Greek Epithet is so expressive 6. Consolation never goes single without confortation a strengthning power of the Grace of God accompanies it this is a reparation of our Christian forces and a congruous fortification against all evill y There remained no strength in Daniel untill one touched him and said O man greatly beloved feare not be strong yea be strong and when he had spoken unto me I was strengthned saith Daniel Gods comforting of us is a strengthning comfort Beloved this is a strong durable Building of Comfort for no Earth-quake no heart quake can shake the foundation of it no Canon shot with all the powder and power of hell can batter down the walls of it no Tempest of affliction can beat down the Roofe of it no theeves though they be subtile evill spirits can rifle the roomes of it no cruell Land-lord to thrust us out of doores but a loving kinde Lord our God who doth all to keepe us within doores within comfort no false Neighbours can take our house over our heads no envying at one anothers dwellings here are severall Roomes of comfort for young and old rich and poore well and sick men and women husbands and wifes King and Subject widowes and orphans comfort enough for all beleevers of all Families Townes Cities Countries Nations and Languages under Heaven Now where can I better lodge my discourse then in this strong durable Building of most divine comfort and so I shall at this very instant if ye will but promise me to doe your best to comfort one another with these words or with any the like words of comfort out of Gods holy Word And we beseech thee O Lord to teach us this art and to make us all such spirituall Builders that we may not be cast down under the Burthen of temporall losses and crosses or of spirituall temptations but that every one upon all occasions may expostulate the matter seriously with his own soule Why art thou cast down ô my soule and why art thou disquieted within me hope thou in God for I shall yet praise him who is the health of my countenance and my God Whom have I in heaven but thee and there is none upon Earth that I desire besides thee and thy Comforts for in the multitude of my thoughts within me thy comforts delight my Soule Therefore ô my soule cast thy Burden upon the Lord and he shall sustaine thee Even so O God of all Comfort now and ever sustaine us with the Comforts of thy sacred Word and of thy Holy Spirit Amen An Electuary in forme of a Prayer called a Manus Christiani a comfortable Confection out of the former Treatise to repell the Infection of all kinde of Affliction O Lord my God and I beleeve there is no other Gods besides I beleeve therefore I call upon thee that as the first Commandement thou givest to me is to have no other gods but thee so my first care may be to settle all my thoughts and affections words and actions upon nothing in Heaven or in Earth besides thee b For whom have I in Heaven but thee and there is none upon Earth that I desire besides thee Thou art my Refuge my Rock of defence my sure stay my whole Hearts delight O Lord accept this Expression of my Faith whom have I in Heaven to relye on but thee in all my Necessities accept this expression of my devotion whom have I in Heaven but thee to call upon in all my troubles accept this expression of my affections whom have I in Heaven to love but thee the Giver of all things to be beloved whom have I in heaven to feare but thee the Disposer of all things to be feared Whom have I in Heaven to rejoyce in but thee the Infuser of all true Joy Whom have I in Heaven to desire but thee the Satisfier of all lawfull desires and there is none upon Earth that I desire besides thee yea I confesse there is nothing in the World that is worth the desiring but in thee and from thee In the multitude of my thoughts within me thy Comforts delight my soule In the great throng of all my perplexed thoughts thy Comforts delight my soule the Comforts of thy Providence over me as a faithfull Creator and Preserver thou didst create me of nothing hast preserved me from nothing even from my Mothers wombe and wilt still preserve me even to my last houre these thy Comforts delight my soule Nay more Comfort of thy speciall care as a gracious Father and Redeemer Care of Provision and Protection of all good from all evill of Mercy Grace and Favour from Sinne Satan Death the Grave and Hell These are thy Comforts O Lord And whensoever these thy Comforts doe not delight my soule give me grace to check and chide my soule sharply for it d Why art thou cast downe ô my soule why art thou disquieted within me thou hast no reason to be cast down or to be disquieted at all as long as thou hast a God to hope in hope thou in God I lay this charge upon thee O my soule and this my charge is grounded upon my confidence of better times to come when I shall yet praise him and this my confidence is strengthned by my experience of what God is unto me the health of my countenance Salvation to my inward man Joy to my heart 〈…〉 my outward man cheerefulnesse 〈…〉 And this my experience is well backed by my interest that I have in God my God in Christ Iesus my Saviout and if my God be with me what can be against me neither health nor sicknesse neither wealth nor want neither principalities nor powers nor death nor life 〈◊〉 nor depth nor things present nor things to come nothing can separate me from the Love of God my God in Christ Therefore will I now and ever cast my Burden upon thee O Lord with assurance that thou wilt sustaine me e the greatest Burden in the world Sinne My sinnes are gone over my head and are too heavy a Burden for me to beare therefore will I cast them upon thee my Lord and my Saviour yea the afflictions and punishments that lye at the doore of my sinnes they are able to presse me down to the lowest pit but in an humble awfull submission to thy will trusting that thou wilt lay no more upon me then I am able to beare I will beare according to my Ability and awaite thy goodnesse either to deliver me from or to sustaine me in all thy Will be done O Lord and give me Patience Amen Glory be to God on high On Earth Comfort FINIS Imprimatur Iohannes Hansley Feb. 4. Anno Dom. 1639. 1. By Reason 2. By Scripture b. 2 Sam 18. 18. b Gen. 35. 19 20. a Psal. 112. 6. b Satis est coram Deo Angelis totóque piorum theatro benedictam esse eorum Memoriam Cal. in locum c Worthy Dr 〈◊〉 Manual 1.
ARCHITECTONICE CONSOLATIONIS OR THE ART OF BVILDING COMFORT OCCASIONED BY THE DEATH OF THAT RELIGIOVS GENTLE-WOMAN IANE GILBERT TO BE STVDIED AND WITH ALL A PLATFORME OF COMFORT TO BE RAISED VP BY HER HVSBAND WILLIAM GILBERT DOCTOR IN DIVINITY Ierem. 8. 22. Question Is there no balme in Gilead Is there no Physitian there Rom. 15 4 Answer Whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning that we through Comfort of the Scriptures might have hope Reason Aegrotanti animo Medious est Oratio Consolatoria Comfortable words are a Physitian for one not well in minde even to cure One Sicke at the Heart 1 Thes. 4. 18. Illation Wherefore Comfort one another with these Words London Printed by Iohn Legatt for G. Lantham and are to be sold at the signe of the Bishops-head in Pauls-Church-yard 1640. TO THE RIGHT HONORABLE EDWARD LORD VISCOVNT CONAWAY AND â—ILVLTA BARON OF RADGLEY MARSHALL OF IRELAND AND ONE OF HIS Majesties Most Honourable Privie Councell of 〈◊〉 May it please your Honour TO admit this Act of Recordation that 't is full Fourteene yeares since the happy Aspect of your gracious Favour did reflect upon me for my good both by Sea and Land which left in me such an Impression of the Character of your Noble and Religious Disposition that to this very Day edgeth a fresh desire to take this advantagious though in another respect a sad Opportunity to testifie my dutifull respect to your Honour It may be this Art of Building Comfort is not so artificially and laboriously composed as you have heard and was pleased to countenance some Vniversitie-Pieces of mine there might be more oyle bestowed on them to varnish the Face of their style but this Treatise is allowed more Wine to comfort the Heart of the Reader This induced me to present to your gracious Acceptation this Earnest of that Debt of Thankfulnesse wherein both your Favours and Deserts tà m Arte quà m Marte have bound me to you a small Earnest is sufficient to binde the greatest Contract twiâ—t a bountifull hand and a thankfull Heart Let this be such of my Gratitude and not onely a Pledge of Mine but a Remembrance of Hers I meane my dead Wife whose Living Thankfulnesse to God for your Favours to me you had though not made knowne unto you And if your more then ordinary Employments will permit you to read over either Her deserved Commendation or Her Epitaph which is much too narrow for her worth both are in the adjoyning Pages then I hope your Lordship will have no cause to repent the Dedication of this Treatise In the meane time my Experimentall knowledge that in you the Nobilitie of Descent and Minde concurre the Eminencie of Parts in your selfe and Affabilitie of Disposition to others do mutually reflect each on the other which Harmonie may well challenge this my voluntary Oblation as a necessary Obligation that for ever tyes me to fixe my Devotions on Heaven and heartily to pray for your temporall spirituall and eternall Happinesse Your Honours to dispose of William Gilbert EPITAPH AND A DEFENCE OF IT THE Imputation of Superstition or Gentilisme in them that raise up Memorials of the Dead is easily wiped away 1. By Reason 1. 'T is an Honour to the Dead to have their Memories survive them 2. 