I know many Christians droop and are dejected under the rod, not- withstanding such sovereign cordials are prepared for them in the covenant ; but this is not for want of efficacy in the covenant, but for want of faith to clear their interest, and draw forth the virtue of it to their relief Some are ignorant of their privileges, and others diffident about their interest. It is vrith raanv of God's children, as it is with our children in their infancy, they know not their father, nor the inheritance they are born unto.
That which remains, is the improvement of this truth to our actual comfort and relief in the day of trouble. And this I shaU assist you in, as God shall assist me, by way of,
S. Examination, and 4. Consolation. USE 1. For iiiformation^ in three corollaries. Corollary 1. By what hath been discoursed from this text, it ap- pears, That God governs the spiritual part of the world by faiths and not by sense. He will have them live upon his covenant and promises^ and fetch their relief and comfort thcncCy under all their sorrows and distresses in this life.
God never intended temporal things for liis people^s portion^
APPLIED TO AFFLrCTED SAIXf S, 111
therefore from them they must not expect their reUef in times of trouble. He will have us read his love to us by things within us, not by things without us. He hath other ways of expres.sing his love to his people, than by the smiles of his providence upon them. How- would earthly things be overvalued and idolized, if besides their con- veniency to our bodies, they should be the marks and evidences of God's love to our souls ! A Christian is to value himself as the mer^ chant, or the husbandman doth. The merchant values himself by his bills and goods abroad, not by the ready cash that lies by him. And the husbandmen by his deeds and leases, and so many acres of corn he hath in the ground, and knows he hath a good estate, though sometimes he be not able to command twenty shillings. Christian, thy estate also lies in good promises, and new-covenant-securities, whether thou hast more or less of earthly comforts in thy hands.
Every creature feeds according to its nature ; the same plant af- fords food to several sorts of creatures: The bee feeds upon the flower, the sheep upon the branch, the bird upon the seed, and the swine upon the root. One cannot live upon what the other doth. So it is here : A Christian can feed upon the promises, and make a sweet meal upon the covenant, which the carnal mind cannot relish. " The '' life that I now live, I live by the faith of the Son of God ;'' saith the apostle, Gal. ii. 21.
This is that mysterious and excellent life of faith, and the test of true Christianity, to relieve ourselves by our hopes of things to come, against present evils ; to balance the sorrows and losses of this life, with the promises and expectations of the next. Thus did the re- nowned believers of the first age ; whenever they felt a pang or qualm upon their hearts, under their trials and sorrows from the world, they would presently run to their cordial, the promises, and, by faith, from thence would refresh and invigorate their souls with new life and power. " We faint not, whilst we look not at the things which are " seen, for they are temporal ; but at the things which are not seen, " for they are eternal,*' 2 Cor. iv. 16, 17, 18. And truly so must we also, when our hearts are faint within us in days of affliction, or our spirits will fail, and we shall go away in a faint fit of despon- dency.
Corol. 2. Lenrn hence the sovereign efficacy of the icord^ and •what a choke privilege it is to have these lively oracles of God in our hajids, in a day of distress and trouble.
It is no ordinary mercy to be born in a land of bibles and ministers; to have these choice supports and reliefs at hand, in all our fainting hours. " This is my comfort in my affliction, for thy word hath " quickened me," Psal. cxix. 50, It was no small mercy gained by the reformation, that it put the oracles of God into our hands. It affords us many cordials for the support of our souls. For this, among other great and excellent uses, the scriptures were written, " That *' we, through patience, and comfort of the scriptures, might have
112 THE BALM OF THE COVENANT
" hopc,'^ Rom. XV. 4. In other parts of the world, it is a sealed book ; bless God it is not so to you. All creature-comforts have a double defect, they are neither suitable nor durable ; but the word is so. Compare the arguments that have been urged from the cove- nant with such as these. It is in vain to trouble ourselves about what we cannot help : We are not alone in trouble, others have their losses and afflictions as well as we. Alas ! what dry and ineffectual com- forts are these ! they penetrate not the heart, as pardon of sin, peace with God, and sanctification of troubles to our salvation do.
And no less is the mercy of an able New-testament ministry, to open, apply, and inculcate the consolation of the scriptures, to be esteemed. It is no common favour to the afflicted soul, to have with or near him an " Interpreter, one among a thousand, to shew unto " him his uprightness,'' Job xxxiii. 23. O England, prize and im- prove these mercies, and provoke not thy God to bereave thee of them.
lean find no such settlement made of the gospel and ministry upon any place or people, but that God may remove both upon their abuse of them ; and if he do, sad will the case of such a people be, especi- ally when a day of distress and trouble shall be upon them. It is sad to be in a storm at sea, without a compass or pilot to direct and advise the distressed passengers. Much so is the case of the afflicted, when deprived of the word and ministry.
Let it therefore be your care to hide the word in your hearts, and get the teachings of the Spirit ; that whatever changes of providence be upon the world, you may have the light and comfort of the scrip- tures to direct and cheer your souls. Sanctification is the writing of God's law in your hearts ; and what is written there is secure and safe. The word within you is more secure, sweet, and effectual, than the word without you. Jerom saith of Nepotianus, that by long and assiduous meditation of the scriptures, his breast was at last become the library of Christ. O that the breast of every Christian were so too.
Corol. 3. How sad and deplorably miserable is their condition^ who have no title to, nor comfort from the covenant of God, when a day of affliction and great distress is upon them !