How a Treasure of Comforts is to be laid up in the Heart.

A Fourth Treasure to be hoarded up in the breast of a Believer, is the sweet and satisfying comforts of the Spirit. 'Tis true, these are the Arbitrary and immediate effects of the sanctifying and sealing Spirit, yet ordinarily comfort is dropped from Heaven into the believing Soul in a way of Duty and holy endeavour, the nearer we approach to the Sun, and the more light and heat, now exercises of Religion are a soules approaching to the Sun of Righteousness, and for this cause 'tis good for us to draw near to God, that we may anchor and center our souls upon him, where only we shall have Rest: This present Reward wee may finde in keeping Gods Commandements, Grace and Peace, Holiness and Comforts go usually hand in hand, for her wayes are wayes of pleasantnesse, and her paths are peace, Prov 3:17. And great peace have they that love thy Law, Ps 119:165. Every gracious act hath some degree of comfort annexed to it, [Note 1] peace is in them, as well as on them, that walk according to Rule, and these good old wayes bring us to rest in God, [Note 2] and produce a blessed Sabbath of Rest in our spirits: if you keep Gods Commands, Christ wil send the Comforter to you, nay, himself will come unto you, and make his abode with you John 14:15, 16-23. Be much in the performance of holy Duties, and enjoyment of God in Ordinances, and therein you may behold his beautiful Face, and hear his pleasant Voice: here you may suck and be satisfied at these breasts of Consolation, through these blessed Pipes you may derive solid Joy, and enjoy ravishing sweetnesse: improve Scripture-truths, act spiritual Graces, lay up reviving Experiences, and the result of all will be refreshing Comforts.

But besides these, I counsel you to hoard up and make much of such thoughts as may be streams to feed and fill the well of solid, setled comforts in your hearts: Take only these four Directions:

1.Lay up all your comfort in God alone: God is the father of Mercies, [Note 3] and the God of all consolation; there's not a beam of Light or stream of Joy, but what proceeds from this Sun and spring of Grace and happinesse: the great God that made all things with a word, can speak and make peace in the confused heart, 'tis one of his Royal incommunicable Prerogatives, Isa 51:12. I, even I am he that comforteth you,—If God comfort, [Note 4] who can sadden? and if God afflict, who else can comfort? The Air lights not without the Sun, the fuel heats not without the Fire, neither can any Instrument chear up a drooping heart, where God suspends his influence; [Note 5] but Gods Children have been encouraged and comforted in God in the absence of other comforts, [Note 6] as David and Habakkuk: O Christians, learn this divine Art of fetching all your comforts from God, lay up your stock of comfort in the Rock of Ages, this will be as honey out of the Rock, as water from the fountain, that comes freely, sweetly, purely and abundantly: if you lay up all your comfort in the streams, what wil you do for comfort when the streames are cut off? if you hang your comfort on every hedge, it will be far to seek in a day of need: but if God be your portion, the Antidote is at hand, so that you need not fear poysoning or perplexing evils, for his very Rod and Staffe shall comfort you; Old Chytraeus had this only and all-sufficient Medicine and Remedy in his troubled affaires, to support his fainting heart, the Fathers heart, the faithful Word and powerful hand of Jehovah, and thus he sings, Unae est in trepidâ mihi re Medicina Jehovae, Cor Patrium, os verax, omnipotensque manus: Hence it was that holy David disclaims all the world, and saith, he hath none in Heaven, or earth besides God, Ps 73:25,#

26.and when all was gone he had stil a sufficient portion in the absence or opposition of all the world; hence it is that the Saints have been like mount Zion, and remained impregnable in the midst of waves, being setled upon the Rock of Ages: O Sirs, could you account God your exceeding Joy, how sweetly and chearfullie would you go to his Altar upon all occasions, Ps 43:4 And if you lay up your comfort in God, you may know where to finde it when you have lost it, and none can take your joy, because they cannot take your God away from you: That's the first:#

