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it makes the spring; and again the earth teems, and the field and garden are all movement, and the trees are blossom, and the air all song. David understood this, and therefore said, "Then will I run in the way of thy commandments, when thou shalt have enlarged my heart." Bunyan knew this, and therefore he releases his Pilgrim from his burden; and so, not only delights him by the relief, but prepares him for the better and more successful execution of his journey. From this load persons are not all discharged at the same time; and some carry it long: but it is an hindrance, as well as a distress; and favoured is he who is early delivered, and can lightsomely advance in the way everlasting.

Some seem afraid to administer the consolations of the glorious gospel fully, as if they would have, if not a licentious, yet a paralizing effect on the receiver. But these timid dispensers of divine truth, though they may be well meaning, are not well informed. They are ignorant of the very principles of our nature; and know very little of the comforts of the Holy Ghost-or they would know that these comforts are not opiates, but cordials-that while they refresh, they also animate. If there must be any thing of an extreme (for which however we do not plead,) the leaning had better to be on the side of privilege than legality, even with regard to practical religion. Such a man, grateful for his indulgences, at the feet of his Benefactor as well as Lord, will feel himself much more disposed and bound to dedicate himself to his service; and his language must be, "What shall I render unto the Lord for all his benefits towards me?"

Fourthly, Let us view the Christian in his perils. He is perpetually surrounded with temptations in the world. These flatter him, and would entice him away from God. And these he is to resist, steadfast in the faith. But how is this to be done? By threatening? By constraints? These may indeed induce him actually to refuse the offers and allurements; but not in affection. The joy of the Lord is his strength; and without this, a man will only leave the world as Lot's wife left Sodom-she left it, but her heart was still in the place; and she inwardly sighed, O that I was there! O that I could return, and not be destroyed! Thus there are some who forsake the world, as far as they are impelled by the fear of hell, or the dread of reproach or shame of inconsistency; but they hate the obligation that keeps them back from their loved indulgences; and, like wasps burnt out of their nests, are angry and resentful towards all around them, for the injuries they have endured. Prohibition, so far from killing desire, has a tendency to increase it; sin takes occasion by the commandment; and that which was ordained to be unto life, proves to be unto death. The Christian is not saved from the world by the law, but by grace. He is not driven out of it against his inclination-he leaves it voluntarily; and gives proof of it: for truly if he were mindful of the country from whence he came out, he would have opportunities to return. He has the same allurements and seductions presented to him, as others. But here is the difference: they are alive to them; but he is dead. He has found something infinitely superior: this, by refining and exalting his taste, has weaned him; and he can no longer relish the mean and ignoble provision of former days. Having found the pure spring, he no longer kneels to the filthy puddle. Having tasted the grapes of Eshcol, he longs no more for the leeks, and garlic, and onions of Egypt. The palace makes him forget the dunghill.

This, this is the way, and the only effectual way of separating the heart from the world; it is to subdue the sense of an inferior good, by the enjoyment of a greater. Who would exchange the green pastures and still waters for barrenness and drought? Who wants lamps, or even stars, when the sun is up?

"As by the light of opening day
The stars are all concealed;
So earthly pleasures fade away
When Jesus is revealed."

This joy exercises a man of carnal affection; and we are persuaded the efficacy of it is far greater to mortify us to the world, than the influence of afflictions. Losses and disappointments may surprise and confound us, and lead us to lament the uncertainty of every thing below; but they do not make us feel their unsatisfactory and polluted nature. Even under the pressure of their trials, and amidst all their complaints, you will often discern the disposition of the sufferers remaining unchanged. And if not, how soon after does renewed pursuits succeed deplored deceptions, and they flee to a repetition of similar experiments, till all the mad career is ended! But the experience produced by the sight of the cross, and communion with God in Christ, will never allow the world to become again the Christian's end, or portion. If by the power of delusion he be drawn astray for a moment, he will soon find that it is not with him as in months past; and he will be sure to feel the wretchedness of what he has chosen, compared with the glory of what he has left. And this feeling will serve to recal him. The apostate has no such experience as this to check and turn him. But the backslider has: and see the result"I will go," says the Church, "and return to my first husband, for then it was better with me than now."

