^ Anyone can rejoice " when there's nothing whatever to grumble at " — though some people often fail to do so, even then — but, as Mark Tapley would say, there's " some credit in being jolly " when everything goes wrong. What a pleasure it is to see anyone with a beaming smile, even though we know that the face wearing it often looks gloomy or cross ! But, when the joyous look may be depended on, the effect is magical. Happy people are like sunshine, cheering up everybody around them. When
^ H. van Dyke. EPH.-COL. — 27
4i8 CHRISTIAN JOY
we meet one of these glad souls, we find our smiles rising to match theirs, and we go on our way feeling cheered and helped. . . . We have no right to add to the sorrows of the world by being gloomy or discontented. We all create a certain soul-atmosphere. Let us see to it that the atmosphere we are creating every day may help others to thank God and take courage. We can all walk in the glad consciousness of sins forgiven and in the radiance of God's wonderful Love. Though it is true enough that anyone may, by determined effort, acquire the valuable habit of cheerful- ness, I think those who are glad at heart — like a merry child — without special effort, help and cheer their comrades far more. Happiness is very infectious. I used to keep a photograph of a laughing baby on the mantelpiece, because I could not help smiling when I looked at it — and it is impossible to smile, all to one's self, and cherish melancholy thoughts at the same time. Light must always banish darkness when they are brought together.^
^ During the South African war, we were told of the scion of a noble house, who had escaped from captivity at Pretoria, being able to live for four days on some sticks of chocolate, because he had begun to taste the inexpressible joy of liberty. What cannot men do when their hearts are glad and free ? Joy gives wings to the feet, sinews to the legs, muscles to the arms, elasticity to every motion.^
2. Joy garrisons the soul against temptations. — The evil one is foiled by song as much as by prayer, and perhaps more. As the microbes of disease cannot exist in the sunlight, neither can temptation succeed against a joyous, singing heart. Song is an antiseptic environment — a bank of sunbeams — which is utterly impregnable to all the assaults of the adversary.
^ The first thing that led me to seek the secret of God was the exuberant joy which I discerned beaming forth from the noble nature of a young man who had recently yielded himself entirely to God. What he said was probably not remarkable. At least, it has long ago faded from my mind. But I said to myself, " Here is one who is happy in his religious life — not condemned for the past, not conscious of a cloud between himself and God, not dreading the future. His religion is a light on his inner heart, and the glow of it is on his face." To see it was to hunger for it, and to desire it was to obtain. Yes, there is a
^ Dora Farncomb, The Vision of His Face, 156. ^ F. B. Meyer, The Soul's Pure Intention, 83.
PHILIPPIANS IV. 4 419
spring that rises in the soul, and flows over in musical ripples on the face and in the speech, which is infinitely attractive to those who have just religion enough to make them miserable. If only we were happy in our religious life, with the sparkle, the light, the song that Christ gives, many would come around to ask for our secret, whose joy has been like the brief crackling of thorns under a pot.^
^ We should be as happy as possible, and our happiness should last as long as possible ; for those who can finally issue from self by the portal of happiness know infinitely wider freedom than those who pass through the gate of sadness. The joy of the Lord, the joy that is strength, the joy that no man taketh from us, the joy wherewith we joy before God, the abundant joy of faith and hope, and love and praise, this it is that gathers like a radiant, fostering, cheering air around the soul that yields itself to the grace of God, to do His holy, loving will.^
Am I wrong to be always so happy? This world is full of
grief; Yet there is laughter of sunshine, to see the crisp green on
the leaf, Daylight is ringing with song-birds, and brooklets are crooning
by night; And why should I make a shadow where God makes all so
bright ? Earth may be wicked and weary, yet cannot I help being glad ! There is sunshine without and within me, and how should I
mope or be sad ? God would not flood me with blessings, meaning me only to
pine Amid all the bounties and beauties He pours upon me and
mine; Therefore will I be grateful, and therefore will I rejoice ; My heart is singing within me; sing on, 0 heart and voice.^
^ F. B. Meyer, The Soul's Pure Intention, 84.