2.Lay the stress of your Comfort on free Grace in justification: here only is the spring of all your comfort, Rom 5:1. being justified by Faith we have peace with God—Yea, peace within, in our own consciences, for we glory in tribulations, ver. 3. Gratuitous justification is the ground of all Consolation: Christs righteousnesse imputed is the sweetest word in all the Scriptures, which is ten times repeated in Rom. 4. though Papists make a mock of it, let Protestants make much of it, it is the sweetest Flower in our Garden, the Jachin and Boaz of our Gospel-Temple, the Ladder whereupon soules ascend to Heaven, our only comfort is bound up in the Covenant of Free-grace, not in that of works: Stick to this, stickle for this, let all go, rather than let this go, it is the chief Article and principle of our Religion, [Note 7] upon which the Church stands, without which it fals, as Luther saith: O therefore let no mud defile this blessed stream, study free grace, ascribe all to free-grace, lay up thoughts of undeserved distinguishing grace. Remember what our blessed Redeemer hath done and endured, let the dolours of his soul be the solace of your hearts: fetch your onlie comfort from his bitter cross: consider, how fully Christ hast satisfied divine justice, how large and liberal the Gospel-proclamation is, how our dear Redeemer opens his armes and bosome to embrace repenting prodigals, how he bids all welcome, and never yet cast off any that came unto him: how he hath pardoned infamous sinners, and hath received gifts even for rebellious: roll these in thy minde, clap the promises warm to thy heart, let the hysop of faith sprinkle Christs blood upon thy conscience, for generals afford no comfort; particular application is the only means of consolation: an hungrie man takes little pleasure in gazing upon a feast, while he tastes not of it, David's Table spread with dainties in the midst of his Enemies, rather vexed than pleased those envious Spectators: 'tis a blessed thing to think of pardon of sin, justifying grace, adoption, reconciliation, but what comfort can we take therein, except we can say, [Note 8] he loved me, and gave himself for me: my Lord, and my God, my Redeemer liveth, a crown of life is laid up for me? O this, this is the life of our lives, the support of our souls! yet if you cannot alwaies say, that grace is yours, Christ is yours, and Heaven is yours, yet be much in the thoughts of free-grace, pore not upon your vileness and unworthiness, but ponder upon that which can answer all in one word, I will have mercy, because I will have mercy, and on whom I will have mercy: Lay up such Scriptures as these, Rom 3:24. Isa 53:4, 5,#

6.& 43,#

25.Heb 8:12. That by the comfort of these and such like Scriptures you may have hope: they may be worth Mines of Gold, and all the World, in a day of darkness to the doubting Christian.#

3.Store up your clearest evidences of sincerity: the spirit ordinarily conveyeth comfort by shining upon its own work; and by helping the soul to make practical syllogisms, as thus, whosoever doth sincerely cal on the name of the Lord shal be saved, [Note 9] but saith the soul, I do sincerely pray and performe other Christian duties, therefore I shal be saved; or thus, grace is with them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity, [Note 10] but saith the soul, I love the Lord Jesus in sincerity, therefore I have the grace or favour of God; the major proposition is a Scripture-assertion, the minor, or assumption is from a souls inward experience of sincerity, and the spirit of God witnessing with an upright heart and conscience, helps the soul to this demonstrative inference and conclusion, that he is a Childe of God, in Gods favour, and shal be saved: and thence ariseth satisfaction and consolation: the poor soul by a reflex act doth view the seeds and sproutings of a sincere faith and love, and saith, though these have not purchased my husbands love, yet are they sweet effects thereof; these divine Ornaments of saving graces do satisfyingly evidence that my soul is betrothed to Jesus Christ: if your souls be all glorious within in sanctification, 'tis a good sign your cloathing is of wrought gold in justification. make sure and clear your effectual vocation, [Note 11] and then you clear up your eternal election: the sanctifying spirit witnesseth with the sanctifyed soul that it is a childe of God: [Note 12] and thus some understand those three that bear witness in Earth, the spirit, water and blood, [Note 13] to be the cleansing acts of the spirit, evidencing the souls interest in our Saviours efficacious merits: but this I desire of you, to clear up the truth of grace, fall upon the old trade of enquiring after marks of sincerity, yet do not think the bare hearing of them, or having such notes in your Books or memory, wil be sufficient meanes of comfort, but lay your hearts by them, in a close and convincing application, improve them by a self-posing examination, and then fetch inferences therefrom, in a rational way of argumentation, and lay up those deductions against a time of need, write it down that thou maist have it to shew under thy hand against the quarrels of an unbelieving heart: treasure up the meanes and instruments of your peace and settlement, the time when, and place where your souls were satisfied, the low and hopeless state your souls were in before the Lord did visit you from on high: O lay up carefully the various circumstances about your satisfying comforts, the seasonable incomes thereof, their powerful entrance, and self-discovering, soul-recovering evidence: lay up the gradual progress, or sudden illapses of comfort into your hearts, with the strong abiding impression they left upon your spirits: finally lay up the sweet result and strengthening effects of those your consolations, that so for the future, in the multitude of your disquieting thoughts within you, these comforts may again delight your souls: Ps 94:19.#

