Of Spiritual Consolation

I. CjrOD’s infallible conservation of his saints in their graTcious state and course, and their perseverance which proceeds from it, are not formally included in their spiritual consolation, but are an immediate principal ground of it. — Through the power and subtlety of their indwelling corruption and its assistants, believers, if left by God to themselves, would soon fall from all their possession and exercise of grace, and they often do fall into fearful degrees and acts of sin. But being kept by God in Christ, they can never in the least fall from their happy state of union with Christ, or of justification and adoption through him; nor can they fall totally or finally from the possession and exercise of spiritual life or saving grace, 1. Scripture represents them as firmly established; as an everlasting foundation; as unmoveable like mount Zion; as a rock or house built on a rock; as God’s jewels, which shall not be lost; as a spring whose waters fail not; as trees which shall never wither, &e. Prov. x. 25. Psalm cxxv. 1, 2. Matth. vii. 24, 25. xvi. 18. Mai. iii. 17. Isa. lviii. 11. lxi. 3. 5er. xvii. 8. Psalm xxxvii. 24. 1 John ii. 17, 19. iii. 9. 2. Many infallible promises of God secure their conservation and perseverance in their gracious state and exercise, Dent, xxki. 8. Heb. xiii. 5. Isa. xlv. 17. xlvi. 4. liv. 8 — 10. lix. 21. Jer. xxxii. 39, 40. Hos. ii. 19, 20. John x. 27 — 29. Psalm xxxvii. 24, 28, 33, 37. xcii. 13, 14. xciv. 14. 3. Many scriptures ex¬

pressly affirm that they are all infallibly preserved and persevere in their state and exercise of grace, Job xvii 9. Prov. iv. 18. Psalm lxxxiv. 7. Phil. i. 6. 1 Thess. v. 23, 24. 2 Thess. iii. 3. ii. 16, 17. Col. iii. 3, 4. John vi. 35, 39, 40. xvii. 9, 12, 24. Bom. viii. 28 — 39. xi. 2, 29. 1 Cor. i. 8, 9. x. 13 1 John ii. 19. Heb. x. 3S, 39. 4. Their total or final fall from their

state and exercise of grace is altogether inconsistent with the perfections of God. For, how can he, who is unchangeable, hate those whom he once loved with an everlasting love P Jer.

xxi. 3. John xiii. 1. How can he, who is infinitely just, demand full satisfaction for their sins from Christ, and yet punish them for ever in hell, Job xxxiii. 24. Tit. ii. 14. Rom. iii. 24-26. Gal. iii. 13, 14. 1 Pet. i. 18, 19. ii. 24. iii. 18? How can he, who is infinitely wise and powerful, begin an important work without being able and willing to finish it, Luke xiv. 28-30. Phil. i. 6. 2 Thess. i. 11, 12. 1 Pet. i. 5? How can he, who is infinitely faithful, engage himself by promise and oath to do that which he is either unable or unwilling to perform, Num. xxiii. 19 Tit. i. 2. 1 Sam. xv. 29.

1 Thess. v. 24. 1 Cor. i. 9. Heb. x. 23. vi. 14 — 18. Deut. xxxiii. 27 — 29. 5. Believers’ total or final fall from the state or exercise of grace is perfectly inconsistent with God’s unchangeable purpose and new-covenant love to Christ as Mediator, and to them in him, Isa. xlvi. 10. xiv. 24, 27. Psalm xxxiii 11. Prov. xix. 21, 2 Tim i. 10. 1 Thess. v. 8, 9 Heb. vi. 17, 18. Rom. viii. 28 — 30. ix. 11. xi. 29. Isa. liii. 10 — 12. Psalm xxii. 27 — 31. lxxxix. 4, 28 — 35. 6. Believers’ total

or final fall from their state or exercise of grace is absolutely inconsistent with all the honour and new’-covenant characters of all the persons in the Godhead. It is inconsistent wTith the honour of the Father, as the chooser of them, — and giver of them to Christ for a reward of his mediatorial obedience unto death, Rom. viii. 29. John xvii. 6. Psalm ii. 8. Isa. liii. 10 — 12. 1 Cor. vi. 19, 20 1 Pet. i. 18, 19. Rom. v. 9, 10. viii. 32. Rev. v. 9; — or, as their steady friend, Isa. liv, 8 — 10. Jer. xxxii. 40. Zeph. iii. 17; — and their almighty preserver and safe-guard, John x. 29. 1 Pet. i. 5. Col iii. 3. Psalm xci.

