Chap. XVI That True Comfort Is to Be Sought in God Alone
1. Whatsoever I can desire or imagine for my comfort, I look not for it in this life, but hereafter.
For if I alone should have all the comforts of this world, and might enjoy all its delights, it is certain they could not last long.
Wherefore thou canst not, O my soul, be fully comforted, nor perfectly delighted, but in God, the comforter of the poor, and the support of the humble.
Expect a little while, my soul, wait for the divine promise, and thou shalt have plenty of all that is good in heaven.
If thou desirest too inordinately these present things, thou wilt lose those that are heavenly and everlasting.
Let temporal things serve thy use, but the eternal be the object of thy desire.
Thou canst not be fully satisfied with any temporal good, because thou wast not created for the enjoyment of such things.
2. Although thou shouldst have all created goods, yet this could not make thee happy and blessed: but in God, who created all things, all thy beatitude and happiness consists.
Not such a happiness as is seen or cried up by the foolish admirers of this world, but such as good Christians look for, and of which they that are spiritual and clean of heart, whose conversation is in heaven, have sometimes a foretaste.
All human comfort is vain and short.
Blessed and true is that comfort which is inwardly received from truth.
A devout man always carrieth about with him Jesus his Comforter, and saith to him, be with me, O Lord Jesus, in all places, and at all times.
Let this be my consolation, to be willing to want all human comfort.
And if thy comfort also be withdrawn, let thy will, and just appointment for my trial be to me as the greatest of comforts.
For thou wilt not always be angry, nor wilt thou threaten for ever. Psalms cii.