.Ì90 SERMONS upon Seim. 2 i Joy and Peace; the whole ftrength of Men and Angels, cannot make the Corfcience of a Sinner to rejoice. Yea, the Ch$dren of God mull take heed, that they do not violate Peace of Confcience by allowing the lead Sin : You are to walk fo, that you may be in a condition capable of Joy ; none walk fweetly, but they that walk flri fly ; Ads 9. 3 t. They wanted in the Fear of the Lord, and in the Comfort of the Holy Ghofl5 that is a fweet Couple. 2. Ordinances. I thall name them. (1.) The Word. Tile Joy that Hypocrites have, is from the Word. Heb. 6. 5. They have tafied the good Word of God. A Temporary Faith findeth Joy in the Word; all the fault is, it is but a tafle, Come flight experience, which they do not continue and maintain. Here is reprefented Fuel for Faith and Hope, God's infinite Mercy, Chrïtfs infinite Merits, the Glory of the Next World. Joy it is, as it were, the Blaze of the Soul. Love keepeth the Fire burning; but now, if we would have it blaze and flame up, we mull come to the Word, this is the Bellows. When the Angel preached the Gofpel, he Laid, Lse4e 2. so. Behold, I bring you glad tidings of great joy, which 'Lill be to all People. We come to hear good News from Heaven ; tho an Angel be not the Meffenger, yet the Meffage is the fame; God openeth his Heart to us. (2.) Prayer; wherein we open our Hearts to God,it hath a pacative Virtue. Many hfalmr begun with lingui(h, end with Triumph, as if he had received good News, that his Affairs were altered. Hannah when the had prayed, her Countenance was no more fad, r Sam. r. 18. God is the Father of Mercier, the God of Confolationr, 2 Cor. 1. 4. The nearer to him, the nearer to the Fountain of Joy ; there are Joys felt in Prayer, by retiring into God's Prefence. Pfal. 16.11. In thy Prefince there is piny.; of Joy : at thy right Hand there are Pleafurer for evermore. Heaven is a Place of Joe, becaufe of the confiant Communion we have with God there. God Both not love to fend us away fad. (3.) Sacraments; becaufe of fweeter Experiences. Cant. 1.4. We will be glad, and rejoice in thee: we will remember thy Love more than Wine. They are'fealing Ordinances. Heb. 6. 18. We have firong Conflation. Mat. 26. 3o. When they had fling an Hymn, they went out into the Mount of Oliver, tho it were a fad time. The Eunuch went away rejoicingas Coon as he was baptized, becaufe he was made fuse of the Grace of God, Ali., 8.39. It is, as when a Man hath a good Leafe confirmed to him. It is not the Bread and Wine rejoiceth the Heart, but the renewing of the Covenant. (4.) Meditation ; It refrefheth the Soul, and feeds Joy. It is the proper and natu- ral ufe of Reafon. The Speculation even of terrible Things, is grateful. It was the Comfort God himfelf took in his Works, he made them, he faw them. It is a re- frething to the Soul, to think of Creation and Providence ; as a Son takerh pleafure in a Hiflory, wherein are recorded his Father's valiant Ads. it is a pure Recrea- tion. But oh the fweetnefs of Redemption l the excellency of Glory ! The Thoughts are fent as Spies into the Land of Promife ; hereby we have a Pifgah- fight, it giveth us a foretafle of Heaven, and filleth our Souls with Joy and Blefiednefs. SERM.
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