Heut. xxxiii. 26 — 29. - It is inconsistent with the honour

of the Son, who with hjs blood redeemed and purchased them, Tit. ii. 14. 1 Pet. i. 19. Rom. v. 9, 10. Rev. v. 9. Matth. xx. 28. 1 Cor. vi. 19, 20. 1 Tim. ii. 6. 1 Thess. v. 9, 10; — who, as their advocate, continually intercedes for them, 1 John ii. 1, 2. John xvii- 11» 1 5, 20, 24. Psalm ii. 8. xxi. 4. John xi. 42. Heb. vii 25; — who builds them up together, as a church or temple for himself, Heb. iij. 3, 6 Matth. xvi. 18; and is in them as their life and hope of glory, Gal. ii. 20. John xiv.

19. Rev. i. 18. Col iii. 3, 4 i. 27; — and who is their Head, Husband, Ring, Shepherd, &c. Col. i. 18. ii. 19. Eph. iv. 16. Isa. liv 5. lxii. 4, 5, Hos. ii. 19, 20. 2 Cor. xi. 2. Isa. xxxiii. 22. Psalm ii. 6. xxiii, 1 John x. 1 Pet. ii. 25. v. 4. Heb. xiii.

20. Isa. xl. 11. Ezek. xxxvii. 24 — 28, — to suffer them to be

ruined and damned. - It is inconsistent with the honour of

the Holy Ghost, who dwells in them as a comforter, John xiv 16, 17. Rom. xi. 29. 1 John ii. 27; — as a perpetual fountain of quickening influence, John iv. 14 Rom. viii. 2, 10. John xiv. 19; — as an almighty worker of goodness, Eph. v. 9.

i. 17 — 19. ii. 21, 22; — as an anointing and earnest, 1 John ii. 20, 27. 2 Cor. i. 21, 22; and as a seal, confirming them to eternal happiness, Eph. i. 13. iv. 30. 2 Cor. i. 22- v. 5. 7.

Believers’ total or final fall from their state pr exercise of grace, is inconsistent with the nature of their implanted graces, which are incorruptible seed, 1 Pet. i. 23; the /Seed of God, which abideth in them, 1 John iii. 9; their faith crucifies the flesh, Gal. v. 24, and overcomes the world, 1 John v. 54; and fails not, Luke xxii. 32. 1 Coy. xiii. 13; their hope makes not ashamed, Rom. v. 5. viii. 24. Heb. yi 18, 19, and their love never fails, 1 Cor. xiii. 8, 13. But this infallibility of their graces arises wholly from their connectipn with Christ a and his Spirit.

Objec. I. “Many Scripture texts plainly suppose that be- <£ lievers may fall totally and finally from their state and exer- “cise of grace; and therefore warn them to watch against it, or

promise great rewards to their perseverance, Psalm cxxv. 3. “Ezek. xviii. 24, 26. xxxiii. 12 — 19. Mat. v. 13. xxiv. 13. “Rom. xiv. 15, 1 Cor. viii. 11. ix. 27. x. 12. 2 Cor. vi. 1. xi. “3. Heb. xii. 12, 13, 16. x. 38. Jude 12, 21. Rev. ii. 7, 11, 17? “26. iii. 5, 12, 21. Gal. vi. 9. 2 Pet. i. 4 — 11.” Answ. 1. Mere supposition of righteops men’s falling from their righteousness does not prove that they can do so, as is most evident from the Hebrew form of the oaths of God mentioned in Scripture, Psal. lxxxix. 35. Amos viii. 7. 2. Such as are but apparently holy,

may, and often do lose all their appearances of it, and become profane, Mat. xiii. 21, 22. 2 Kings xii. 3. Believers may lose much of their gracious dispositions and practices, and fall into fearful sins and chastisements; and might wholly fall from their grace, if God did not keep them. 4. Our watching over our¬ selves, and against temptations, is one blessed mean, by which Christ and his Spirit preserve us in our gracious dispositions and exercises, Eph. yi. 10 — 19. 1 Pet. v. 8. Mark xiv. 38. 1 Cor. xvi. 13.