'T is a comfort to the Living to treasure up the worthy Acts of the Dead 3. The Religious vertuous Practise of the Dead is an admirable Paterne for the Living to worke by 2. By Scripture where are Pillars set up as Civill Monuments and Remembrances of mens Fame Absalom reared up for himselfe a b. Pillar to keepe his Name in Remembrance But yet which is more apposite and adaequate to my purpose Rachel dyed And Iacob set a Pillar upon her grave b Iacob a President unparallel'd Therefore will I lay a Grave-stone on my wife and set this Commemorative Epitaph upon it The Remaines of Iane Gilbert Favour is deceitfull and Beauty is vaine but a woman that Feareth the Lord She shall be praised Prov. 31. 30. The Ring of her Life set with the Diamond of Feare Th' Poesie of Faith to Trust in my God All my Care Her Hope tryed like Gold And the Circle of Her Love From God to man from man to God againe did move 1639. Septemb. 4. And She dyed TO THE DISCONSOLATE AND SORROWFVLL FRIENDS OF IANE GILBERT DECEASED WILLIAM GILBERT WISHETH TRVE COMFORT OVT OF GODS WORD IN this Case that of the Psalmist is the Pinacle of Comfort to be placed on the top of this Building a The Righteous shall be had in everlasting Remembrance The Righteous Such a One was this our Sister and my Wife One clothed with the Roabe of Righteousnesse which was woven out of Christs side adorned and embroidered with sanctifying graces in her life and conversation Is it not a Christian Duty that such a One should be had in Remembrance so farre as we can propagate her worth to Posteritie She did not seeke Fame by well doing to be remembred but Fame comes unsought for and Her well doing shall be remembred after Her death for 't is worth our observation that David sets it not down in the present time are but in the future shall be had in remembrance What though the Righteous in their life time are little thought of except to be ill spoken of yet Time the Mother of Truth shall bring all things to light and cause the Righteous to be had in everlasting Remembrance before God and his Angels and the whole Theater of Righteous just Men b The Fame of the Righteous buds forth when He is in the grave then we may best speak of the Mariner when He is at his Haven and praise the Captaine when He hath got the Triumph and set the Crowne of Praise upon this our Sister now She hath fought her long fight and finished her course with Ioy who every day for many moneths before Her Death did pray that Prayer which is the last in the Handmaide to Devotion c and thus begins Welcome blessed houre the Period of my Pilgrimage the End of my Cares the Close of my Sighes the Bound of my travailes the Goale of my race the Heaven of my Hopes Is She not worthy to be had in remembrance who did give the houre of Death so good Entertainment as so long before to bid it heartily welcome with so many sweet Names as End Period Close Bound Goale Heaven What shall I say next for your Comfort But this the the better She was the greater her Gaine for ever and my losse for the present Yet her Gaine waighes downe my losse I confesse the losse of her enters deepe into my heart and deeper it would goe but that her Gaine cannot enter into the Heart of man to conceive it her Gaine to the tongue of man unspeakable but my losse is unvaluable onely according to the Common waights of the World because She was of
his tombe Haec habeo quae edi this I have that I have eaten it seemes all the rest was lost to the brutish swine as Tully censured him a little more sparingly that it was an Epitaph fit for an Oxe or a bruit Beast my Belly is my God my Stomach is my Altar my Church is my Kitchin my Priest is my Cooke this the voyce of these brutish men who finde the Possession of no Comfort from any thing but from that which was driven into the Paunch and so into the draught But Christians that study the right Art of true Comfort have another language our spirituall Comfort is left us when our life is about to leave us Spirituall Comfort is raised from the Creator by the Mediation of the Creature or from the Creature by the working of the Creator in the Apprehension of the Regenerate Man Thus the Holy Ghost is the first Mover of spirituall Comfort as the Promises of Gods Word are the grounds of this Comfort and our Beleeving hearts are the seats of Comfort so the Holy Ghost is the Head-worker of Comfort and the Act of Comfort wrought is to strengthen our Hearts therefore k {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} to be established and strengthned and {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} to be comforted are put one for the other St Paul being the Interpreter but long before him the Prophet l intimates the like for in the Hebrew and Greeke Sept speake comfortably to Ierusalem is {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} Hebrew and {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} Greek both imply in this phrase speake to the heart or speake comfortably that Comfort is the Hearts Peculiar and the Searcher of the Heart the Holy