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I. WHAT THERE IS IN THE WORD OF GOD WHICH TENDS TO THE DELIGHT OF HIS PEOPLE IN DISTRESS.

1. The most comfortable discoveries.

(1) That God stands in the most endearing relations to His people. He is their Shepherd, Father, Friend, God.

(2) That the way was made for the settling of these endeared relations in which God stands to His people by the sufferings and death of His own Son.

(3) That God is hereupon become the Father of mercies and the God of all consolation, ready freely to give out all the blessings which Christ hath purchased at the dearest rate.

(4) That a way of access is now open, whereby the children of God may come to Him, their Father, upon all occasions, in hope of obtaining mercy, and finding grace to help them in time of need.

(5) That the Spirit of grace is come from heaven to take up His abode in the people of God, and to be their Guide thither.

(6) That the eternal state of rewards is laid open to their faith.

2. The most comfortable promises, fitted to yield delight from their nature, their number, and their extent.

(1) How sweet is the promise of the pardon of sin and acceptance with God when read with application.

(2) All happiness is summed up in the promise of heaven at last, and so can't hut be big with the truest delight now.

(3) The promise of God's presence by the way, that all things shall work together for His people's good.

3. The most comfortable are examples of God's compassion and grace in appearing for His people; as in the case of David, Job, and the three Hebrew worthies that were cast into the fiery furnace, and brought out unhurt.

4. The most comfortable provisions, and these suitable to the various characters which His saints are to bear, and the states they are in while they are in this world.

(1) As they are pilgrims and strangers, its precepts and directions mark out their way; showing them the narrow path in which they are to walk; and its warnings and threatenings discover the snares they are to avoid, that they may be safe.

(2) As probationers for eternity we are acquainted with our work, and where our strength lies for the doing it.

II. THE PERSONS TO WHOSE DELIGHT IT ACTUALLY CONDUCES. They are the children of God, and none else.

1. They only are spiritually enlightened to discern the great and comfortable things contained in the Word of God.

2. They have the highest value for it.

3. They have their hearts and ways suited to it.

III. HOW IS IT THAT IT DOES THIS?

1. As believed, considered, and applied by the saints.

2. As impressed and set home by the Spirit.

IV. WHEN MAY A CHILD OF GOD FIND COMFORT FROM GOD'S WORD?

1. In the times of great and sore affliction which they fall into while they live. It acquaints them —

(1) That these have been the lot of some of God's choicest favourites in their way to heaven.

(2) That afflictions are consistent with God's special love to His people, and their covenant relation to Him.

(3) That afflictions are not only consistent with the love of God, but often the instances of it (Hebrews 12:6, 7).

(4) That though afflictions are deserved by sin, they are laid upon the people of God with a design to cure it (Isaiah 27:9).

(5) That though for wise ends God brings them under the rod, He considers their frame, and remembers that they are but dust, and will not increase the trial, either as to degree, or continuance, beyond what He will enable them to bear.

(6) That under times of affliction God has chosen to let out His love more freely to His people than at other seasons. And who would not be reconciled to the rod to know and taste more of His promise to the Church (Hosea 2:14)?

2. It is fitted to delight them when they are called to die; and to do this as teaching them —

(1) That as dying God will be with them.

(2) That immediately after death they shall be with Him.

V. THE NATURE OF THE DELIGHT OR CONSOLATION DERIVED FROM THE WORD.

1. It is truly divine, and the consolation of God. It has the Word of God for its ground, and the Spirit of God for its author.

2. It is real and solid (Psalm 119:14, 54).

3. It is rational and justifiable.

4. It is holy.

5. It is sometimes vigorous and strong.

6. It is the foretaste of heaven, and is working upward to meet that fulness of joy which there is in God's presence.APPLICATION —

1. Is there so much in the Word of God to delight the soul? O what a dark disconsolate place would this earth be without it.

2. Get into the number of the children of God, who are the only ones prepared to take the comfort of His Word.

3. Under all your troubles run to the Word of God for relief; and in conversing with it, pray for the Spirit to enlighten your minds, sanctify your hearts, fit you to take comfort in it, and so to work in you the comfort He hath fitted you for.

4. And as ever you would have solid consolation —

(1) Value and labour after grace and holiness as the ground of it. Be as earnest for grace as you are for comfort and peace.

(2) Expect the comfort you need in God's way by humbling yourselves and turning to God in case of sin, and by attending His ordinances and the institutions of His house.

(3) Wait for comfort in God's time, and presume not to prescribe to Him, but continue to pray and look up for it.

(D. Wilcox.)

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KJV: Unless thy law had been my delights, I should then have perished in mine affliction.

WEB: Unless your law had been my delight, I would have perished in my affliction.