I will propound one question more, and then proceed. But we are bid to rejoice always. Why then is it required that we weep and moui'u ? Can two contraries stand together ?
Case 2. I answer, \ery well. For we may grieve, as we have matter of grief, and are in a condition of grief; and we may rejoice, and ought to rejoice, as we look to the promise that God ' will wipe away all tears.' When we think of the present cause, we cannot but grieve ; but when we look beyond aU troubles, we cannot but joy ; it hath influence of joy into our heart. Nay, for the present we may joy and grieve, without looking to eternity sometimes. If we consider that we have offended God, done
488 THE MARRIAGE FEAST [SeRMON VI.
that that grieveth his Spirit, that is matter of grief. But when we con- sider we have Christ at his right hand, that speaketh peace for us, and makes our peace by virtue of his mediation, that giveth comfort. So that we have cause of joy, and cause of gi'ief, about the same things at the same time.
We are never in such a state of grief here, but if we look about us, look
forward, look upward * A Christian, that is, a good Christian,
is a person that hath many things to look after, that he may manage his estate of Christianity wisely. He is to look to himself and his sins, to the mercies of God in Christ, to the constancy of it, that it is answerable to the fruit of it in peace and joy here, and happiness hereafter, which are con- stant too. His grace, as himself, is constant, the fruits of it constant. Therefore ' rejoice evermore.' And, saith the apostle, ' I Imow what I say, I am well advised, ' evermore rejoice,' Philip, iv. 4. So that the life of a Christian is a mixed life, nay, the ground of our joy is our sorrow and grief, and joy is sown in grief. If we will rejoice indeed, let us mourn indeed. True joy ariseth and springs out of sorrow.
I proceed to the next. ' And the rebukes of his people shall be taken away from off the face of the earth,' Another benefit that makes the feast sweet and comfortable is this : ' He will take away the rebukes of his peo- ple.' And here is the same method to be used, that God's children, his church, and peojyle, are tinder rchnhes, and wider reproach.
We need not stand to prove the truth of it. It is true, first, the head of the church, and the church itself, and every particular member, they yo under rebukes. For the head of the church, we should spend the time to no purpose to prove it. What was Christ's life ? It was under a veil. He appeared not to be what he was. You know he was esteemed the chief of devils, an enemy to his prince, to Caesar. I will not spend time in clear traths.
For the church itself, you see in the book of Esther, iii. 8, ' There is a strange people that acknowledge no law, they be against the laws of the prince.' They pass under the imputation of rebels. The poor church, that had thoughts of peace, the meek church of God, they counted as ene- mies of the state, as Christ, the head, was. And so the church in Babylon, under what rebukes was it ? They rejtroached them, ' By the waters of Babylon we sat down and wept, when they said. Sing us one of the songs of Zion,' Ps. cxxxvii. 1. The church sitteth by the waters of Babylon all this life. The world is a kind of Babylon to God's people, and then sing us one of your songs. Where is now your God ? say the hearts of wretched people, when they saw the people of God in disgrace. TuUy could say of the nation of the Jews, ' It sheweth how God regardeth it ; it hath been so often overcome.' f Thus the heathen man could scorn the state of God's people. You see how the psalmist complains in the name of particular Christians, ' Where is his God ? he trusted in him, let him save him,' Ps. xxii. 8. Oh, this was daggers to David's heart. ' It pierced to my heart when they said, \Vhere is thy God?' Ps. xlii. 10. To touch a Christian in his God, as if God had no care of him, it is more than his own grief and affliction. So when a child of God is rebuked and affronted, when rehgion must suffer by it, so that the head of the church, the members of the church, are under rebukes, as it may be proved, if I carry you through all stories.
At this day, the church of the Jews, you see what it is come to : the nation of the Jews, under what reproach it is. And surely this prophecy
* This sentence is left thus unfinished. — G.
t Cicero Orat. Pro Flacco, c. 28. See footnote, vol. I., p. 303.— G.
ISA. XXV. 8.] BETWEEN CHRIST AND HIS CHURCH. 489
aimeth partly at the conversion of the Jews. It shall be accomplished at the resurrection, when all tears shall be perfectly wiped away. But it hath relation to the conversion of the Jews. In what state are they now ? Are they not a word of reproach ? Moses's speech is verified of them, ' They shall be a hissing to all nations,' 2 Chron. xxix. 8. And is not it a pro- verb. Hated as a Jew ?