Ghost is therefore called the Comforter m by an Excellency {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} where the Spirit of God is made knowne to us by a name in the New Testament not heard of in the old the Comforter within a man the naturall man may have outward Comforts a Land flowing with Milke and Honey and a Table with a fruitfull Vine and Olive Branches about but the Regenerate Man hath a soule flowing with Milke and Honey of Comfort because the Comforter makes him fruitfull as the Greeke Father n gives the Etymon of it {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} called the Comforter from comforting and succouring and helping our Infirmities hence issues the act of spirituall comfort in my Text differenced from carnall Comfort 2. Spirituall Comfort in this life is to be differenced from Eternall Joy in the life to come The Herald of Schoole-Divinity ranks Comfort under the head of Joy indeed all Comfort is a Joy to the Heart but all Joy is not Comfort for there is Joy in Heaven but no Comfort there for properly need of Comfort forespeakes miserie and distresse according to that of the Golden-mouthed Father {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} there is often mention made of the Comforter in Scripture because of the calamities and afflictions imminent to the Disciples but the blessed Estate of Heaven cannot admit any such Misery and Distresse we shall joy in one another in Heaven but not Comfort one another there no such Comfort in Heaven all joy all Rest I finde a Reason of it in Aquinas o Gaudium sie habet ad Desiderium ut quies ad motum The soule is restlesse in her Desire but quieted in her Joy now Comfort on Earth brings some Rest for the soule but Joy in Heaven is the only absolute Rest Comfort is Rest to the weary for a time and a way to enable them for further travaile but Joy is Rest for Eternitie even to sit down and rest for ever that is Joy in Heaven to stand and take a draught by the way not to sit by it that is Comfort on Earth true Joy frees from all sorrowes wipes all teares from our Eyes but it may be true Comfort which only upholds us in our sorrow and dryes up our teares as they fall Yet fall they will and sorrow we shall else we need no Comfort for it must be a necessitous estate that stands in need of Comfort thus is Comfort differenced from Eternall Joy that needs nothing Yea and thus 't is in this life as Nature necessitates the spark to flye upward so sinne carries us downeward to the Center Misery This Center is every where below the Moone corrupt Nature is the Circumference no man without some lines drawne from or drawing him to Misery Nulla Dies sine linea Every Day in this life line upon line line upon line misery upon misery misery upon misery 't is well too when it is here a little and there a little But this may suffice to put a Difference 'twixt spirituall Comfort in this life and eternall Joy in the life to come and by this ye easily perceive my passage from the first generall Part to the Second which is the Necessity of this Building in a Christian Common-wealth else S. Paul would not have used so serious an Exhortation as this in my Text Wherefore Comfort one another with these words The Necessity of this Building in a Christian Common-wealth The Necessity is threefold 1. In respect of the command of the Contriver and Overseer of the Building God 2. In respect of the principall Instruments employed in this worke Gods Ministers 3. In respect of the common Worke-men which are Gods People under the Title of One another in the Text if this threefold cord is not strong enough I shall joyne unto it the fourth Necessity which is in respect of the Place where Comfort is ordained by God to be preached Gods Temple This fourefold Cord is that that tyed me to study and preach you to heare and learne this Necessary Art of Building Comfort 1. In respect of the command of the Contriver and Overseer of the Building God the God of all Consolation would have his Servants Embassadors Messengers of Comfort God doubles and trebles this charge upon them to presse the Necessity of the discharge of it Isai. 40. 1. 2. Comfort yee my people comfort yee my people saith my God nay the third time speake comfortably to Ierusalem 2. The Disposition of Ministers is but now and then seldome to be Boanerges filii tomitrui sonnes of thunder every Minister for the most part must be Barnabas filius Consolationis the Sonne of Comfort for though thunder is good to worke on a hard Heart yet as thunder commonly brings raine your sonnes of thunder should doe well alwayes to conclude with a comfortable shower to refresh the Heart though Ministers may not be too curious to speake to the Eare yet they cannot be too carefull to speak to the Heart of the People that is to speak comfortably to the people Spirituall Bees must draw Honey out of what flower soever they light to preach upon These Living
