A treatise on comforting afflicted consciences - The Digital Puritan

;•268 INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMFORTINGCHAP. VIII.The former Principla confirmed by Two more Reasons, and byAatliority.Reason 3. A third reason may be taken from its part andinterest in the fountain of salvation and rivers of livingwater. He that thirsts after grace is already entitled to thewell of life and fulness of heavenly bliss, by a promise fromGod's own mouth, in Kev. xxi, 6, " I will give to himthat is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely."In that place, after God himself had confirmed and crownedthe truth and certainty of the gloriousness of the holy city,and the happiness of the inhabitants thereof, with a solemnasseveration of his own immutability and everlastingness—" It is done. 1 am Alpha and Omega, the beginning andthe end" — he then notifies and describes the persons towhom the promise and possession of so great and excellentglory doth appertain, and those also which shall be eternallyabandoned from the presence of God, and burned inthe lake of fire and brimstone for ever.Inhabitants of heaven elect are —:1. Humble souls, thirsting after grace, God's favour, andthat blessed fountain open to all broken hearts for sin anduncleanness, "1 will give to him that is athirst of the wellof the water of life freely" (ver. 6).2. Christ's champions here upon earth against the powersof darkness, and conquerors of their own corruptions. " Hethat overcometh shall inherit all things ; and i will be hisGod, and he shall be my son" (ver. 7). But the fearful,&CC. are marked out for hell (ver. 8); for all that cursedcrew and slaves of sin are overcome of Satan and their ownlusts, and so carried away captives into everlasting miseryand woe.Cast not away thy confidence then, poor heart ; no, notin the lowest languishings of thy afflicted soul. If thou beable to say sincerely with David (Psalm cxliii), " My soulthirsteth after thee as a thirsty land ;" if thou feel in thyaffections a hearty hunger after righteousness, both infusedand imputed, as well after power against, as pardon of sinbe assured the well of life stands already wide open untothee, and in due time thou shalt drink thy fill. Thy soulshall be fully satisfied with the excellencies of Jesus Christ,evangelical joys, " as with marrow and fatness," and thoushalt be abundantly refreshed out of the river of his plea-