[4.] Keligion itself entendereth the heart ; a father's anger is no slight thing to a gracious soul. When we are afflicted, and God is angry, the trouble is the more grievous, and it is hard to steer right be- tween the two rocks of slighting and fainting. Well, then, pity poor ■creatures under their burden, and help them, but censure them not.
Thirdly, His remedy, God's word ; there is the paradise of delights, and the only requies to allay the bitter sense of all our troubles. Why ?
1. As to the main blessings, there is represented to us the- true fountain of all comfort, who is God, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort, 2 Cor. i. 13 ; who distributeth comfort when and where and to whom he pleaseth.
2. There is discovered to us the meritorious and procuring cause, who is Jesus Christ : ' Who hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace,' 2 Thes. ii. 16.
3. The Spirit, who is the applier of all comfort, therefore called the Comforter ; and he givetli us peace and joy in believing. Pom. xv. 3.
4. The true instrument, means, or condition whereby we receive comfort, and that is faith, John xiv. 1.
5. The true matter of comfort, and that is pardon and life.
[1.] Pardon and reconciliation with God, Rom. v. 10. ISTo solid cause of rejoicing till then, when reconciled to God ; then true peace, •and peace that passeth all understanding, which will guard both heart and mind, Phil. iv. 7 ; then all miseries are unstinged. Solid peace of conscience is your best support and comfort under afflictions, the intrinsic evil of afflictions is then taken away : Lam. iii. 39, ' Where- fore doth a living man complain, a man for the punishment of his sins ? ' While sin remaineth unpardoned, the thorn still remaineth in the sore.
[2.] The promise of eternal life, Piom. v. 2. There is the crown set against the cross, heavenly comforts against earthly afflictions ; the
424 SERMONS UPON TSALM CXIX. [SeR. XCVIL
nfflictions of God's children comparatively are light and short : 2 Cor. iv. 17, ' This light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for ns a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.' Nothing should be grievous to them that know a world to come, where all tears shall be wiped from our eyes, and we shall enjoy fulness of joy and pleasure for evermore.
6. It showeth us v;ho are the parties capable — the renewed or sanctified : Ps. xxxii. 11, ' Be glad in the Lord, and rejoice, ye righteous, and shout for joy, all ye that are upright in heart.' To all Christ's sincere, faithful, and obedient servants, these promises are matter of abundant joy.
As to particular comforts concerning afflictions, it is endless to in- stance in all, but take a few instances.
1. The word of God teaches us not only how to bear them, but how to improve them. As it teaches us how to bear them, it breedeth quietness and submission ; but as it teaches us how to improve them, it breedeth peace and joy. To bear : Micah. vii. 9, 'I will bear the indignation of the Lord, because I have sinned against him, until he plead my cause, and execute judgment for me : he will bring me forth to the light, and I shall behold his righteousness/ To improve them: Heb. xii. 11, righteousness brings peace along with it. The fruit is better than the deliverance, as we get spiritual advantage by them, as they promote repentance, purge out sin, bring us home to God. They rid us of the matter of our trouble, and bring us to the centre of our rest.
2. The word teaches to depend upon God for the moderating of them, and deliverance from them, 1 Cor. x. 13. Before he giveth a passage out of our pressures, he vouchsafeth present support to us, and will not permit his servants to be tempted beyond what they are able to bear.
3. His people have most experience of God under the cross ; they have a more peculiar allowance from God for sufferings than for ordi- nary services. Paul Avas strongest when weak, 2 Cor. xii. 9, 10. The greater pressures, the more sensible the divine assistance. And when ordinary means fail, and they are pressed above their own strength, the more visible the proof of God's help. When they are most apt to have jealousies of God's love, they have had the highest manifestations of it ; never more liberty than in the house of bondage ; most of God's smiles when all things seem to frown upon them. In short, have had more understanding, not only of God's word, but his love.
4. God's governing all things for the benefit of his people : Kom, viii. 28, ' And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God;' sure, then, afflictions. Now they submitting, and being exercised under sharp dispensations, may find it verified to them ; many things seem for our hurt intendedh^, many thought so by ourselves, but God knoweth how to bring good out of them. Cant, iv. 16.
Fourthly, David saith, ' My delights.' They that seek their solace and delight in the word shall find it there. It is an excellent frame of heart to be satisfied with the comforts which the word ofFereth ; every one cannot be thus affected. To raise this delight : —