Objec. II. “Some very eminent saints, as David, Solomon,

“Peter, Alexander, Hymeneus, Demas, &c. actually fell from “their state and exercise of grace, 2 Sam. xi. 1 Kings xi. Mat.

“xxvi. 69 — 74. 1 Tim. i. 19, 20. 2 Tim. ii. 17, 18. iv. 10.

“Heb. vi. 4, 5. x. 26 — 30, 38. 2 Pet. ii. 20 — 22.” A>isw. 1. David’s fall was not total; for God’s Spirit remained with him, Psalmli.il: nor Solomon’s; for God’s mercy departed not from him, 2 Sam. xii. 24; and his Ecclesiastes manifests his repentance, chap. ii. 10, 11, 17. v. 10, 12. vii. 2, 3, 26, 27: nor Peter’s; for his faith failed not, Luke xxii. 32. 2. There is no

proof that Alexander, Hymeneus, Demas, &c. ever had any yea! grace more than Judas, John vi. 70. Mat. vii. 22, 23.

Ob, tec. III. “The pretence of believers’ unfailing perseve- ranee in grace encourages them to sin, particularly in the “manner of Noah, Abraham, Jacob, Aaron, David, Solomon,

“Samson, Peter, and other saints.” Answ. 1. The sinful falls of saints are not recorded in Scripture for our imitation, but for our warning to take heed to ourselves, to watch against, and resist temptations. 2. Such as merely imagine themselves saints, often improve the grace of God into licentiousness; but a truly regenerated heart cannot but improve grace received and secured, as a powerful excitement to holiness, Phil. ii. 13. Rom. vi. 1, 2, 12. 2 Cor. vi. 1G, IS. vii. 1. 1 Pet. i. 3, 5, 13, 15.

1 John iii. 2, 3. Psalm cxix. 32, 166. cxvi. 16. Luke i. 74, 75 Heb. xii. 28. Astonishing! Because the love of Christ firmly believed constrains men to holiness, must their belief of its unchangeable and eternal duration induce them to wickedness?

2 Cor. v. 14, 15. — Because true faith purifies the heart, Acts x:v. 9, must the infallible continuance of it pollute the heart? — Because evangelical hope of everlasting happiness makes men to purify themselves as God is pure, 1 John iii. 3, must the firm continuance of it prompt them to render themselves worse than

devils? - Can a man who has any real experience of God’s

grace in his soul, believe that the new nature formed by and like to the Spirit of Christ, John iii. 5, 6, is so very saperdevilish, that God’s powerful discoveries and applications of the exceeding riches of his redeeming grace will encourage it to outrageous rebellion against him? — Even in natural things, do mothers holding, assisting, and teaching their children to walk, encourage them to stumble and break their necks? Or, do the ledges of bridges, or battlements of houses, encourage them that walk along to leap over and drown themselves, or dash themselves to pieces?

Objec. IV. God’s infinite holiness cannot permit him to as- <e sure men of everlasting favour and happiness, notwithstaud- “ing their falls into sin, as that would weaken and invalidate “all his calls to the study of holiness.” Answ. 1. God himself hath repeatedly declared the contrary, Psalm lxxxix. 28 — 35. Isa. liv 8 — -10. 1 vii. 17, 18. Heb. xii. 5 — 11, 28. Rom. viii. 28 — 39. v. 21. vi. 1. 2 Cor. vi. 18. vii. 1. 2. Notour good behaviour, but the surety righteousness of Christ, is the new covenant foundation of our everlasting friendship with God, and happiness in the full enjoyment of him, 1 John i. 7, 9. ii. 1, 2. Rev. v. 9, 10. Rom. v. 10, 16 — 21. Heh. ix. 14. x. 14.

