Ver.13. the 17th Chapter of St. JO H N. 183 leffened, but increafed, that this Spiritual Joy may be fulfilled. Thefe two latter are of chief regard. [Maybe fulfilled] ; not only aceomplifhed, but be abundant, as Chap. i . ia. Thai year Joy may be full. The filling up of Joy, is a Phrafe proper to S. john Ch.3. 29. This my Joy therefore is fulfilled; faith John the Baptif, becaufe he heard the Bridegroom's Voice. So, r John e. 4. Thefe things we write unto lox, that your Joy may, be fell. And 2 Epif. 1'2. veril I traf to come unto you, and fpealt face to face, that our Joy may be full. Pofltbly this Joy is called a Full Joy; not with refpeet to it felt, but with refpe& to other Joys : In it fell it is always a growing, and receiveth a daily increafe, till it be perfe&ed in Heaven. Here we have but Come fore- running Beams of the Noon of Glory, the firft Fruits of. the Harveft. The Joy of the World, is a lank empty Joy. [In themfeelves] 5 that is, in their Hearts, by their own feeling and experience: they have need of fomething within, for they have nothing without. John 16.33. In the World ye 'hall have tribulation ; but be of good comfort, I have overcome the World. To draw all to fume do &rival Head and Iffue. Of Chrills coming to God, I have fpoken already. I might obferve the force of the Word to comfort the Heart, Thefe things I fpeak, that my Joy may be fulfilled. But I (hall con tent my felt with two Ob- fervations. r. ObC That this Prayer of Clarif'a, is a Fountain of Confolation. This Joy arifeth from the things he now (poke in the World ; partly, becaufe here we have a tape of ChriR's Heart, how zealoully he is affe &ed for our Good. When he took his leave of us, lie took his leave of us with Bleffings and Supplications. Partly, becaufe here we have a Copy, Model, or Counterpart of his Intercef ion, Here you may know what he is now doing for you in Heaven. Chritt is their Advocate and Interceffor, he plead - eth their Right, and fueth for Blefíings; he prayed for their Prefervation, Unity, and Glory. There are two ways to know Chrift's Intercefilon, by this Record, and his Interceffion in our Hearts. Rom. 8.26. The Spirit it felf maketh Interceffton in us, with groanings that cannot be uttered. The Spirit teflifìeth to our Hearts, the Quality of that interceffron Chril maketh for us in Heaven, it is the Eccho of it ; the inward Interpellation of the Soul, is the Eccho of Chrifi's Interceffson. Now, that the Word and Spirit mutt go together, the Form of it is left upon Record : Here is a Pub - lick Record to look upon in all Difcomforts and Troubles of the Church : And this breedeth a full Joy. Partly, becaufe Chriffs Prayers are as fo many Promifes t he pray- etli for Excellent Ble(ftngs, and is Pure of Audience. Well then, remember there Prayers of Chrifi for your Comfort; when we are preffed down with any Evils .in the World, let us run to Chrift's Prayers. As Luther Paid, Let us ling the 46th Pflm ; fo fay I, Let us Meditate on Jahn 17. here is a Remedy for all the Afïliflions of the Church. 2. Obferve; Chrifi's careto leave his People joyful ; and careful he is, very follicitous about it before his departure. Firf t I (hall enquire what this Joy is that Chrill would effablilh. e. For the Kind of it, My Joy; not a Worldly Joy, but Heavenly ; not Corporal; but Spiritual it ill befeemeth Chriftians to Cet their Hearts on Earthly Things, or fut.:,` fee the World to intercept their Joy. Phil. 4. 4. Rejoice in the Lord always t and again I Ay, Rejoice. The ApoRle was in Prifon when he wrote it, he had nothing elfe to rejoice in at that time; but what he had felt the fweetnefs of himfelf, he imparts to others. What can a Man delire more than Joy ? You are atliberty to rejoice,as he fpeak- eth elfewh'ere of Marriage ; Ton are at liberty to marry, tiMà ge vóv @v scve,,t&; bet only in the Lord , fuch a Joy you may have as Chrifl works, ex me, de me, of which I am the Obje& and the - Author. You need not fear, that which Chrift would eftablifh is a chearful Piety, not a prophane Joy. Chrifi's delights are with the Sont of Men, Prov. 8.8 t, He.feafteth himfelf with the thoughts of his Grace ; it is, as it were, the Lord's Recreation ; therefore certainly the Sons of 'Men fhottld have their delights with God. If the Lord, that fitteth upon the Throne of Majefly and Glory, if he delights in us, íhould not we delight in a God that is fo excellent and worthy ? a. III
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