all the reason to rejoice that any person can have on this side of heaven.

For,

Thirdly, This joy is distinguished from the vain joy of the world, by its author. It is the gift of God. It is one of the graces of the Spirit of God. St. Paul says, "The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy," &c.-love to God, and then rejoicing in God. When the Spirit of adoption enters into any heart, he manifests, by believing, the love of the Father, and thereby excites it into holy joy. He comes to make the soul happy in its return to God. It is the It is the very end for which he is sent from the Father and the Son, and therefore it is called the joy of the Holy Ghost. It is his fruit, produced by his influence, and kept by his power. It is like himself, of a spiritual and heavenly naturea pure affection-in all goodness, and righteousness, and truth. He refines it from creature-delight, and exalts it above sensual pleasure for it is the result of nearness to God, and the effect of fellowship with him : which is,

Fourthly, Another blessed ingredient in the

joy of believers. It has God for its object. It is joy in God as their God, their supreme good, known, believed in, and enjoyed. The holy Spirit has consecrated their hearts for fellowship with him. He has brought a free pardon for past apostasy, and full power to dethrone creature-love; and he abides in their hearts to subdue it. He enlightens their understandings to see the vanity of the creature, and the fulness of God, and he enables them to reject every thing that promises them happiness, if they cannot enjoy God in it. Thus he keeps their hearts chaste and fixed upon God. Their joy becomes simple, as their faith is: for this looks at the finished salvation, and resting entirely upon it, sees God perfectly reconciled; thereby it lays a sure foundation for their joy in God: because they now know him by faith to be their God, and can see their interest in all the blessings of his love in Jesus. This is the fountain-head of joy, from whence flow rivers of pleasure, for ever-more. The nearer they live to the fountain-head, the more communion they have with God: their hearts

become purer and holier, and their joys are more spiritual and heavenly.

This is the only remedy for the miseries with which the world abounds. Men are uneasy; seek for joy, and cannot find it; because they seek where it is not. They

go to broken cisterns, which cannot hold it. They are disappointed, and wonder; but still go on, spending their days in this vain pursuit. They do not attain any true joy. It flies from them, and at last they lie down in sorrow. What thanks then art thou bound, O my soul, to return unto thy God, who has saved thee from this delusion! What a mercy is it, that thou hast been led to the fountain of joy! O live near it, and from it derive all thy streams. Seek them all in God, and seek them in faith upon the warrant of the divine promise. He has said, "The meek shall increase their joy in the Lord"-they shall have it and increase it. The more meek and lowly thou art, the more wilt thou be joyful in God. Pray then for growing humility, that thou mayest experience the sweetness of this scripture-" Re

joice in the Lord always, and again I say, rejoice”—there is always a matter of joy in the Lord. What a fulness did he find who testifies of it thus—" My joy shall be in the Lord-God is the gladness of my joy-all my springs are in thee-for thou art my exceeding joy." Happy prince! All his springs came from God, and led him to God. He did not draw his happiness from the brooks, but from the fountain. The brooks dry up, but the fountain cannot. He did not rejoice in his crown and dignity, in his victories and treasures, or in any worldly good. He enjoyed God in them, who was the joy of his heart. He only valued the gifts for the sake of the giver; for he made use of them by faith, and then they were the means of bringing him near to God, and of keeping up communion with God. does this is a great blessing. thing should do this to a believer.

Whoever And every

While he

lives like a child of God, he exercises his faith for spirituals and temporals; and his heavenly Father blesses him, according to his word, wherein he hath caused him to put his

trust, and gives him continual matter for joy and thankfulness.

This is the portion of the Lord's people. He has entailed it on them. It comes to them by inheritance. And thou art bound, O my soul, to make use of it. Thy duty and interest call upon thee to enjoy much of it. Thy gratitude for the exceeding great mercies of thy Father's love cannot be so properly shown, as by rejoicing in him for the thankful heart cannot but be joyful. It ́ feels happy in God. My meditation of him, says a grateful soul, shall be sweet; I will be glad in the Lord. This is a just tribute, which the Father expects, and which the holy Spirit enables his children to return him. "Blessed is the people that know the joyful sound; they shall walk, O Lord, in the light of thy countanance: IN THY NAME shall they rejoice all the day, and in thy righteousness shall they be exalted." These are great privileges, which God has promised and does bestow upon his people. It is true they do. not all alike rejoice with great joy; but they all ought. When their faith is weak their