3. Degrees of Comfort
James Buchanan
The comfort of which we have spoken – arising from our views of God’s truth, the sanctification of our nature, and the inward witness of the Spirit – may exist in various degrees, according to the greater or lesser extent of our spiritual attainments. This is intimated to us, as well as the duty of seeking for a large measure of gospel comfort, in Paul’s prayer, “The God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost”.
From the manner in which this prayer is expressed, we may learn that there is an intimate and mutual relation between the constituent elements of which the Christian’s comfort is composed. There must first be present joy and peace in believing, before we can experience a lively hope for our future prospects; as it will invariably be found that there is no real hope of eternal life hereafter, until we are enabled so to believe the gospel as to enjoy some measure of peace now. Those therefore who complain of the lack of confidence should be directed in the first instance to those simple elements of gospel truth which are fitted to give immediate relief and comfort to the sinner. And those who have experienced some small measure of peace, and have been enabled occasionally to look forward with something like hope to the future, should be encouraged to seek after larger measures of these blissful feelings, so that, “being filled with all joy and peace in believing, [they] may abound in hope through the power of the Holy Ghost”.
This is alike their duty and their privilege. It is their duty, since God Himself requires them to “give diligence to make their calling and election sure”; and it is their privilege, for this abundant consolation and this good hope through grace are declared to be attainable, and every believer will acknowledge that they are most desirable. And He who is revealed as “the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort,” is willing to give the Spirit to them that ask Him; and the Spirit is willing to impart His consolations, for He is “the good Spirit”, “the Spirit of grace”, who is grieved when His consolations are slighted and is ever ready “to bind up the broken-hearted . . . to comfort all that mourn”.
But while believers are encouraged by these considerations to expect and seek for a larger measure of joy and peace and hope than they have yet experienced, they must ever remember that these blessings are to be sought for in the way of duty and in the use of the ordinary means of grace. It is, first, by faith, by believing the testimony of God in the gospel; and, second, by “diligence in duty”, giving all diligence to make our calling and election sure; and, third, by prayer for ourselves and for others – it is by these and similar means that we may expect to obtain what Paul prayed for on behalf of his converts: “The God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing; that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost”.
Now, taking a calm and comprehensive review of all that has been said on the work of the Holy Spirit, both in the conversion of sinners and in the edification of His people, how appropriate to the case of every reader, whatever his character, are these prayers of David: “Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from Thy presence; and take not Thy Holy Spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of Thy salvation; and uphold me with Thy free Spirit.” “Teach me to do Thy will; for Thou art my God: Thy Spirit is good; lead me into the land of uprightness.”