3. When our right is cleared, then we have more abundant joy: 2 Pet, i. 10, 11, * Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure ; for if ye do these things, you shall never fall. For so an entrance shall be administered to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.' Some are afar off, others not far from the kingdom of God ; others make a hard shift to go to heaven through many doubts and fears, some sail into the haven of glory with full sails, with much joy and peace of soul.
III. I shall show you the spiritual profit of this joy.
1. It is such a joy as doth enlarge our heart in duty, and strengthens us in the way of God : Neh. viii. 10, ' The joy of the Lord is your strength.' There is a natural deadness and dulness in holy duties, which we often find in ourselves, which cometh to pass partly from the back-bias of corruption, weakening our delight in God, and partly from the remissness of our will towards spiritual and heavenly things. Now, the most proper and kindly cure of it is this delight and rejoicing in Christ ; for a man will readily do those things which he delighteth in, though toilsome and difficult. Let the heart be but affected with the grace of Christ, and our joy will soon vent itself in a thankful and de- lightful obedience : 1 John v. 3, ' For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments, and his commandments are not grievous ; ' Ps. cxix. 14, ' I have rejoiced in the way of thy testimonies, as much as in all riches ; ' Ps. xl. 8, ' I delight to do thy will, 0 my God ; yea,
44 A DESCRirXION OF [PlIlL. III. 3.
Ihy law is within my heart.' The hardest services are pleasant to one that delighteth in Christ ; they are sweelened by his love, and (juickened and enlivened by the sense and esteem that we have of the benefits he prociireth for us. IShall we refuse to do anything for such a compassionate ISaviour, who died for us to reconcile us to God, and brine: "s to the everlasting^ fruition of him ? So that the life of all obedience dependeth on this joy.
2. It is our cordial to fortify us against all the calamities and infeli- cities of the present world, and maketh every bitter thing sweet to us, whether they be the common afflictions incident to man, or persecutions for righteousness' sake.
[1.] For the common afilictions. A Christian is never in a right frame till he hath learned contentment in all estates ; that he doth not overjoy in worldly comforts, nor overgrieve for worldly losses, 1 Cor. vii. '60, but carrieth himself as one that is above the hopes and fears of the world. Now, there are many means to be used that we may get this humble and composed frame of heart ; but the most con- stant and effectual cure of worldly sorrow is to keep our rejoicing in Jesus Cln-ist, and to be satisfied with the fruits of his redemption. Tliis, like the wood that was cast in at Marah to make the bitter waters sweet, doth sweeten our troubles, and supply our wants, and swallow up our griefs and infelicities ; for we h.ave that in Christ which is better than the natural comfort taken from us: Hab. iii. 17, 18, ' Although the fig-tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat ; the flock shall be cut oft' from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls ; yet will I rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of fny salvation.' He supposeth not only some want, but an utter destitution and desolation of all things, and yet his heart was kept up by joy in God, So elsewhere, Eom. xii. 12, ' Rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing instant in prayer.' The comfort of reconciliation with God, and the hopes of heaven, do most breed patience in afflictions. And, certainly, joy is the best cure of sorrow; contraria contrariis curantur. Now, the joy that must be opi)Osed to worldly sorrow is not worldly, but either spiritual or heavenly joy. Spiritual in the present fruits of Christ's death : Heb. xii. 11, ' Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous ; nevertheless, afterwards it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.' Heavenly ; surely eternal joys will best vanquish temporal sorrows : Heb. xii. 2, ' Looking unto tiesus, the author and finisher of our faith ; who, for the joy that was set before him, endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.' This will enable us jmtiently and cheerfully to bear all things.
[2.] Persectitions. We need to be fortified against this, that we may boldly profess our faith in Christ, without any fear of sufferings, and may not faint under them, but bear them with courage and con- stancy Now, this is the fruit of this rejoicing in Christ; witness these scriptures: Acts v. 41, 'They went away rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name; ' Heb. x. 34, ' Ye took joyfully the spoiling of your goods, knowing in yourselves that ye