Joy in the Lord Opened, Sermon

Joy in the Lord Opened · Sermon

p. 1Joy in the Lord: Opened in a Sermon Preached at PAƲLS, May 6.

PHIL. 4. 4.

Rejoice in the Lord alway; and again I ſay, rejoice.

THere is nothing which the hearts of Believers doe either more willingly hear, or more difficultly obſerve, then thoſe precepts which invite them unto joy and gladneſs, they being on the one hand ſo ſuitable to the natural deſires, and yet withall on the other ſo diſſonant to the miſerable condition of ſinful man. Had our Apoſtle called on the bleſſed Angels to rejoice, who have neither ſin, nor ſorrow, nor fear, nor ſufferings, nor enemies to annoy them, it might have ſeemed far more congruous: But what is it leſs then a Paradox to perſwade poor creatures, loaded with guilt, defiled with corruption, cloathed with infirmities, p. 2aſſaulted with temptations, hated, perſecuted, afflicted by Satan and the world, compaſſed about with dangers and ſorrows,Job 5. 7.Job 5:7 born to trouble, as the ſparks fly upward, that notwithſtanding all this, they may rejoice, and rejoice alway? But we have a double corrective to all theſe doubts in the Text, one in the Object, another in the Preacher of this Joy. The object of it is Chriſt the Lord, as appears by the ſame thing twice before mentioned, cap. 3. 1. 3 The Lord that pardoneth our guilt, ſubdueth our luſts, healeth our infirmities, rebuketh our temptations, vanquiſheth our enemies, ſweetneth our ſufferings, heightneth our conſolations above our afflictions, and at laſt wipeth all tears from our eyes. Rev 7. 17.Rev 7:17Here is matter of great joy, may we be ſatisfied in the truth of it: And for that we have the word of an Apoſtle, who gives aſſurance of it by Divine Revelation, and by perſonal experience. He who next to the Lord himſelf,2 Cor. 11. 23. 272 Cor 11:232 Cor 11:27 was of all his ſervants, a man of ſorrow, in afflictions, in neceſſities, in diſtreſſes, in ſtripes, in impriſonments, in tumults, in labours, in perils, in deaths, in wearineſs, in watchings, in hunger, in thirſt, in cold, in nakedneſs, beaten with rods, ſtoned with ſtones; ſhipwrackt at Sea, beſet at Land; he who in the priſon, the inner priſon,aaMalam manſionem vocabant Antiqui vid. Dioniſ. Gothofredi notas in Digeſt. Tit. Depofiti vel contra. L. 7. the ſtocks (a kind of caſe of priſons one within another) did yetbbNihil C…us ſentit in nerv… cum animus in Coelo eſt. Tertul. ad Martyras. rejoice and ſing Pſalms unto God, Acts 16. 24, 25. He it is, who from the Lord calleth upon Believers to rejoice alway. Inſtead then of a Paradox, you have here a Paradice, a Tree of life, as joy is called Prov. 13. 12. And the ſervants of God may ſecurely, notwithſtanding their ſorrow p. 3for ſin, their ſenſe of ſufferings, their certainty of temptations, their conflicts with enemies, their ſympathy with brethren, may yet I ſay ſecurely rejoice, and rejoice alway, they have the Lord to warrant it, they have his Apoſtle to witneſs it. Let worldlings delight in ſenſual pleaſures, Let falſe Apoſtles delight in carnal worſhip, and ceremonial priviledges; but you my brethren have another kind of object to fix your joies upon; Rejoice in the Lord, and again rejoice, and rejoice alway; and that upon the word and credit of an Apoſtle, I ſay it, and I ſay it again.

There are many particulars couched in the words; 1. The Subject of them, ſpiritual joy, or an holy exultation of ſoul in the Lord, as the moſt beloved, deſired ſupreme good, wrought in it by the ſpirit of grace, rendring Chriſt by faith, preſent unto it; whereby it is not only ſupported under all afflictions, but enabled to glory in them, and to triumph over them. 2. The difficulty of this joy intimated, in that believers are ſo often invited unto it 3. The ſureneſs and the greatneſs of it, noted in the doubling of the words. 4. The ſtability and perpetuity of it, They may rejoice alway in the midſt of their ſoreſt fears or diſtreſſes. 5. The object of it, a glorious and repleniſhing object, Chriſt the Lord. 6. The Apoſtolical atteſtation given unto it, Again I ſay, rejoice; I ſpeak it by Commiſsion from the mouth of Chriſt, requiring it; I ſpeak it by the experience of mine own heart, enjoying it in the midſt of all my ſufferings: So you have both a mandatum and a probatum for it; Rejoice in the p. 4Lord alway; and again I ſay rejoice. But becauſe I love not to mince and crumble the bread of life into too many particulars, I ſhall therefore comprize all in this one Propoſition (which I ſhall make the ſubject of my preſent ſervice.

That the Lord Jeſus is the great, ſure, and perpetual joy of his own people.

By accident, unto wicked and impenitent ſinners, he is a ſtumbling block, as wholſom meat is offenſive to ſick ſtomacks, and the light of the Sun unto diſtempered eyes; but unto thoſe that believe, he is altogether lovely,Vid. Iren. l. 4. cap 15. Aug. Tract. 10. in Joannem. Beatior percipiendo fidem Chriſti quam concipiendo Carnem. Idem. To. 6. de ſancta virgin cap. 3. pretious, and deſireable. Abraham rejoiced to ſee his day, Iohn 8 56. Mary rejoiced more that he was her Saviour, then her ſon, Luke 1. 47. Simeon embraced him with a Nunc dimittis, Luke 2. 28. Mathew made a great Feaſt to receive him, Luk 5. 29. Zacheus entertained him at his houſe joifully, Luke 19. 6. The Eunuch as ſoon as he knew him, went on his way rejoicing, Acts 8. 39. The Jailor, who even now was ready to have killed himſelf; when Chriſt was preached unto him, rejoiced and believed Acts 16. 34. Chriſt is the author of our joy; he calleth it his joy, Iohn 15. 11. It is the work and fruit of his ſpirit, Gal. 5. 22. and he is the object of our joy, it is fixed and terminated on him, as on the moſt commenſurable matter thereof, Phil. 3. 3.

There are many things belonging unto the object of a full and compleat joy. 1. It muſt be good in it ſelf, and unto us. 2. That good muſt have ſeveral qualificatious to heighten it to that pitch p. 5and proportion which the joy of the heart may fix on.