propriae Dies venerit incunctantèr libentèr ad Dominum ipso vocante veniamus Let us shew our selves to be the same in our life that we are in our Faith that we may not over-mourne for our dearest friends and when the appointed day of Gods sending to any one of us shall come Come let us goe without delay and willingly to the Lord who himselfe cals us Here after that Father before I fall into him againe I can quickly tell you all that Oecumenius doth on my Text 't is to interpret my Text by those foregoing words of St Paul that yee sorrow not even as others that have no hope i. As the Heathen that had no hope of the Resurrection {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} Oecumenius holds it proper for such onely to grieve excessively for the dead who have no hope of the Resurrection and how doth it traduce hopefull Christians as hopelesse men when we bewaile as utterly lost and extinct those whom we professe to live with God To this purpose that elegant tongu'd Father v Fidem quam sermone voce depromimus cordis pectoris testimonio non probemus Spei nostrae ac fidei praevaricatores sumus simulata ficta fucata videntur esse quae dicimus nil prodest verbis praeferre virtutem factis destruere veritatem The Profession of our hope of the Resurrection to life is but varnished over and dissembled because we destroy it more with our actions then we doe preferre it by our words else why doe we take on in such a grievous manner when God takes our Friends away from us I know that where hearts have been knit together by God they cannot be rent a sunder without exceeding great griefe as Iacobs could not from Rachel nor Davids heart from Ionathan I also know that our Lord and Master himselfe wept for Lazarus x I finde no fault with naturall affection much lesse with Christian compassion let Nature have her course but let Religion set her bounds let us water our plants of sincere affection and compassion but not drowne them by sorrowing as others doe that have no hope I finde no other fault but that St Paul findes in the proofe of the Doctrine of which my Text is the use when mourning exceeds Christian proportion and all true Measure Ioseph loved his Father better then the Egyptians did yet Ioseph wept but the tithe that the Egyptians did They mourned 70. dayes Gen. 50. 3. he but seven dayes vers. 10. All that I speak is to condemne those who are too little like Rachel in serving the living God but too much like Rachel in weeping for the dead She would not bee comforted but these hopelesse Mourners cannot truly urge the Reason that Rachel did because they are not for we know that they are living with God that dye in the Lord we know that the good theefe was on the day of his death with Christ the Lord in Paradise and as 't is a comfort to know where they are so 't is a further comfort to know what they doe they follow the Lambe wheresoever he goes and is it not a height of comfort to know what they say they cease not to cry day and night Holy Holy Holy they are still a singing Halleluiah and shall not we give over weeping on Earth for them who shall never give over singing in Heaven shall we refuse to be comforted because they are not on earth who are and enjoy all the comforts in Heaven Wherefore comfort one another with these words and with the words of that judicious Father y Contristamur in nostrorum mortibus necessitate amittendi sed cum Spe recipiendi inde angimur hinc consolamur inde infirmitas afficit hinc fides reficit The necessity of loosing our friends that cuts us but the hope of receiving them againe this heales us that is our griefe this is our comfort wherefore against the losse of our deerest friends comfort one another with these words As Apothecaries make singular use even of the dust of gold so the Jewish Rabbins those Apothecaries of the Hebrew simples make profession that great Mountaines hang upon the smallest Jods in the Bible Then surely a discourse like a Mountaine for largenesse but above a Mountaine for fruitfulnesse may be raised from this conjunctive particle in my Text {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} Itaque Wherefore and to make it so I passe from the particular relation of these words to S. Pauls former Doctrine I passe unto the generall Relation of these words to the whole Word of God Pars pro toto comfort one another with these words or with any the like words of Comfort out of Gods Word In the Greek {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} these Ratiocinations Arguments rather then bare words so it is that Scripture words are the strongest Reasons to evince and perswade Comfort the true Hearts ease growes only in Gods Paradise in Gods Word There may be some Tulip of Comfort some colour bark or flowre in the words and writings of men but the very pith and marrow of comfort