Chap.41. an Expofition-opon the Book of J o B. Verf. t i. 969 fpirits. All there evils God brought upon him,and force of them in the *heft degree ; and though he were then got out of them all, yet (as was laidbefore) beinggot but a little way out of them he needed comfort ; and therefore his new-come old friends and acquaintance, bemoaned and comforted him, as a man newly come out of great affliction. And we fhould be much in this duty of comforting"others upon thefe confidcrations. Firft, Comfort upholds the foul, when burdened or weakned, from finking. Secondly, Comfort quiets the foui, when tort up and down as with a tempea; comforts wifely and feafonably miniftred will make a great calm. Comfort is the repofe and tea of the foul. Thirdly, Comfort quickens and revives the foul when dying away with forrow; comforts are cordials c For which cattle we faint not (z Cor. 4. 16.) And what the caufe was which kept them from fainting, we may find both in the verfegoing before,in thofe words, ¢fill things are for ,your fakes (verf. t 5.) or in the verte following,Otsr light afflietion, &c. (ver.:7.) Comforts eìcherpre- vent and keep us from qualms and fwoonings, or bring us out of them again. Give wine to him that is of a heavy heart ; let him drink and forget bie farrow (hrov. 30. 6, 7.) Give him this wine of comfort, and it will renew his fpirit more than wine. Fourthly, Comfort confirms and eftablifheth thefoul, when we are ready to let go our hold. The Apoftle Pent Timftheuo, to effablifh and comfort the Theffalonians concerning their faith ( I .pill. 3. 2.) that is, to eftablifh them in the faith (both in the doarine andgrace of faith) by comforting them. jobs friends might fee caufe of comforting him upon many confiderations,poffibly upon molt of there : The Text faith only, They comfortedhim Over allthe evil which the Lord had brought upon bim. The plaifterwas as broad as thefoar,or they adminiftred asmany plaifters as there was foars;Tbeycomforred him overall the evil,&c. This dire&cs us to a great point of holy prudence in comforting the forrowful,even to comfort them in or about every thine,which bathbeenan occafion of their forrow. Whenwe are to flop the Hhhhhh holes
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