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a sweet reflection upon tlie soul. ' Remember, Lord, how I walked before thee, in truth, and with a perfect heart,' saith Hezekiah, 2 Kings xx. 3. He stood then most in need of comfort ; and this comforted him ; this his reflection upon his former sincerity. So when a man can appeal unto God, as Peter did, ' Lord, thou knowest I love thee,' John xxi, 17. So much sincerity, so much boldness with God. And therefore let us keep gi-ace in exercise, that we may be fruitful in our lives and conversations, and then we shall be always comfortable.
And to add a little, there is no grace in a Christian but, if it be exercised, there is a suitable comfort upon it even here in this world. There is a 23rccmium ante premium, a reward before a reward* Nay, the heathen men, Socrates and the best of them, so far as they exercised the natural goodness that was in them, their consciences reflected peace ; so far as they were good, and did good, they had peace, much more peace than bad men had. God gave even them some rewards upon discharge of their duties. He will not be beholden to any man that exerciseth any degree of goodness that is in him. Much more therefore shall a child of God enjoy it, when he exerciseth his graces in any temptation. When he overcomes any unclean, earthly, vainglorious, \indictive, or any other base lust, he shall find peace of conscience suitable. And the more he grows in strength and resolution for the time to come, the more he groweth in inward peace. Righteousness and peace go together ; not only the righteousness of Christ and our reconciliation before God, but also the righteousness of an holy Ufe and peace in our own consciences.
The righteousness of Christ entitles to heaven ; and the righteousness of an holy Hfe sheweth my title unto comfoi't. As faith in Christ's right- eousness brings peace, so sanctification also. Christ is fii'st ' Iving of righteousness,' and then 'King of peace,' Heb. vii. 1. And therefore where there is no righteousness, there is no peace. But, on the contrary, as heat foUoweth the fire, and as the beams have an emanation fi'om the sun, so doth comfort arise from grace, especially from grace exercised.
Therefore they that would have inward peace, let them labour to be gracious ; and that not only in the inward fi-ame of the heart, but in the exercise of gi'ace upon all occasions. ' For they that walk according to this rule,' that is, of the new creature, 'peace be to them, and the whole Israel of God,' Gal. vi. 16. An exact and careful hfe wiU bring constant peace.
Therefore let us labour first for interest in Chiist's righteousness, and then for the righteousness of an holy life ; for a conscience to justify us, that we have no purpose to Live in any sin ; and a not accusing conscience will be a justifying conscience. "What a blessed condition shall we be in, to be in Chiist, and to know that we are so ! 0 the heaven on earth of such a man as is in that condition ! For which way soever he looks, he finds matter of comfort. If he looks backward, to the government of th^ Spirit that hath ruled him in the former part of his life, he may say with St Paul, ' I have fought a good fight, I have run the race that God hath set before me,' 2 Tim. iv. 7. And what a sweet reflection is this ! He is not afi'aid to look back to his life past as other men. If he looks for- ward, he seeth a place prepared for him in, heaven, and there he sees him- self already in Christ. Henceforth ' there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the righteous Judge shall give me at that day,' ver. 8 ; and all that love his appearing, saith he, there. When there comes iU tidings of the chm*ch abroad and at home, it doth not much
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dismay him. His heart is fixed ; he believeth in God and in Christ, and that keeps him from being Hko a reed shaken with every wind. For re- proaches and disgraces that he meets withal in the world, he wears them as his crown, if thoy be for religion and goodness' sake. For his witness is in heaven, and in his own conscience. And God in heaven, and his conscience within, do acquit him ; and if he suffer for his deserts, yet in all afflictions God dealeth with him as a correcting Father. He knoweth he hath deserved them, but he looks on them as coming from a Father in covenant with him. And what can come from a father but what is sweet ? He sees it moderated and sweetened, and in the issue tending to make him more holy. The sting is taken out, and a blessing is upon it, to make him better. And therefore what can make a Christian uncomfortable, when ho hath the Spirit of Christ, and faith, the root of grace ?
These comforts being warmed with meditation, wUl stick close to the heart. Comforts that are digested are they that work. Let them there- fore not only enter into the brain and fleet* there, but let them sink into the heart, by often consideration of God's love in Christ, and the privileges of Christians here and in heaven, where our Head is, and where we shall be ere long. Warm the heart with these, and see if any petty thing can cast thee down !