PHILIPPIANS IV. 4 407
ff What holy whispers would pass to and fro between the Father and us if, at every heart's beat and at every pulse of breath, we could repeat our untiring hallelujah with them on high, who, again and again, at each pause, at each close of God's unceasing display are ever saying, again and yet again, " Hallelujah." Here is the secret of Christian cheerfulness ; and no power on earth can break it down when once we have discovered that there is absolutely nothing but sin itself which is not fitted to renew and to replenish the delight of giving thanks. Why, then, are any Christian faces clouded and thick ? Why are there any Christian hearts that are sullen and tired ? Call upon your spirits to give thanks unto the Lord God. That door of escape is ever open, that gateway into gladness can never be shut ; and, day after day, you can magnify the Lord, and worship His Name, ever world without end. " Lift up your hearts unto the Lord," for indeed " it is meet, right, and our bounden duty, that we should at all times, and in all places, give thanks " to God for His great glory .^
^ It is interesting to note that the earliest representations of the face of Christ in art picture Him in the bloom of youth, suggestive of the eternal youth of the Word. Such representa- tions are ideal in their nature, and are founded on classic forms, and they express the joyfulness of primitive Christianity as well as its radiant belief in the risen Christ. It was not until the fourth century that the representations of the Saviour became clouded over: sorrow, austerity, anguish taking the place of youthfulness and beauty, and Christ becoming the grief-stricken sufferer.^
(1) When we are divided between many conflicting interests, halting between two opinions, trying to serve two masters, dis- tracted by the cares of many things, which enter in and choke the word, we cannot be really joyful. But when the whole current of our being sets in towards God, wiping out the minor ruffles and cross-currents of the stream ; when we have no motive save to please our master Christ and do His will; when we are the gilded temples for His indwelling, the channels for His outwork- ing, then our peace begins to flow as a river, and having peace with God, we rejoice in hope of His glory, and rejoice in tribulations also, and rejoice in God Himself through our Lord Jesus Christ.
^ Canon H. Scott Holland, Helps to Faith and Practice, 121. ' J. Burns, Illustrations from Art (1912), 24.
4o8 CHRISTIAN JOY
^ When Haydn was once asked how it was that his church music was always so cheerful, the great composer made a most appropriate and beautiful reply : " I cannot," said he, " make it otherwise ; I write according to the thoughts I feel. When I think upon God my heart is so full of joy that the notes dance and leap, as it were, from my pen ; and since God has given me a cheerful heart, it will be pardoned me that I serve Him with a cheerful spirit."^
^ Be very sure that it is right and good to appear cheerful as long as ever you can, and that it has nothing hypocritical in it. To aim at appearing cheerful would be wrong ; not so to aim at being cheerful. And the only way to aim at being cheerful is to try to cheer others, to see the bright side, and to show one's best. Just as we try to become good by doing painfully what we might perhaps do so easily if we were already good. And God does not leave us alone, so doing. Joy comes by giving joy, often when things look most unpromising for ourselves.^
^ Let us never believe for a moment that God looks askance at human happiness. It is true that He has sanctified sorrow a? a discipline and a preparation ; but only that it may be " turned into joy." " Sorrow may endure for a night but joy cometh in the morning." The blessed Lord did not hesitate to take His part in the wedding feast. He noted with disapproval those who imagined that to be religious was to be " of a sad countenance." His eye was attracted to the children playing in the market-place. Man of sorrows as He was, He " rejoiced in spirit," and promised to His followers that they should be partakers of His joy. We are made for gladness, and shall not be able to fulfil our destiny until we know how to be glad.^
(2) Men find their truest joy not in the things they ask for, but in the things they surrender. The truly happy life at all its points of contact with the world does not ask for anything, it gives something. Happiness is founded, as far as all earth- relations are concerned, not on what the world can do for us, but on what we become able to do for it. Happy are they who can take to their fellows the treasures of mercy and peace. Happy are they who can add something to the common stock of the world's tenderness and quietness.