Spiritual Comfort

Is the comfort, with which the saints are favoured, spiritual and holy comfort? Let no man then conclude,- that he is a true Christian, merely because he has felt on some occasions, natural and sensible consolation. Natural, outward, and sensible consolation is one thing; spiritual, inward, and holy comfort is another, and a very different thing. The former, is natural, and is common both to saints and sinners; the latter, is spiritual, and is peculiar only to the saints: that, is outward and sensitive, proceeding, under common providential Prov. xiv. 10. influence, from a man's natural constitution of body; this, is inward and holy, and is effected by the Holy Spirit the Comforter, dwelling in the soul. Spiritual consolation is sometimes sensible, as well as that which is natural; or rather, the former might (as it sometimes is) be styled, sensible consolation, and the latter, sensitive delight. Spiritual comfort, delights chiefly the rational and inward faculties of the soul; natural comfort, pleases only the outward and sensitive faculties of it, namely, the imagination, the natural spirits, and even the external senses. The former, is wrought in the heart, by the Holy Spirit, according to the word, spiritually understood and believed; the latter, is often produced by the external manner of the reader or preacher of the word; such as, his elocution, tone, and action. Persons of a soft natural constitution of body, have this1 sensitive delight, oftener, and in greater measure, than they of a contrary temperament. When the one, is enjoyed by the saints, they commonly can assign some reason for it; when the other, is felt by persons of any description, they usually can give no reason for the delightful sensation; but only that, something they know not what, has made a pleasing impression upon them. Spiritual comfort, is the opposite of trouble of mind on spiritual accounts; natural comfort, is the opposite of melancholy, which is a bodily disease: the former, as I already observed, is the special work of the Holy Spirit, in the hearts of sincere believers; the latter, proceeds from natural and external causes; and it is often raised by Satan, in order to confirm sinners in their delusion and hypocrisy. They hypocrites in Zion, mentioned by Isaiahf, *• took delight in approaching to God;" and the hearers compared by our Lord to the stony ground, "immediately received the word with gladness *." Thus it appears, that thousands of men and women, whose unholy lives, demonstrate them to be utter strangers to spiritual and holy consolation, have, nevertheless, on some occasions, much natural and sensible delight. Let no man therefore conclude, that he is a true Christian, merely because he has felt much sensible, and even transporting joy; for his joy may be nothing but a natural sensation.John Colquhoun

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

"Heaven is my throne...Isaiah 63"

GOD'S REJECTION OF ALL MATERIAL TEMPLES. There was a time when it could be said that there was a house of God on earth. That was a time of symbols, when as yet the Church of God was in her childhood. She was being taught her A B C, reading her picture-book, for she could not as yet read the Word of God, as it were in letters. She had need to have pictures put before her, patterns of the heavenly things. Even then, the enlightened amongst the Jews knew well that God did not dwell between curtains, and that it was not possible that He could be encompassed in the most holy place within the veil It was only a symbol of His presence. But the time of symbols is now passed altogether. In that moment when the Saviour bowed His head, and said "It is finished! " the veil of the temple was rent in twain, so that the mysteries were laid open. So, one reason why God saith He dwelleth not in temples made with hands, is, because He would have us know that the symbolical worship is ended...
Read more

Hosea 4:6. My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge

In a short time there will (we have reason to fear) remain but two kinds of persons among us, either those who think not at all, or those whose imaginations are active indeed, but continually evil. Of these latter it may be said, "Their foolish heart was darkened." Of the principles, I do not say of the detail, of political science, a sound theology is the only sure and steady basis. Now we trace the operations by which a destruction so extended in its consequences has been effected. The master-spring of every principle which can permanently secure the stability of a people is the fear and knowledge of Almighty God. The first operation of a principle of atheism, and perhaps one of the most formidable in its consequences, is that which leads political men to conceive of Christianity as a mere auxiliary to the State. Religion was not instituted (in the Divine council I mean) for the purpose of society and government, but society and government for the purposes of religion. As a...
Read more

Lo, I am with you always

Lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen. (Matthew 28:20) SUCH were “the words of Jesus” when He was just about to ascend to Heaven. The mediatorial throne was in view – the harps of glory were sounding in His ears; but all His thoughts are on the pilgrim Church He is to leave behind. His last words and benedictions are for them. “I go,” He seems to say, “to Heaven, to my purchased crown – to the fellowship of angels – to the presence of my Father; but nevertheless, ‘Lo! I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.’” How faithfully did the apostles, to whom this promise was first addressed, experience its reality! Hear the testimony of the beloved disciple who had once leaned on his Divine Master’s bosom – who “had heard, and seen, and looked upon Him.” That glorified bosom was now hid from his sight but does he speak of an absent Lord, and of His fellowship only as among the holy memories of the past? No! With rejoicing emphasis he can exclaim – “Truly o...
Read more