§ 13. Nor hath joy the least share in this fruition. 'Tis that, which all the former lead to, and conclude in; even the inconceivable complacency which the blessed feel in their seeing, knowing, loving, and being beloved of God. This is the _white stone which no man knoweth, saving he that receiveth it_.[44] Surely this is the joy which a _stranger doth not intermeddle with_.[45] All Christ's ways of mercy tend to, and end in, the saint's joys. He wept, sorrowed, suffered, that they might rejoice; he sendeth the Spirit to be their Comforter; he multiplies promises; he discovers their future happiness, _that their joy may be full_.[46] He opens to them the fountain of _living waters_, that they may _thirst no more_, and that it may _spring up in them to everlasting life_.[47] _He chastens them, that he may give them rest._[48] He makes it their duty to _rejoice in him alway, and again_ commands them to _rejoice_.[49] He never brings them into so low a condition, wherein he does not leave them more cause of joy than sorrow. And hath the Lord such a care of our comfort here? O what will that joy be, where the soul being perfectly prepared for joy, and joy prepared by Christ for the soul, it shall be our work, our business, eternally to rejoice! It seems the saint's joy shall be greater than the damned's torment; for their torment is the torment of creatures, _prepared for the devil and his angels_;[50] but our joy is _the joy of our Lord_.[51] _The_ same _glory which the Father gave the Son, the Son hath given them_,[52] _to sit with him in his throne, even as he is set down with his Father in his throne_.[53] Thou, poor soul, who prayest for joy, waitest for joy, complainest for want of joy, longest for joy; thou then shalt have full joy, as much as thou canst hold, and more than ever thou thoughtest on, or thy heart desired. In the mean time walk carefully, watch constantly, and then let God measure out to thee thy times and degrees of joy. It may be he keeps them till thou hast more need. Thou hadst better lose thy comfort than thy safety. If thou shouldst die full of fears and sorrows, it will be but a moment, and they are all gone, and concluded in joy inconceivable. As _the joy of the hypocrite_, so the fears of the upright are _but for a moment. God's anger endureth but a moment; in his favor is life; weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning._[54] O blessed morning! Poor, humble drooping soul, how would it fill thee with joy now, if a voice from heaven should tell thee of the love of God, the pardon of thy sins, and assure thee of thy part in these joys? What then will thy joy be, when thy actual possession shall convince thee of thy title, and thou shalt be in heaven before thou art well aware?
[Footnote 44] Revelation ii, 17.
[Footnote 45] Proverbs xiv, 10.
[Footnote 46] John xvi, 24.
[Footnote 47] John iv, 10, 14.
[Footnote 48] Psalm xciv, 2, 13.
[Footnote 49] Philippians iv, 4.
[Footnote 50] Matthew xxv, 41.
[Footnote 51] Matthew xxv, 21.
[Footnote 52] John xvii, 22.
[Footnote 53] Revelation iii, 21.
[Footnote 54] Job xx, 5. Psalm xxx, 5.
§ 14. And it is not the joy only; it is a mutual joy as well as mutual love. Is there joy in heaven at thy conversion, and will there be none at thy glorification? Will not the angels welcome thee thither, and congratulate thy safe arrival?—Yea, it is the joy of Jesus Christ, for now he hath the end of his undertaking, labor, suffering, dying, when we have our joys; _when he is glorified in his saints, and admired in all them that believe_;[55] when _he sees of the travail of his soul, and is satisfied_.[56] This is Christ's harvest, when he shall reap the fruit of his labors, and it will not repent him concerning his sufferings, but he will rejoice over his purchased inheritance, and his people will rejoice in him.—Yea, the Father himself puts on joy too, in our joy. As _we grieve his Spirit_,[57] and _weary him with our iniquities_:[58] so is he rejoiced in our good. O how quickly does he now spy a returning prodigal, even _afar off_? How does he _run and meet him_? And with what _compassion_ does he _fall on his neck, and kiss him, and put on him the best robe, and a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet, and kills the fatted calf to eat and be merry_.[59] This is indeed a happy meeting; but nothing to the embracing and joy of that last and great meeting.——Yea more; as God doth mutually love and joy, so He makes this _His_ rest, as it is our rest. What an eternal Sabbatism, when the work of redemption, sanctification, preservation, glorification, is all finished, and perfected for ever! _The Lord thy God in the midst of thee is mighty, He will save, He will rejoice over thee with joy, He will rest in his love, He will joy over thee with singing._[60] Well may we then rejoice in our God with joy, and rest in our love, and joy in him with singing.
[Footnote 55] 2 Thessalonians i, 10.
[Footnote 56] Isaiah liii, 11.