So that here is a comfort above comfort ; but yet ' knowing ' is prefixed. * Knowing that God will raise us up, because he hath raised up Jesus.' So that I may observe in the passage of it, that all comfort cometli into the soul by knouiedge. God not only raiseth us up, and presents us one with another, by the same power that he hath raised up Jesus by, but we must know that it must be so, if we will have comfort. Whatsoever cometh into the soul to strengthen it cometh through knowledge. As from the heavens come light, and through light all influences, and whatsoever is sweet from heaven, to make things flourish, comes with light, so all things that come to the soul to make it comfortable and cheerful, comes with the light of knowledge. Indeed, all graces are nothing but knowledge digested, know- ledge turned into affection and practice. What is anythuig but knowledge .-' any grace, but the performance of such a thing from such and such grounds ? As we see in fruit, all that is in the fruit cometh from the juice that is [in] the root. And so the vigour and strength of everything is know- ledge ; I mean knowled|fe and a spiiit of faith to believe what we know, to assent to it, and acknowledge it.
Light, you know, is very comfortable. Darkness is a state of fear. So ignorance is a state of doubting and fear. There is no good where ignorance is ; but light and knowledge is a state of boldness. We beheve, and speak, and are bold. Why ? ' We know.'
And therefore the people that be careless of growing in knowledge, they be enemies of comfort and of grace. ' Grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ,' 2 Pet. iii. 18. The most knowing Christian is the most constant, courageous, comfortable, fruitful Christian, because
400 COMMENTARY ON
together with divine light enlightening the soul, there gooth divine heat, enlarging the soul to every duty, and to all comforts whatsoever. So much for that.
We will speak a little of the comforts and places of the ground of the comfort. ' He will raise us up, and present us with you.' Troubles that be greater are called death, as in the first chapter of this epistle.* Tho Ijord that delivered me from so great a death, and why ? Specially for tliis end ; because, as they be partial deaths, so likewise they agree with death. In this we despair of life and recovery. So when a trouble is great, as when a man is dead, the trouble is desperate. It is a death, there is no hope of recovery again. Now, saith Paul, though my troubles be great, yet notwithstanding God will raise me up, even out of death, and present me with you.
Quest. How knew Paul that God would do this ?
Ans. It is like he knew it by a spirit of revelation, having nearer com- munion with God, as a more public person, than we have. But what is that to us ? Can we say God will raise us up, and present us one to another, as Paul did ? No, beloved, we cannot say so ; but this we can say, God will raise me up out of this trouble, or if I die in it, God will raise me out of the grave. This is the happy condition of a Christian. He is sure, if he be in trouble, either to be raised for the good of the church, if he hath any service for him to do ; else if I die, he will raise me up at the last day with all his people, to be for ever with him. If it be for the good of the church, and mine own good to live, I shall live still ; if not, I shall be sure to be raised at the latter day ; fall out what will fall out, all falleth out well for the children of God.
Now the holy apostle no question had reference to both. He had both in his view, raising out of trouble, and raising to eternal life ; because he could never speak of any inferior deliverances but his mind would run on the future, and that did terminate all comforts. All comforts end in the resurrection. Usually when Paul maketh mention of an inferior thing, he mounteth higher, he mounts to the highest of all ; he resteth not his thoughts till he hath thought of that, as in the end of this chapter he endeth in the resurrection, and endeth in comfort, speaking gloriously of it. So at this time no question but there was present all deliverances in this world, but especially eternal deliverance in the world to come. As 2 Tim. iv. 17, ' The Lord delivered me out of the mouth of the lion, and can and will deliver for the time to come, and present me to his heavenly kingdom,' that I am sure of.
So that it were a very heavenly course for Christians, if they think of anything that cometh from the love of God to them, to take hints from that, to take notice of the issue of all. All deliverances are terminated in their last deliverance out of the grave, and all blessings are terminated in the last blessing, life everlasting. And take every thing as a pawn, a pledge, a beginning of that, for the same love that giveth eternal comforts, giveth comforts in this world ; and the same God that delivers out of the grave, delivers us out of troubles ; and the same God that will bring us all to heaven, will bring friends together in this world, if it be for their good. And therefore if we will comfort ourselves solidly in any condition, extend our thoughts to the time to come. Was it David's comfort when he said, ' One thing have I desired of the Lord ' ? Ps. xxvii. 4, Was it his meaning to confine his thoughts on that only desire, and to dwell in the