him; he will give grace and glory, and no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly." And here, from the character and qualification of the persons (them that fear him, and them that walk uprightly) it highly concerns us to observe, and to lay it to heart, that a sincere desire and serious endeavour to fear God and walk uprightly, is a necessary and indispensable condition to qualify and make us meet for the receiving of the best of divine favours and blessings. We must first walk in the fear of the Lord, if we would walk in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, as these two are set together.2 If we would have the Spirit to be our comforter, we must follow the Spirit as our guide and Counsellor. If we would find rest unto our souls, we must take Christ's yoke upon us, the yoke of his precepts, which are all holy, and just, and good. A state of inward comfort and true tranquillity of spirit can never be secured and preserved, but by a continual care to walk before God, in faithful obedience to his will in all things. For "there is no peace to the wicked," as is twice expressed by the noble prophet Isaiah ; but "great peace have they that love thy law," saith the royal Psalmist, the man after God's own heart, who herein spake his own experience; and elsewhere, "Mark 1 Psalm lxxxiv. 2 Acts ix. 31. 3 Matt. xi. him; he will give grace and glory, and no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly." And here, from the character and qualification of the persons (them that fear him, and them that walk uprightly) it highly concerns us to observe, and to lay it to heart, that a sincere desire and serious endeavour to fear God and walk uprightly, is a necessary and indispensable condition to qualify and make us meet for the receiving of the best of divine favours and blessings. We must first walk in the fear of the Lord, if we would walk in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, as these two are set together.2 If we would have the Spirit to be our comforter, we must follow the Spirit as our guide and Counsellor. If we would find rest unto our souls, we must take Christ's yoke upon us,3 the yoke of his precepts, which are all holy, and just, and good. A state of inward comfort and true tranquillity of spirit can never be secured and preserved, but by a continual care to walk before God, in faithful obedience to his will in all things. For "there is no peace to the wicked," as is twice expressed by the noble prophet Isaiah ; but "great peace have they that love thy law," saith the royal Psalmist, the man after God's own heart, who herein spake his own experience; and elsewhere, "Mark 1 Psalm lxxxiv. 4 Chap. xlviii. 22. 2 Acts ix. 31. 3 Matt. xi. the perfect man, and behold the upright, for the end of that man is peace. 991 While he lives, he lives in peace, his soul dwells at ease; he feels an unspeakable joy and pleasure within, upon the sense of his doing his duty, and being faithful in obedience to his Lord and Master in heaven. And when he dies, he departs in peace,' and shall "enter into peace," and "into the joy of his Lord." Here he "tastes how sweet the Lord is;" but there "he shall be abundantly satisfied with the plenty of God's house, and made to drink of the river of his pleasures."* "The meek shall eat and be satisfied, and their heart shall live for ever. And so full and complete shall be their joy and satisfaction, that "they shall neither hunger nor thirst any more; for the Lamb shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters; and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes." "This is the happy portion of those souls who have the Lord for their God, with whom "there is fulness of joy, and at whose right hand there are pleasures," most pure and permanent, "for evermore." 995 1 Psalm xxxvii. 37. 2 Isa. lvii. 5 Ibid xxii. 3 Matt. XXV. THE work of the ministry consists in two things, in threatenings or comforts. The first is useful for the greatest part of Christians, who are led by the spirit of bondage, and fear to do evil, because of wrath to come, which grows out of love to themselves. The second is fit for the best Christians, that are led by the spirit of love: who endeavour to do righteousness, because they love righteousness, and to be like unto God, who, they know, is only good (which grows out of the spirit of adoption), and obey as sons and daughters, and not as servants. 1 Our Saviour and his apostles insist sometimes upon the former way, threatening the impenitent, yet qualifying it with tidings of peace, if they return and amend their lives. For sharpness must be applied, according to the power which the Lord has given us, for edification, and not for destruction. The same apostle propounds both in the former epistle, "Shall I come unto you with a rod? or in love, and in the spirit of meekness?" Which latter is most suitable to the Gospel, to proclaim peace on earth, and good will towards men; and when James and John would 1 2 Cor. xiii. 10. 2 1 Cor. iv. 21. с |