Blessed are they that mourn
For sin, for their own sins; the sin of their nature, indwelling
sin, which is always working in them, and is a continual grief of
mind to them; the unbelief of their hearts, notwithstanding the
many instances, declarations, promises, and discoveries of grace
made unto them; their daily infirmities, and many sins of life,
because they are committed against a God of love, grace, and
mercy, grieve the Spirit, and dishonour the Gospel of Christ: who
mourn also for the sins of others, for the sins of the world, the
profaneness and wickedness that abound in it; and more especially
for the sins of professors, by reason of which, the name of God,
and ways of Christ, are evil spoken of: who likewise mourn under
afflictions, spiritual ones, temptations, desertions, and
declensions; temporal ones, their own, which they receive, either
more immediately from the hand of God, or from men; such as they
endure for the sake of Christ, and the profession of his Gospel;
and who sympathize with others in their afflictions. These, how
sorrowful and distressed soever they may appear, are blessed
for they shall be comforted:
here in this life, by the God of all comfort, by Christ the
comforter; by the Spirit of God, whose work and office it is to
comfort; by the Scriptures of truth, which are written for their
consolation; by the promises of the Gospel, through which the
heirs of promise have strong consolation; by the ordinances of
it, which are breasts of consolation; and by the ministers of the
word, who have a commission from the Lord to speak comfortably to
them; and then are they comforted, when they have the discoveries
of the love of God, manifestations of pardoning grace, through
the blood of Christ, and enjoy the divine presence: and they
shall be comforted hereafter; when freed from all the troubles of
this life, they shall be blessed with uninterrupted communion
with Father, Son, and Spirit, and with the happy society of
angels and glorified saints. ( Isaiah
61:1-3 ) seems to be referred to, both in this, and in the
preceding verse.