1. It muſt be a Good preſent, aaAquin. 1. 2. qu. 31. art. 1. Ariſtot. Rhetor. L. 1. c. 11.in the view and poſſeſſion of him whom it delighteth: Good abſent is the object of deſire, good preſent, of delight. It is true,bbAzorius Moral. lib 3. c. 10. qu. 10. Habit praeteriti doloris Secura Recordatio delectationem. Cicer. ep. l. 5. ep. 12. a man may rejoice at ſome good that is paſt, as that he did at ſuch a time eſcape a danger, or receive a benefit; but then the memory makes it as it were preſent, and the fruit of that paſt good is ſome way or other ſtill remaining. Alſo a man may rejoice in a good to come, as Abraham rejoiced to ſee Chriſts day. Iohn 8. 56. and believers rejoice in the hope of glory, Rom. 5. 2. but then faith gives a kind of ſubſiſtence to the things ſo hoped for, Heb. 11. 1. and the vertue and benefit of them is in being, though they themſelves be but yet in hope, and ſo in regard of efficacy, Chriſt was a Lamb ſlain from the beginning of the world, though not actually ſlain before the fulneſs of time: So ſtill the moſt proper ground of delight is fruition, which preſuppoſeth the preſence of the thing enjoied.

2. It muſt be good pretious which hath ſome ſpecial value belonging unto it. We read of the joy of harveſt, Iſa. 9. 3. becauſe men then reap the pretious things of the earth, as they are called, Deut. 33. 14, 16. Iam. 5. 7. It was not an ordinary thing, but a treaſure, a pearl of great price, which made the Merchant-man ſell all that he had to buy it,foreign. Ariſtot. Ethic. lib. 1. c. 5. vid. Rhetor. l. 1. c. 6. Mat. 13. 44. 46.

3. It muſt be a full good, ſufficient and throughly proportionable to all the deſires and exigencies of him that is delighted with it: Bring the richeſt p. 6pearl to a man under ſome ſore fit of gout or ſtone, he cries, groans, ſweats, is in pain ſtill: The object, though good, though pretious, yet is not ſuitable to his preſent condition; in that caſe he takes more pleaſure in an anodine medicine, then in a rich Jewel. It would be little good news to ſuch a man, to tell him that his kidnies or his bladder were full of pearls or diamonds, becauſe there they would not be his treaſure, but his torment.

4. It muſt be a Pure good, without any dregs or droſs to abate the ſweetneſs of it: All earthly delights are bitter-ſweets, wine tainted by the veſſel, which brings a loathing along with it;foreign: Crates apud Laertium. the beſt corn hath its chaff, the richeſt wine its lees, the ſweeteſt oyle its dregs, the ſun it ſelf its ſpots; nothing of meer creatures can cauſe an unmixed joy, free from all tang and tincture of the veſſel, from whence it proceeds: And any one defect may corrupt all the content which the reſt miniſtreth as a dead fly will ſpoile the whole pot of oyntment.Eccleſ. 10. 1.Eccl 10:1

5. It muſt beaaBonum inſolitum plus amatur. Caſſiod. variar. l 8. c. 20. Quaeſitiſſimae dapes non guſtu ſed difficultatibus aeſtimabantur, miracula avium, longinqui maris piſces, alieni temporis poma aeſtivae nives, Hybernae Roſae. Mamertinus in Panegyr. rare, wonderful, glorious; the commonneſs even of good things, takes from the lovelineſs of them. If diamonds were as plentiful as pebles, or gold as iron, they would be as little eſteemed; if there were but one balſom or drug in the world that would cure any mortal diſeaſe, a man would value the monopoly of that above the richeſt Jewel. Becauſe the Pool of Betheſda had a rare healing vertue, multitudes of impotent, blind, halt, withered, were waiting continually for the moving of it, John 5 2, 3.

p. 76. It muſt be various, foreign, Plutarch foreign. Ariſtot. Problemat ſect. 5. qu. 1. foreign. Marc. Anton. lib. 6 ſect. 46. Vid Gataker. Ann…t.like the holy anoynting oyle, compounded of many principal ſpices, Exod. 30 23-25. in rich hangings in choice gardens, in great feaſts, in ſelect libraries, variety is that which greatly delighteth the ſpectators: were a table filled with one and the ſame diſh, or a ſtudy with the ſame book, or a garden with the ſame flowre, it would wholly take away from the delight of it. And this variety is then much more delightful, when each particular good doth anſwer ſome particular defect, or deſire in him that enjoyeth it; when it is as a rich Storehouſe, as the Shop of the Apothecary, or as a Phyſick Garden, wherein a man may in any diſtemper fix on ſome thing proper to help him.

7. It muſt be a prevalent and ſoveraign good, foreign. Ariſtot. 7. Rhet. lib. 1. cap. 11.a moſt efficacious catholicon againſt evils. Victory even in trifles, where no evil is to be removed, as in bowling or ſhooting, is that which makes the pleaſure in thoſe games; much more delightful muſt that needs be, which can help a man to overcome all the evils and enemies that aſſault him; no joy to the joy of a triumph when men divide the ſpoils.Periculum in prae…io, gaudium in triumph…. Aug. Confeſſ. lib. 8. cap 3. In this caſe Iehoſaphat and his people came to Ieruſalem with Pſalteries, Harps, and Trumpets, to the houſe of God, rejoicing over their enemies, 2 Cron. 20. 25, 20.

8. It muſt be a perpetual good, Verum Gaudium non de…init, nec in contraria vertitur. Senec. ep. 59.commenſurate in duration to the ſoul that is to be ſatisfied with it; they are but poor and lying delights, which like Iordan, empty all their ſweetneſs into a ſtinking and ſulphurious lake. True comfort is a growing thing, which never bends to a declination. That man will p. 8find little pleaſure in his expedition, whoſe voyage is for a year, and his victual but for a day, who ſets out for eternity with the pleaſures and contents of nothing but mortality. Such are all natural, ſenſual, ſecular, ſinful joies. As the ſheep feeds on the graſs,De Tuo Gaude. Sen. Ep. 23. and then the owner feeds on him, ſo poor ſinners feed awhile on dead comforts, and then death at laſt feeds on them, Pſal. 49. 14.

Laſtly, That which crowns and conſummates all, is, it muſt be our own proper good; all the reſt without this, ſignifie nothing unto us. A begger feels not the joy of another mans wealth, nor a cripple of another mans ſtrength; the priſoner that is leading to death, hath no comfort in the pardon which is brought to another malefactor. As every man muſt live by his own faith, ſo every man muſt have his rejoicing in himſelf, and not in another, Gal. 6. 4.

Now then let us conſider the Apoſtle and High-Prieſt of our profeſſion, Chriſt Jeſus, and we ſhall find him alone in every one of theſe particulars, to be a moſt adequate object of the joy and delight of all his people.