4.Lay up teares in Gods bottle, prayers in God's book, comforts in others breasts, and promises in your own; I put all under one head, for brevity sake.#

1.Lay up many teares in God's bottle, [Note 14] comfort is the portion of mourners, it is promised by God, purchased by Christ, applyed by the spirit of comfort, & only suitable to weeping mourning souls, [Note 15] it is the usual constant design of God to comfort those that are cast down, to heal the broken in heart, to revive drooping souls, and contrite hearts; Do you mourn for your sins, and God wil comfort you in your mourning, the sorrowes of the Saints are like the pangs of a travelling Woman, that tend to and end in comfort, John 16:21. Repentance is the ready road to contentment: [Note 16] the same word in Hebrew, that signifieth first to repent, doth also denote comforting or ceasing from sorrow, because true comfort belongs only to the penitent: the Jews fable, [Note 17] that with such as weep in the night, the stars and planets weep, and if they let the tears fal down their cheeks, God is ready with his bottle to receive them, which he pours (say they) upon the Enemies Edicts to blot the writings that the Jews shal receive no hurt thereby: But sure I am, God is much affected with his Childrens teares, and comes (as it were) with an Handkerchief to wipe away those tears, [Note 18] or rather (as the Scripture speaks) puts their tears into his bottle, and reserves them as a precious Liquor for their future comfort: shedding penitential tears is a spiritual seed-time, [Note 19] and they that sow in tears shal reap in joy; even sheaves of comfort are the harvest of this precious seed-plot: this briny water shal be turned into refreshing wine: according to the depth of your sorrow, wil be the height of your comfort: not a tear shal be lost that's of the right stamp: every gracious groan is set before the Lord as delectable incense, and every drop distilled from a broken heart, shal in time multiplie to a flood of joy: who was more dissolved into tears than holie David? and who had a heart more ful of joy, or a tongue so ful of the high praises of God, as that sweet Singer of Israel? O sirs, grieve much for sin, and you shal rejoice in, and for your grief: plentie of tears prepares for, and ushers in plentie of joy: But#

2.Lay up many prayers in Gods book, as wel as tears in his bottle, be much in approaching to the Throne of Grace: the sighs of your spirits wil be ecchoed with the sweet gusts of God's spirit: the spirit of grace wil be a spirit of peace; as prayer goeth up, comfort comes down; God makes Children joyful in the dutie of prayer, as wel as in the house of prayer: for this (saith the Psalmist) shal everie one that is godlie pray unto thee,—surelie then in the Floods of great Waters they shal not come nigh unto him, Ps 32:6. Prayer reacheth to Heaven, and fetcheth heaven into the heart: prayer seeketh, and the soul by faith in prayer seeth Gods face, [Note 20] which is a heart rejoicing sight: it scattereth fears, lighteneth the soul, and preventeth shame and sorrow: ask, saith Christ, and yee shal receive, that your joy may be ful, John 6:24. Therefore, Christians, pour out your heart to God, and he wil pour in comfort to you: And then, 3dly. Comfort others, as you are able, emptie your selves of experiences, by communicating them to afflicted souls, and they shal recur and retreat upon you with double advantage: there is much pleasure in opening our hearts to Christian friends: when you say, come and I wil shew you what he hath done for my soul, God wil do more for your souls: if you help others, God wil help you: you little know how it may comfort you to impart comforts to others: Mr. Knox rose off from his sick and death-bed, and would needs go to the Pulpit, that he might impart to others his sweet Meditations on Christs Resurrection, and the solacing consolation he felt in his soul: there's no envie in spiritual things, it's the propertie of a Childe of God to long, that others might taste of that which his soul feels comfort in: and indeed, God makes the breasts of some, to be the store-house of comfort for others, 2 Cor 1:6. Whether we be comforted, it is for your consolation, and salvation: not onlie by way of sympathy and affection, but by way of intercourse and communication: Besides, the more you comfort others, the more you have to pity and comfort you, the law of gratitude wil ingage them, and the treasure you have laid up in them wil dispose them to be helps to you in the day of your sadness.#

4.Lastly, store up Scripture-cordials, Covenant-promises in your souls: Ps 119:50. This is my comfort in affliction, thy word hath quickened me: this was David's portion, heritage, and his Song in the house of his Pilgrimage; especially improve and apply Gospel-promises, these are (fasciae Christi) the swadling-cloaths of Christ, these are like Aqua vitae to the fainting soul: the Scripture is ful of them, some have observed that the Covenant of grace is mentioned directly an hundred times, but by clear and necessary consequence a thousand times in the book of God: God hath laid in all these promises for our comfort, that we through patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope: [Note 21] to this very end is it, that God hath not only spoken but sworn, that we might have strong consolation, Heb 6:18. Promises are the breasts of consolation, [Note 22] at which you may suck and be satisfied: promises are sacred Anchors, to fasten the soul upon the Rock of Ages, white sales for the blessed spirit to waft over souls by, to the haven of rest; they are Gospel-pailes, bowles and breasts to suckle and feed the Lords Lambs, and rich Mines to make the Christian rich in grace, and rich in comfort: therefore let Christians alwaies have these divine Antidotes at hand, for the help and support of their fainting souls: onlie look to your right to, and improvement of the promises: Divines observe a two-fold right to promises:#

1.An hereditary right, [jus haereditarium] as we are co-heirs with Christ, so an interest in, and union to Jesus Christ, gives us this right.#

2.A right of aptitude, fitness, disposedness, [jus aptitudinale] and this is by having holy dispositions, Gospel-qualifications, and the required conditions of conditional promises; this is necessary as wel as the other, look you after both, and then you shal have the comfort of the promises, and a sure foundation of lively hope.#

Thus I have endeavoured to help you to hoard up these four precious and necessary treasures of truths, graces, experiences and comforts, let none of your souls be found destitute of these, or of a large share thereof particularly, for this last: O let not the consolations of God be smal in your eyes, [Note 23] set an high price upon them, store them up, they are not the least part of your treasures; these will fit you for Gods service, qualifie you for enduring afflictions, fortifie your spirits against temptations: you that at present are dandled upon the knee of Gods fatherly indulgence, satisfied with favour, and sit at the high Table eating and drinking in Gods presence, feasting your soules with the dainty-meates of Assurance. Consider how soon may the Lord turn the Tables, give you bare commons and water of gall to drink, and fill your soules with bitternesse, be sure, you shal not alwaies live by this kind of spiritual sense, a time of heavinesse may come, when you must cast anchor in the dark, and act a faith of adherence upon an unseen Redeemer; yea, [Note 24] trust in that God whom your soules do also fear as one that is ready to kill, you: and you'l finde it an hard thing, to hang about an angry, chiding, scourging Father; therefore lay up the comforts your soules do now partake of, give God the glorie of them, and recollect them in a time of darknesse, plead them before the Lord, and upon a due sense of those, though now you see him not, yet love him, and believe in him, and in due time you shal rejoyce with joy unspeakable and full of glory, 1 Pet 1:8.