S. JOH. xiv. 1. Let not your Heart be troubled, ye believe in God, believe alfo in me. I. DOCTRINE. GovD's own Fr molt OD's own People, His moft faithful Setvants, are subject to Troubles of Heart. 1. What Troubles of Heart? 1. Inward, arifing, 1. From Sin, Pfal. li. 4, 8. 2. Corruption, Rom. vii. 24. 2. Outward; which are 1. Spiritual, Chrift's Abfence. 2. Temporal, outward Afflictions, Lam i. 4° 2. The Reason hereof. 1. The 71, from Scripture and Experience. 2. The STI. 1. The Weakness of their Faith. 2. The Imperfection of other Graces. II. DOCTRINE. Faith in GOD, and Chrift is the best Cordial to a troubled Heart. 1. It is the fureft, the most infallible, S. Matt. 1. In temporal Troubles; as, 1. Art thou troubled with Poverty? 2. It will turn thy very Poverty into 2. Art thoa troubled with Difgrace? 2. Faith will procure thee Honour. 2. From GO D, 1 Sam. ii. 30. 3. Art thou troubled with Sickness and Pains? 1. By Faith thou mayft fee GOD's Love in them, Hebr. xii. 6. 2. By Faith thou mayft get Good by them, Pfal. cxix. 71. 3. By Faith thou mayft receive more Comfort in them than in Health. 4. Art thou troubled with Loffes and Croffes? 1. Faith will fhew from whence they came, Job i. 21. 2. And why they came, Hebr. xii. 10. 3. And fo turn them to thy Gain, 2 Cor. iv. 17. 5. Art thou troubled with Fears of Death? 1. Faith will fhew thee that the Sting is out, I Cor. xv. 55. 2. That Death is but the Entrance into Life. 3. And fo Faith will turn thy Fears iato Hopes, Phil. i. 23. 2. In fpiritual Troubles. 1. Art thou troubled for thy Sins? 1. GOD is merciful, Pfal. ciii. 8. Isa. 2. Chrift is All-fufficient, 1 S. Joh. ii. 1. 2. Rofe again, Rom. viii. 34. 3. Intercedes for us, Hebr. vii. 25. 2. Chrift will fend His Spirit, S. Joh. 3. Faith conquers them, I S. Joh. v. 4. 2. Chrift will pray that thy Faith fail 3. By Faith thou mayft fee GOD's Love USE. In all Troubles, have Recourfe to your Faith. 1. By reading the Scriptures. 2. 3. 4. praying, S. Jam. i. 5. frequenting Ordinances, Hebr. x. 17. S. JOH. xiv. 2. In my Father's House are many 1. OBSERVATION. Eaven is GOD's Houfe. 1. GOD is Infinite, Pfal. cxlvii. 5. 2. Therefore not comprehended, or included any where, Ifa. lxvi. 1. 3. But is prefent every where, Pfal. cxxxix. 7. 4. But yet in fome Places unvails Himfelf, and discovers His Glory more than in others. 5. Where GOD is pleas'd to reveal Himself moft, is call'd His Houfe. He hath a twofold House. 1. A House of Grace. 1. The Church in general, S. Mar.iii. 35. 2. A Believer's Heart in particular, Ifa. Ivii. 15. Rev. iii. 20. 2. An House of Glory, where He manifefts most clearly the Glory, 1 Cor. xiii. 12. 1. Of His Power. Goodness. Hence obferve, that they who come to Hea ven, 1. Dwell with GOD, and fo with the Fourtain, 1: Of 1. Of Light, Pfal. civ. 2. 2. Life, Pfal. xxxvi. 9. 3. - Love. 4. Joy, Pfal. xvi. 11. 2. And fo are fecurè from Enemies. 3. And enjoy true Happiness, Pfal. xvi. 11. and xvii. 15. II. OBSERVATION. It is Chrift's Father's House. And this adds great Comfort; for, 1. We may be fure of Entertainment, tho' not for our own, yet for Chrift's fake. 2. We fhall dwell with Chrift, S. Joh. xiv. 3. 3. In Chrift, it is our Father's House also, S. Joh. XX. 17. III. OBSERVATION. These Mansions are convenient and fuitable. 1. For our Natures and Capacities, 2 S. Pet. i. 4. : 2. For our Wants and Neceffities; being, 1. Void of all Trouble. 1. Spiritual; as, 1. Of the Senfe of GOD's Difplea fure, Ezek. xvi. 42. 2. Of Doubts about our Estate. 3. Of Satan's Temptations, I S. Pet. v. 8. 4. Of the Delusions of this World. 2. Temporal, Rev. vii. 17. for here is, 2. No Croffes in our Enjoyments. |