5. Another comfort which the scripture propounds is the help we shall have in affliction to bear it, partly from the comforts of his Spirit, and partly from the supports of his grace.
[1.] By way of consolation : ' The love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost' at such a time, Eom. v. 3. Cordials are for those that are fainting. In time of trouble we have most sensible experience of God's love. God deals with his children many times as Joseph did with his brethren ; he calls them spies, and puts them in prison, but at length he could hold no longer, but tells them, ' I am your brother Joseph.' So God seems to deal roughly with his people, and take away their dearest comforts from them. Ay ! but before the trouble be over, he can hold no longer, but saith, I am your God, your father, and exceeding great reward. His bowels yearn towards us, and he opens his heart to us, and sheds abroad his love in our conscience,
[2.] Partly by the supports and influences of his grace : Ps. cxxxviii, 3, ' In the day when I cried, thou answeredst me and strengthenedst me with strength in my soul.' When David was in trouble, this was his
228 SEEMONS UPON PSALM CXIX. [SeR. XXV.
comfort, tbongli he could not get deliverance yet he got support. God is many times gone to appearance, hut he will never forsake us as to inward support and strength : Heb. xiii. 5, ' I will never leave thee nor forsake thee.'
6. From the fruit and final issue of all : 2 Cor. iv. 17, ' This light afHiction, which is but for k moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.' He that can find Christ in his afilictions, and can see heaven beyond it, needs not to be troubled. All the notions of heaven are diversified. Why ? That they may be suited to those divers trials and many evils we have in the world. Sometimes it is expressed by glori/ and honour, to counterbalance the disgrace which God's children meet with here ; that the reproach of men may not make us more sad than the eternal glory may make us comfortable. Sometimes it is expressed by subsfxince, because some- times God's children are poor, and . sufter loss of goods, Heb. x. 34. Sometimes it is called our redemption, our country, to comfort us in exile and banishment for the name of Clirist, Heb. xi. 14, 15. Some- times it is called life eierncd, because we may be called to suffer even to hlood. Thus the word offereth this comfort against all the evils that befall us, that we may counterbalance every particular trouble with what the promises hold forth concerning our blessed hopes.
Use 1. Well, then, let us exercise ourselves in the word of God, and let all his promises be as so many cordials to us. To this end get an interest in these promises, for the heirs of promise have ' strong consolation,' Heb. vi. 18. There is strong, great, real, and pure com- fort, but it is to the heirs of promise. So Eom. v. 4, ' Not only so, but we rejoice in tribulation.' AVho are those ? Those that are justified by faith in Christ, ver. 1. To others, afflictions are the punish- ments of sin, and an occasion of despair, not of rejoicing. Ay ! but when we are interested in reconciliation with God, then we take this comfort out of the word of God.
2. It informs us of the excellency of God's testimonies above all outward enjoyments. When we have them to the full, they cannot give us any solid true peace of conscience, nor cure one sad thought. Now beg of God that he will comfort you when all things else fail : ' When the labour of the olive shall fail, I will comfort myself in the Lord my God,' Hab. iii. 18. I say, when we are under any burden, nay, when we are under any sorrow for sin, when afflictions revive stings of conscience, or else the word hath awakened them, yet there is comfort to be had by running to the word of God.
3. It shows us what is the property of believers, to delight in the testimonies of God, when all things go cross to them. Temporaries, when things run smoothly, they have a comfort in the word. Oh ! but when the afflictions of the gospel fall upon them, they fall a mur- muring presently. But a true believer can hold up his head ; and though he hath much affliction, yet he can have much joy in the Holy Ghost, and a great deal of comfort from the word of God.
There follows another benefit, ' Thy testimonies are my counsellors,' or ' men of my counsel.' From thence observe —
Doct. 2. That one great benefit we have from the word of God is counsel, how to direct our afi'airs accordinof to his will.
VeK. 24.] SERMONS UPON PSALM CXIX. 229
For tlie clearing of this, let me lay down these propositions —
1. That our great interest is to keep in with God, or approve our- selves to him.