(1.) First, This joy is a more solid joy than the joy of the ivicked. The wicked man rejoiceth in face, but not in heart ; the wicked's joy is but a blaze, it is but a flash ; his rejoicing is like the crackling of thorns under a pot, that the Holy Ghost tells as makes a blaze and is gone in an instant.
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This joy is rather in show than in substance. His joy is not rooted in himself. It is not bottomed upon any sure foundation, but it is rooted out of himself, in the creature. A wicked man hath no matter of comfort within himself, but his comforts they hang upon outward things. His comfort sometimes lies in the bottom of a pot ; sometimes it lies in the bottom of a dish ; sometimes in the heels of an horse ; sometimes in the wings of a bird ; sometimes in some base lust, or in some such filthy sin. Here lies the comfort of a wicked man ; but now the comfort of the godly is not so. The joy of the righteous, it is a massy and a substantial joy. His afflictions indeed arc light and momentany, but then his joy is everlasting, as I shall shew anon. It is a joy that hath substance in it. The joy of the wicked, at the best, it is but a little glazed, it is but gilt over, but it is naught within ; but the joy of the righteous it is a golden joj', it is beaten gold, it is massy and substantial and precious. As we said before, the root of his joy he hath it in himself, he hath matter of comfort in himself. There is faith and grace, there is truth. Nay, it is not rooted in himself only, but the root of it is in heaven, in his head, in Christ. He pitcheth his joy upon God, and therefore his joy is such a joy, as will hold out in the wetting, and will bear him through all pressures, all burdens, and all discouragements whatsoever.
(2.) Secondly, The joy of the righteous, as it is a more solid, so it is a more safe jotj than the joy of the wicked. A carnal joy is many times prejudicial to a man in his safety, therefore we may safely conclude, the godliest man is the happiest man. He is in the best estate and condition, that gives most way to godly sorrow, and that gives least way to carnal sor- row. That is one use.
Use 2. Now the next use is to the godly. First, a word of exhortation, and then a word of consolation. A word of exhortation to God's people. That since all their sorrow shall end in comfort, and is attended with com- fort, that therefore God's people should lay open themselves and give way to godly sorrow as much as possibly they can. Stop up, my brethren, all the passages, dam them up if you can, that make way for worldly sorrow and for carnal grief, for this will come but too fast upon you ; but, on the other side, pluck up the floodgates, and open all the passages, and give all the way to spiritual mourning and to godly tears. Do this even for your own sakes. Conceive that it is your happiness to mourn in an holy manner, since your Saviour tells you, that they are happy and blessed that do so mourn. Con- ceive that your comfort lies in your godly sorrow, as our Saviour saith ; ' blessed' are they in this, namely, in this respect, because ' they shall be comforted for their mourning.' Believe it, brethren, one day, one hour spent in godly mourning, a few tears shed over Jesus Christ, and over a man's sin, when he is in health, when he is in peace, when he hath no out- ward cause to move him to tears and sorrow, it will more satisfy the soul, and more quiet the conscience, and more relieve and refresh the heart, than all the mirth, and all the delights, and all the treasures, and all the comforts of this world will do. Why, then, if you would be comforted, mourn ; if you would laugh, weep ; if you would have cheerful hearts and lightsome spirits, if you would live comfortably and die comfortably, give way to this mourning, so it be spiritual mourning, as much as you can.
Ay, but what is spiritual mourning ? We spake somewhat of it the last day. Thus, in short, because I see the time will much prevent us.
(1.) First, Labour to mourn after spiritual thi)igs and spiritual persons. That is spiritual mourning when it hath spiritual objects. First, for persons.
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Is it so, that the Lord withdraws himself from thee in his comforts, that thy soul doth not feel them, doth not find them, as sometimes thou had done ? Lament after the Lord, weep and cry after him, and say, 0 unhappy man, where have I lost my peace ? Hoav have I behaved myself, that my Father will not speak to me ! that he will not look to me ! And as you see a little child that hath lost the mother, it follows crying, My mother is gone, I know not what to do, so let God's children do in this case, weep and take to heart this loss of losses, when thy rude, and unkind, and unholy behaviour hath alienated and estranged thy Father from thee, that he will not look on thee.