effectuall for all the soules Maladies is no where to be found but in the Word of God in these words As it was said of the words spoken by the Word God Christ Jesus that Hee taught with Authoritie and not us the Scribes z the Scribes taught poore jejune heartlesse matter unprofitable uncomfortable and their forme of teaching was without Majesty without any command but our Saviours both Matter and Forme of teaching carried Authority with it the unusuall unheard of Majesty of the words accompanyed with matter most profitable and most comfortable did command his Auditors Now Christ hath still left the same Matter to us 't is true of all the Word of God that it comforts as having Authority and not as the Scribes not as humane writers who would usurpe upon this Authority which is the absolute Prerogative of Gods Word so that the maine point is this Only Gods Word hath full power and Authority to comfort mans heart 1. à Causa 2. à Subjecto 3. à Doctrinae certitudine 1. From the Efficient cause the Scriptures Authority of comforting is the same with Gods Spirit dictating both matter and words the saving worke of the Holy Ghost the Comforter that also goes along with the Word of God Gods Spirit and Gods Word goe together by way of Covenant Isaiah 59. 21. This is my Covenant with them saith the Lord My Spirit that is upon thee and my words which I have put in thy mouth where Gods Word is the Counsellor Gods Spirit is the Comforter 2. à Subjecto the Subject of Gods Word carries with it the greatest and most infallible Authority of Comforting because 't is the onely Store-house of true Comfort in it is that supreme Treasure the Mediator Christ Jesus that dyed to reconcile us to God Rom. 5. 10.
upon the face of the waters that is the swelling tumultuous restlesse thoughts and comfortlesse apprehensions The Hebrew is an apt Metaphor Rachaph Incubare from birds that sit brood on their Egges to sustaine and cherish them the Spirit of God doth not only forme and sustaine the thoughts of man from vanishing into nothing but also nourish and cherish and foster them to support a regenerate man in the comfortable estate of well being a Christian Not a thought of comfort can rise in the heart but first hatched by the Spirit of God we are quite voyde and empty not the least Motion of Comfort before the Spirit of God move upon our thoughts Beloved at the first coming of the Holy Ghost Acts 2. 2. a rushing mighty winde filled all the house the winde hath one property to cleanse and purge the Aire to make it comfortable and refreshing nor is there any true refreshing or comfort untill we are filled with the Spirit of God as the saile of a Ship is filled with winde For let a ship be never so well tackled and provided yet all is in vaine without a winde and let never so eloquent Sermons spread their sailes in the ship of the Church unlesse the good winde of Gods Spirit blowes where it list when it list how it list and upon whom it list I say Gods Spirit must be both winde to drive us and Pilot to direct us to the Port of Comfort Now if Caesar did encourage that Ship-Master who feared Ship-wrack with a Caesarem vehis feare not thou carriest Caesar the Worlds Conquerour yet by his leave as great as he was he was not the Seas Commander nor the obeyed rebuker of the Winds and Waves as he is whom we carry in our tossed breasts cheere thy thy self with a Paracletum vehis thou carriest the Comforter in thy heart the rebuker of heart-risings the Lord controller of Troubles the commander of stormy swelling afflictions the Conqueror of temptations Whose very conquest is a mighty comfort to the conquered Soule because his Conquest is atchieved by Love for as the Holy Ghost proceeds from the Father and the Sonne per modum Amoris as the Schoole speakes so the Spirit workes in us by way of Love sweetly St Bernard styles the Holy Ghost Osculum Patris filii the kisse of the Father and the Sonne God the Father kisseth by his Sonne but we feele not this kisse untill God the Sonne kisseth us by his Spirit Now what more comfortable to a chast wife then a sweet kisse from her Husband so prayes the Bride Cant. 1. 2. Let him kisse me with the kisses of his lips and she gives a reason why She would be kissed for thy love is better then Wine more comfortable then wine that is to close this let Christ unite himselfe to his Church with this sweet expression of his speciall favour even by his Spirit to seale up the lips of our hearts our thoughts to the most comfortable day of Redemption Thus have we seene the Spring-head whence flowes the Habituall Abilitie of all true Comfort The actuall Ability to make good use of this Art of comforting in the Platforme of Comfort set up according to the exact Rule of Gods Word implyed in these words in the Text Justly reprehended are they who take the wrong way of Comfort Play bookes and fabulous stories forsaking this Fountaine of living waters they dig pits that can hold no water no true refreshment of comfort The God of all consolation did cause his Word to be written for our Comfort shall we frustrate the End why it was written He that made mans heart best doth know what Maladies and what Cordialls to give let us follow his Prescripts away with all other shallow sandy comforts of the worlds Mountebanks which the weary soule cannot rest and build upon David a King could not want the comforts of this life yet he disclaimes them all in comparison of Gods Word g This is my Comfort in my affliction for thy Word has quickned me Gods Word did revive Davids dead spirits David did look out for comfort but found none but this h mine eyes faile for thy Word saying when wilt thou comfort me Debiles effecti sunt animae meae Oculi i The Eyes of my soule faile me my desires faile with looking out for Comfort which makes me cry when wilt thou comfort me David thought it long till God did comfort him It seemes David had forgot the right way to comfort himselfe till he went this way to worke k I remembred thy Iudgements of old O Lord and have comforted my selfe Now as St Paul exhorts Be ye followers of me as I am of Christ so be yee followers of me as I am of David for I know words especially prevaile when they are uttered more from the bowels then the braine and from our owne Experience which made Christ himselfe a more compassionate High Priest Therefore out of compassion I shall now comfort others with the same pretious Comforts wherewith I have comforted my selfe out of Davids Psalmes l He that hath the key of David opening and no man shutteth assist me effectually to open unto you a few words of Comfort out of the Psalmes of David The truth is that in the extremity of her sicknesse and since her death who was flesh of my flesh and bone of my bone that which I then most desired was to repose my troubled thoughts and to compose the jarring strings of my heart to rest which at last I pegged up to some concord and harmony by listning to the sweet Songs of Sion set to Davids well tuned Harpe and heavenly tuned Heart For my Meditations did bring together foure Verses out of foure severall Psalmes which being put well together by the Spirit of God in the heart of man are sufficient Materialls to raise up a Platforme of the strong and stately Building of true Christian Comfort The foure Verses may challenge this Methode the first verse is the Removing of the Rubbish The second Verse is the laying of the Foundation The third Verse is the Raising up of the Body of the Building The fourth Verse is the laying on of the Roofe 1. The Removing of the Rubbish to fit the place for the Foundation that is done by taking away and cleering the Soule of all dejections and disquietments in this life Psalme 42. last verse Why art thou cast downe oh my soule and why art thou disquieted within me Hope thou in God for I shall yet praise him who is the health of my countenance and my God King David finding his soule over sensible of troubles checks and chides his soule sharply for it with why and why and this chiding goes so farre as to lay a strict charge upon his soule to the contrary Hope thou in God for why should that soule be cast downe and disquieted that can Answer that Question now Lord what is
the hearer to tingle he did then subject himself unto God with that excellent in comparable Speech of Submission It is the Lord let him doe what seemeth him good 1. Sam. 3. Though the matter concerned him and his so nigh yet the good man thought that he had nothing more to doe then to set to the seale of his approbation of Gods Will which was a willing Submission to it It is the Lord it becommeth not man to reason with him why he doth thus and thus there is no good to be got by such contention all the Comfort lyes in this out of the abundance of the heart the mouth must speak after this admirable manner It is the Lord let him doe what seemeth him good Nay a greater then Eli the first High Priest that ever was Aaron who was appointed by God to be a mouth to Moses he could speak so well yet when God burnt his sonnes for offering strange fire he had not a word to say but as the Text saith Aaron held his Peace by holding his peace in this case Aaron did glorifie God more then if he had spoken with the tongues of men and Angels Aaron silencing his sorrow by subjecting his will to Gods Will did shew forth his inward Comfort Once more for 't is a greater then Aaron our High Priest according to the order of Melchisedech was never without Comfort because never without Submission to his heavenly Father when he was alone and none to comfort him indeed he prayed bearing our infirmities Let this cup passe from me but with a pull back of restraint Not my Will but thy Will be done Ipse erat voluntas Potestas Patris tamen ad Demonstrationem