THY COMFORTS DELIGHT MY SOUL

"And He said unto them, Why are ye troubled? And why do thoughts arise in your hearts?" -Luke 24:38 [KJV]

Help, O help us, Thou dear Lord, Who spake these words to Thy affrighted disciples, to gather some sweet consolation from them to our hearts this night. We know Thou prayest for us, when Thou prayest for all who should believe on Thee. (John 17:20.) O speak in life and power these words to our troubled hearts, and for the rising thoughts of distress. Thine is the power: Thine shall be the glory. 

(1st.) We here see, though their dear Lord was present, yet his beloved disciples were troubled. Yea, and though he had but that moment pronounced peace unto you, yet fears again rose in their hearts. They were as we are, flesh, as well as spirit: men of like passions with us. The frights, fears and troubles which nature is subject to, discompose the spiritual frames of disciples. 

But, (2d.) They do not alter our state, nor separate us from the love of Christ. This is a cordial under all heart troubles, and the rising of all evil, blasphemous, filthy or horrid thoughts. 

For, (3d.) Christ is touched with the feeling of our infirmities. He sympathizes with us in what is distressing to us. He asks, Why are ye troubled? Why do ye give way to unreasonable fears and terrors, which distract and distress your minds? 

(4th.) He takes pains to remove them. Says He, “Behold My hands and My feet, that it is Myself:” no other than your dear and loving Saviour. O the condescending grace of Christ! He manifests Himself to us. A sight of a risen Christ by faith, expels troubles and fears from our hearts. 

Therefore, (5th.) Whatever troubles, fears, dejections, terrors, or distress, arise in our hearts, we are encouraged with all freedom of soul, and boldness of hope, to go to Him. Now, to the shame of our hearts, and the sorrow of our souls, have not you and I acted contrary to this? Instead of simply going to Christ with our heart troubles, and soul distresses, have we not questioned Christ’s love to us, and care for us? Thus Satan gets an advantage over us: our Saviour gets no glory from us. O fools that we are, and slow of heart to believe, that Jesus died for our sins, rose again for our justification, and that He is able to save unto the uttermost—ALL them that come unto God by Him, seeing He ever liveth to make intercession for them (Hebrews 7:25.) 

Up then with faith, and down with fears: away with all thoughts that trouble our hearts. Look from within: look up. Jesus is before the throne for us. “In the multitude of my thoughts within me, Thy comforts delight my soul.” “Though I walk in the midst of trouble, Thou wilt revive me” Psalm 94:19, 138:7. 

 

My troubles, Lord, are known to Thee, 

Thou hast a loving heart, 

To feel with tender sympathy, 

And bid them all depart. 

While I pass through this vale of tears, 

How oft my spirit sinks, 

Daily beset with doubts and fears; 

But Jesus of me thinks.

 

-preacher Wm. Mason (1724-1797 A.D.)

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