II. The indwelling of the Holy Ghost as an almighty Comforter. He dwells in the heart of believers, not only in his influences, but primarily in his person, Ezek. xxxvi. 27. Gal. iy. 6. Rom. viii. 9. John xiv. 17. 1 Cor. iii. 16, 17. vi. 19. 2 Tim.

i. 14. Being infinite, and everywhere present, he can, at once, personally dwell in all the saints in heaven and on earth, all of whom are united to Christ, in whom he primarily dwells, as members of his one mystical body. — In the character of a Comforter,

1. He kindly explains, and by his word manifests to believers the things freely given them of God, — the excellency, fitness, and encouraging characters and blessings of Christ, that with delight they may discern and contemplate the mysteries of the gospel, John xiv. 26. xv. 26. xvi. 13, 14. Mat. xiii. 11. 1 Cor.

ii. 10, 12, 15. Psalm xix. 7 — 10. cxix. 72, 103, 126, 162. Jer.

xv. 16. Song v. 10 — 16. 2. He seals them up to the day of re¬

demption, bestowing upon them such communications of divine light, purity, life, righteousness, peace, and joy, as mark them his peculiar people, whom he will preserve inviolable for him¬ self, — and certify them of their saving interest in the promises of eternal life, Eph. i. 13, 14. iv. 30. 2 Cor. i. 21, 22. 3. He is the earnest of their eternal inheritance, which renders them certain of obtaining it in due time, and gives them pleasant fore¬ tastes of it, Eph. i. 14. 2 Cor. i. 22. v. 5. Rom. viii. 23. This includes his shedding abroad the love of God in their hearts, — his attesting the pardon of their sin, and what God is to them, has done, and will do for and in them, Rom. v. 5; and his giving them delightful fellowship with Christ as their bridegroom and hidden manna. Song ii. 3 — 5. Rev. ii. 17. 4. To their great

comfort, and through their exercise of faith and .repentance, he treads Satan and their indwelling corruptions under their feet, Rom. xvi. 20. vii. 25. viii. 2, 13. Mic. vii. 19. 5. As an Intercessor within them, he encourages, directs, and enables them to proper familiarity, distinctness, and earnestness in their prayers to God, Rom. viii. 15, 26, 27. Isa. lxiii. 16. lxiv. 8. Job xxxiv. 36. Jer. iii. 4, 19, 22. Gal. iv. 6. 6. He bears wit¬

ness with their spirits, that they are the children of God: And herein, 1. He enables them to render their being such more evident, by their renewed, lively, and vigorous application of the promises of the gospel to their own souls, 1 Tim. i. 15. Jer. iii. 22. Psalm xxxi. 14. cxlii. 4, 5. Lam. iii. 24. Zech. xiii. 9.

2. He sometimes elucidates some former manifestation of Christ,

and shews it to have been true and saving, John xv. 26. xiv. 26. Ezek. xliii. 1 — 3. 3. He assists them in their examination of

their state and experience, — directs them to proper marks of grace, such as likeness to God, purity of heart, poverty of spirit, love to Christ, and to every person and thing bearing his image, Eph. iv. 24. v. 1, 2. Mat. v. 3, 8, 44 — 48. Isa. lsiv. 6. 1 Kings viii. 38. 1 John iv. 19, 20. iii. 14. Psalm lxxxiv. 1, 2, 10. xxvi. 8; — shines on these marks of grace, that they may truly understand them, 1 Cor. ii. 12; — invigorates their inward graces, and renders them discernible amidst all the remains of

corruption, 1 John iii. 14, 22, 24. 2 Cor. i. 12. Phil. iii. 3; — and enables their consciences to compare their qualities and exercises with the marks of grace established in Scripture, Rom. viii. 16. 1 John iii. 20, 21. 4. He confirms their persuasion of the reality

of their grace, by a new application of some gospel promise to their heart, Exod. xx. 2. Psalm 1. 7. lxxxi. 10. Isa. liv. 5, 6. Jer. iii. 19, 14, 22. xxxi. 3. Hos. xiv. 1. Zech. xiii. 9. Mai. iii. 17. 2 Cor. vi. 18. And the majestic, powerful, self-debasing, sanctifying, and love-kindling influences which attend his declarations, mark them truly divine, John xiv. 17. x. 4. Jobxlii, 5, 6. Song ii. 8 — 15. viii, 6, J.

