14 DISCOUR ing greatness of the power of God, and without which it will not be wrought. 2. The means and causes of their disconsolation di- rect unto the same spring of their comfort. Whatever the power of hell, of sin, and the world,separately or in conjunction can effect, it is all levelled against the peace and comfort ofbelievers. Of how great force and effi- ' cacy they are in their attempts to disturb and ruin them, by what various ways and means they work unto that end, would require great enlargement of discourse to de- clare. And yet when wehave used our utmost diligence in an inquiry after them, we shall come short of a full investigation of them; yea, it may be of what many in- dividual persons find in their own experience. Where- fore, with respect unto one cause and principle of dis- consolation, God declares, that it is he who comforts his people, Ise. li. 12, 13, 14, 15. " I, even I, am he " that comforteth you: Who art thou, that thou shouldst " be afraid of a man that shall die, and df the son of u man which shall be made as grass? And forgettest the u Lord thy Maker, that bath stretched forth the hea- r yens, and laid the. foundations of the earth? And 's hest feared continually every day, because of the fury u of the oppressor, as if he were ready to destroy? and u where is the fury of the oppressor? The captive exile « hasteneth that he may be loosed, and that he should "not die in the pit, nor that his bread should fail. 5' But I am the Lord thy God, that divided the sea, a whose waves roared: the Lord of Hosts is his name." He sees it necessary to.declare his infinite power, and to express, in sundry instances, the effects thereof. Wherefore, if we take a view of what is the state and condition of the church in itself, and in the world; hew weak is the faith of most believers, how great their fears, howmany their discouragements? As also, with how great temptations, calamities, oppositions, persecutions, they are exercised? How vigorously and sharply these things are set on upon their spirits, according unto all advantages inward and outward that their spiritual ad- versaries can lay hold upon? It will be manifest how necessary it was that their consolation should be intrust- ed with him with whom infinite power doth always dwell? And if our own inward or outward peace seems to abate of the necessity of this consideration, it may not be amiss, by the exercise of faith herein, to lay in provision for the future, seeing we now not what may SES ON THE befal us in the world. And should we live to see the church in storms, as who knows but we may, our prin- cipal supportment will be, that our Comforter is of al- mighty power, wonderful in counsel, and excellent in operation. 4. This dispensation of the Spirit is unchangeable. Unto whomsoever he is given as a Comforter, he abides with them for ever. This our Saviour expressly de- clares in the first promise he madeof sending him as a Comforter in a peculiar manner, John xiv. 16. " I " will pray the Father, and he shall give you another « Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever." The moment of this promise lieth in his unchangeable continuance with the church. 'There was indeed a pre- sent occasion rendering necessary this declaration of the unchangeableness of his abode. For in all this dis- course, our Saviour was preparing the hearts of his dis- ciples for his departure from them, which was now at hand. And whereas he lays the whole of the relief which in that case he would afford unto them, upon his sending of the Holy Ghost, he takes care, not only to prevent an objection which might arise in their minds about this dispensation of the Spirit, but also, in so do- ing, to secure the faith and consolation of the church in all ages. For, as he himself, who had been their immediate, visible Comforter during the whole time of his ministry among them, was now departing from them, and that so, as that the heavens were to receive him until the timeof the restitution of all things, they might be apt to fear that this Comforter, who was now pro- mised unto them, might continue also only for a season, whereby they should be reduced unto a new loss and sorrow. To assure their minds herein, our Lord Jesus Christ lets them know, that this other Comforter should not only always continue with them unto the ends of their lives, work and ministry, but abide with the church absolutely unto the consummationof all things. He is now given in an eternal and unchangeable covenant, Isa. lix. 21. and he can no more depart from the church, than the everlasting, sure covenant of God can be abo- lished. But it may be objected by such as really inquire into the promises of Christ, and after their accomplishment, for the establishment of their faith; whence it is, that if the Comforter abide always with the church, that so great a number of believers do in all ages spend, it may
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=