As the roll, when eaten by Ezekiel, was as honey in his mouth, so to Jeremiah " the word was the joy and rejoicing of his heart." In a man that is impenitent and unbelieving, we acknowledge that the word is calcu- lated to inspire terror : but to one that is of a peni- tent and contrite spirit, it speaks nothing but peace and joy. This is the proper effect of every part of the inspired volume ; of,
1. Its declarations —
[O, how wonderful are these ! What an exhibition does the Scripture give us of God's character, and of the way which he has provided for the salvation of sinful men ! What a stu- pendous mystery does it reveal, of the incarnation and death of his co-equal, co-eternal Son ! of Christ " bearing our sins in his body on the tree," and " being made sin for us, that we may be made the righteousness of God in him ! " Can such tidings as these reach the ears of a guilty and condemned sin- ner, and not fill him with joy ? Can the voice of pardon reach the cell of a condemned criminal, and be received with indiffer- ence ? or, if the offers of a free and full salvation were now to be sent to the regions of the damned, would they excite no joyous emotions among the unhappy sufferers ? If there be any, to whom the Gospel comes, that do not rejoice in the glad tidings, it is because they know not their lost estate, nor have any desire after reconciliation with their offended God. To those who know their guilty and undone state, the declarations of mercy sounding forth in the Gospel are " dearer than thou- sands of silver and gold."]
2. Its precepts —
[It may be thought, that, because these are so strict and holy, they can afford no joy to any : but the very reverse is the case ; for the true believer will say with David, " Thy word is very pure ; therefore thy servant loveth it h." A redeemed soul is asking, " What shall I render unto the Lord for all the benefits that he hath done unto me ? " and in the precepts he sees what God requires of him, and how he may bring glory to the God of his salvation. He sees that an attention to these will perfect his nature, and transform him into the Divine image : hence " he esteems them concerning all things to be right1 ;" and " because they are right, they rejoice his heart," and are accounted by him " sweeter than honey, and the honey-combk-"]
3. Its promises —
11 Ps. cxix. 140. « Ps. cxix. 128. k Ps. xix. 8, 10.