But are not the commands on this head as clear, and as forcible, as on any subject whatever? " Rejoice in the Lord alway ; and again I say, Rejoice f;" " Rejoice evermore, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning youg." Indeed the exercise of this heavenly disposition is represented as charac- teristic of the true Christian, insomuch that no person can claim that honourable appellation, who is a stranger to it : " We are the circumcision, who rejoice in Christ Jesus h." Let not any then imagine that they are in a state acceptable to God, while they continue to have such low thoughts of the Saviour, and are so insensible to all the wonders of redeeming love ]
2. Our privilege —
[We are almost ashamed to have spoken of joy in Christ under the name of duty. What would a glorified saint feel, if exhorted to it as a duty? He would spurn at the idea: he would say, ' It is not my duty, but my privilege: it consti- tutes the very happiness of heaven.' O that we could learn to think of it in that view! It is in this very light that St. Peter speaks of it, not as an object to be desired, but as an attain- ment common to the saints : " Believing in Christ," says he, " ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and glorified1." Look at the Psalmist, and behold his state : he determined to praise his God with every faculty of his soulk, and every member of his body1, if we may so speak; and to spend every day, (I had almost said, every hour,) to the end of life, in this blessed employment"1. Let us imitate his example. " Let them give thanks, whom the Lord hath redeemed :" if ive do not, " the very stones will cry out against us." We are not advocates for enthusiasm : but if to resemble the holy Virgin, to be filled with admiring thoughts of the Saviour, and to anticipate the felicity of heaven, be enthusiasm, let us be enthusiasts: such enthusiasts will God approve. Yet, that we give no just occasion for that reproach, let us combine discretion with devotion; according to the exhortation of the Psalmist, "Sing praises to the Lord, sing praises ; sing praises to the Lord, sing praises; sing ye praises with under standing '"."]
f Phil. iv. 4. si Thess. v. 16, 18. h Phil. hi. 3.
1 1 Pet. i. 8. k Ps. ciii. 1, 2.
I Ps. xxxv. 9, 10. " My soul yea, all my bones shall
say, &c."
111 Ps. cxlv. 1, 2. and cxlvi. 1, 2. and cxix. 164. and cxix. 62.
II Ps. xlvii. 6, 7.
224