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Blessed are they that mourne, for they shall be comforted, Mat 5.4. The words import an ex∣ceeding measure of griefe, such as is expressed by crying and wee∣ping; therefore Luke saith, Blessed are yee that now weepe,* 1.3 * 1.4 Piscator, and others expound it of sorrow for sinne. They that so mourne are already blessed, and shall be comforted. You
shall be sorrowfull, but your sorrow shall be turned into ioy, Iohn 16.20. See verse 24. Psal. 126.5.6. They that sow in teares shall reape in ioy.* 1.5 Hee that goeth forth and wee∣peth, shall come againe with reioy∣cing bringing his sheaves with him. GOD hath undertaken to com∣fort them: In the prophesie of Esay every where almost wee finde it promised. The ransomed of the LORD shall returne and come to Zion with songs, and ever∣lasting ioy upon their heads; they shall obtaine ioy and gladnesse, and sorrow and sighing shall fly away, Esay 35.10. They shall have both outward and inward com∣fo••t, for so some distinguish be∣tweene ioy and gladnesse; that ••oy is outward of the body, and gladnesse inward of the soule, Psal. 118.24. arise (saith GOD, ••alling on his Church) and shine, ••nd put on brightnesse and glory: ••he LORD shall be a light unto ••hee in darkenesse. CHRIST was ••ent for this very end, to com∣fort
such as mourne for their sinnes. The LORD hath sent mee to binde up the broken hear∣ted,* 1.6 to give unto them that mourne in Zion, beauty for ashes, the oyle of ioy, for mourning, the garment of praise, for the spirit of heavi∣nesse, Esay 61.1, 3. Luke 4.18. I am not sent but unto the lost sheepe of the house of Israel,* 1.7 Mat. 15.24. that is, (saith M. Per∣kins) to those which in their owne sence and feeling are lost in themselves. The fruit of the Spirit is ioy, Gal. 5.22. The LORD who is the Father of mercies, and GOD of all consola∣tion,* 1.8 is cald a GOD that Com∣forteth all those that are cast downe, 2 Cor. 7.6. Comfort yee, comfort yee my people, saith our GOD. Speake yee comfortably to Hierusalem, and cry unto her, that her warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned, Esay 40.1, 2. Behold how freely and how fully the LORD speakes, how he doubles his comforts: Comfort
yee, comfort yee, and iterates his words, speake comfortably, cry unto her: The LORD will com∣fort Zion and her mourners, Esay 57.18. All Sion, the Church of GOD shall be comforted, and all the friends of the Church, that mourne in her mourning, and that take to heart her sor∣rowes and desolation, shall be comforted too. GOD shall wipe away all teares from their eyes, Rev. 7.17.* 1.9 Thus saith the High and lofty one that inhabiteth eter∣nity, whose name is holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones, Esay 57.15. The day of humiliati∣on, when GODS people afflict their soules before him, is called a day of a••tonement, Le∣vit. 23.27. For so is GODS promise, In that day there ••hall be a Fountaine opened for sinne, Zach. 13.1.* 1.10
* 1.11This benefit is pressed as a motive unto godly sorrow. 1 Pet. 5.5, 6. GOD giveth grace to the humble. Humble your selves therefore (saith the Apostle) under the mighty hand of GOD. Iam. 4.6, 7, 9. GOD giveth grace to the humble. Submit your selves therefore to GOD, Be af∣flicted and mourne and weepe.
Those that mourne for the sinnes of other men, have a great promise of speciall protection in the daies of common calamity.
Goe through the midst of the Ci∣ty,* 1.12 through the midst of Ierusa∣lem, and set a marke upon the foreheads of the men that sigh, and that cry for all the abhomina∣tions that be done in the midst thereof, Ezek. 9.4.
GOD marked them for his owne, signo salutari saith Iunius, with a saving marke, such as that, Exod. 12.
Thou wilt save the afflicted peo∣ple, Psal. 18.27 Hee saveth such as be of a contrite spirit, Psal. 34.18. When men are cast downe, then thou shalt say, there is a lifting up, he shall save the humble person, Iob 22.29.
The LORD hath promised, that the prayers of such shall prevaile mightily with him both for themselves and others.* 1.13 It is said of Iacob, Hosea 12.4. Hee had power over the Angell and prevailed, hee wept, and made sup∣plications
unto him. And of He∣zekiah, Esay 38.5. I have heard thy prayers I have seene thy teares: behold, I will add unto thy daies fifteene yeares. LORD thou hast heard the desire of the humble, thou wilt prepare their heart, thou wilt cause thine eare to heare, Psal. 10.17. When the Prophet had said, Psal. 34.17. The righteous cry, and the LORD heareth them, he giveth this reason, verse 18. The LORD is nigh to them that are of a broken heart. 2 Chron. 7.14. If my people that are called by my name, shall humble themselves and pray, then will I heare from Hea∣ven.
Yea GOD will heare them also for others. Iob 42.8. My servant Job shall pray for you, for him will I accept.
Promises to true contri∣tion or hu∣miliation.
This sorrow shall not be everlasting, but it shall end in com∣fort.
Luke 6 21.
Doler p••op∣ter off••n∣sum Deum per nostra peccata.
See Ier. 21. The meeke shall increase their ioy in the Lord, and the poore a∣mong men shall re∣ioyce in the holy one of Israel, Esay 29.19.
See Esay 65 13, ••4. & 60.5, 10, 11, 12.13. Psal. 10.5. Mat. 11.28 Ier. 31.18, 19 20. Psal. 51.17.
Esay 30.19 Zach. 8.19.
2 Cor. 1.3, 4, 5.
God will make him∣s••l••e mar∣vellous in their delive∣rance, when all other humane helpes and comfo••ts faile, Esay ••3.18, 9, 20, 21.
Zach. 13.1.
The second benefit this sorrow will bring, is, that it will make us ca∣pable of and able to thrive in every saving grace.
Such shall attaine to a cleare, cer∣taine, and sanctified knowledge of the truth. Such shall get power over their corruptions, Eccles. 7.3. 2 Chron. 32.26.
Counterfeit humiliation, hath beene effectuall for the turning away of Gods iudge∣ments. 2 Chron. 12.12.
1 King 21.29.
Ambrose said to Mo¦nica the mother of Austin, when with many tea••es, s••e bewai¦led her ••ons unconversi∣on, Fieri non potest, ut 〈…〉〈…〉 l••ch••y••a¦rum perea•• It could not be that the Son of so many teares should pe∣rish. Aug. Confess l. 3 c. 13.