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have had fire to come down from heaven upon the Samaritans, Christ reproved them, saying, "The Son of Man is not come to destroy men's lives, but to save them :" and St. Paul, "God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ." And, surely, there is cause to apply a cluster of consolation against a few grains of terror: 1. Because we are all concluded under sin, and the guilt is ever present unto us. 2. Because of the weakness of the graces that are in us; not that they are weak, but that human corruption is mixed with them. 3. Because of the strength and manifoldness of temptations. 4. Because we are to be exercised with the sufferance of the cross, and we are infirm to bear it. Lastly, because little is communicated to us, at the present, of that reward we look for; least of all, is any share of it present and before our eyes. Forasmuch then, as there are so many in-draughts that break into our heart, to make us sick of sorrow and fear, let us seek comfort from God, who hath left no disease without a remedy to cure it, "who healeth all thy diseases."3 I say, it is to be sought from God, lest we light upon them that tell false dreams, and comfort in vain. The right place for it must be the word of God, as it is: "that we, through patience, and comfort of the Scripture, might have hope." Which comfort scattered up and down in that holy book, and not cast all in a lump together, by searching it diligently, we may draw our consolation out of five things, Faith,-Hope,-the Indwelling of the Spirit,-Prayer,-and the Sacra

ments.

1 Luke ix. 56. 4 Zech. x. 2.

2 1 Thess. v. 9.
5 Romans xv. 4.

3 Psalm ciii. 3.

Christian Consolations.

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THAT FAITH IS THE GROUND AND FOUNDATION OF A CHRISTIAN'S COMFORT: SEVERAL DOUBTS AND SCRUPLES ABOUT BELIEVING, ANSWERED.

FAITH is the root of all blessings. Believe, and you shall be saved: believe, and you must needs be sanctified believe, and you cannot choose but be comforted believe that God is true in all his promises, and you are the seed of faithful Abraham, and shall inherit the promises made to Abraham: believe that you are Christ's, and Christ is yours; and then you are sure that none can perish, whom the Father hath given to him. "There is no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus."* And as Martha said, "Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died;" so let all that groan and pine away in sorrow, say, Lord, if thou hadst been here, if thou hadst appeared to my soul in thy goodness, I had not fainted in my trouble. Isaiah foretels, that it should be Christ's office "to give the oil of joy for mourning, and the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness." For St. John saw in the spirit, that they that followed Christ, are clothed "in white garments," + John xi. 21.

Rom. viii. 1.

Isaiah lxi. 3.

B

in garments of joy, in the livery of gladness. Solomon, describing the provident mistress of a family,* says, "She is not afraid of the snow for her household, for all her household are clothed with scarlet." So the household of Christ are not afraid of frost and snow, nor of any bitter blast; they have put on the garment of dependence on Christ, which protects them, and do resolve never to put off their privy coat of confidence in their Saviour. With this did Christ encourage the poor woman, being under confusion, who had secretly touched the hem of his garment; "Be of comfort, thy faith hath made thee whole."† The first time that the word comfort is found in Scripture, is upon the birth of Noah; his father says, "This son shall comfort us:" so when God did give Christ to be made man, he did, as it were, say unto us, 'This Son shall comfort you, for his name is Jesus, and he shall save his people from their sins.' He that gave us him, hath given us all things with him. As it is true to say, that Matthew left all to follow Christ, so is it as true, that he got all that can be wished by following him.

It is the chemistry of faith (let me use that word) to turn all things into good and precious ore. It is Abraham's country in a strange land: Jacob's wages, when Laban defrauded him: Moses's honour, when he refused to be the son-in-law of Pharaoh's daughter: Rahab's security, when all Jericho besides did perish: David's rescue, when there was but a step between him and death: the power of the apostles, to be able to cast out devils: Mary Magdalen's sweet ointment, to take away the ill savour of her sins. Plead, therefore, with the oratory of faith, and say, ' Lord, I have no life but in thee, I have no joy but in thee, no salvation but in thee: but I have all these in thee; and how can my soul refuse to be comforted?'

* Prov. xxxi. 21. + Matt. ix. 22. + Gen. v. 29.

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