1. He is a Good ever more preſent with them; I am with you alway, Mat. 28. 20. though bodily abſent, and that for the expediency and comfort of his ſervants, Iohn 16. 7. yet in his Ordinances, and by his Spirit ever amongſt them; You ſhall ſee me (ſaith he to his Diſciples) becauſe I go to my Father, Iohn 16. 16. whereby is not only intimated his purpoſe of appearing unto them before his aſcenſion, but with all the full manifeſtation of himſelf unto them, when he was gon, by ſending the holy ſpirit, per p. 9cujus vicariam vim, Vicarius Domini Spiritus. Tertul. de Veland. Virg cap…. 1. & de praeſcript. cap. 13.his bodily abſence ſhould be abundantly compenſated. By that ſpirit his people are joined unto him, as the feet below to the head above, 1 Cor. 6. 17. by that ſpirit in the Goſpel he Preacheth peace unto them, Eph. 2. 17. and is evidently ſet forth before them, Gal. 3. 1. by that ſpirit he dwelleth in them, Eph. 3. 17. manifeſts himſelf unto them, makes his aboad with them, Iohn 14 20-23. Rev. 3. 20. walks in the midſt of them, as in his houſe and Temple, 2 Cor. 6. 16. is more preſent with them then any good thing they have beſides. Some things are preſent with us, in our eye, in our poſſeſſion, yet ſtill without us, as Goods, or Friends; ſome things more intimate, but yet ſeparable from us, as health, ſtrength, our ſoul it ſelf; but Chriſt is not only with us, but in us, Col. 1. 27. not only in us, but inſeparably abiding with us, Rom. 8. 38, 39. As in the Hypoſtatical union there is an inſeparable conjunction of the manhood to the Godhead in one perſon: ſo in the myſtical union, there is an inſeparable conjunction of the members to the head in one Church or body.

2. He is not an ordinary common good; which if a man want, he may compenſate by ſome other thing; but a Treaſure and Pearl of higheſt price, in whom are unſearchable riches, Eph 3. 8. Hidden treaſures, Col. 2. 3. in compariſon of whom, all other things are loſs and dung, Phil. 3. 7, 8. moſt precious in the eyes of his people, 1 Pet. 2. 7. precious in his own immediate excellencies, Eph 5, 23. 2. 22.Eph 5:23Eph 5:2Eph 5:22the chiefeſt of ten thouſand, Cant. 5. 10-16. precious in the reſpects he bears towards us; in the ſweet and intimate relations p. 10of an Husband,Heb. 2. 11, 12, 13. Iſa. 9 6. Joh 15. …4. H…b. 7. 22. 8. 6 1 Joh. 2. 1, 2.Heb 2:11Heb 2:12Heb 2:13Isa 9:6John 15:41 John 2:11 John 2:2 an Head, a Saviour, a Brother, a Father, a Friend, a Surety, a Mediator, a Propitiation, an Advocate, Pretious in the great things he hath done for us, in the rich ſupplies of grace and peace he doth beſtow upon us, in the high dignity whereunto he advanceth us, John 1. 12. 1 Iohn 3. 1. Rom. 8. 15, 16. in the great promiſes he makes unto us, 2 Pet. 1. 2, 3, 4. in the glorious hope which he ſets before us, and bleſſed manſions which he prepareth for us, Col. 1. 27. Iohn 14. 2. in the light of his countenance ſhining on us, in the fruits of his ſpirit wrought in us, in the preſent life of faith, in the hidden life of glory, 2 Pet. 1. 1. Col. 3. 3.2 Pet 1:1Col 3:3in the great price he paid for us, in the great care which he takes of us, in the effuſions and manifeſtations of the love of God unto us: In the Seals, Pleadges, Teſtimonies, firſt-fruits of our eternal inheritance, which he is pleaſed by his ſpirit to ſhead forth upon us, in the free and open way which he hath made for us unto the Throne of grace; in theſe, and many other the like, is the Lord Chriſt more honorable and precious in the eyes of his people, then a thouſand worlds could be without him.

3. He is not only a moſt preſent, and a moſt precious good, but full and ſufficient for his people; He aſcended on high that he might fill all things, Eph. 4. 10. that he might powre forth ſuch abundance of ſpirit on his Church, as might anſwer all the conditions whereunto they may be reduced: Righteouſneſs enough to cover all their ſins, plenty enough to ſupply all their wants, grace enough to ſubdue all their luſts, wiſdom enough to reſolve all their doubts, power enough to vanquiſh all their enemies, p. 11vertue enough to cure all their diſeaſes, fulneſs enough to ſave them, and that to the uttermoſt, all other good things below, and without him, have a finit and limited benignity. Some can cloath, but cannot feed; others can nouriſh, but they cannot heal; others can enrich, but they cannot ſecure; others adorn,Omnis mihi copia quae Deus meus non eſt, Egeſtas eſt. Aug. Confeſſ. lib. 13. cap. 8. Non alio Bono Bonus eſt ſed Bonum omnis Boni—Non Bonus animus, aut Bonus Angelus, ſed Bonum Bonum. Aug. de Trinit. lib. 8. cap. 3. but cannot advance; all do ſerve, but none do ſatisfie: They are like a beggers coat made up of many pieces, not all enough either to beautifie or defend; but there is in Chriſt ſomething proportionable to all the wants and deſires of his people. He is Bread, wine, milk, living-water to feed them, Iohn 6. 51. 7. 37. he is a garment of righteouſneſs to cover and adorn them, Rom. 13. 14. a Phyſician to heal them, Mat. 9. 12. a Counſeller to adviſe them, Iſa 9. 6. a Captain to defend them, Heb. 2. 10. a Prince to rule, a Prophet to teach, a Prieſt to make attonement for them, an Husband to protect, a Father to provide, a Brother to relieve, a Foundation to ſupport, a Root to quicken, an Head to guide, a Treaſure to enrich, a Sun to enlighten, a Fountain to cleanſe. As the one Ocean hath more waters then all the Rivers in the world, and one Sun more light then all the Luminaries in heaven; ſo one Chriſt is more All to a poor ſoul, then if it had the All of the whole world a thouſand times over.

