present, and the wailings of their eternal state M Would to God that man would learn this from a parable^! but, if they will not, they must realize it in their own experience.]
That we may not appear as if we would deprive you of all happiness, we shall —
II. Shew how we may attain more solid mirth —
There is evidently a contrast intended in the text : for when it is said that " the end of that mirth is heaviness," it is implied, that there is another species of mirth that shall end in a very different manner.
The Gospel is a source of mirth to all who em- brace it —
[The Gospel is called " glad tidings of great joy to all people." It proclaims salvation to a ruined world ; nor can it fail of creating the liveliest emotions of joy wherever it is received^ ]
And the mirth resulting from it, is the very reverse of carnal mirth —
[It is solid. — Behold the change wrought in the first con- verts ! see them turned from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God ! see them enjoying peace with God and in their own consciences ! see them filled with love to each other, and with admiring and adoring thoughts of their beloved Saviour ! Can we wonder that they ate their bread with gladness and singleness of heart, blessing and praising God? Yet precisely the same grounds of joy has every one that truly believes in Christ™. The Vxod.\g^a\ fancied that he was in the road to joy, when he was wasting his substance in riotous living; but he never tasted real happiness till he returned to his father's house : then " he began to eat, and drink, and be merry."
It is permanent. — It will consist with trials and tribulations ; yea, it will even arise out of them"; vv'e may be "sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing"." And, as it is not interrupted by the occurrences of life, so neither will it be terminated bv death : it will then be augmented a thousand-fold : and continue with- out interruption to all eternity ]
Address —
1. The young and gay —
[Follow your career of pleasure as long as you will, you will be constrained to say at last, with Solomon, not only that
» Amos vi. 1 — 6. k Lukexvi. 19, 24, 25.
1 Isai. li, 3, 11. and Ixv. 18. and Jer. xxxi. 4. \vithActsviii.8,39. >" Jer. xxxi. 11 — 14. " Rom. v. 3. Jam. i. 2. "2 Cor. vi. 10.