THJz HOLY SPIRIT A COMFORTER. Book a, F ruit of all, the taking away of your Sin•, it is for the T rial of your Graces, faith the Spirit. · IVhen he bath tried me, I jhall come forth as Gold, Job xxiii. It is to con– vince the Devil ond wickrd Men, that t!;ey are fincere and upright Ones, and do not follow Chrift for Loaves. Doth Job (faith Satan) fear God fur 11ought. But put forth tbinc Hand now. and touch all that be bath, and he will cuYft thee to thy Face, J ob i. 9· t ,. God , faith the Spirit, ba th brought this and the other Troubles upon thee, to clear thy lnnocency, aiH:! w !hew that Sa: an is a Liar. (6.) By 01ewing them that all their Afflit'lions are but lhon lived, that they will foon be over, they wi!l hfl: but for a Moment. (7.) That they will add to their Advantage here and hereafrer. Our light Ajjliflion whicb is butfor a Mommt, worketh for tts a far more exceeding and etental Weigbt ofGlcry, 2 Cor. iv. 17. It is, faith the Spi rit, to lhew forth the excellent Nature of true Grace; Faith, Love, and Pa~ie1>ce never lhine forth in their proper Luflre and Glory, until they aome und<r Ei~reife. 'The 'Trial ofyour Faith is much more precious than Gold that peri/heth, though it be tried with Fire,. 1Pet. i. 7· And it will hereby be fou nd unto Praife, H onor, and Glory at the appearing of J efus Chrifl. (8.) The Spirit comforreth Believer<, by 01ewing them th•t all their Sorrows will in a little Time be tumrd inro Gladnefs. Now )'e are forrowful, but I will fee )'Oil c.gai:t, and your Hearts foal! rrjoice, and your JoJ no Man taketh away from you. Ye foal! be forrowful, but your Sorrow }hall be turned into Joy. 'Thoft that go forth weep– it(?;. bearing precious Seed, )hall doubtlefs come again rejoicing, bringing their Sheaves witb them. God will give unto them (faith the Spirit) thnt mourlt in Zion, Bcnuty for ./!foes, the Oil of Joy .for Mouming, the Garments of Praife for the Spirit of Heavinefs, that they Ilia)' be called 'Trees of Rigbteoufnefs, the planting of tbe Lord, that he may be glorified, !fa. lxi. 2. 3· (9.) The Spirit comforreth by f11ewing Believers that all their Sorrows will be in this World, the Wicked have theit fwect Things here, and the Godly have their bitter Things here; bm as the Wicked lhall have nothing but Bitter hereafrer, fo the Godly !hall have nothing but Sweet hereafter. Son, remember that thou in thy Life-time re– ceivedft thy good 'Things, and likewife Lazarus evil 'Tbings, but now he is comforted, ai1d tbou art tornmzted, Luke xvi. ( zo.) The Spirit comforteth by convincing Believers, that God doth notpunifh them as their Sins do deferve; he bath vijited tbee little or nothing, faith E!ihu, fo the Word will bear it. The lealt Mercy is more than we deferve, he hath not dealt with us after o.ur Sins, nor rewarded us according to our Iniquities. METAPHOR. VIII. A Comforter fympathizes with him he comes to vifir, to com– fort him in his Grief and Trouble. Job's Friends lifted up their Voice, omd wept, mzd they rent e·very one his Mantle, atld fprinkled Duft upon their Heads: So they fat down with him ttpon the Groundfeven Days, and ftven Nights, &c. J ob ii. 12, '3· IX. A true Comfqrter will inter– cede toothers, (to adminifterSup– port and R elief) in whofe Power it is to fuccor, as well as h1mfelf. PARALLEL. VIII. The H oly Spirit fympathizes with every gracious Soul in their Diftrdfes and Troubles (ac· cording as God in his Word fpeaks to our Capa– cities,) In all their Ajjliflions he was ajjiWed; bis Soul was grieved for ifrael. And in that of the eighth Chapter to the N.omaJ!s, [he Spirit particu– )a• ly is fa id to figh and groan after fuch a fort rhat cannot be Uttered, R om. vii i. 26. And h•nce the Apoflle exhorts the Saints not to grieve rhe H oly Spirit of God, whereby they are fealed to the D ay of Redemption, Eph. iv. 30. IX. Likewife the Holy Spirit alfo helps ortr Injir– m;ties ; for we know not what to pray for as we ought: But the Spirit itftlf maketh Intercej}ion for us with Groans, which cannot be ullered. ./!nd he that fearcheth the Hearts klroweth what is the Mind of the Spirit, becauft b~ maketb Intercej}ion for t~e Saints, according to the Will of God, Rom. viii. 26, 27. Hence the Word Advocate or Comforter. X. A true Comforter will fearch X. The Holy Spmt fearches the Hearr and into a Perfon's State and Condition, Reins of every Solll he comes to comfort, to oo know how it is with him, that difcever the State and Condition of a Perfon to thereby he may the better underhim; David cries om, Sear&h me, 0 God, and know . 2 ~
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