III. Sensible assurance of God’s love is a well-grounded persuasion that we are in a state of favour with him, and that therefore he, according to his promises and new-covenant characters, has, and certainly will exert all his perfections for advancing our real and everlasting felicity in Christ. This assurance of sense greatly differs from that which is included in the very nature of faith. The foundation of that assurance of faith is wholly without us in the faithfulness of God pledged in his word. The foundation of this assurance of sense is ‘partly within us, in the gracious effects of God’s word and Spirit upon our heart. By that we are persuaded of the truth of God’s revealed declarations, particularly in his offering Christ to us in the gospel. By this we are certified that the work of God begun upon our soul is truly gracious and saving. By that we believe, upon God’s own testimony, his candour in giving Christ and his salvation to us. By this we certainly know that God hath formed in us the begun possession of salvation. — This assurance of sense indeed implies a belief of the justness and certainty of the marks of grace exhibited in Scripture; but it also depends on our sensible perception of the almighty influences of God’s Spirit in changing and actuating our heart, Song ii. 3 — 5, 8 — 15; and on the manifested effects of his influence in our gracious qualities and works, 1 John iii. 14, 22, 24. Mat. v. 3 — 10. Gal. v. 22, 23.

Such assurance of sense is attainable by believers in this life.

1. The work of God’s Spirit on their soul manifests this. He testifies to their conscience, John xv. 26. xvi. 14. Rom. viii. 16. He writes his law in their heart to make them his people, Jer. xxxi. 33. Heb. viii. 10. 2 Cor. iii. 3. He seals them up to the day of redemption, Eph. i. 13. iv. 30. As an earnest of it, he secures eternal life to them, 2 Cor. i. 22. v. 5. Eph. i. 14. Rom. viii. 23. John iv. 14; and as an unction, he prepares them for it, 1 John ii.. 20, 27. 2 Cor. v. 5. Col. i. 12. 2 Thess. i. 11.

2. The diligent study of holiness and much self-examination are, by God, inculcated upon us, that we may obtain this sen-OF SPIRITUAL CONSOLATION, &C.

sible assurance, 2 Pet. ii. 5 — 8, 10 2 Cor. xiii. 5. 1 Cor. xi. 28. Zeph. ii. 1. 3. Many marks of grace are exhibited to us

in Scripture, that by them we may try and know our gracious state, Mat. v. 3 — 10. 1 John i. — v. i. 4. v. 13. 4. Many saints have actually obtained this assurance, as Job, Job xix 25 — 27; Jacob, Gen. xlviii. 3. xlix. 18; Moses, Exod. xv. 1; David, Psalm xviii. 1 — 3. xxxi. 14. xci. 2; Asaph, Psalm lxxiii. 23 — 26; Heman, Psalm lxxxviii. 1; Isaiah, Isa. lxiii. 16; Jeremiah, Jer. xxxi. 3; Daniel, Dan. ix 4, 18, 19. x. 11; Habakkuk, Hab. iii. 17, 18. i. 12; Simeon, Luke ii. 25 — 28; Mary, Luke i. 47; Thomas, John xx 28; Paul, Gal. i. 16. ii. 19, 20. 2 Cor. v. 1. Phil, iii 8, 9. Acts xxvii. 23. 2 Tim. i. 12.

iv. 7, 8; and others, John i. 14. 1 John iii. 14. Isa. lxi. 10.

1 Thess. i. 4 — 6. 5. Believers’ inward peace, confidence, and

holy gloriation, manifest their having this assurance, John xvi. 22, 33. Rom. v. 1, 2, 11. Heb. vi. 11. Eph. iii. 12. 1 Pet. i. 8.

To attain this sensible assurance of the happiness of our state and the truth of our grace, are necessary, 1. Vigorous and of¬ ten repeated acts of faith upon the declarations of the gospel, which are directed to us as sinful men, 1 Tim. i. 15. Isa. vii. 9. James i 6, 7. 2 Earnest study of much familiar fellowship

with God in Christ, 1 John i. 37, Song i. 4. 3. Diligent study of universal gospel holiness in heart and life, Luke i. 6. vi. 27 — 36. Mat. v. 44- — 48. John xv. 14. 4. Careful cherish¬ ing of the motions of the Spirit of God, who witnesses with our spirits, that we are the children of God, Eph. iv. 30. 1 Thess.

v. 19. 5 Frequent, deliberate, judicious, impartial, earnest,

and thorough examination of ourselves, 1 Cor. xi. 28. 2 Cor.

xiii. 5. Zeph. ii. 1. — In which we must never admit an outward profession of religion, blamelessness of behaviour, experience of the common influences of the Ploly Ghost, or any other thing which may exist without saving grace, as a mark, Mat. vii. 21 — 23. Phil. iii. 6. Pleb. vi, 4, 5. Isa. lviii. 2; — nor admit the tokens of strong grace as distinguishing marks of the truth of grace, Itom. iv. 19, 20. Hab. iii. 17, 18. Job xiii. 15. Mat.

xiv. 31. And, conscious of the deceitfulness of our own heart, we must earnestly plead for the powerful attestation of the

Holy Ghost, Psalm cxxxix. 23. xxvi. 1, 2. xvii. 3. - Neglect

of these things, attended with God’s sovereign and severe chastisements thereof, make many real believers wait long before they attain this assurance, or even lose it for a time, Heb. ii. 25. Psalm lxxiii. 2 — 15. lxxvii. 1? — 10, lxxxviii.

