holy concern. We are not of this world, but we are called out of it; we belong to another world, and are designed for it: we must, therefore, "seek the things that are above, and not set our affections on things beneath."

The thoughts of Christ crucified should wean us from this world, and make us out of love with it. The world knew him not, but hated him; the princes of this world crucified him; but he overcame the world, and we also by faith in him may obtain a victory over it; such a victory over it, that we may not be entangled with its snares, encumbered with its cares, or disquieted by its sorrows. By frequent meditation on the cross of Christ, "the world will be crucified to us, and we to the world;" that is, the world and we shall grow very indifferent one to another, and no love shall be lost between us.

The thoughts of Christ glorified should raise our hearts to that blessed place where Christ "sitteth on the right hand of God, and from whence we look for the Saviour." When we commemorate Christ's entrance within the veil as our forerunner, and have good hopes of following him shortly; when we think of his being in paradise, and of our being with him; how should our affections be carried out towards that joy of our Lord! How studious should we be to do the work of heaven, conform to the laws of heaven, and converse as much as may be with the glorious society there! Having received the adoption of sons, we should improve our acquaintance with, and raise our expectations of, the inheritance of

sons.

CHAPTER XIV.

SOME WORDS OF COMFORT WHICH THIS ORDINANCE SPEAKS TO SERIOUS CHRISTIANS.

Four things premised. This ordinance may comfort us, I. Against the remembrance of our former sins and provocations. II. Against the sense of our sins and daily infirmities. III. Against the sad remainders of indwelling corruption. IV. Against prevailing doubts and fears about the spiritual state. V. Against the troubles and calamities of this life. VI. Against the fears of death.

THE Lord's Supper was intended for the comfort of good people, not only while they are actually attending on God in it, but ever after; not only that their joy may be full, but that this joy may remain in them. It is a feast which was made for laughter; not that of the fool, which terminates in a sigh, and the end of it is heaviness, but that of the truly wise man who has learned to rejoice evermore, yea, to rejoice in the Lord always; not that of the hypocrite, whose triumphing is short, and his joys but "for a moment," but that of the sincere Christian, whom God causeth always "to triumph in Christ." The water that Christ here gives, is designed to be a well of water, living water, sending forth "streams that make glad the city of our God." This feast, if it be not our, own fault, will be to us a continual feast, a breast of consolation, from which we may daily suck and be satisfied.

It is the will of God that his people should be a comforted people. The most evangelical part of the prophecy of Isaiah begins with this, "Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God." He takes pleasure in their prosperity, he delights to see them cheerful, and to hear them sing at their work, and sing in his ways. Religion was never intended to make people melancholy; wisdom's adversaries do her wrong if they paint her in mourning, and wisdom's children do not do her right, if they give them

occasion to do so; for though they are, like St. Paul, as sorrowful, yet they should be like him, always rejoicing; because, though they seem perhaps to have nothing, yet really "they possess all things." So good a Master do we serve, that he has been pleased to combine interests with us, and so compound his glory and our comfort, that, in seeking the one, we seek the other also. He has made that to be our duty, which is indeed our greatest privilege; and that is, to delight ourselves always in the Lord, and to live a life of complacency in him. And it is the New Testament character of a Christian indeed, that he rejoices in Christ Jesus.

Good Christians have, of all people, most reason to rejoice and be comforted. As for those that are at a distance from God, and out of covenant with him, they have reason to be afflicted, and mourn and weep. "Rejoice not, O Israel, for joy as other people; for thou hast gone a whoring from thy God." To them that eat of the forbidden tree of knowledge, this tree of life also is forbidden; but those that devote themselves to God, have all the reason in the world to delight themselves in God. They that "ask the way to Zion with their faces thither ward, though they go weeping to seek the Lord their God," yet they shall go on rejoicing, when they have found him; for they cannot but find the way pleasantness, and the paths of it peace. Have not they reason to smile, on whom God smiles? If God has put grace into the heart, has he not put gladness there, and a new song into the mouth? Is Christ proclaimed king in the soul? And ought it not to be done with acclamations of joy? Is the atonement received, and the true treasure found? And shall we not rejoice with joy unspeakable? Have we good hope through grace of entering shortly into the joy of our Lord? And have we not cause now to rejoice in the hope of it?

Yet those who have so much reason to rejoice are often cast down and in sorrow, and not altogether without cause. This state of probation and preparation is a mixed state, and it is proper enough it should

be so, for the trial and exercise of various graces, and that God's power may have the praise of keeping the balance even. In those whose hearts are visited by the day-spring from on high, the light is neither clear nor dark, it is neither day nor night. They have their comforts, which they would not exchange for the peculiar treasure of kings and princes; but withal they have their crosses, under which they groan, being burdened. They have their hopes, which are an anchor to the soul, both sure and steadfast, entering into that within the veil; but withal they have their fears, for their warfare is not yet accomplished; they have not yet attained, neither are already perfect. They have their joys, such as the world can neither give nor take away, joys that a stranger doth not intermeddle with; but withal they have their griefs, their way to Canaan lies through a wilderness, and their way to Jerusalem through the valley of Baca. Their Master was himself a man of sorrows, and acquainted with griefs, and they are to be his followers. While we are here, we must not think it strange, if, for a season, when need is, we are in heaviness; we cannot expect to reap in joy hereafter, unless we now sow in tears. We must not therefore think, that either the present happiness of the saints, which in this world they are to expect, or their present holiness, which in this world they are to endeavour after, consists in such delights and joys, as leave no room for any mourning and sense of trouble: no, there is a sorrow, that is a godly sorrow; a jealousy of ourselves, that is a godly jealousy. It is only a perfect love that casts out all fear and all grief, which we are not to expect in this imperfect state. All tears shall not be wiped away from our eyes, nor shall sorrow and sighing quite flee away, till we come to heaven: while we are here, we are in a vale of tears, and must conform to the temper of the climate; we are at sea, and must expect to be tossed with tempests; we are in the camp, and must expect to be alarmed; while without are fightings, no wonder that within are fears.

Our Lord Jesus has therefore provided such comforts for the relief of his people, in their present sorrowful state, as may serve to balance their griefs, and keep them from being pressed above measure; and he has instituted holy ordinances, and especially this of the Lord's Supper, for the application of those comforts to them, that they may never fear, may never sorrow as those that have no hope nor joy. The covenant of grace, as it is ministered in the everlasting gospel, has in it a salve for every sore, a remedy for every malady; so that they who have an interest in that covenant, and know it, may triumph with blessed Paul: "Though we are troubled on every side, yet we are not distressed; perplexed sometimes, but, thanks be to God, not in despair; persecuted by men, but not forsaken of God; cast down and drooping, but not destroyed and lost." This is that which bears them up under all their burdens, comforts them in all their griefs, and enables them to rejoice in tribulation: God is theirs, and they are his, and he has "made with them an everlasting covenant, well ordered in all things, and sure; and this is all their salvation, and all their desire, however it be."

The word of God is written to them for this end, "that their joy may be full-and that through patience and comfort of the Scriptures they may have hope." Precious promises are there treasured up, to be the foundations of their faith and hope, and consequently the fountains of their joy. Songs of thanksgiving are there drawn up for them to refresh themselves with in their weary pilgrimage, and to have recourse to for the silencing of their complaints. Ministers are appointed to be the helpers of their joy, and to speak comfort to such as mourn in Zion. The Sabbath is the day which the Lord has made for this very end, that they may rejoice and be glad in it. Prayer is appointed for the ease of troubled spirits, that in it they may pour out their complaints before God, and fetch in comfort from him. "Ask and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full."