its excellency. It could not fail to rejoice all who were related to the persons on whom the miraculous cures were effected, yea, and all too who had any measure of benevolence in their hearts.
And there is similar ground for joy wherever the light of the Gospel shines; for it banishes many dark and wicked superstitions, infanticide, parricide, the burning of women at the funeral of their husbands, together with innumerable other cruel and horrid practices. And still more, wherever the Gospel is preached with power, the people at large, as well as those who feel its influence, have reason to rejoice in it : for there all benevolent institutions are set on foot; the education of poor children, and their instruction in the faith of Christ, are attended to ; societies are formed for the visiting of the sick, and the relief of the needy ; and the general tone of morals is raised : and all these are, to the ungodly, (what miracles were in the days of old,) evidences of the truth and excellency of that Gospel, which produces such fruits.
We admit therefore that the miraculous cures were to them one source of joy : and we affirm, that every city into which the Gospel now comes, has, on similar grounds, good reason for a joyful reception of it.]
2. From the spiritual benefits which they expe- rienced in their own souls—
[Multitudes of them, who had long been " led captive by the devil at his will," now had their chains broken, and were delivered from the power of darkness, and translated into the kingdom of God's dear Son." A sense of God's pardoning love was now shed abroad in their hearts; and they had " a Spirit of adoption given them, whereby they could cry, Abba, Father." JNow they were brought as it were into a new world; " old things passed away, and all things were become new :" they had new views, new desires, new pursuits, new joys, even such as they never before had the least idea of. Can we wonder then that their "joy was great?" The Gospel, when published by angels at the Saviour's birth, was proclaimed as " olad tidings of great joy to all people:" and the prophets had all
with one voice represented it in the same light c And
we can appeal to all who have ever tasted its sweetness, that it is indeed " a feast of fat things full of marrow, of wines on the lees well refined."]
3. From the eternal benefits which were opened to their view —
c For the spiritual benefit see Isai. xxxv. 1, 2. and lv. 12, 13. And for the joy excited by it quote Isai. xliv. 2,3. and the whole 9hth Psalm.