IV. Peace of conscience is that inward and delightful calm of spirit, which proceeds from our sensible or believing views of our being in a state of favour, fellowship, and conformity to God, Rom. v. 9, 10, xiv. 17. 2 Cor. v. 19. Isa. liv. 5, 8 — Kb

lvii. 18, 19. John xc. 14, 15. xiv. 27. Prov. iii. 17. Psahn cxix. 165. 2 Cor. i. 12. Heb. xii. 28. It is attended with de¬ lightful contemplation of God as our God, Psahn cxxxix. 17, 18. lxiii. 1 — 8. xvi. 5 — 8. ciii. cxlv. cxlvi; and leads to a bold and familiar, but humble dealing with him, Song ii. 14. viii. 13. Heb. iv. 16. x. 19 — 22; and an affectionate and peaceful disposition towards all his children, Psalm xvi. 3. cxix. 63. Being obtained by the sprinkling of the blood of Jesus, and the sanctification of our whole man, this peace is always the safrie in its root or state, Isa. liv. 8 — 10. Ezek. xxxvii. 26. Hos. ii. 18 — 20; but the sense of it is often, in a great measure, dost or interrupted.

In the interruptions of this peace of conscience, Satan and his instruments have a wicked hand, seducing and vexing our souls, Mat. xxiv. 24. 1 Pet. v. S. We have a sinful hand, in abusing God’s kind favours to us, committing conscience-wasting sins, or indulging formality, sloth, and self-confidence in religious duties, Psalm li. 1 — 14. Jer. ii. 17, 19. Isa. lxiii. 10. Deut. xxxii. 15 — 27. Song v. 3 — 5. Psalm xxx. 6, 7. And God, — to manifest his sovereignty, Dan. iv. 34, 35; correct our sin¬ fulness, Jer. ii. 17, 19. vi. 19; try and exercise our graces, 1 Pet. i. 6, 7; instigate our earnest prayers, Psalm xxii. 1, 2. lxxxiv. 2. exxx. 1; manifest his love under, or after, such affliction, Isa. lvii. 16 — 19; and teach us to improve the sense of his favour, Rom. v. 3, — righteously hides his countenance, and either mediately or immediately distresses our soul, Isa. viii. 17. xlv. 15. Psalm x. 1. xiii. 1 — 4. lxxvii. 1 — 10. lxxx. 4, 5. lxxxviii. Job xiii. 24. 2 Cor. xii. 7. - It is regained by re¬

peated applications of Jesus’ blood, 1 John i. 7; by serious renewals of our repentance for sin, Lam. iii. 40. Jer. xxxi. 18 — 20; and by God’s repeating his manifestations of love to

our soul, Isa. lvii. 16 — 19. John xvi. 22. - It is maintained by

an habitual application of Christ’s blood to our conscience, 1 John i. 7. Heb. x. 22; by daily devout meditation on the endearing excellencies and relations of Christ, and of God in him, as our God, and on the origin, tenor, and administration of the covenant of grace. Psalm civ. 34. 2 Sam. xxiii. 5. John xiv. 21; by much familiar fellowship with God, Isa. lxiv. 4, 5. Psalm lxiii. I — 8. lxv. 4. Song i. 4 ii. 3; by much candid and earnest study of universal holiness, and watchfulness against be¬ loved lusts, Isa. xxxii. 15, 17. lxiv. 5. Acts xxiv. 16. Ileb. xii. 1. Psalm cxix. 165. xviii. 23; by speedily washing off the filial guilt of sin, and repenting of those offences which mar our peace, Psalm li. 6 — 14. Jer. iii. 22. xxxi. 18; and by much hearty resignation of ourselves and our concerns to the provir dence of God as our affectionate Father, Philip, iv. 6, 7. 1 Pet. v. 7. Psalm Iv. 22. cxii. 7.

