71. PART I. of religious AffeElions. and to a& as tho' they hated themfelves ; there was nothing in their View, that could induce them thus to Puffer, and fupport them un- der, and carry them thro' fuch Trials. But altho' there was nothing that was feen, nothing that the World faw, or that the Chriftians themfelves ever law with their bodily Eyes, that thus influenced and fupported.. 'em ; yet they had a fupernatural Principle of Love to fomething unfeen ; they loved Jefus Chrift, for they law him fpiritu- ally, whom the World faw not, and whom they themfelves had never feen with bodily Eyes. 2. 'joy in Chrifl. Tho' their outward Sufferings were very grie vous, yet their inward fpiritual Joys were greater than their Suffer- ings, and thefe fupported them, and enabled them to fufrer with Chearfulnefs. There are two Things which the Apoftle takes Notice of in the Text concerning this Joy. I. The Manner in which it riles, the Way in which Chrift, tho' unfeen, is the Foundation of it, viz. By Faith ; which is the Evidence of Things not feen ; In whom, though now ye fee him not, yet beleiving, ye rejoice - - -. 2. The Nature nf this Joy ; unJpeakable, and full of Glory. Unfpeakable in the Kind of it ; very different from worldly Joys, and carnal Delights ; of a vaftly more pure, fublime and heavenly Nature, being fomething fuperna- rural, and truly divine, and fo ineffably excellent ; the Sublimity, and exquifite Sweetnefs of which, there were no Words to Pet forth. Unfpeakable alto in Degree ; it pleafing God to give 'em this holy Joy, with a liberal Hand, and in large Meafure, in their State of Perfecution. Their Joy wasfull of Glory : Altho' the Joy was unfpeakable, and no Words were fufficient to defcribe it ; yet fomething might be Paid of it, and no Words more fit to reprefent it's Excellency, than thefe, that it was full of Glory ; or, as it is in the Original, glorified Joy. In rejoicing with this Joy, their Minds were filled, as it were, with a glorious Brightnefs, and their Natures exalted and perfe ted It was a moft worthy, noble Rejoicing, that did not corrupt and de- bale the Mind, as many carnal Joys do; but did greatly beautify and dignify it : It was a Prelibation of the Joy of Heaven, that railed their Minds to a Degree of heavenly Bleífednefs : ':It fill'd their Minds with"the Light of God's Glory, and made 'em themfelves to thine with fome Communication of that Glory. Hence the Propofition or Do&rine, that I would raife. from thefe Words' is this, DOCT. True Religion, in great Part, confi/is in holy ilfeltions. We fee that the Apoftle, in obferving and remarking the Opera- tions and Exercifes of Religion, in the Chriftians he wrote to, wherein B 2 their
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