Ver, 1 3. the 17th'Chapter of St. J O H N. a 81 pleafure in praying, in hearing, in fuffering, in doing good, in following the IJuties of our Calling. Mott Men count Sorrow to be a Vertue, and Joy to be an undecent Prefumption. When Men are fluggifh, carnal, carelefs, that they may flow in world- ly Delights, this is naught. 2. To mar the Tafte of carnal Pleafures. The Soul Cannot remain without Conte Oblectation 5 it delighteth either in earthly, or in heavenly Things. Love will not remain idle in the Soul. Now God will give us a tafle of fpiritual Joy, of Pleafantnef in Wifdom's Paths, that we might difdain carnal Pleafures. It is not a Wonder for a Clown, that hath not been acquainted with Dainties, to love Garlick and Oni- ons ; but for a Prince, that hath been acquainted with better Diet, to leave the Dain- ties of his Father's Table for thofe things, that were strange. I do not wonder at car- nal Men, that they are delighted with carnal Objects, they never knew better : but for a Child of God, that hath tatted how gracious and fweet God in Chrift is, to find fap and favour in courier Fare, this is wonderful. 3. It is for his Honour. Nothing bringeth Reproach upon the Ways of God, fo much as the Sadnefs of thofe that profefs them. Spiritus Calvinianur eft Spiritus Melan- eholicus, was a Lutheran Proverb, becaufe the Calvinys were against Wakps, and Dan- _ cings, and Revels. You darken the Ways of God by your Melancholy Converiatíon. Religion fhould be cheerful, tho not wanton and diffolute. We are to invite others. Pfal. 34.2. My Soul fha!! matte her l3oafl in the Lord 3 the Humble fliall hear thereof, and be glad. Otherwife thou art as one of the Spies that difcouraged the Children of If- rael, by bringing up an evil Report upon the Land of Canaan. 4. Becaufe he delighteth to fee us chearful : He delighteth in the Profperity of his Saints. Certainly the Lord Both not delight in a fad Devotion, and that the Finger fhould always be in the Wound. As a Man delighteth that his Fields fhould profper, and laugh with Fatnefs 5 fo doth Chrift in the Saints. They are his Charge 5 yobs 15. 11. Theft things have I fpolten unto you, that my Joy might - remain in yon, and that your Joy might be full . Would you make Chrill's Heart glad.? keep yoùr own chearful. Fourthly ; I (hall give you tome Obfervations concerning Joy. 1. God's Providence to all the Creatures doth aim at their Joy and Welfare. In ina- nimate Creatures there is a Ceffation and Ref}, in the Beatts a fenfitive Delectation, in a Man Joy, All Actions that tend to the prefervation of Life, have their pleafuremixed with them; and therefore certainly he hath provided forge Chriflian Joy for a Chrifti- ah. All Actions of Godlinefs have a delight mixed with them. 2. Spiritual Joy arifeth more from Hope than Poffesüòn. Rom. sa. 12. Rejaycing in Hope. Heb. 3.6. If we hold fafì the Confidence, and the rejoycing of the Hope firm un- to the end. Rom. 5.2. We rejoyce in Hope of the Glory of God. It is an AffeCtion pro- per to the next Life 5 but fotne Birds fing in Winter.. Tho we have not an aCtual Pof. fefíion of Glory, yet there is a certainty of Poffefiion. 3. This Joy is more felt in Adverfity than Profperity. r Pet. t: 6. Whereirfyegreatly rejoice 5 rho now for a feafon, if need be, ye are in heavinefr, through manifold Temptations. Rom. 5. 3. We glory in Tribulation. Partly, from God himfelf5 He proportioneth his Comforts to our Sorrows, and then fheddeth abroad his Love moft plentifully. 2 Cor. 1.5. As the Sufferings of Chrifi abound in us, fo our Confelatiooi alfo aboundeth by Chrifi. Partly, from the Saints: They rejoyce moft in Affii &ions, becaufe they talle in them, what Evil they are freed from in Chrift. If we never had A}AiCions, we should not know what it is to be freed from eternal Horrors and Pains; but when we feel them, then we fay, If I have much ado to bear these temporal Sorrows, what fhould I have done, if I had been frill liable to eternal ! O .blefled be God for my deliverance its Chrift ! Partly, becaufe of 'sweet Experiences. We are kept from perlfhing with the World 5 a Servant and Stranger is turned out of Doors, but a Son is corrected. If it ferveth for nothing elk, yet for a Spite to Satan, to confound him, when he thinketh he hath molt advantage againf us now, to overwhelm us with Grief; as when one feeketh to wreft a Staff out of our hands, we hold it the fatter. 4. Thofe have the highell feeling of Joy, that have tatted the bittérnefs of .Sorrow. Ifa. 57. 18. 1 have feen his Ways, and *ill heal him : I will lead him elfo, and refiore Com- forts unto him, and to his Mourners. Jet. 31. 18. I have furely heard Ephraim bemoaning himfelf thus, Thou hail chaflifed me, and I was obafi / d, &c. Verle 20. is Ephraim my dear Son ?, is he a pleafant Child ? For fillet 1 ffakte againfl him, I do earneflly remem- ber him frill, &c. Unutterable Groans make way for ineffable Joys 3 they feel the molt A a a a lively
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