4. He is a moſt pure good without any mixture of droſs, or bitterneſs to abate or corrupt the excellency of it; A Lamb without ſpot and blemiſh, 1 Pet. 1. 19. He did no ſin, no guile was found in his mouth, 1 Pet. 2. 22: Holy, harmleſs, undefiled, Heb. 7. 26. Never any believer found any thing in him, for the p. 12which to repent of making choice of him; as holy Polycarp ſaid,Euſeb hiſtor. l. 4 c 14. I have ſerved him theſe eightyſix years, and he never did me any hurt; even the ſevereſt things of Chriſt are matter of joy unto his ſervants: If he make them ſorrowful, their ſorrow is turned into joy, Iohn 16. 20. his very yoke is eaſie, his burden light, his Commandments not grievous, nay his very croſs and afflictions, matter of choice, of joy,Melch Adam. pag 138. Vid Cypria de Nativitate Chriſt… ſect. 6, 7, 8, 9. of gloriation, of triumph, Heb. 11. 25, 26. Acts 5. 41. Rom. 5. 3. Rom. 8. 37. It was an heroical ſpeech of Luther, Malo ego cum Chriſto ruere quam cum Caeſare ſtare; I had rather fall with Chriſt, then ſtand with Caeſar. And if his ſufferings are ſo ſweet, O then how glorious are his conſolations?

5. He is the rarest good in the world; his whole name is Wonderfull, Iſa. 9. 6. his whole diſpenſation myſterious, 1 Tim. 3. 16. the inviſible God manifested, a Son born of a Virgin, the Law-giver made under the Law, the Lord of Glory, who thought it no robbery to be equal with God, humbled, emptied, in the form of a ſervant, reckoned amongſt tranſgreſſors, without form or comelineſs, rejected, deſpiſed, put to ſhame, a man of ſorrows; a dead man raiſed by his own power, and advanced to the Throne of God; theſe, and all the particulars, Christ crucified, are things ſo profound and unſearchable, that the very Angels deſire to look into them with wonder and aſtoniſhment, 1 Pet. 1. 12. The beſt and moſt excellent things God hath made ſingle, one Sun in the Firmament, one Tree of Life in Paradice, one heart, one head in the body: So to us there is but one Lord Ieſus Christ, by whom p. 13are all things, and we by him. He the alone living, elect, pretious, chief corner stone, no other name under heaven given amongſt men whereby we muſt be ſaved, Acts 4. 11, 12.

6. As a rare good, ſo full of exquiſite and copious variety, wiſdom, righteouſneſſe, ſanctification, redemption. It pleaſed the Father, that in him all fulneſſe ſhould dwel, Col. 1. 19. In him he hath made known unto Principalities and Powers, the manifold wiſdom of God, Eph. 3 10. As the curious Ephod in the Law was made of Gold, blew, purple, ſcarlet, and fine twined linnen; and the breast-plate ſet with twelve curious pretious ſtones: So Chriſt, the ſubſtance of thoſe types, was filled with the ſpirit of wiſdom, underſtanding, counſel, might, knowledge, and the fear of God; Iſa. 11. 2. and that above meaſure; Iohn 3. 34. That there might be enough in him to anſwer all the deſires and delights of his people: Wiſdom to teach; righteouſneſs to juſtifie, grace to renew, power to defend, peace to comfort, life to quicken, glory to ſave them; ſeven eyes upon one ſtone.

7. He is a moſt prevailing and victorious good, stronger then the ſtrong man, Luke 11. 22: casting out, and judging the Prince of the world, Iohn 12. 31. 16, 11. aboliſhing death, 2 Tim. 1. 10. taking away ſin, deſtroying the works of the Devil, 1 John 3. 3. and overcoming the world and the luſts thereof, John 16. 33. treading all his Churches enemies under his and their feet, 1 Cor. 15, 15. triumphing openly over them in his croſs before God and Angels, Col. 2. 15. aſcending up on high, and leading captivity captive, Epheſ. 4. 8.

p. 141. By a way of wiſdom catching Satan by the hook of his divine power, hidden under the infirmities of his human nature.

2. By a way of Judgement, condemning him for ſhedding the innocent bloud of the Son of God.Vid. Aug. de Trinit. lib. 13. cap. 13, 14, 15.

3. By a way of Power vanquiſhing him, and caſting him out of the poſſeſſion which he had purchaſt.

8. He is a perpetual and durable good: Death hath no more dominion over him, Rom. 6. 9. He ever lives to make interceſſion, Heb. 7. 25. there is an Oath, an Amen upon the perpetuity of the life and Prieſthood of Chriſt, Pſal. 110. 4. Rev. 1. 18. Behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen: And he lives not only for ever in his perſon, but he is for ever the life portion, and bleſſedneſs of his people. Becauſe he lives, they live, John 14. 19. they ſhall appear with him, they ſhall be like unto him: As he is ſate on his Fathers Throne, ſo ſhall they ſit on his Throne, never to be degraded.

Laſtly, He is the proper good of his own people: He hath not only given himſelf unto God for them, as their Sacrifice, but he hath given himſelf likewiſe unto them, as their Portion. He is theirs, and they his, Cant. 6. 3. They his, by a dear purchaſe, and he theirs by a ſweet communion: They are ſaid to have him, John 5. 12. as a man hath his moſt peculiar poſſeſſion; his name is, The Lord our righteouſneſs, Jer. 23. 6. he is made unto us of God, wiſdom, and righteouſneſs, and ſanctification, and redemption, 1 Cor. 1. 30. he is more ours then we are our own, we have and poſſeſs infinitely more in him then in our ſelves; defective in our ſelves, compleat p. 15in him; weak in our ſelves, ſtrong in him; dead in our ſelves, alive in him; miſerable in ourſelves, bleſſed in him; mutable in our ſelves, eſtabliſhed in him. Thus we ſee there is nothing neceſſary to the compleating of an object of joy, which is not fully to be found in Chriſt.

Unto theſe grounds of joy drawn from the nature of delectable objects, I ſhall add a few more mentioned by the Prophet Zachary, Chap. 9. 9, 10. drawn from the Royal Office of Chriſt; Rejoice greatly O daughter of Sion, ſhout O daughter of Ieruſalem, behold thy King cometh unto thee, he is juſt, and having ſalvation, lowly, and riding upon an aſſ, &c.

1. He is a King, thy King, the promiſed Meſsiah, in whom all bleſſings were to be made good unto Iſrael. They had been ſervants under ſtrange Lords, Nehem. 9. 36, 37. and ſo had we: The Prince and God of this world had the firſt poſſeſſion of us, Eph. 2. 2. But they were to have a King of their own from among their brethren, Deut. 17. 15. Their Governor was to proceed from the midſt of them, Ier. 30. 21. And this muſt needs be matter of great joy; That whereas oppreſſors did paſs through them before v. 8. the King now promiſed them ſhould be a near kinſman ſhould not be aſhamed to call them brethren, Heb. 2. 11. The ſhout of a King ſhould be amongſt them, who ſhould have the ſtrength of an Unicorn, able to break the bones of his enemies, Numb. 23. 21, 22.

