8 QueJiions, and Cafes ofCosfcienct Chap.; t ---- -- fort) will bear his irrfif-iirities ; but a moundedfpirit, (that wants the healing, philter of ccnfolatioíi) who,cánbear. 2. To quickenthem, and keep life in their fpirits : and to ptéfetve, or recover them from fainting, and (wounding. Comfort is the life ofour £pitits, yea the life ofour tides , withobt which our life wdald be no lift, but a lingring death ; the damned in hell are laid to die eternally , becaafe they ariz void of all joy and comfort. 3. TO chear,ànd refrefh them ; to ratte themup from their forrow, ?pd. 94. 19. In the multitude ofmy thoughts withinme ( faith David) thy comforts (breathed into meby thy Spirit , or handed ontomeby thy fe ahrs) delight myfoul. Comforts poure the oyle ofgladnelfe intohearts full of heavineffe. Comfort is hónèy in the mouth, melody in theease , and a Jubile in the heart. 4. Its needful to quiet and compote theSpirits of others, whèü inwardly dif- quieted, and perplexed ; they taufe a calm in a temper. 5. To ellablith, confirm, and fettle others that are in a good frattìeoffpirit, to hold their fpirits fall from being fhaken. Paulwrote hisconfolatory Epirle to the Corinthians, that they might /landfall in the faith, &e. t Cor,t6.i3, To theÉphefians, that they might not be carried about With every winde of iioarine, Pph.4 a4. To the ColcJans, that they Might be rooted andbxilt up inChri/l, and eflab1(hed in thefaith, Col. 2, 6,7. He Pent Timothy to the 7"hßffalonians,to eflablifh, and comfort them concerning their faith,iThef.3.a. 6. Its commodious to editie other§ ih their holineifc,and obedience : Comfort 1s well as councel builds men up further into the body of Chrir : For it cor- roborates the heart, heightens theirfpirits (withPaul) toforget thofe things; that arebehinde,&c. Phil.3.r3: Paul exhorts the Theffalontanstocomfort, and edifie one another, i. e. toedifie by comforting, r Thef,5.í r. For, a. Comfort is a great encouragement to duties, as Hez.eleieths comfortable words were to the Levit,s that taught the goodknowledge of the Lord, 2 Chron.3o.z2. and to the heartsbfthe people, to animate them again/} the fear oftheXing of iria, i Chron.3z:6i7,8. z. Its a means to lead others forward on towards perfe&lión: Hence they are joyned together, 2 Cor.i 3. a r . BeperfeEE, be ofgood comfort. z. Comfort may be needful alfo in refpe6l of thebodies ofothers, or outward man, which wouldperish in their afHidlions, werenot their foules'rrcngthned by comforts to (land under the preffures thereof. Secondly, the feconc1 reafonmaybe drawnfrom the tniferyofthem that want comfort. Its a fad thing tobe in afiíidtion,and to have no Comforter. nom. t. him that is alone , Ecclef. .ro. It much aggravated Davids troubles, Pjali6p.t9,zo, and r43. 3,'4 and Sions miferïes, Lam.t.2,8,16,47,sr. So Solomon judged u., Ecclef.4.1. It was the Jews fad cafe in their captivity,-Ifx.54,1 a. and Nhdvehs in her rime, Nah.3.7. Thirdly,from the excellency of thedutyin it fell: Itsan'high, and honourable employment tocomfort others : For, r . Its the work-of God tocomfort poor fouls,1/n. 1:57.15. 2 Cdr.7,6. 1-le glories in it, as in a title'óf excellency, 2Cor.í.3.Ifa,5i.rz. v. 3. Tf.Ìò . F3. /fa:66.13.. and49. 15. To comfortfsíhé ads, isOfthé i7eity, fò rlfht Triaiiry, andofevery perfbn in it. r:Of c od the Father,wlsois the'F'àtlier of*Mt s,ond theGod -.f all comfortf 2 Corinth. I. 3. z. Of God the 'San ;'fótlreas'God-mzst, -end7vfédí'atör, the 'fountain of ill,' confolatibn, Ahil,z.'i. 7fflsere:be anycdnfolatidnin'Cf'ifi : 1Hè tastes it for ¢ranrecFthat 'there is. So, zCdr.i..5. ähn i4.í8, ar,`ï6. zo,22. 3.'Of'.Godtheiibly'Ghoff. Its ísproperwollttoapplyco[nfótt-tò the hearts of
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