him, and so fall short of salvation hoped for in him; and this is the matter of their rejoicing. Ye rejoice with joy unspeakable.] The natural man (says the Apostle) receiveth not the things of God, for they are foolishness unto him; and he adds the reason why he cannot know them, for they are spiritually discerned. He hath none of that faculty by which they are discerned. There is a vast disproportion betwixt those things and nature's highest capacity, it cannot work beyond its sphere, Speak to the natural man of the matter of spiritual grief, the sense of guiltiness, and the apprehension of God's displeasure, or the hiding of his favour and the light of his countenance from the soul; these things stir not him, he knows not what they mean. Speak to him again of the peace of conscience, and sense of God's love, and the joy that arises hence; he is no less a stranger to that. Mourn to him, and he laments not; pipe to him, and he dances not, as our Saviour speaks". But, as it there follows, there is a wisdom in those things, though they seem folly and nonsense to the foolish world, and this wisdom is justified of her own children. Having said somewhat already of the causes of this spiritual joy, which the Apostle here speaks of, it remains that we consider those two things, 1. How joy ariseth from those causes. 2. The excellency of this joy, as it is here expressed. 1. There is here a solid sufficient good, and the heart made sure of it, being partly put in present possession of it, and in a most certain hope of all the rest. And what more can be required to make it joyful? Jesus Christ, the treasure of all blessings, received and united to the soul, by faith and love and hope. Is not Christ the light and joy of the nation? such a light as Abraham, at the distance of many ages, of more than two thousand years, yet saw by faith, and seeing, rejoiced. Besides this brightness, that makes light a joyful object, light is often in Scrip ture put for joy. Christ this light brings salvation with him, he is the Sun of Righteousness, and there is healing under his wings. I bring you, said the angel, good tidings of great joy, that shall be to all people. And their song hath in it the matter of that joy, Glory to God in the highest, peace on earth, and good-will toward men". But to the end we may rejoice in Christ, we must find him ours, otherwise the more excellent he is, the more cause hath the heart to be sad, while it hath no portion in him; My spirit hath rejoiced (said the blessed virgin) in God my Saviour". Thus, having spoken of our communion with Christ, the Apostle adds, These things I write, that your joy may be full. Faith worketh this joy, by uniting the soul to Christ, and applying his merits; and from that application arises the pardon of sin. And so that load of misery, which was the great cause of sorrow, is removed; and so soon as the soul finds itself lightned and unloaded of that burden that was sinking it to hell, it cannot chuse but leap for joy, in the ease and refreshment it finds. Therefore that Psalm that David begins with the doctrine of the pardon of sin, he ends with an exhortation to rejoicing. Blessed is the man whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered, thus he begins; but he ends, Be glad in the Lord, and rejoice ye righteous, and shout for joy all ye that are upright in heart. St. Peter speaks to his hearers of the remission of sins, and it is added, They received his words gladly: And our Saviour joins these two together, Be of good comfort, thy sins are forgiven thee. Thus, good tidings of liberty to captives are proclaimed, and a notable change there is of their estate who mourn in Zion, giving them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, and the gar ment of praise for the spirit of heaviness. Think with what joy the long imprisoned debtor, drowned in debt, receives a full discharge, and his liberty; y Luke ii. 10, 14. z Luke i. 47. cv. 11. d Act. ii. 38. 3 1 Joh. i. 3. b Psal. xxxii. 1. f Isa. Ixi. 1. or a condemned malefactor the news of his pardon, and this will somewhat resemble it; but yet fall far short of the joy that faith brings, by bringing Christ to the soul, and so forgiveness of sins in him. But this is not all. This believing soul is not only. a debtor acquitted and set free, but enriched besides with a new and great estate; not only a pardoned malefactor, but withal highly preferred and advanced to honour, having a right by the promises to the unsearchable riches of Christ, as the Apostle speaks, and is received into favour with God, and unto the dignity of sonship, taken from the dunghill, and set with princess. As there is joy from faith, so also from loves Though it is in itself the most sweet and delightful passion of the soul, yet as we foolishly misplace it, it proveth often full of bitterness; but being set upon Jesus Christ, the only right and worthy object, it causeth this unspeakable delight and rejoicing. 