Use 1. It serves to inform us what little reason they have to complain «-)f the want of comfort that are not diligent in the exercise of grace. Usually we lie upon the bed of ease, and expect God should drop comfort into us out of the clouds : 2 Peter i. 5, compared with ver. 10 ; 'Giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue,' &c ; then ver. 10, ' Give all diligence to make your calling and election sure.' We must be much in the exercise of grace before ever the Lord gives us comfort. Whatever he may do for some out of the prerogative of free grace we cannot tell ; yet usually after much waiting and diligence, we receive this testimony from God. We find the Israelites in the_ wilderness were fed with manna from heaven, but the standing rule is — 'In the sweat of thy brow thou shalt eat thy bread,' Gen. iii. 19 ; ' And he that will not work, let him not eat,' 2 Thes. iii. 10. Comfort is the recompense of industry and the encouragement of faith and obedience. If we should gain assurance by neglecting the means, we should soon lose it again ; the Spirit would not speak so clearly as before. Comfort is a free dispensation, but always given in the use of means. The clock nms upon its own wheels ; however, there must be weights hung on, and we must draw them up at the appointed times. So God's dispensa- tions run upon their own wheels ; they are free, but they have their proper weights ; and unless we pull up the weights by faith and prayer, the clock of mercy will stand still ; certainly it will speak no comfort
VeR. 4,] SERMONS UPON HEBREWS XI. 19
nor sound peace to our souls. A fond expectation it is to look for comfort, and yet to live in sin, or else content ourselves with the low and faint operations of grace. Alas ! they that look for a full joy and yet walk in darkness, John will tell them plainly they lie, 1 John i. 6 ; and so men, distracted with the din and hurry of worldly cares and businesses, choke conscience, and so can never hear the voice of the Spirit. The children of God are to blame also ; their sanctification is low ; and scarce to be discerned, therefore no wonder their comfort is but low. Grace, if any way exercised, is seldom without a witness. Never expect comfort either in the neglect or decay of holiness ; there will always be a doubting of the truth and a jarring between your consciences and desires.
Use 2. To press you to three things — to be much in duties, to draw out your graces to a high degree, and to observe your experiences.
1. To be much in duty. There are sweet comforts to be dispensed, there is marrow and fatness, and all you can desire ; comforts that differ only from the joys of heaven in the degree and in the manner of fruition ; rivers of pleasure that flow from God's house ; therefore be frequent in holy duties. Solomon saith, Prov. xxvii. 18, ' He that keeps the fig-tree fshall eat the fruit thereof Certainly God is not a hard master ; if you keep close to Christ in duty, you shall taste of the fruit thereof ; but alas ! otherwise, if you neglect duties of religion, where will you have comfort ? He that is a stranger to God is and must necessarily be a stranger to the joys of the Spirit: Job xxii. 21, ' Acquaint now thyself with him, and be at peace.' Usually we have peace and satisfaction after long acquaintance and familiarity with God, but those that are seldom or cold and customary in duties can never expect any solid joy,
2. To draw out your graces to some raised and high degree — ' Then thou shalt call, and the Lord sliall answer ; thou shalt cry, and he shall say. Here am I,' Isa Iviii. 9, It will be sweet to hear Christ say, * Well done, good and faithful servant.' Look into the sphere of nature or sphere of grace, all excellent things are obtained with difficulty, and they will cost us much labour and sweat ; so will all ravishing sweet comforts cost us much pains in the duties of religion : Actsxxvi. 7, it is said, ' The twelve tribes served God instantly day and night.' In the original it is iv eKTeveiq, with the utmost of their strength, with their extended abilities. You should seek God, and raise your graces to a vigorous degree and height ; then the Lord will come in : Jer. xxix. 13, 'You shall seek me and find me, when you shall search for me with all your hearts,' Alas ! many vainly accuse mercy when they themselves are idle, and do not seek God with all their hearts,
3. To observe experiences. It is good to listen to the softer whispers and suggestions of the Holy Ghost. Still be looking for God's answer and God's return ; as the psalmist saith, Ps. Ixxxv. 8, ' I will hear what God the Lord will speak, for he will speak peace to his people.' Ah ! hearken and wait still, when God will drop out a word of peace and comfort, that you may be able to know the purposes of his grace. If the oracle be silent, beg the more: Ps. Ixxxvi. 17, 'Show me a token for good.' So go to God for some comfortable experiences of his grace, especially after great sins, deep distress, and strong desire :