to troubled sinners, that it casteth abroad a lustre and beauty
on the feet of the messengers that carry it, Isa. xl. It is a cordial in
affliction, whether outward or inward, and it is withal the only true
comfort of prosperity. It allayeth the bitterness of things that cross us,
and filleth up the emptiness of things that pretend to please us, it
giveth sweetness to the one, and true sweetness to the other. Reason
then--that should always be welcome to us, which we stand always in need
of, that it should always be new and fresh in our affection, which is
always recent and new in its operation and efficacy toward us. Other news
how great or good soever, suppose they were able to fill the hearts of all
in a nation with joy, yet they grow stale, they lose their virtue within
few days. What footsteps or remainder is of all the triumphs and trophies
of nations, of all their solemnities for their victorious success at home
and abroad? These great news, which once were the subject of the discourse
of and delight of many thousands,--who report them now with delight? So
those things that may cause joy and triumph to some at this time, as they
cannot choose but make more hearts sad than glad; so they will quickly
lose even that efficacy they have, and become tasteless as the white of an
egg, to them that are most ravished with them. But, my beloved, here is
glad tidings of a Redeemer come to Zion to save sinners, which have no
occasion of sadness in them to any, but to those who are not so happy as
to consider them, or believe them, and they are this day, after many
hundred, I may say thousand, years since they were first published, as
green and recent, as refreshing to wearied souls, as ever they were. Yea,
such is the nature of them, and such an everlasting spring of consolation
is in them, that the oftener they be told, and the more they be
considered, the sweeter they are. They grow green in old age, and bring
forth fruit, and are fat and flourishing; and indeed it is the never-dying
virtue and everlasting sap of this word of life, that maketh the righteous
so, Psal. xcii. 14. This word of a Redeemer at the first publishing, and
for a long time, was but like waters issuing out from under the threshold,
and then they came to the ankles, when it was published to a whole nation;
but still the longer it swells the higher above knees, and loins, till it
be a great inexhausted river, and thus it runs at this day through the
world,