[In possessing God, he enjoys a suitable good, an all- sufficient good, and an everlasting good ; he has that which
fully satisfies the desires of his soulb which makes him
regardless of all his wants or trials c and which is un- changeable, no less in its operation than its existence
Hence he determines to rejoice in God, no less when bereft of all the necessaries of life, than when surrounded with a fulness of all earthly comforts.
Nor is this a vain boast : for it accords with the experience of the godly in all ages of the world d ]
We shall have a just view of the Christian, if we consider,
II. The insight which this gives us into his real character —
Following the clew which this passage affords us, we shall find that the Christian is,
1. An exalted character —
[His thoughts are not engrossed by the things of time and sense ; he soars to heaven, and views God himself in all the perfections of his nature, and in all the wonders of his grace. Nor could he be contented to call the whole world his own : he will be satisfied with nothing but the enjoyment of God, and a well-grounded persuasion of an interest in his favour. In this respect he as much surpasses the wisest philosopher, as the philosopher excels the most illiterate clown ; because they who search deepest into the works of nature are circumscribed by the creation, whereas the Christian contemplates the Crea- tor himself. Tudeed he emulates even the angels around the throne, who are represented as continually looking into the mysteries of redeeming love e.]
2. A happy character —
[The Christian is not exempt from trials and troubles; yet is he far happier than any unregenerate man. There is not any earthly bliss of which he has not a higher relish than others, because he enjoys, not the creature only, but God in the creature. A carnal mind cannot form any estimate of the Christian's joys. To know what is meant by communion with Christ, by the witness of the Spirit, and by the love of God shed abroad in the heart, we must experience them our- selves; and without such experience we are as incapable of judging of them as a blind man is of colours, or a deaf man of sounds. No words can fully express the joy with which the
b Ps. iv. 6. c Ps. xlvi. 1 — 4.
d Heb. x. 34. Acts v. 41. and xvi. 23—25. e 1 Pet. i. 12.