Fifthly, Let us view the Christian in his sufferings, and we shall see that the joy of the Lord is his strength. Here we might lead you back, and call to your remembrance the former times. We might show you the glorious army of martyrs tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection. We might show you Peter and John, after being scourged, departing from the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name. We might show you the Hebrews, taking joyfully the spoiling of their goods; and men, and women, and youths, severing from their friends who hung on their necks, willing to go to prison and to death. I might show you Bradford, who, when the keeper's wife, weeping, said to him, "O Sir, I am come with heavy tidings-you are to be burnt to-morrow: and they are gone into the city to buy the chain:" taking off his hat and laving it upon the ground, and kneeling and raising his hands, he said, "Lord, I thank thee for this honour. This is what I have been waiting for, and longing for "

Such scenes as these, owing to the laws of the land, we are not called to witness. With us, persecution is not national; is not legal. We can sit under our own vine and fig-tree, none daring to make us afraid. Yet there are instances of private and personal wrongs beyond the prevention of law. The carnal mind is enmity against God, and the tongue can no man tame. We have seen servants deprived of their places: and workmen of their employment; and tradesmen of their custom. We have seen wives and children enduring privations, and insults, and outrage. We have seen the follower of the Lamb, bearing his reproach, scorned by his companions, and deserted by his friendsyet acting with decision and consistency, and practically saying, "None of these things move me; neither count I my life dear, so that I but finish my course with joy." And why have they not been overcome? Why have they not partially yielded? They were filled with everlasting consolation, and good hope through grace. "The joy of the Lord was their strength."

But afflictions of any kind may supply the place of persecution, and try every religious principle. We talk of martyrs-what martyrs have endured; what some Christians have been called in private life to suffer, month after month, and year after year-a great part of the heart's bitterness perhaps known only to themselves. Yet, under bodily anguish, and family bereavements, and the cruelty of connexions, and reductions in life the most humiliating, we have witnessed them-not raging against instruments, not cursing the day of their birth, not impeaching the providence of God, not charging him unkindly: but looking upward and meekly saying, "I know, O Lord, that thy judgments are right, and that thou in faithfulness hast afflicted me." Not insensible, yet more than resignednot undervaluing the comforts of which they have been stripped, yet exulting, "Though the fig-tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail. and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls: yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation."

Finally, It is hardly needful to say, this joy of the Lord is the Christian's strength in death. For what but this can be his support then? Then lover and friend must fail him. Then the keepers of the house tremble. Then desire fails. What can nature do here? or nature's light? or nature's religion? But in the multitude of his thoughts within him(and what a multitude of thoughts will beset a dying man!) -God's comforts delight his soul. The world passeth away; but the kingdom of heaven is at hand. The outward man perisheth; but the inward man is renewed. He looks at his trembling limbs, and feels his fainting heart. His heart and his flesh faileth; but God is the strength of his heart and his portion for ever. He looks forward, and sees enough to dismay all mortal courage-but, says he, "my shepherd's with me there." " Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for thou art with me, thy rod and thy staff they comfort me."

And now what says our subject in a way of practical improvement?

-It says, Inquire what your joy is. Is it the joy of the Lord? For there is the joy of the sinner. And we read of the pleasures of sin: these are for a season; and as they are soon over, so they leave nothing but stains and stings behind. We read of the joy of the hypocrite, and are told that it is but for a moment; because at death he must be detected, and may be laid open much sooner. There is the joy of the Pharisee, who trusts in himself that he is righteous, and despises others, and even glories before God. Some are said to rejoice in a thing of nought. Such are all worldlings: for all that cometh is vanity; and honours and riches and power are but to them, as so many toys or flowers thrown into the vehicle, that is conveying the condemned criminal to the place of execution.

Now it matters little which of these joys characterizes you, if you are a stranger to the joy of which we have been speaking. But allow me, in reference to your choice, to remind you of the language of Solomon. "Even in laughter the heart is sorrowful, and the end of that mirth is heaviness. I said of laughter, it is mad, and of mirth, what doth it?" Yes, this is the question, What DOTH it? You have seen what the joy of the Christian can do. But what doth yours? Does it purify your passions? Does it make you happy alone? Does it afford you any thing like satisfaction? Does it bear you up under the trials of life? Does it raise you above the dread of death and eternity? Has it any constant source? any solid foundation? Is it not the creature of ignorance? Are you not afraid to let in one ray of divine truth upon it? Would not one serious thought of God and of another world strike it dead upon the spot? " I create the fruit of the lips; peace, peace to him that is far off, and to him that is near, saith the Lord; and I will heal him. But the wicked are like the troubled sea, when it cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt. There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked. Therefore thus said the Lord God, Behold, my servants shall eat, but ye shall be hungry: behold, my servants shall drink, but ye shall be thirsty: behold, my servants shall rejoice, but ye shall be ashamed: behold, my servants shall sing for joy of heart, but ye shall cry for sorrow of heart, and shall howl for vexation of spirit."

-It says, See how greatly religion is libelled. You

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