inconstancy, by which they must needs perish, and leave the soul without
all comfort, and with more anxiety. But in those things written here we
find all things suited and proportioned to the very great exigence of the
soul. There is a suitableness in them, because of their spiritual
nature, whereby they may close immediately with thy spirit. Other
things are material and corporeal, and what union, what fellowship can a
spirit be supposed to have with them? They are extrinsic, advenient
things, that never come to a nearer union with thy soul; and though they
could, they would debase thy soul, and not exalt it, because of a baser
inferior nature. But these things, Jesus Christ, eternal life in him,
these precious promises of the gospel, these spiritual privileges of
Son-ship, &c., these are of a more divine nature, and by meditation and
faith souls come to close with them. These are inward things more near
the soul that believes, than himself is to himself; and so he may always
carry them about in his heart, which may be a spring of everlasting joy.
This no man can take from him. John xvi. 22. For the ground and fountain
is inward, seated without the reach of all these vicissitudes and changes.
Then, as they have a suitableness, so they have a fulness in them, to
create fulness of joy. They are cordials to the heart, things that are in
their own nature refreshing to the soul, and apt to beget heart-joy. Other
things are not suitable to this, to produce any such inward
soul-complacency. The things that are from without reach not so deep as
the heart; they make their impressions rather on the outward senses, to
tickle and please them, or the countenance, to put some pleasing shape
upon it. But the wise man pronounceth all those joys that arise from
external things to be superficial, only skin-deep. "In the midst of
laughter the heart is sorrowful, and the end of that mirth is heaviness,"
Prov. xiv. 13. _Extrema gaudii luctus occupat_.(235) There is no solid
recreation to the soul in its retired thoughts, from all the delights of
the senses; it is but like the pleasure of the itch, which no man esteems
pleasure. But besides, as the things of the gospel affect the heart and
soul by bringing soul-mercies and treasures, as forgiveness of sin, hope
of heaven, &c., so there is a fulness in them, which may answerably fill
all the corners of the heart with joy. There is an unexhaustedness in
these things, an universalit