But there is another sort of people, who being drawn out of Satan's kingdom and within the covenant of grace, whom Satan labours to unsettle and disquiet : being the ' god of the world,' 2 Cor. iv. 4, he is vexed to see men in the world, walk above the world. Since he cannot hinder their estate, he wiU trouble their peace, and damp their spfrits, and cut asimder the sinews of aU their endeavours. These should take themselves to task as David doth here, and labour to maintain their portion and the glory of a Christian profession. For whatsoever is in God or comes from God, is for their comfort. Himself is the God of comfort, Rom. xv. 5 ; his Spirit most known by that office, John xiv. 26. Our blessed Saviour was so careful that his disciples should not be too much dejected, that he forgat his own bitter passion to comfort them, whom yet he knew would aU for- sake him: 'Let not your hearts be troubled,' saith he, John xiv. 1, 27. And his own soul was troubled to death, that we should not be troubled : ' whatsoever is written is written for this end,' 2 Cor. ii. 9 ; every article of faith hath a special influence in comforting a believing soul. They are not only food, but cordials ; yea, he put himself to his oath, that we might not only have consolation, but stronrj consolation, Heb. vi. 18. The sacra- ments seal unto us all the comforts we have by the death of Christ. The exercise of religion, as prayer, hearing, reading, &c., is, that 'our joy may be full,' 2 John 12. The communion of saints is chiefly ordained to comi fort the feeble-minded and to strengthen the weak, 1 Thess. v. 14. God's government of his church tends to this. Why doth he sweeten our pil- grimage, and let us see so many comfortable days in the world, but that we should serve him with cheerful and good hearts ? As for crosses, he doth but cast us down, to raise us up, and empty us that he may fill us, and * 'It,' removed in C.
TO THE CHEISTIAN READER. 123
melt us that we may be * vessels of glory,' Rom. ix. 23, loving us as well in the furnace, as when we are out, and standing by us all the while. ' Wo are troubled, but not distressed ; perplexed, but not in despaii' ; persecuted but not forsaken,' 2 Cor. iv. 8. If we consider fi-om what fatherly love afflictions come, how they are not only moderated but sweetened and sancti- fied in the issue to us, how can it but minister matter of comfort in the greatest seeming discomforts ? How then can we let the reins of our afl'ec- tions loose to sorrow without being injurious to God and his providence ? as if we would teach him how to govern his church.
What unthankfulness is it to forget our consolation, and to look only upon matter of grievance ! to think so much upon two or three crosses, as to forget a hundred blessings ! to suck poison out of that from which we should suck honey ! What folly is it to straiten and darken our own spirits ! and indispose ourselves from doing or taking good ! A limb out of joint can do nothing without defonnity and pain ; dejection takes off the wheels of the soul.
Of all other, Satan hath most advantage of discontented persons, as most agreeable to his disposition, being the most discontented creature vmder heaven ; he hammers all his dark plots in then* brains. The discontent- ment of the Israelites in the -ndldemess provoked God to ' swear that they should never enter into his rest,' Ps. xcv. 11. There is 'another spii'it in my servant Caleb,' saith God, Num. xiv. 24. The spirit of God's people is an encom-aging spfrit. Wisdom teaches them, if they feel any grievances, to conceal them from others that are weaker, lest they be disheartened. God threatens it as a cm-se to give a trembling heart, and sorrow of mind, Deut. xxviii. 65 ; whereas on the contraiy, joy is as oil to the soul, it makes duties come off cheerfully and sweetly from ourselves, graciously to others, and acceptably to God. A prince cannot endm'e it in his subjects, nor a father in his children, to be lowering at their presence. Such usually have stolen waters, Prov. is 17, to delight themselves in.
How many are there, that upon the disgrace that follows reUgion, are frighted from it ? But what are discom-agements, to the encouragements religion brings with it ? which are such as the very angels themselves ad- mire at. Religion indeed brings crosses with it, but then it brings com- forts above those crosses. What a dishonom- is it to religion to conceive that God will not maintain and honour his followers ; as if his service were not the best service ! what a shame is it for an heir of heaven to be cast down for eveiy petty loss and cross ! to be afraid of a man whose breath is ia his nostrils, Isa. ii. 22, in not standing to a good cause, when we are sure God win stand by us, assisting and comforting us, whose presence is able to make the greatest tonnents sweet ! Tua presentia, Domine, Laurentio ipsam craticulam dulcetn fecit.