3. With trust, hope, and confidence. He knoweth all our wants, can relieve all our necessities : Ps. Ivii. 2, ' I will cry unto God most high, who performeth all things for me.' Worship would be a cold formality if Ave had to do with one that knew us not, or had not suffi- ciency and power to help us. But God is omniscient and all-sufficient, and hath promised to hear and help us in our straits; he knoweth our necessities when we know them not.
II. We come now to the second character : And rejoice in Christ Jesus.
Thence observe : —
Docf. That the gi-eat work of a Christian is a rejoicing in Christ Jesus, or a thankful sense of our Kedeemer's mercy.
In opening this point I shall use this method : —
1st, Show you what is this rejoicing in Christ.
2dly, I shall prove that Christ is matter of true rejoicing in his person, offices, benefits.
3dly, That Christians are not sound and sincere in their profession, unless they do keep up this rejoicing in Christ.
First, Wliat is this rejoicing ? — (kuv ■x^M/xevoc iv XpLaru) 'Irjaov). The original word implieth such a degree of joy as amounts to glorification or boasting, or such an exultation of mind as breaketh out into some sensible expression of it. There are in it three things : —
1. An apprehension of the good and benefit which we have by Christ ; for otherwise how can we rejoice and glory in him ? 1 Cor. i. 30, 31, ' But of him ye are in Christ Jesus, who of God is made to us wisdom and righteousness, and sanctification and redemption ; that according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.' Christ is all ', that our whole rejoicing may be in him, who hath enlightened us with the knowledge of the gospel, and showed us the way of salvation, and is the author of our justification and sanctifica- tion, and of our deliverance from all calamities, and from death itself. These benefits are the cause of our rejoicing — namely, the promises of the gospel, sealed by his death, and the graces conveyed to us by his Spirit. We rejoice and glory in him, as the only and all-sufficient
Phil. III. 3.] the true circumcision. 31
Saviour. They that gloried in circumcision gloried in their entrance into the legal covenant ; they became debtors to the law, but Christ hath ratified it in the new covenant by his blood ; therefore here is more abundant cause of rejoicing.
2. Due affections of contentment, joy, love, exultation of heart, that followeth thereupon. A blessing ourselves in our portion, that this great happiness is fallen to our sliare, offered to us, at least, if not possessed by us. The very knowledge of Christianity breedeth joy : Acts viii. 8, ' And there was great joy in that city,' that is, upon the tendering of the gospel ; much more when we believe in Christ, and embrace his religion, and resolve to become his disciples. They received his word gladly. Acts ii. 41. His doctrine must be welcomed with the heart, with all love and thankfulness. It is said of the jailor, Acts xvi. 34, that he ' rejoiced, believing in God, and all his house.' He was but newly recovered out of the suburbs of hell, ready to kill himself but just before ; so that a man would think it were easier to fetch water out of a flint, or a spark of fire out of the bottom of the sea, than to expect or find joy in such a heart ; yea, though still in danger of life for treating those as guests whom he should have kept as prisoners, yet he rejoiced when acquainted with salvation by Christ. More especially should we rejoice when the comfort is sealed up to our consciences : Eom. v. 11, ' Not only so, but we also joy in God, tlirough our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atone- ment' The eunucli, when he was baptized, he 'went on his way rejoicing,' Acts viii. 39.
3. An expression of it, by an open profession of Christ's name, both in word and deed, whatever it costs us. They are said to rejoice in Christ Jesus who in those times could profess his name, though with hazard and self-denial. As the Thessalonians, who received the word with much affliction, and much assurance and joy in the Holy Ghost, 1 Thes. i. 6. And it is expressed by the parable of the man that found the true treasure, and for joy thereof sold all that he had to buy the field. Mat. xiii. 44. They are willing to lose all other con- tentments and satisfactions for this ; Christ is enough. They needed this joy to encourage them against the trials which they then under- went for Christ's sake and the gospel's sake.
Secondly, That Christ is matter of true rejoicing, for they are fools that rejoice in baubles and trifles. A Christian's joy may be owned and justified. When Christ's birth was celebrated by angels, it is said, Luke ii. 10, ' Behold, I bring you glad tidings of great joy.' Here is joy, and great joy in salvation by Christ. And Mary : Luke i. 46, 47, 'My soul doth magnify the Lord, and my spirit doth rejoice in God my Saviour.' Surely there is no cause of joy wanting in God, and in God coming as a Saviour. In short, in Christianity, all is fitted to fill our hearts with delight and joy.