sufferentiae debitae voluntati se Patris tradidit Tertull last words on the third Petition Christ was both the Will and the Power of his Father yet to demonstrate to us that Submission is alwayes due to Gods Will He subjects himself in all things Not my Will but thy Will be done This is a strong supporter of true comfort to lay our hands upon our mouthes and not to open them except with Iobs thankfull Eccho Blessed be the Name of the Lord O happy Comfort and well upheld to blesse God in all things by freely submitting our wills to His Will let the Lord doe what he will and let us be sure to blesse His Name for it that is the first Butteresse of Comfort 2. Butteresse and a very strong one too is Right Reason rectified sanctified Reason What is discontentednesse and uncomfortablenesse but the confusion distemper and disorder of our affections and actions but when they are well ordered according to the commands of rectified Reason then riseth comfort and contentednesse of minde when our Passions and Actions are subject to the straight Rule of Reason then is the soule at comfort a man of Right Reason is a man rich in Comfort a happy Dives he may say Soule soule take thy rest for thou hast comfort much riches of comfort laid up for as long as thy Reason is rectified and is guided by the Word of God and the whole course of thy affections ordered by that rectified Reason When a man smothers himself under sorrow and discontent let him see what reason he hath for it out of Gods Word when a man rejoyceth and comforteth himself with anything let him see what good reason he can finde for it beleeve me this is a strong bridle and curbe to stop the course of all discontentednesse and uncomfortablenesse in our Christian journey and withall a very strong keen-metled Spur to put us forward in the free course of true Comfort even this is the ready way to try all things that we doe by sound Right Reason Now that the two former Butteresses may stand fast and the whole Building continue durable we must not faile to put up the third Butteresse that is to put up Prayer for strength of Comfort If any of you lack wisedome Iames 1. 5. let him aske God and he will give it him Thomas expounds that Text to this purpose now in hand Si quis vestrum indiget Sapientiâ id est sapida Scientia ad condiendam amaritudinem tribulationum vel ad degustandum patientiae fructum If any of you want the salt of wisdome to season affliction or to make the fruit of Patience savoury and comfortable let him pray to God for it who is very liberall of comfort to him that askes it the good theef on the Crosse did but aske Christ to remember him in his Kingdome and he gave him Paradise that very day To day thou shalt be with me in Paradise dum memoria poscitur regnum concedit saith the Father Prayer is a faithfull messenger and Ambassador to dispatch all our businesse with God aske and have comfort seek and finde it by prayer knock and a doore of comfort shall be opened Prayer is a strange kinde of key that opens if you doe but knock with it Matth. 7. 7. O then knock strongly that thou mayst have strength of comfort Why but Prayer is only of things possible because Prayer is an Act of Hope and Hope is still fixed upon a possibility of enjoying the object now if there must be hope of embracing what we pray for and a likely possibility of what we hope for what I pray encouragement doe they give us to put up our Prayers for strength of Comfort who make a question whether it be possible for a man in this life to have absolute firme strength of comfort against all evill True it is here is a question started by the Casuists let us persue it a little for it is about the strength of this Building Whether a true beleever may have firme and strong consolation against all evill The Affirmative is thus established that though there may sometime be a mixture of griefe or feare with comfort yet that comfort is a repression mitigation and lenition of that grief or feare and will in time get the victory 1. Because God the Father who workes victoriously is the God of all comfort f comforting us in all our tribulation and in any trouble Vers 4. of that Chapter 2. Because Christ is the Fountaine of all comfort to us so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ Vers 5. of that Chapter 3. The holy Spirit is the comforter to this end that the knowledge of the truth might make us Conquerors that our hearts might not be troubled nor afraid t 4. The whole Scripture was written for our comfort that we through comfort of the Scriptures might have hope strong comfort and strong hope v 5. Because of the immutability of Gods Counsell confirmed by an oath that by two immutable things in which it was impossible for God to lye we might have a strong consolation x {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} a mighty potent firme and solide Consolation The