Afterward it brings forth peaceable fruit
It is certain that this affliction, for the present, is not joyful but painful. Nevertheless, afterward it brings forth peaceable fruit (Hebrews 12:11) to those who are trained by it. Blessed, therefore, are those who mourn in this way, if they wait for the Lord's time, and do not allow themselves to be turned out of the way by the miserable comforters of the world, if they resolutely reject all the comforts of sin, of folly, and of vanity, all the idle diversions and amusements of the world, all the pleasures which perish in the using, and which only tend to numb and stupefy the soul, so that it may be aware neither of itself nor of God. Blessed are those who follow on to know the Lord, and steadily refuse all other comfort. They shall be comforted by the consolations of his Spirit, by a fresh manifestation of his love, by such a witness of his accepting them in the Beloved (Ephesians 1:6) as shall never again be taken away from them. This full assurance of faith swallows up all doubt, as well as all tormenting fear, God now giving them a sure hope of an enduring substance, and strong consolation through grace. Without disputing whether it is possible for any of those to fall away who were once enlightened and made partakers of the Holy Ghost (Hebrews 6:4), it is enough for them to say, by the power now resting upon them, Who shall separate us from the love of Christ (Romans 8:35)? I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height nor depth, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
1771 text
4. Sure it is that this affliction for the present is not joyous but grievous. Nevertheless, afterward it bringeth forth peaceable fruit unto them that are exercised thereby. Blessed therefore are they that thus mourn, if they tarry the Lord’s leisure, and suffer not themselves to be turned out of the way, by the miserable comforters of the world; if they resolutely reject all the comforts of sin, of folly and vanity; all the idle diversions and amusements of the world, all the pleasures which perish in the using, and which only tend to benumb and stupify the soul, that it may neither be sensible of itself nor God. Blessed are they who follow on to know the Lord, and steadily refuse all other comfort. They shall be comforted by the consolations of his Spirit, by a fresh manifestation of his love; by such a witness of his accepting them in the Beloved, as shall never more be taken away from them. This full assurance of faith swallows up all doubt, as well as all tormenting fear; God now giving them a sure hope of an enduring substance and strong consolation through grace. Without disputing, whether it be possible for any of those to fall away, who were once enlightened and made partakers of the Holy Ghost, it suffices them to say, by the power now resting upon them, Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? I am persuaded, that neither death nor life, nor things present, nor things to come: nor height nor depth――shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord!