5. And thus is the scripture fulfilled, _Blessed are they that mourn, for they shall be comforted_. For ’tis easy to believe, that though sorrow may precede this witness of God’s Spirit with our spirit, (indeed _must_, in some degree, while we groan under fear, and a sense of the wrath of God abiding on us) yet as soon as any man feeleth it in himself, his _sorrow is turned into joy_. Whatsoever his pain may have been before, yet as soon as that _hour is come, he remembereth the anguish no more, for joy_ that he is born of God. It may be, many of _you_ have now sorrow, because you are _aliens from the common-wealth of_ Israel; because you are conscious to yourselves that you have not this Spirit, that you are _without hope and without_ God _in the world_. But when the Comforter is come, [16]_then your heart shall rejoice; yea, your joy shall be full_, and _that joy no man taketh from you_. [17]_We joy in_ God, will ye say, _through our_ Lord Jesus Christ, _by whom we have now received the atonement: by whom we have access into this grace_, this state of grace, of favour, of reconciliation with God, _wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of_ God. Ye, saith St. _Peter_, whom [18]God _hath begotten again unto a lively hope, are kept by the power of_ God _unto salvation――wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: that the trial of your faith――may be found unto praise, and honour, and glory, at the appearing of_ Jesus Christ――_In whom, though now ye see him not, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory_. Unspeakable indeed! It is not for the tongue of man to describe this joy in the Holy Ghost. It is _hidden manna, which no man knoweth, save he that receiveth it_. But this we know, it not only remains, but overflows in the depth of affliction. _Are the consolations of_ God _small_ with his children, when all earthly comforts fail? Not so. But when sufferings most abound, the consolations of his Spirit do much more abound: insomuch that the sons of God _laugh at destruction when it cometh_; at want, pain, hell, and the grave; as knowing him who _hath the keys of death and hell_, and will shortly _cast them into the bottomless pit_: As hearing even now the _great voice out of heaven, saying_, [19]_Behold the tabernacle of_ God _is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and_ God _himself shall be with them, and be their_ God. _And_ God _shall wipe away all tears from their eyes, and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying: neither shall there be any more pain; for the former things are past away_.
III. 1. A third scriptural mark of those who are born of God, and the greatest of all, is love: even [20]_the love of_ God _shed abroad in their hearts, by the Holy Ghost which is given unto them_. [21]_Because they are sons_, God _hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into their hearts, crying Abba, Father_! by this Spirit, continually looking up to God, as their reconciled and loving Father, they cry to him for their daily bread, for all things needful whether for their souls or bodies. They continually pour out their hearts before him, knowing [22]_they have the petitions which they ask of him_. Their delight is in him. He is the joy of their heart; their _shield_, and their _exceeding great reward_. The desire of their soul is toward Him: it is their _meat and drink to do his will_: And they are [23]_satisfied as with marrow and fatness, while their mouth praiseth him with joyful lips_.
2. And, in this sense also, [24]_every one who loveth him that begat, loveth him that is begotten of him_. His spirit rejoiceth in God his Saviour. He _loveth the_ Lord Jesus Christ _in sincerity_: he is so _joined unto the_ Lord, as to be _one spirit_. His soul hangeth upon him, and chuseth him as altogether lovely, _the chiefest among ten thousand_. He knoweth, he feeleth what that means, [25]_My beloved is mine, and I am his_, [26]_Thou art fairer than the children of men; full of grace are thy lips, because_ God _hath anointed thee for ever_!