2. His approach, He cometh: When Solomon, a type of Chriſt, was made King, they did eat and p. 16drink with great gladneſs before the Lord, Vid. Joſeph. Antiquit. lib. 7. cap 11. Turneb. Adverſa. lib. 24. cap 45.1 Chron. 29. 22. At ſuch ſolemn Inaugurations, the Trumpets ſound, the people ſhout, the Conduits run Wine, honours are diſpenced, gifts diſtributed, priſons opened, offenders pardoned, Acts of grace publiſhed, nothing ſuffered to eclipſe the beauty of ſuch a Feſtivity. Thus it was at the coming of Chriſt: Wiſe men of the Eaſt bring preſents unto him, rejoicing with exceeding great joy, Mat. 2 10, 11. The glory of God ſhines on that day, and an heavenly Hoaſt proclaim the joy, Luke 2. 9, 14 Iohn Baptiſt leapeth in the womb, Mary rejoiceth in God her Saviour, Zachary glorifieth God for the horn of ſalvation in the houſe of David; Simeon and Hanna bleſs the Lord for the glory of Iſrael: And after when he came to Ieruſalem, the whole multitude ſpread garments, ſtrewed branches, cried before him and behind him, Hoſanna to the ſon of David, Hoſanna in the higheſt, Mat. 21. 9. And the Pſalmiſt Prophecying long before of it, ſaid, This is the day which the Lord hath made, we will rejoice and be glad in it, Pſal. 118. 24.

3. His Character: 1. He is Iuſt. And this is the great joy of his people, Iſa. 9. 3. 7. eſpecially being ſuch a King as is not only juſt himſelf, but maketh others juſt likewiſe: In the Lord ſhall the ſeed of Iſrael be juſtified and glory, Iſa. 45. 25. Sin pardoned, guilt covered, death vanquiſhed, conſcience pacified God reconciled, muſt needs be a glorious ground of joy and peace unto believers, Rom. 5. 1, 2. Luke 10. 20.

But a Prince may be juſt himſelf, and yet not able p. 17to deliver his people from the injuſtice of enemies that are ſtronger then he, as Iehoſaphat ſaid, We have no might againſt this great company, 2 Cron. 20. 12. Therefore 2. Our King here hath ſalvation, is able to ſave himſelf and his people from their enemies, and that to the uttermoſt, Heb. 7. 25. It was his Name, his Office, the end why he was ſent, why he was exalted to be a Prince and a Saviour, Acts 5. 31. 1 Iohn 4. 14. And this ſurely matter of great joy. It is an Angelical Argument, I bring you tidings of great joy which ſhall be to all people; for unto you is born this day in the City of David a Saviour, which is Chriſt the Lord, Luke 2. 10, 11.

But Princes poſſibly, the more powerful and victorious they are, may be likewiſe the more ſtately; it is not altogether unuſual with men where they do much good, to be ſupercilious and haughty towards thoſe to whom they doe it: But loe here, 3. A Prince great in honor, righteous in peace, valiant in war; and yet humble and lowly ſtill: So lowly as to miniſter to his own ſervants, and to waſh their feet, Iohn 13. 14. as to be an example of meekneſs unto them, Mat. 11. 29. The meaneſt of his people have acceſs unto him, may preſent their wants before him; nay he ſtaies not for them, he comes to ſeek, as well as to ſave, calls on us, ſtands and knocks at our dores, waits that he may be gracious; bears with us in our failings, expects us in our delaies, forgives our wandrings,Vid. Ciceronis ad Q. fratrem Epiſtelam. & Sen. de Clemen…ia. praies us to be reconciled to God, Luke 19. 10. Iſa. 13. 18. Rev. 3. 20. Now there is nothing more rejoiceth the hearts of a people, then the mildneſs, gentleneſs, and clemency of p. 18their Prince, whence, when his heart is not haughty, nor his eyes lofty, as David ſaid of himſelf, Pſal. 13. 1. when he is as a ſervant to his people, and ſpeaketh good words unto them, as the old men adviſed Rehoboam, 1 Reg. 12. 7.

But a Prince may have a righteous heart, a valiant hand, a meek temper, and yet do the leſs good by a natural ſlowneſs and indiſpoſedneſs to actionaaTantum Bellam, tam diuturnum, tam longè latèque diſpernm—Ciſ. Pompeius extremâ hyeme apparavit, ineunto vere ſuſcepit, Media aeſtaté confecit Ciſ. prolege manilia.; there is nothing more acceptable to the people, and neceſſary for the Prince, then vigour and diſpatch in works of Juſtice and proweſſe. Therefore, 4, Our King is here ſet forth riding: He did alwaies go about doing of good, made it his meat and drink to do his Fathers work: And here, when it ſeemed moſt reaſonable for him to have drawn back and ſpared himſelf, when he was to be crucified, he ſhews his cheerfulneſs in that ſervice, by riding to Jeruſalem about it, which we read not that he did upon any other occaſion: He did earneſtly deſire that Paſſover, he did ſeverely rebuke Peter when he diſſwaded him from that work, he did expreſs his ſingular readineſs to become a ſacrifice; Loe I come, I delight to do thy will O God; yea thy Law is within mine heart, Pſal. 40. 7, 8. And though in his agony he did earneſtly deſire that the cup might paſs from him, yet thoſe groans of his nature under it, did greatly ſet forth the ſubmiſsion and willingneſs of his love to undergo it. Now this is a further ground of great joy to a people, when all other Princely endowments in their Soveraign, are vigorouſly acted and improved for their ſafety and protection; p. 19when they ſee him deny himſelf in his own eaſe and ſafety, that he may be ever doing good to them. We ſee what an high value the people ſet on David, Thou art worth ten thouſand of us; and this the occaſion; I will ſurely go forth with you my ſelf, 2 Sam. 18. 2, 3.

But a Prince may have all the endowments requiſite to render him amiable in the eies of his people, juſt and meek to them, valiant and active againſt their enemies, and yet failaaAmpliſſimorum vi…orum conſilia ex even …u, non ex voluntate apleriſque pro…ari ſolent. Cic. ep. ad Atti…. lib 9. ep 10 Ʋt quiſque fortunâ utitur ita praecellet, atque ex…nde ſupere eum omnes dicimus Plautus. of ſucceſs in his undertakings, and they conſequently have the joy of his Government much abated; for, The Race is not alwaies to the ſwift, nor the Battel to the ſtrong: But it is otherwiſe with our King here. Therefore it is added, 5. He cuts the Chariot and the horſe, and the battel-bow, he ſpeaks peace to his people, he extends his Dominion from Sea to Sea, from the River to the ends of the earth; he rides on in his Majeſty proſperouſly, the people fall under him, Pſal. 45. 4, 5. He goes forth conquering, and to conquer, Rev. 6. 2. he takes from the ſtrong man all his armor, and divides the ſpoil, Luke 11. 22. Iſa. 53. 12. he never fails of full and final victory, reigns till all enemies are put under his feet, 1 Cor. 15. 24, 25. And this is the Crown of his Peoples Joy, That they have not only a juſt, a valiant, an humble, an active, but a proſperous and ſucceſsfull Prince, making his people rejoice in the ſpoils of their enemies, breaking the yoke of their burden, the ſtaff of their ſhoulder, the rod of their oppreſſor, extending peace to them like a River, and the glory of the Gentiles like a flowing ſtream, cauſing them to put their feet on p. 20the necks of their adverſaries. Thus, many waies are the people of Chriſt encouraged to rejoice in him.

