a gospel, or new covenant, that bringeth glad tidings to sinners : Luke ii. 10, 11, ' Fear not, for behold, I bring you glad tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the •city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.' The world being fallen under God's wrath and deserved condemnation, it is matter of joy that God hath found a ransom, and that he ofFereth pardon and life to those who will seek it and accept it upon his blessed terms. It is matter of joy before we have interest in these things ; a possible conditional reconciliation with God, that dreadful controversy taken up, heaven and earth kissing each other, that life and immortality is brought to light, and such a blessedness discovered as satiateth the mind of man, without which man would have been but as leviathan in a little pool. In short, the gospel showing a sure way of reconcilia- tion with God, and the everlasting fruition of him in glory ; the very offers of it stir up a joy in us. And wherever the gospel cometb, it hath at its first coming upon these accounts been entertained with joy. As when Philip preached the gospel in Samaria, Acts viii. 8, ' There was great joy in that city ; ' not only joy, but great joy. So it is said of the jailer, that new convert, Acts xvi. 34, that ' he rejoiced, believing in God, with all his house ; ' he was but even recovered out of the suburbs of hell, ready to kill himself just before, ver. 27, so that a man would think he should easier fetch water out of a flint, or a spark of fire out of the bottom of the sea, than to find joy so soon in such an heart, yet he rejoiced, though he was still in danger of his life, for treating those as guests whom he should have kept as prisoners. So 2 Cor. viii. 2, we read of 'the abundance of their joy/ and 'deep poverty,' because they were acquainted with the gospel. So Zaccheus received Christ joyfully, because salvation was come to his house: Luke xix. 6, ' He made haste and came down, and received him joy- fully.' And the man that found the true treasure, 'for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath,' Mat. xiii. 44; he parted with all his satisfactions, comforts, and contentments. This is so sure a truth, that wherever the gospel of Christ is received in any degree and pro- portion, though not to a converting degree, there is some joy. In converts I have showed you, and you may cast in that text by way of overplus: Acts ii. 41, ' Then they that gladly received the word were baptized ; and the same day there Avere added to the church about three thousand souls.' It is a degree not amounting to conversion. Luke viii. 13, the stony ground ' received the word with joy.' Herod had some kind of joy in hearing John the Baptist : Mark vi. 20, ' He did many things, and heard him gladly ; ' and his other hearers ' rejoiced in his light for a season,' John v. 35. These had a joy, but not in such a predominant degree as to be able to control their affections to other things, and so this joy could not maintain itself or keep itself alive. Therefore it is said, that ' we are his house, if we hold fast the confidence, and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end/ Heb. iii. 6. The first offers of pardon and life by Clirist do stir up this joy in us, as the gospel showeth us a way how to come out of the greatest miseries, and get an interest in the greatest happiness. The possible hope of relief and deliverance cannot but affect us if we be serious.
[2.] As to our progress in the duties and hopes of the gospel, it is
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still carried on with joy. Therefore believers are described by it as their vital act : Phil. iii. 3, ' We are the circumeision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.' What is the constant work of a christian but a rejoicing in Christ Jesus, or a thankful sense of our Eedeemer's mercy ? And therefore the whole life of a christian is represented by keeping a feast : 1 Cor. V. 7, 8, ' Christ our passover is sacrificed for us ; therefore let us keep the feast.' Seven days the Jews kept their feast of unleavened bread, which figureth the whole time of our pilgiimage till we enter into the everlasting sabbath. Every day is a holyday and a feast-day with a christian, now Christ his passover Ls sacrificed for him ; partly through a sense of God's love, partly through the testimony of a good conscience, and partly through the hopes of glory. He is always rejoic- ing in God, if he be in a right frame and liveth up to his gospel-privi- leges. Let me chiefly instance in two duties — of prayer, and praise or thanksgiving, which take up a great part of our commerce with God ; and especially because they are connected with the duty we are upon, for we must ' Eejoice evermore, praying without ceasing, and in everything give thanks.' The duties that follow serve to act and cherish this joy.