And then all tears that arise from consideration of sin, and misery fol- lowing sin. Death is the accomplishment of all mortification. It is a com- fort we shall not always lead this conflicting life, but the war between the flesh and spirit will be taken up ; the sense will be removed. We shall be out of Satan's reach, and the world's reach one day, which is a great com- fort to consider. Whatsoever the cause is, the cause shall be removed ere long. If the cause be desertion, for that God leaveth us comfortless, we shall be for ever hereafter with the Lord. If the cause be separation from fi'iends, why we shall all meet together ere long, and be for ever in heaven. If the cause be our own sins, we shall cease hereafter to ofiend God, and Christ will be all in all. Now sin is almost all in all. Sin and corruption bear a great sway in us. If the matter of our grief be the sins of others, and the afilictions of others, there is no sin in heaven, ' no unclean thing shall enter there,' Eev. xxi. 27. The souls of perfect men are there, and all are of one mind. There is no opposition to goodness, there all shall go one way ; there, howsoever they cannot agree here, all shall have mutual solace and contentment in one another : they in us and we in them, and that for ever. You cannot name them, or imagine a cause of tears, but it shall be removed there. Nay, the more tears we have shed here, the more comfort we shall have. As our troubles are increased here, our consolation shall increase. That we suffer here, if for a good cause, will work our ' eter- nal and exceeding weight of glory,' 2 Cor. iv. 17. We say April showers bring forth May flowers. It is a common speech, from experience of com- mon life. It is true in religion. The more tears we shed in the April of our lives, the more sweet comfort we shall have hereafter, If no tears are to be shed here, no flowers are to be gathered there. And, therefore, be- sides deliverance fr'om trouble, here is comfort, God will take away all cause of grief, and all kinds of grief whatsoever.
And therefore thus think of it. ' The next thing to be considered is the order. First, we must shed tears, and then they must be wiped away. After a storm, a calm ; after sowing in tears, comes reaping in joy. What is the reason of that order ?
Reason 1. The reason is our own necessity. We are in such a frame and condition since the fall, that we cannot be put into a good frame of grace without much pain. The truths of God must cross us, and afflictions must join with them. For the sins contracted by pleasure, must be dissolved by pain. Repentance must cost us tears. We may thank ourselves if we have brought ourselves to a sinful course. For the necessity of this order, a diseased person must not be cured till he feel some smart of the wounds.
Reason 2. Again, consider it is /or our increase of comfort afterwards, that God will have us shed tears ; and then to have our tears wiped away, be- cause we be more sensible of joy and comfort after sorrow. We cannot be sensible of the joys of heaven, unless we feel the contrary here. And
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therefore of all men, heaven will be the most heaven to them that have had their portion of crosses and afflictions here. First, therefore, shed tears, and then they must be wiped away, because joy is most sensible. As it is with the wickedest of all men, they be most miserable that have been hap- piest, because theii* soul is enlarged by their happiness, to apprehend sor- row more quickly and sensibly. So they that have been most miserable here, shall have most joy hereafter.
Use 1. Now for use. Here is not only the mercies of God in Christ, but the tender mercy ; that whereas our life is full of teare, which we have brought upon ourselves, yet God stoops so low as to wipe our ej'es, like a father or mother. His mercy is a sweet and tender mercy. And, as the psalmist saith, when we are sick ' he maketh our beds in our sickness,' Ps. xli. 3. Christ will come and serve them that watch and serve him ; nay, he will attend them, and ' sup with them,' Rev. iii. 20. He is not only mercy and goodness, but there be in him bowels of mercy. He not only giveth matter of joy and comfort, but he will do like a tender-hearted mother, wiping away all tears fi'om our eyes. We cannot apprehend the bowels in God's love, the pity and mercy of God towards them that be his, and afflicted in the world, specially in a good cause. Though they be never so many, if they be penitent tears, he will wipe them all away.
And whereas we must shed tears here, that we may be comforted here- after, take heed that we do not in this life judge by sight, but by faith. ' If we live by sight, we are of all men most wretched,' 1 Cor. xv. 19. In the world the children of God are most miserable, and of the children of God, the best saints. Who hath more cause of tears than the best saints ? It is but seed-time here. While seed-time continues, there be tears. The husbandman, while it is seed-time, cannot do his office but with trouble. The minister cannot do his office, but he is forced to take to heart the sins of the times, to see his work go backward. Governors of families and such, they caiTy their seed weeping. Yea, the best men cannot do good some- times, but they do it with trouble in themselves, and with conflict of cor- ruptions. There is no good sown here, but it is sown in tears ; yet take no scandal at this, ' God will wipe away all tears.'