which afterwards will, in the light of glory, be contemplated with unceasing admiration. If the Lord brings his people to his holy mountain, it is that he may make them joyful in his house of prayer 1: if he brings them into the wilderness, it is with a view to speak comfortably to them : if their sufferings, at any time, abound, it is in order that, their consolation may also abound. The sufferings of others, are conducive to the increase of their consolation; and the comforts of others, are also for their consolation and salvation1. The Lord, by afflictions, empties, humbles, and melts them, that they may be vessels, fitted to receive a larger measure of grace and comfort". Their loss of other comforts, commonly issues in their being favoured mith more of spiritual comfort; and therefore it is profitable for them. The Lord Jesus woundeth, in order to heal them; he casteth down, when he designs to raise them up; and he brings death, as it were, upon their feelings, wishes, and prospects, when he is also is, for my good!" What honour, would it reflect on his great Redeemer; and what consolation, would it af ford to his own soul ! h Isa. lvi. 7. 2 Cor. i. 6. i Hos. ii. 14. k 2 Cor. i. 5. about to grant them, the desire of their souls. When he had told his disciples, that he was soon to depart from them, and so to remove from them the greatest earthly comfort that ever they enjoyed, which was his bodily presence; sorrow filled their hearts: but he assured them, that this loss would be expedient, or, as the original word also signifies, profitable for them; in as much, as it would make way for a still greater mercy, the coming of the Comforter, to abide with them for ever ". Bclievers then may assure themselves, that the all-compassionate Saviour will, at no time, and on no occount, take away any of their comforts from them, but with a view to give them better comforts. He will usually be sweetest to them, when their lot, in the world, is bitterest; for the sharper their trials are, the more will they serve, to prepare them for his sweetest consolations. If even thick clouds intercept, for a season, the cheering light of his countenance from them; those very clouds, will occasion this light to break forth again upon them, with the brighter splendor. Whether their troubles be external, or internal, they, in the hand of the Holy Spirit, serve to shew them, how much they need to trust constantly and solely in the Lord Jesus, for sanctifying and supporting grace; and the more they trust in Him, the more comfort, as well as holiness, do they receive from his fulness. 6. Spiritual comfort, is of much consequence to believers; for it serves, in a very high degree, to heighten, and sweeten, all their temporal comforts. It renders every outward blessing, a real, a sub John xvi. 6, 7. stantial comfort to them. Spiritual consolation, is that, which makes them capable of relishing, and enjoying, their external comforts o. Were a man to possess every thing under the sun, that is delightful and splendid; every thing, that could please his eye, or gratify his taste; if he did not enjoy the favour of God with it, he should still be poor and wretched. To think that, the almighty Jehovah is an infinite enemy to him; that, his temporal comforts may be followed by endless torments; and that, by all that he eateth and drinketh, he may be but fattening for the day of slaughter; this will be as wormwood and gall, mingled with all his delights. What can it avail him, though all the world smile upon him, if he be under the infinite, the tremendous, frowns of almighty God? They cannot, for a moment, skreen him from the impending storm, nor secure him from the consuming fire. Trouble of conscience, renders every comfort of life, insipid and unpleasing; while, on the contrary, peace of conscience, makes even the meanest morsel sweet P: It infuseth an additional sweetness into every other comfort. When a man is enabled cordially to trust that, the Lord Jesus loveth and saveth him, and that, he will perfect that which concerneth him; his joy and peace in believing, cannot fail, to impart a heavenly sweetness to all his earthly joys. By trusting in the blessed Redeemer, he tastes that he is good to him; and so he enjoys Him, in all his inferior enjoyments. He, who places all his confidence, and all his delight, in the Lord, will have a double relish for Eccles. ix. 7. P Prov. XV. 15, 16... |