This then ſerveth, 1. To reprove the ſin and folly of all thoſe who ſeek for joy out of the broken Ciſterns of the Creatures, which can hold none, and leave that living fountain out of which it naturally floweth. Some ſeek it in ſecular wealth and greatneſs, others in ſenſual pleaſures, feaſting, gaming, luxury, exceſs; ſome in Titles of Honor, others in variety of knowledge, ſome in ſtately Structures, magnificent retinue, goodly proviſions; others in low, ſordid, and bruitiſh luſts. Unto all whom we may ſay as the Angel unto the women, Luke 24. 5. Why ſeek ye the living amongſt the dead; or as Samuel did unto Saul, Set not thy mind upon the Aſſes, there are nobler things to fix thy deſires upon. Solomon had more variety this way, and more wiſdom to improve it, then any now have; and he made it his buſineſs critically and curiouſly to examin all the creatures, and to find out all the good which was under the Sun. And the product and reſult of all his enquiries, amounted at laſt to a total made up all of Cyphers, of meer wind and emptineſs, Vanity of vanities, vanity of vanities, all is vanity: So he begins his book; and to ſhew that he was not miſtaken, ſo he concludes it, Eccleſ. 1. & 12. Every particular vanity alone, and all in a maſs and collection, vanity together, enough to vex the ſoul, enough to weary it; but never enough to fill it, or to ſuffice it: Many of them ſinfull delights, poiſoned cordialls, killing, curſing, damning joies; dropping as p. 21an honey-comb, ſmooth as oyle, but going down to death, and taking hold of hel, Prov. 5. 35. All of them empty delights, in their matter and expectation earthly; in their acqniſition painful, in their fruition nauſeous and cloying, in their duration dying and periſhing; in their operation hardning, effeminating, levening, puffing up, eſtranging the heart from God; in their conſequences ſeconded with anxiety, ſolicitude, fear, ſorrow, deſpair, diſappointment, in their meaſure ſhorter then that a man can ſtretch himſelf on, narrower then that a man can wrap himſelf in; every way defective and d…ſproportionable to the vaſt and ſpatious capacity of the ſoul, as unable to fill that, as the light of a candle to give day to the world. What ever delights men take pleaſure in leaving Chriſt out, are but as the wine of a condemned man; as the feaſt of him who ſate under a naked ſword, hanging over him by a ſlender thread; as Adams forbidden fruit ſeconded by a flaming ſword, as Belſhazars dainties with an hand-writing againſt the wall, In the midſt of all ſuch joy, the heart is ſorrowful, and the end of that mirth is heaviniſs, Apul. Apologi.Prov. 14. 12. Like a flame of ſtubble, or a flaſh of gun-powder, Claro ſtrepitu, largo fulgore, cito incremento: ſed enim materia levi, caduco incendio, nullis reliquiis. A ſodain and flaming blaze which endeth in ſmoak and ſtink. The triumphing of the wicked is ſhort, and the joy of the hypocrite is but for a moment, Iob. 20. 5. Like the Roman Saturnalia, Macrob. Satur. l. 1 c. 7. 10. Athenaeus, l. 14. c. 17.wherein the ſervants feaſted for two or three daies, and then returned to their low condition again.

p. 222. This diſcovereth the great ſin and folly of thoſe who take offence at Chriſt; and when others entertain him with Hoſanna and acclamations, are diſpleaſed at him, as the Scribes, Mat. 21. 15. and with the yong man in the Goſpel, go away ſorrowful from him, Mark 10. 22. Our Saviour pronounceth them bleſſed, who are not offended with him, Mat. 11. 6. thereby intimating the miſery of thoſe, who ſtumbling at him, as a rock of offence, are thereupon diſobedient unto his word. Chriſt doth not give any juſt cauſe of offence unto any; but there are many things belonging unto Chriſt, which the proud and corrupt hearts of men do turn into matter of grief and offence unto themſelves.

1. Some are offended at his Perſon, in whom the Godhead and Manhood are united, as the Jews, John 1. …. 33. & the Samoſatenians, Photinians, and Neophotinians ſince; who though the Lord in his Word call him the Miphty God, Iſa. 9. 6. tell us that the Word was God, John 1. 1. God bleſſed for ever, Rom 9. 5. Equal with God, Phil. 2. 6. The true God, 1 John 5. 20. The Great God. Tit. 2. 13. a God whoſe Throne is for ever and ever, Heb. 1. 8. The Lord who in the beginning laid the foundation of the earth, v. 10. Iehovah our righteouſneſs, Jer. 23. 6. yet will not endure to have him any more then a meer man, without any perſonality or real ſubſiſtence, till he was born into the world of the Virgin Mary. It would be tedious to trouble you with the manifold offence which ancient and modern Hereticks have taken at the Perſon, Nature and Hypoſtatical union in Chriſt. TheaaNicephor. Caliſt. l. 6. c. 26 Sabellians acknowledging three p. 23names of Father, Son and Holy Ghoſt, but onelyonly one Hypoſtaſi. ThebbSocrates, lib. 1 c. 3. Arians affirming him to have been of like eſſence with the Father, but not coeſſential, nor coeternal, but a meer creature. The ccEpiphan. l. 2. to 2.Manichees denying the truth of his humane nature. TheddGreg. Naz. orat. 46. Apollinarians the integrity of it. The eeTertul. de Carn. Chriſti. c. 1.Valentines and Mareionites, the original of it from the bleſſed Virgin. The Neſtorians affirming a plurality of perſons, as well as of natures. The ffVid Aug. Phi. & Epiphan. de Haereſibus.Euthychians, a confuſion of natures in one perſon. So mightily hath Satan beſtirred himſelf by many and quite contrary inſtruments to plunder the Church (if it had been poſſible) of the Lord their Righteouſneſs.

