Caryl - Houston-Packer Collection BS1415 .C37 v2

418 Chap. 6. An Expofition upon the BookofJ OB. Verf. a, none (promifed, Rev. 2. 17) bath a new name written in it, which no man knowes, Pavinghe that receiveth it ; A man that is a kan- ger to Chritt and his wayes, is not able to make any judgment what the comforts and refrethings of a Chriftian are. He admires to hear men fpeak of fpiritual comforts and confolations,he knows not the meaning of thofe things. Thenatural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God, becaufe they arefpiritually difcerned, r Cor. 2, 14. it is to (proportionably) in all forrowes and afflidions, efpecially in fpiritual forrows and afflz ions, which lie off from fence, yea, which lie quite beyond the reach and bor- ders of reafon : fpiritual forrowes, the hidings of Gods face, the withdrawing of alìidance, few pity in others, becaufe few have had experience of thefe things, in themfelves. They think.. men aremad when they complain of fuck aflidions ; when they cryout oftheir fins, of the want of the favour of God, and the firming min of his love, of deadnefs and coldnefs in duty, of unbelief and hardnefs of heart, &c. And therefore our Lord Jefus, to affure our hearts that he hath a full fence ofall our for roves, tailed himfelfofour forrows. There is not any forrow that can be up- on any foul', or any afflie.tion that canbe upon the body, but our Lord Jefus bath had (Come way or other) an experience of it : This makes him to (our apprehenfions) moll fit to judge and compafTionate the dittreifes of his people. As all the fins of his people were laid upon him, fo all their forrowes were laid up..)n him too ; therefore the Prophet Ifatah defcribes him thus,Ch. 53- 3. Amanofforrows and acquaintedwithgrief; Griefand he were no firangers, while he was here upon the Earth, grief was his ac- duaintance and Familiar (as it were) that went up and down with him, all the while he travelled. here below. Therefore feeingit is fo, the whole Church and every particular believer,have tirong tonfolatión in their forrows, that the Lord Jefus Chritl doth throughly weigh their condition, and knoweth fully what it is, We bave not (as was toucht before) an High-Prieff which cannot be touchedwith thefeeliatg ofour infirmities ;. why., what affurance have we of this ? it followes,He was temptedinall things like un- to us,yet without fin. Chritl had temptations unto fin,yet without fin, therefore be knowes- how to fuccour us, when we are temp- ice' unto fin ; Chrill was tempted by manifold forrows, there- fore he knowes how to fuccour us, when we are under manifold förrowfirl temptations If we had a Mediatour in Heaven that

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