2. The utility of it, both with respect to our spiritual benefit and profit, and our acceptance with God.
[1.] With respect to the temper and frame of our own hearts, or our spiritual benefit. There are two parts of regeneration, mortifica- tion and vivification ; and this rejoicing evermore promoteth both of them.
(1.) As to mortification. It is most profitable to wean us from carnal vanities. The love of sensitive delights is the root of sin ; some carnal lure there is, which enticeth and draweth us away from God : James i. 14, ' But every man is tempted when he is drawn away of his own lust and enticed.' This carnal favour is our undoing ; pleasure being born and bred with us, and deeply ingrained in our natures, is hardly removed ; yet if it should be cherished, it would wholly fasten our souls to earthly things, to riches, pleasures, and honours. Now that we may not be deceived ajid inveigled with the delights of the flesh, we should think of another joy, which may be continual and perpetual, that so this higher joy may drive out the carnal joy, as a greater nail driveth out the lesser. Man cannot be without some joy, nor can delight lie idle in the soul ; it must be occupied and taken up either with the delights of the flesh, and the toys and trifles of the world, or acted upon God and heavenly things. The brutish part of mankind employ their oblectation about trifles, and love pleasures more than God ; but the renewed part make God their exceeding joy, and favour the things of the Spirit : Kom. viii. 5, ' They that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh, but they that are after the Spirit, the things of the Sphit.' These latter employ their oblectation aright, and being acquainted with better things, the carnal gust dieth away in them by degrees ; as men left off the use of acorns when they found out the use of wheat or bread-corn, or as dainty fare maketh us de- spise coarser viands. When our dehght findeth a better object, it is a great check to those dreggy contentments and petty satisfactions which obtrude themselves upon our senses at every turn ; the taste of them is marred, they become sapless to a christian who hath higher and chaster delights. Every life hath its taste, and every man's joy is in worldly vanities, or in God, and other things as they have respect to God. He that is acquainted with God and hidden manna cannot relish the garlic and onions and flesh-pots of Egypt : ' We will be glad,
SERMONS UPON I THESSALONIANS V. 16. 485
and rejoice in tliee ; we will remember thy love more than wine,' Cant. i. 4. So that you see it is a great help to mortification to rejoice evermore in God. Delight puts out delight, as the sun doth the fire.
(2.) As to vivification. It quickenetli us to the life of holiness ; 'The joy of the Lord is your strength/ i^eh. viii. 10. There is a natural dulness and deadness in holy duties which we find in ourselves, which is only cured by delight in Gixl, which is as oil to the wheels. Everything goeth on easily and smoothly which is carried on with joy and dehght ; that maketh us yield to duties which otherwise would be tedious and irksome to us. Shechem yielded to be cii'cumcised for the delight which he had in Dinah, Gen. xxxiv. 19 ; so the apostle saith, ' But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I may finish my course with joy/ Acts xx. 24. Whatever is done without delight is ingrate and harsh ; the mortifying of a lust is like the cutting ofi" an arm with a rusty saw ; the perform- ing of a duty like the bringing of a bear to the stake. Delight sweetens things, and puts a litie into them. Obedience is done readily, when it is done out of a thankful and delightful sense of our Eedeemer's love : Ps. xl. 8, ' I delight to do thy will, 0 my God ; yea, thy law is in my heart.' So 1 John v. 3, ' For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments, and his commandments are not grievous.' Well, then, this joy is very profitable, both as to mortification and vivification ; it is a joy that maketli us better. Carnal joy maketh us worse ; it filleth the minds with vanity and folly, and bringeth a slavery upon the heart : Titus ii. 3, ' Serving divers lusts and pleasures ; ' but this delight doth not corrupt you, but perfect you.
[2.] With respect to God's acceptance. This rejoicing evermore is more honourable to God, and more pleasing to God.
(1.) It is more honourable to God to rejoice in him evermore, as a cheerful servant is a credit to his master. We show forth the goodnes.s of God by the joy of our faith and continual delight in Goil, however it be with us in the world. God standeth upon his credit that he doth not weary his people : Micah vi. 3, ' 0 my people ! what have I done unto thee ? and wherein have I wearied thee ? testify against; me.' He is not a rigorous and an hard master, but every way good and kind. The Thessalonians that received the word in much afflic- tion, with joy of the Holy Ghost, were ensamples of all that believed in Macedonia and Achaia, and from them sounded out the word of God to others, 1 Thes. i. 6-8. These propagate their profession, and recommend it to others. Surely God is a good master; he hath made joy both our work and our wages, our way and our end. What is our great end and hope but ' to enter into our Master's joy ? ' Am) what is our constant business and work but to ' rejoice evermore ? " Why then should we dishonour God by our uncheerfulness, and jiTstify the prejudices of the world, who draw an ill picture of religion in their minds, as if it always looked sour, and with a tormenting and discon- tented look ?