V. Joy in the Holy Ghost is a spiritual pleasure in living on, and walking in and with Christ, produced by the inhabitation and influence of his Spirit in our hearts. The grounds of this joy are, 1. What God in Christ is to us, Psalm xviii. 1 — 3. xxxiv. 1 — 4. ciii. 1 — 5. cxviii. 28. Hab. iii. 17, 18. i. 12. John xx. 28. Psalm xxiii. xxvii. xlvii, xci. Isa. xii. 2. What God, the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost have done for and in us, Isa. lx i. 10. Psalm lxxi. 14 — 24. ciii. cxxxvi. cxlv. Rom. v. 1 — 11. 2 Cor. i. 12. 3. What his promises and characters se¬

cure for us, Psalm xlii. 11. xliii. 5. Rom. viii. 28 — 39. 2 Tim.

1. 12. iv. 8. Psalm lxxiii. 24 — 26. - Such joy is ordinarily

most full, 1. After remarkable grief at conversion, Isa. lxi. 2, 3. lvii. 16 — 19. lxvi. 2. John xx. 20, 28. Acts ii. 37, 46.

2. After dark nights of desertion, temptation, and trouble, Isa. liv. 6 — -12. lvii. 16 — 19. Psalm xvi. 10, 11. xiii. cxvi. xl. 1 — 5.

3. When entering into, or under much tribulation, especially for the cause of Christ, Acts v. 41. xvi. 25. 1 Pet. iv. 13, 14.

4. When God bestows some remarkable deliverance upon his church, Exod. xv. Judges v. Isa. xlii. 10, 11. lxv. 17 — 19. lxvi. 10. Jer. xxxi. 12 — 14. Rev. vii. 9 — 12. xii. 10. xi. 15,

17. xv. 3. xiv. 1 — 4. xix. 1 — 6. 5. When he grants some re¬

markable favour almost quite unexpected, 1 Sam. ii. I — 10. Luke i. 45 — 77.

All spiritual comfort differs from that presumptuous confidence of God’s love, sleep, or ill-grounded peace of conscience and false joy, which may be found in hypocrites or others, — as it mightily humbles the heart, Gen. xviii. 30, 32. xxxii. 10.

1 Cor. xv. 10; promotes the cheerful and active study of universal holiness, Psalm cxvi. 16. cxix. 32, 186; renders sin more and more hated, Rom. vii. 14 — 24. Psalm cxix. 104, 128.

2 Cor. vii. 1, 11. Gen. xxxix. 9; animates to an earnest following after fellowship with God, Job xxiii. 3. xxix. 2. Psalm xlii. 1, 2. lxiii. 1 — 8. xxvii. 4. lxxxiv. 2, 10. xlv. 1. 2 Cor. iii.

18. John xvi. 22; and disposes to impartial self-examination,

John iii. 21. Psalm xxvi. 1, 2. cxxxix. 23, 24. xvii. 3. - It

is bestowed upon believers, 1. To qualify them for their proper work, Neh. viii. 10. Isa. lxiv. 5. 2. To reward them in, or

after their performing it, Psalm xix. 11. 1 Cor. xv. 58. 3. To

manifest the amazing virtue of Christ as the consolation of his people, Luke ii. 25. 2 Cor. ii. 14. 4. To manifest the riches

of God’s redeeming grace, and his delight in the prosperity of his servants, Eph. ii. 7. Psalm xxxv. 27.

Reflect. Hast thou, my soul, these first fruits of the Spirit, these earnests of eternal glory in thee? Has the Holy Ghost thus dwelt in, preserved, attested, assured, quieted, and filled

OF SPIKITlfAL CONSOLATION, &C.

thee with joy unspeakable and full of glory? - Let me take

heed, lest my persuasion of God’s love should be an ill-ground ed fancy, — my inward quietness a mere sleep or delusion of conscience, — and my joy but common, carnal, legal, or delusive. — Alas! that I have been so long named a Christian, and yet have lived so ignorant of Christian experience! — that I have been so long a student,- — a preacher, — and yet so ignorant of these deep, these great, these sweet things of God! — that I am so near eternity, and yet have so little tried how much of God might be enjoyed on earth to prepare me for it!