1st, It is matter of joy to have bestowed our love so worthily; and though our Saviour seems to withdraw himself, and sometimes sadden the soul that loves him with absences, in regard of sense; yet even in those sad times, the soul delights to love him, and there is a pleasure in the very pains it hath in seeking after him. And this it knows, that his mercies are everlasting, and that he cannot be long unkind, but will return and speak comfortably unto it. 1 2dly, Our love to Christ gives us assurance of his to us; so that we have not only chosen worthily, but shall not be frustrate and disappointed, and it assures us of his, not as following, but preceding and causing ours: for our love to Jesus Christ is no other but the reflex of his on us. Wine maketh glad the heart; but thy love is better than wine, saith the spouse. And having this persuasion, that he hath loved us, and washed us in his blood, and forgets us not in our conflicts, that though he himself is in his glory, yet that he intercedes for us there, and will bring us thither, what condition can befal us so hard, 8 Psal. cxiii. 8. but we may rejoice in it? And in them, so far as we are sure to arrive at that full salvation and fruition of him who hath purchased it. Then there is the third cause of our rejoicing, viz. our hope. Now hope is our anchor fixed within the vail, that stays us against all the storms that beat upon us in this troublesome sea that we are tossed upon. The soul that strongly believes and loves, may confidently hope to see what it believeth, and enjoy what it loves, and in that rejoice. It may say, whatsoever hazards, whether outward or inward, whatsoever afflictions and temptations I endure, yet this one thing puts me out of hazard, and in that I will rejoice, the salvation of my soul depends not upon my own strength, but is in my Saviour's hand, My life is hid with Christ in God; and when he who is my life shall appear, I likewise shall appear with him in glory. The childish world is hunting shadows, and gaping and hoping after they know not what; but the believer can say, I know whom I have trusted, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed to him against that day. Now we have not only right to those things, but withal there must be frequent consideration of them to work joy. The soul must often view them, and so rejoice: My meditation of him shall be sweet, saith David. I will be glad in the Lord". And the godly failing in this, deprive themselves much of that joy they might have; and they that are most in these sublime thoughts have the highest and truest joy. 1 2. The excellency of this joy the Apostle here expresseth, by these two words, unspeakable, and full of glory. That it is unspeakable, no wonder, seeing the matter of it is inconceivable, it is an infinite good. God reconciled in Jesus Christ, and testifying and sealing his love unto the soul, and giving assured hope of that blessed vision of eternity, what more unspeakable than this? And for the same reason it is glori h Psal. civ. 34. ous, or glorified joy; having the highest and most glorious object; for it derives all its excellency from thence, Unspeakable.] The best worldly joys are easily speakable; they may be expressed to the utmost, yea usually more is spoke of them than they are indeed. Their name is beyond their worth; they are very seldom found upon experience equal to the opinion and expectation that men have of them. But this spiritual joy is above the report any can make of it, say what they can of it who are of happiest expression; yet when a man comes to know it in his own breast, he will say (as that queen said of Solomon's wisdom) the half was not told me of it. Again, earthly joys are inglorious; many of which, men are ashamed of, and those that seem most plausible, yet are below the excellency of the soul, and cannot fill it: but the joys that arise from union with Christ, as they are most avowable, a man needs not blush to own them, so they are truly contenting and satisfying, and that is their glory, and the cause why we may glory in them; My soul shall make her boast in God, says David'. For application of all this. If these things were believed, we should hearken no more to the foolish prejudice that the world hath taken up against religion, and wherewith Satan endeavours to possess men's hearts, that they may be scarred from the ways of holiness: they think it a sour melancholy life, that hath nothing but sadness and mourning in it. But to remove this prejudice, Consider, 1. Religion bars not the lawful delights that are taken in natural things, but teaches the moderate and regular use of them, which is far the sweeter; for things lawful in themselves are in their excess sinful, and so prove bitterness in the end; and if in some cases it requires the forsaking of lawful enjoyments, as of pleasure, or profits, or honour, for God and for his glory, it is generous, and more truly delightful to deny them for this reason, than iPsal. xxxiv. 2. |