Chap. 1.] THE SAINTS' REST. 27 in his throne. Thou, poor soul, who prayest for joy, wait - est for joy, complainest for want of joy, longest for joy ; thou then shalt have full joy, as much as thou canst hold, and more than ever thou thoughtest on, or thy heart de- sired. In the meantime, walk carefully; watch constant- ly, and then let God measure out to thee thy times and de- grees ofjoy. It may be he keeps them until thou hast more need. Thou hadst better lose thy comfort than thy safety. If thou shouldst die full of fears and sorrows, it will be but a moment, and they are all gone, and concluded in joy inconceivable. As the joy of the hypocrite, so the fears of the upright are but for a moment. " God's anger endureth but a moment ; in his favor is life ; weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning." O blessed morning ! Poor, humble, drooping soul, how would it fill thee with joy now, if a voice from heaven should tell thee of the love of God, the pardon of thy sins, and assure thee of thy part in these joys ! What, then will thy joy be, when thy actual possession shall convince thee of thy title, and thou shalt be in heaven before thou art well aware ! And it is not thy joy only ; it is a mutualjoy, as well as a mutual love. Is there joy in heaven at thy conversion, and will there be none at thy glorification ? Will not the angels welcome thee thither, and congratulate thy safe ar- rival ? Yes, it is the joy of Jesus Christ ; for now he hath the end of his undertaking, labor, suffering, dying, when we have our joys ; when he is glorified in his saints, and admired in all them that believe ; when he sees of the tra- vail of his soul, and is satisfied. This is Christ's harvest, when he shall reap the fruit of his labors ; and it will not repent him concerning his sufferings, but he will rejoice over his purchased inheritance, and his people will rejoice in him. Yea, the Father himself puts on joy, too, in our joy. As we grieve his Spirit, and weary him with our ini- quities, so he is rejoiced in our good. O how quickly does he now spy a returning prodigal, even afar off ! How does he run and meet him ! And with what compassion does be fall on his neck, and kiss him, and put on him the best robe, and a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet, and kills the fatted calf, to eat and be merry ! This is indeed a happy meeting; but nothing to the embracing and joy
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