FRom Christian hope or confidence, ariseth consolation, which is, a confirmation of the soule, against the griefe and feare that doth oppresse it, for it is not properly a rejoicing of the soule (as some thinke) but rather a repression, or a mitigation, o[gap] an allaying of griefe, feare, or sadnesse. For that man is said to receive comfort and consolation, when he hath in some sort put away griefe, although joy be not yet come in the place, or if his sadnesse, and sorrow, be at least in some sort mitigated, and lessend. For sometimes there may be a mixture of sorrow and consolation together. Neither are men either perfectly well or perfectly ill, when they begin to receive consolation, Esa. 40. 1, 2. Now concerning this consolation

The first Question is, whether a believer may attaine unto solid comfort against all kinds of evill?

1. Ans. He may. For▪ 1. God the Father in respect of the faithfull is the God of all consolation, comforting them in all afflictions. 2 Cor. 1. 3, 4.

2. Secondly, Christ is the principle, or fountaine by which the comfort of the faithfull doth flow. 2 Cor. 1. 5.

3. Thirdly, the holy Ghost is the comforter of all believers imparting unto them all consolation, Iohn 14. 16. 26 & 15. 26. & 16. 7. 13.

4. Fourthly, the whole Scripture maketh for the consolation of the faithfull, Rom. 15. 4.

5. Fifthly, this consolation is made strong by the immutable counsell of God, and by his strengthning of believers, Heb. 6. 17, 18.

6. Together with this consolation God doth joyne the confirmation of his grace, which consists in a reparing of their strength, and in a fortifying of them against troubles. For whereas the faithfull oft times like weake women, through the apprehension of some terrible evill, doe fall as it were into

a swound, and all their strength is dissolved, God on the other side in this defect makes a supply by his grace of confirmation: we have a notable example of this, Dan. 10. & 8. There remained no strength in me, & 10. And behold a hand touched me which set me upon my knees, and upon the palms of my hands, and he said unto me, stand upright, and 18. Then there came againe and toucht me one like the appearance of a man, and he strengthned me and said, O man greatly beloved feare no[gap], peace be unto thee, be strong, yea be strong, and when he had spoken unto me I was strengthned, and said let my Lord speake[gap] for thou hast strengthned me. And this is a grace which we are commanded to seek for, Heb. 12. 12.