2. Others are offended at his Croſs, both Iews and Greeks, 1 Cor. 1. 23. Thoſe pitching in their expectations upon a glorious Prince, who ſhould free them from the Roman yoke, could not endure to be ſo diſappointed, as in the ſtead thereof to have a crucified man, one in the form of a ſervant to be their Meſsiah; and therefore whoſoever rule over them, he ſhall not, Luke 19. 4. Theſe, judging it a fooliſh thing to expect life from a dead man, glory and bleſſedneſs from one who did not keep himſelf from ſhame and curſe, hearing doctrines wholly diſſonant and inconſiſtent with the principles they had been prepoſſeſſed withal, did thereupon refuſe to ſubmit to Chriſt; who notwithſtanding, to them which are called, was the power of God, and the wiſdom of God; had more power then that which the Jews require, more wiſdom then that which the Greeks ſought after. The Croſs of Chriſt, likewiſe p. 24to be taken up by his Diſciples and followers, is matter of offence unto many others, called the offence of the Croſs, Gal. 5. 11. When they hear that they muſt ſuffer with him, if they will reign with him; that through many tribulations they muſt enter into the Kingdom of God; that affliction is an appendix to the Goſpel, and find the truth of it by experience (perſecution ariſing becauſe of the word) then preſently they are offended, Matth. 13. 21.

3. Others are offended at the Free-grace of Chriſt, cannot endure to be ſhut out from all ſhare and cauſality towards their own ſalvation. Thus the Iews not willing to ſeek righteouſneſs by faith in Chriſt, but as it were by the works of the Lavv, ſtumbled at that ſtumbling ſtone, Fideles Seipſos diſcernuntab infidelibus. Grevinchov. diſſertat. de elect. & fide praeviſa. p. 226.Rom. 9. 32, 33. Men would fain owe ſome of the thank for their ſalvation to themſelves, to their own will, their own work, their conſenting to Chriſt, their not reſiſting of him, their co-operating with him, their works of condignity and congruity diſpoſing them towards him; they like not to hear of diſcriminating grace. But when men have uſed all the Arts and Arguments they can to have the efficacy of divine grace unto converſion,Vid. Aug. ep. 46 De ſpiritu & litera cap. 34. de praedeſtinat c. 3, 5, 8. De Grat. Chriſti l. 1. c. 24. Contraduas. Epiſt. pelag l. 1. c. 19, 20, & l. 4. c. 6. De Grat. & lib. Arb. c. 21. De Corrept. & Grat. c. 14. within the power or reach of their own will; yet ſtill this will be Scripture, That it is God that worketh in us to will and to do of his own good pleaſure, Phil. 2 13. That it is God who maketh us to differ, 1 Cor. 4. 7. that he hath mercy on whom he will have mercy, Rom 9. 15. that his grace is his own, to diſpoſe of as he wil, Mat. 20. 15. 1 Cor. 12. 21. That the purpoſe of God according to election ſhal ſtand; not p. 25of works, but of him that calleth, Rom. 9. 11. That by grace we are ſaved, through faith, and that not of our ſelves, Ep. 2. 8. That it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that ſheweth mercy, Rom. 9. 16. That Gods divine power gives us things pertaining to life & godlineſs, 2 Pet. 1 3. That there is an exceeding greatneſs of his power, towards thoſe that believe the working of the might of his power, Epheſ. 1. 19. That the Lords people are willing in the day of his power, Pſal. 110. 3. So then our willingneſs is the work of his power the efficacy of his power is not ſuſpended upon our will; we will, becauſe he effectually works; he doth not work effectually, and with ſucceſs, becauſe we will.

4. Others are offended at the Doctrine of Chriſt, they are not able to endure the things that are ſpoken by him.

1. Some at the ſublimity of it, as being above the diſquiſition of Reaſon, the Philoſophers mocked at the Doctrine of the Reſurrection,Greg. Naz. Orat. 3. Aug. de Civ. dei l. 10. c. 29. & l. 13. c. 16. Acts 17. 32. Julian ſcorned Chriſtians, as yielding up their ſouls captive to a blinde belief; pride of Reaſon diſdaining to admit any thing beyond its own comprehenſion, hath been the cauſe of that offence which many have taken at Evangelical Doctrine, The Deity of Chriſt, and the Holy Spirit, the Hypoſtatical union, traduction of ſin, imputation of righteouſneſs, &c. It hath been noted by learned men,Hooker. l. 5. ſ. 3. Aug. Epiſt. 56. that the Eaſtern Nations by reaſon of the pride and curioſity of their wits, have been moſt troubled with horrid and prodigious herefies. And it hath been regularis Haereticorum temeritas, the p. 26conſtant preſumption of heretical ſpirits, to oppoſe ſound believers, as unskilful and illiterate perſons, with the name and pretence of Reaſon.

2. Some at the ſimplicity of it: The doctrine of the Croſs was eſteemed fooliſhneſs by the Grandees of the world,1 Cor. 1. 18. Acts 17. 18.1 Cor 1:18Acts 17:18 partly becauſe delivered without the enticing words of mans wiſdom, 1 Cor. 2. 4. partly becauſe the things were ſuch as pride and luſt judged unreaſonable to ſtoop to. Chriſtian doctrine is above reaſon natural, againſt reaſon ſinful.

3. Some at the Sanctity and ſeverity of it. When it teacheth Self-denial, Mat. 16. 24. and 5. 29, 30. Heb. 13. 13. Luk. 14. 26 27 Mat. 7. 13, 14 Phil. 3. 20. Col 3. 1. 5. Mat. 5. 44. Eph. 6. 12. 18. 1 Theſſ. 5 22. Acts 24. 16. Phil. 2. 15. Epheſ. 5. 15. Pſal. 16. 8. Heb. 11. 25. 26Matt 16:24Matt 5:29Matt 5:30Heb 13:13Luke 14:26Matt 7:13Matt 7:14Phil 3:20Col 3:1Col 3:5Matt 5:44Eph 6:12Eph 6:181 Thess 5:22Acts 24:16Phil 2:15Eph 5:15Ps 16:8Heb 11:25Heb 11:26pulling out the right eye, cutting off the right hand, taking up a croſs, following Chriſt without the Camp, hating and forſaking all for him, walking in the narrow way, having our converſations and affections in heaven, mortifying our luſts, loving our enemies, wreſtling againſt Principalities and powers, praying always, abſtaining from all appearance of evil, exerciſing our ſelves in a good conſcience toward God and men, living without rebuke, in the midſt of a crooked generation, walking circumſpectly, ſetting the Lord alway before us, chuſing the reproaches of Chriſt, rather then the pleaſures of ſin, or honors of the world. When ſenſual and earthly minded men are held cloſe by ſuch Doctrines as theſe, they conclude with the men of Capernaum, This is an hard ſaying, who can hear it? John 6. 60.

