5. And thus is the scripture fulfilled, _Blessed are they that mourn, for they shall be comforted_. For ’tis easy to believe, that though sorrow may precede this witness of God’s Spirit with our spirit, (indeed _must_, in some degree, while we groan under fear, and a sense of the wrath of God abiding on us) yet as soon as any man feeleth it in himself, his _sorrow is turned into joy_. Whatsoever his pain may have been before, yet as soon as that _hour is come, he remembereth the anguish no more, for joy_ that he is born of God. It may be, many of _you_ have now sorrow, because you are _aliens from the common-wealth of_ Israel; because you are conscious to yourselves that you have not this Spirit, that you are _without hope and without_ God _in the world_. But when the Comforter is come, [16]_then your heart shall rejoice; yea, your joy shall be full_, and _that joy no man taketh from you_. [17]_We joy in_ God, will ye say, _through our_ Lord Jesus Christ, _by whom we have now received the atonement: by whom we have access into this grace_, this state of grace, of favour, of reconciliation with God, _wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of_ God. Ye, saith St. _Peter_, whom [18]God _hath begotten again unto a lively hope, are kept by the power of_ God _unto salvation――wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: that the trial of your faith――may be found unto praise, and honour, and glory, at the appearing of_ Jesus Christ――_In whom, though now ye see him not, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory_. Unspeakable indeed! It is not for the tongue of man to describe this joy in the Holy Ghost. It is _hidden manna, which no man knoweth, save he that receiveth it_. But this we know, it not only remains, but overflows in the depth of affliction. _Are the consolations of_ God _small_ with his children, when all earthly comforts fail? Not so. But when sufferings most abound, the consolations of his Spirit do much more abound: insomuch that the sons of God _laugh at destruction when it cometh_; at want, pain, hell, and the grave; as knowing him who _hath the keys of death and hell_, and will shortly _cast them into the bottomless pit_: As hearing even now the _great voice out of heaven, saying_, [19]_Behold the tabernacle of_ God _is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and_ God _himself shall be with them, and be their_ God. _And_ God _shall wipe away all tears from their eyes, and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying: neither shall there be any more pain; for the former things are past away_.