Use. Therefore make this use of it, that in all our endeavours to procure peace to our consciences, and spiritual balm to the wounds of our souls, let us I/O to this hearenhj Physician : not depend overmuch upon the ministry, or reading, or any outward task ; but in the use of all things lift up our hearts to God, that he would comfort us by his Spirit, that he would send the Comforter into our souls.
Though the disciples had comfort upon comfort by Christ, yet till the Comforter came, whose office it was to do it, to seal his word to their souls, alas ! they were dead-hearted people ; but after the resurrection, when the Comforter came, and refreshed their memories, and convinced their understandings, then they could remember all the sweet comforts that our blessed Saviour had taught them before. So it is with us, — we hear many sweet comforts day after day out of God's book, comforts against sin, comforts against trouble, outward, and inward, and all ; but till the Com- forter come, till God send his Holy Spirit, we shall not make use of them. Therefore let us labour to have more communion with God before we come to hear the word ; and after we have heard it, let us have communion with God again, that he would seal whatsoever is spoken to our souls, and make it effectual to us.
Therefore we must learn to give the just due to the ordinance of God, and not to idolize it ; to make it the means of comfort, not to make it the chief Comforter, but the Spirit of God by it. What is Paul or ApoUos ? what are we but ministers of faith ? and by consequent, ministers and helpers of comfort, but not the authors of comfort.
Oh ! if I had such and such here, I should do well, I should be so and so.
516 COMMENTARY ON
Alas ! all is tu no puriiosc, unless thou hast the Holy Ghost, the Spirit of God, That can holp by Avuak means. Therefore we must not tic com- fort and joy to this or that means ; but in all means look to the gi'ound of comfort, and the spring of aU, the Holy Ghost.
The reason why men do not profit more, that they are not more cheered and lift up with the miuistn' of the word (which is a word ' of reconciliation,' and of joy and comfort), it is because they arc more careful in the use of means, than in going to God for his Spirit to bless the means. Now these must go together : a care of using the means, and a care to pray to him that he would give us wisdom, and strength, and blessed success in the use of all means. Then if we would join religiously and conscionably- these two together, the use of all means conscionably, and in the use of all to lift up our hearts to God to bless them, we should find a w«ondrous success upon the ministry, and all other good means likewise. So much for that. I go ou to the last clause of the chapter.
* For hy faith ye stand.'' Why doth the apostle vaiy the word, ' We have not dominion over your faith, but are helpers of your joy,' whereas the consequence, it seems, might run thus : ' We do not domineer over your faith, but are helpers of your faith ? ' He puts joy instead of faith ; and afterward he brings in faith again : ' for by faith ye stand.'
This is one main reason : because joy riseth from faith, therefore he names it instead of faith ; for the Holy Ghost is not curious of words, but when the same Spirit works both, he names that which he thinks will fittest suit the purpose.
Ohs. Faith breeds joy.
How is that ?
1. Because faith, first of all, doth shew to us the freedom from that that is the cause of all discomfort whatsoever, it takes away all that may discou- rage. For it takes away the fear of damnation for our sins ; it shews our reconciliation in Jesus Christ. Faith shews liberty and deliverance ; and so discovering deliverance by a Mediator, it works joy. Is not a prisoner joj'ful when he is set at liberty ?
2. Then likewise faith discovers to us the face of God shining to us in Jesus Christ : it shews not only deliverance, but favour. It shews us the gi'oimd of all, the righteousness and obedience of our Saviom*, whereby we are delivered, and brought into favour.
Now from this comes peace : from the knowledge of our delivei'ance and acceptance with God, founded upon the obedience of God-man, a Saviour, there comes in peace, and peace breeds joy ; because faith discovers all these, the ground of reconciliation with God in Jesus Christ, and there- upon peace, therefore it causeth joy.
For this is the pedigree and descent of joy, as the apostle hath it, * The kingdom of God is in righteousness, and peace, and joy,' Rom. xiv. 17. There must be righteousness first, of a Mediator, to satisfy the wrath of God, and procure his favour. From righteousness comes peace, peace with God, peace of conscience. From peace comes joy. There is no joy without peace, no peace without righteousness.