"ruin HOLY SPIRIT, AND HIS WORK. 13 we have the chufclis complaint in a deep. disconsola- tion: My way is hidfrom theLord, and myjudgment is passed overfrom my God, Isa. xlviii. 27. It is not so much her affliction and miseries, as an apprehension that God regarded her not therein which causeth her dejection. And when this is added unto any pressing trouble, whether internal or external, it doth fully con- stitute a state of spiritual disconsolation. For when faith can take a prospect of the love, care, and con- cernment of God in us and our condition, however grievous things may be at present unto us, yet can we not be comfortless. And what is it that in the consola- tion which God intendeth his church, he would have them to consider in himself as an assured ground of re- lief and refreshment? This he declares in the following verses, ver. 28, 29, 30, 31. '5 Hast thou not known, a hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, nor is 'i weary," 4e. The church seemeth not at all to doubt of his power, but of his love, care, and faithfulness to- wards her. But it is his infinite power that he chooseth first to satisfy her in, as that which all his actings to- wards her were founded in and resolved into, without a due consideration whereof all that otherwise could be expected would not yield her relief. And this being fixed on their minds, he next proposeth unto them his infinite understanding and wisdom; there is no searching of his understanding. Conceive aright of his infinite power, and then leave things unto his sovereign un- searchable wisdom for the management of them as to ways, degrees, times, and seasons. An apprehension of want of love and care in God towardsthem, was that which immediately caused their disconsolation; but the ground of it was in their unbelief of his infinite power and wisdom. Wherefore in the work of the Holy Ghost, for the comforting of the church, his infinite power is peculiarly to be considered. So the apostle proposeth it unto the weakest believers for their sup- portment, and that which should assure them of the victory in their conflict, thatgreater is he that is in them, than he that is in the world, 1 John iv. 4. That.Holy Spirit which is bestowed on them, and dwelleth in them, is greater, more able and powerful than Satan that at- tempts their ruin in and by the world, seeing he is of power omnipotent. Thoughts of our disconsolation a- rise from the impressions that Satan makes upon our D minds and consciences by sin, temptation, and persecn- tion. For we find not in ourselves such an ability of resistance as from whence we may have an assurance of a conquest. This, saith the apostle, you are to expect from the power of the Holy Spirit, which is infinitely above whatever Satan hath, to make opposition unto you, or to bring any disconsolation on you. This will cast out all that fear which hath torment accompanying._, it. And however this may be disregarded by them who are filled with an apprehension of their own self -suffi- ciency as unto all the endsof their living and obedience unto God; as- likewise, that they have a never -failing spring of rational considerations about them, able to administer all necessary relief and comfort at all times yet those who are really sensible of their own condition, and that of other believers, if they understand what it is to be comforted with the consolation of God, and how remote they are from those delusions which men embrace under the nameof their rational considerations, will grant that the faith of infinitepower is requisite un- to any solid, spiritual comfort: For, 1. Who can declare the dejections, sorrows, fears, despondencies, and discouragements that believers are obnoxious unto, in the great variety of their natures, causes, effects, and occasions? What relief can besuited unto them, but what is an emanation of infinite power? Yea, such is the spiritual frame and constitution of their souls, as that they will oft-times reject all means of com- fort that are not communicated by an almighty efficacy. Hence God creates the fruit of the Zips, peace, peace lsa. lvii. 20, produceth peace in the souls of men by a creating act of his power; and direct us in the place be- fore-mentioned to look for it only from the infinite ex- cellency of his naturer none therefore was meet for the work of being the church's Comforter, but the Spirit of God alone. He only, byhis almighty power, can re- move all their fears, and support them- under all their dejections in all that variety wherewith they areattempt- ed and exercised. Nothing but omnipotence itself is suited to obviate those innumerable disconsolations that we are obnoxious unto. And those whose souls are pressed in earnest with them, and are driven from all the reliefs which- not only carnal security and stout- heartedness in adversity do offer, but also from all those lawful diversions which the world can administer, will understand that true consolationis an act of the exceed,. 36
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