[3.] His mercy is more to his people than to others. There is a general mercy and a special mercy. (1.) There is a general mercy
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by which God snstaineth and helpeth any creature that is in misery, especially man : so Christ calleth him merciful as he showeth himself ' kind to the unthankful and evil,' Luke vi. 36. Had it not been for this mercy the world had been long since reduced into its ancient chaos, and the frame of nature dissolved. (2.) There is a special mercy which he showeth to his people, pardoning their sins, sanctify- ing their hearts, accepting their persons. So ' of his mercy hath he saved us,' Titus iii. 4, 5 ; ' Quickened us ;' Eph. ii. 4, 5, ' God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ.' This showeth God hath more mercy for his people than for others. Now this is a great encouragement, he that took pity upon us in our lost estate, and did then pardon our sins freely, will he not take pity upon us now we are in a state of grace, and have our sins pardoned ? Surely he will show mercy unto us still in forbearing the punishment due unto us, or in mitigating his corrections, or sweetening them with his love. What matter is it who hateth us, when the Almighty pitieth us, and is so tender over us ?
Secondly, The satisfying effect, which is comfort. Here I shall show —
1. What is comfort.
2. That consolation is the gift and proper work of God, to be asked of him.
1. What is comfort. It is sometimes put for the object or thing comfortable. Sometimes for the disposition of the subject, or that sense and apprehension that we have of it.
[1.] The object or thing comfortable, and so comfort may note : — (1.) Deliverance and temporal blessings. These things are comfort- able to the senses, and in a moderate proportion and with submission they maybe asked of God. That comfort is put for deliverance many scriptures witness. Take these for a taste : Ps. Ixxi. 21, 'After deep and sore troubles thou shalt increase my greatness and comfort me on every side ; ' so Ps. Ixxxvi. 17, ' Show me a token for good, that they which hate me may see it and be ashamed ; because thou Lord hast holpen me and comforted me ; ' so Isa. xii. 1, ' In that day thou shalt say, 0 Lord, I will praise thee ; though thou wast angry with me, thine anger was turned away, and thou comfortedst me.' In all these places comfort is put for temporal deliverance, which is an effect of God's mercy, and may be an object of the saints' prayers. It is lawful to deprecate afflictions. There are but few of the best of God's children that can hold out under long troubles without murmuring or fainting. (2.) Another object of comfort is the pardon of sins, or a sense of God's special love in Christ, wrought on our hearts. This is matter of com- fort indeed. This is the principal effect of God's merciful kindness in this life, and the gi'eat consolation of the saints, as offering a remedy against our greatest evil, which is trouble that ariseth from guilt and sin. This obtained hlleth them with joy and peace, Ps. iv, 6, 7, ' Puts gladness into our hearts.' To feel God's love in the soul, Kom. v. 5, is the heaven upon earth which a believer enjo3'eth, which allay eth the bittei-ness of all his troubles. Heaven above is nothing but comfort, and the comforts of the Spirit are heaven below. God keepeth not all
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for the life to come. (3.) Another object of comfort is our happy estate in heaven, which puts an end to all our miseries : Eev. vii. 19, * God shall wipe away all tears from our eyes ; ' Eev. xxi. 4, ' There shall be no more death nor sorrow, nor crying nor any pain ; ' Luke xvi. 19, ' In thy lifetime thou receivedst thy good things, and Lazarus evil things ; but now he is comforted and thou art tormented.' We have not our full comfort till we come to heaven. In the world there still is day and night, summer and winter ; here is a mixture of mourning and joy, but there all comfort, Mat. v. 4. (4.) The highest and chiefest object of our comfort is the Lord himself : 1 Sam. xxx. 6, ' David comforted himself in the Lord his God.' Though all things else fail, this should satisfy us. Though we have little health, no friends, no outward supports to rejoice in, yet thou hast God, whose favour is life, and who is the fountain of happiness, and the centre of the soul's rest. The prophet, when reduced not only to some straits but great exi- gencies : Hab. iii. 18, * Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation.' The joy of sense is in the creature, the joy of faith is in God. Thus we may consider comfort objectively. All that I shall say further is this, that we should take heed what we make to be the object of our solid comfort, Luke x. 24. They are carnal men that wholly place their comfort in earthly things, in the pleasures, and honours, and profits of the world : Luke vi. 24. ' Woe to you that are rich, for ye have received your consolation.' They have all here, and can look for no more, and if disappointed here, they are utterly miser- able. There are consolations arising from good things exhibited, but more in good things promised. ' Everlasting consolations,' 2 Thes. ii. 16.