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well digested, mil ann the soul with confidence, that it shall bo able to put any case of trouble ; as in the 27th Psalm, 1-3, David puts cases, ' The Lord is my strength, the Lord is the light of my countenance, of whom shall I be afraid ? Though thousands shall rise against me, yet in this I will bo confident.' If our hearts bo established by the word of God, settled in the truth of such promises by the Spirit of God, we may set God and his truth against all troubles that can arise from Satan, and hell, and the instru- ments of Satan, or om- own hearts. And, therefore, it is a great wrong to God, and his truth, if we know not our portion of comfort, and use it as occasion serves. More particulars I omit, leaving them to youi- own indus- try ; the Scripture being full of them.
4. When we have these promises, let us labour to undcrstaml them tho- roughly ; to understand the grounds of our comfort in them, and to beUeve the truth of them, which are as trae as God, who is truth itself. And then to love them, and digest them in our aflections, and so make them our own, and then to walk in the strength and comfort of them.
5. Labour likewise to have them fresh in viemory. It is a great defect of Christians, [that] they forget their consolation, as it is in the Hebrews, xii. 5. Though we know many things, yet we have the benefit of our comfort from no more than we remember.
6. But, above all, if we will keep our hearts from trouble, let us labour to keep unsjwtted consciences. Innocency and diligence are marvellous pre- servers of comfort. And, therefore, if the conscience be spotted and un- clean, wash it in the blood of Christ, which is first purging, and then puri- fying. It fii'st purgeth the soul, being set awork to search our sins, and confess them ; which maketh us see our need of Christ, who died to satisfy divine justice. Then, God sprinkles our heart with his blood, which was shed for all penitent sinners ; by which, when the heart is purged, the con- science will be soon satisfied also, by Christ's blood. And Avhen it is pm'ged and pacified, then keep it clean ; for a foul soul is always a troubled soul ; and though it may be quiet, yet it is sure to break out afterwards.
7. And because there can be no more comfort than there is care of duty, therefore, together with innocency, let us be careful of all duties in all our several relations. Let us consider in what relations we stand, and what duties we owe, and be careful to satisfy them all. Neglect of duty is a debt, and debts are troublesome. When the soul reflects upon the omis- sion of a necessary duty ; I owe such a duty to such a person ; I should have done such a thing, in such a relation, but I have omitted it, it is a disquietment, and that upon good grounds ; and if you have been negli- gent, there must be an actual renewing of the covenant, and a setting upon the duty, with fresh endeavom's to make amends for former negligences ; or else the soul shall have no comfort, nor will God sufi'er it to admit of com- fort. And, therefore, ' work out your salvation with fear and trembling,' Philip, ii. 12. The reason that men do still tremble, and are troubled with^ this doubt and that fear, is, because their salvation is not wrought out ; something is left undone, and their consciences tell them so.
8. But above aU, that we may receive comfort, let us labour for a spirit of faith. Therefore here it is said, ' You believe in God, believe also in me.' Christ brings them to faith for comfort. And he sets down a double object of faith, — God, that is, the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost; and Christ, considered as Mediator ; and Christ brings them to himself, ' Believe also in me,' Johnxiv. 1, because he would fence them against the future scandal of his sufiering. As if he should say, You will hereafter, when you see me
846 FIEST SERMON.
BO handled, and upon the cross, doubt and call in question whether I am God and the Messiah of the world or no. But if you believe in God, * be- lieve in me.' For howsoever, in love to you and mankind, I took man's nature on me, and am abased, yet, in my gi'eatest abasement, remember this, that I am God. And surely there is nothing can stay the soul more, especially when it is deeply humbled, than to consider God in the second person incarnate, and abased and crucified, and made a curse and sin for us ; to see the gi'cat God of heaven and earth, whose excellencies we cannot comprehend, to take our nature, and in our nature to sufier for us those things which he did endm-e. This will establish the soul indeed. Can the soul think that this was done for any small or to little purpose ? Or can there be any gi-ief or sin that should hinder comfort, or persuasion of the possibility of pardon, when the gi-eat God became man on purpose to die for sin ? We may set this against all- discouragements whatsoever. And therefore, * beUeve in God, believe also in me.' Howsoever you see me abased, yet you may have comfort in my abasement, for it is for you. And therefore, saith Paul, ' I rejoice to know nothing but Jesus Christ, and him crucified,' 1 Cor. ii. 2, That which proud and atheistical heathens took scandal at, that he rejoiceth in, ' God forbid that I should glory in any- thing but in the cross of Christ,' Gal. vi. 14. Peace of conscience, joy in the Holy Ghost, reconciliation, and title to happiness, is all founded upon Christ cracified.