Now the greatneſs of this ſin appears by the other dangerous ſins that are folded in it: for it plainly implyeth;

1. Unthankfulneſs for Chriſt, and undervaluing p. 27of him; for did we apprehend him (as in truth he is) exceeding pretious, no ſuch ſlender prejudices would cauſe us to take offence at him. There is nothing in him which is not lovely to believers; thoſe very things at which wicked men ſtumble, are to them amiable.Nyſſen. in Cant. Homil. 3. As that Odour which is deadly to a Vultur, is comfortable to a Dove; as the ſame water of jealouſie, in caſe of an innocent woman, did cauſe to conceive, which, in caſe of guilt, did cauſe the belly to ſwell, and the thigh to rot, Num. 5. 27, 28.

2. It noteth love of ſin, and ſenſeleſneſs under it; for were men truly affected with the danger of that, they would not be offended at the bitterneſs of the medicine that removes it. Had the young mans affections been looſer from his poſſeſſions, they would have cleaved cloſer unto Chriſt.††foreign, Euripid apud Stobaeum. Serm. 61. An adulterous heart doth many times take more pleaſure in an unhandſome harlot, then in a beautiful wife. Unbelief in Chriſt ever proceeds from the predominancy of ſome other love, Iohn 12. 42, 43.

3. It noteth ſlight apprehenſions of the wrath to come. The more the heart is poſſeſſed with the terror of wrath, the more it will value the Sanctuary which protecteth from it. No condemned man is offended at his pardon, by what hand ſoever it be brought unto him.

4. It noteth Hardneſs and contumacy in ſin: nothing ſhuts out the voyce of Chriſt, but pride of heart, which will not ſubmit to the law of faith, Heb. 3. 7. Rom. 10. 3.

5. It notes an unſavourineſs of ſoul, which cannot p. 28relliſh the things of God. As a bitter pallate taſtes every thing bitter, ſo an impure heart knows not how to judge of things that are ſpiritually diſcerned, 1 Cor. 2. 14. Heb. 5. 13. makes even an impure Scripture an impure Chriſt, an impure Religion. And this is indeed a right dangerous condition; for where Chriſt is not for the riſing, he is for the fall of men; where his ſweet favour is not reviving, it is deadly: That ſickneſs, of all other, is moſt incureable, which rejecteth Cordials: no ſtate ſo deſperate, as that which thruſteth away ſalvation from it, Acts 13. 46.

3. We ſhould therefore be exhorted unto this ſo comfortable a duty, to ſtir up in our hearts that joy in Chriſt which the ineſtimable benefit of our high calling requireth of us. It is a comely thing for the righteous to rejoyce, Pſalm 33. 1. Shall wicked men glory in that which is their ſhame, and ſhall not the righteous rejoyce in him who is their ſalvation? Shall he rejoyce over us to do us good, Ier. 32. 41. and reſts in his love to us, Zeph. 3. 17. And ſhall not we rejoyce in him who is the chiefeſt of ten thouſand? Are not all the objects of joy, which are ſcattered amongſt the creatures, heaped up, and everlaſtingly treaſured in him alone? Do we delight in wealth (as many will ſay, Who will ſhew us any good) behold here unſearchable riches, Epheſ. 3. 8. Durable riches, Prov. 8. 18. without bounds, without bottom, without end. Do we delight in pleaſure? Behold here rivers of pleaſure that never dry, pleaſures for evermore that never vaniſh, Pſalm 36. 8. and 16. 11. Do we delight in beauty? p. 29He is fairer then the children of men, Pſalm 45. 2. In ſweet odours? All his garments ſmell of myrrh, alloes and caſsia; he is perfumed with all the ſpices of the Merchant, Pſalm 45. 8. Cant. 3. 6. In muſick or elegant orations? His mouth is most ſweet, altogether lovely, grace is poured into his lips, Cant. 5. 16. In plentiful proviſion? behold here a feaſt of fatted things, Iſa, 25. 6 living water, John 4. 10. Bread of life, meat indeed, John 6. 51, 55. a Banquetting-houſe, with flagons, apples, fruits, Cant. 2. 3, 5, 7, 17. In ſtately buildings? Here is an Ivory Palace, whoſe beams are Cedar, whoſe galleries are cyprus, Pſ. 45. 8. Cant. 1. 16. In profound learning? Here is knowledge that paſſeth knowledge, foreign, Phil. 3. 8. the excellency of knowledge, knowledge that is life, Iohn 17. 3. In honor and dignity? Here is the Lord of Glory, honorable in himſelf, Phil. 3. 9. an honor to his people, 1 Pet. 2. 7. making them all Kings and Prieſts to God, Rev. 1. 6. In ſafety and ſecurity? This man is our peace, when the Aſſyrian is in the Land, Mic. 5. 5. He will caſt out our enemies, he will undo thoſe that afflictus, Zeph 3. 15, 19 In him the fulneſs of all delectable things; and that which makes all the more delightful, it is bonum parabile, though ſo ſuperlatively precious, yet not to be purchaſed at a dear rate, ſet before us, offered unto us, without money, without price, Iſaiah 55. 2. a gift, a free gift a gift of grace, a gift of righteouſneſs, Rom. 5. 15, 18. Well might the Pſalmiſt bid us rejoyce, and exceedingly rejoyce, Pſalm 68. 3. Well might the Prophet bid us ſing, and ſhout, and rejoyce, and be glad with all the heart, Zeph. 3, 14. p. 30Well might the Apoſtle call it, a joy unſpeakable, and full of glory, 1 Pet. 1. 8. ſince the Lord Jeſus is not onelyonly the joy of Saints, Luke 19. 37, 38. but of bleſſed Angels, Luke 2. 13. yea of God himſelf. He is called the Lords delight, Prov. 8. 30. Surely then Gods people cannot but be fully agreed upon it to Rejoyce in him.

And how in him?

1. In his perſon and immediate excellencies, thoſe glorious treaſures of wiſdom and grace wherwith he is repleniſhed, a ſpectacle of Angelical adoration, 1 Pet. 1. 12. Heb. 1. 6.

2. In his mediation, the great things he hath done, the great benefits he hath procured for us. God forbid (ſaith the Apoſtle) that I ſhould glory, ſave in the croſs of our Lord Ieſus Chriſt, Gal. 6. 14.

3. In our knowledge of him, and communion with him in all thoſe benefits; a knowledge, in compariſon of which, the Apoſtle eſteemed all other things as loſs and dung, Phil. 3. 8.

4. In all the means which he hath appointed to bring men to this knowledge of him, and communion with him: In his Ordinances, which are his voyce ſpeaking from heaven unto us, according to our eſtimation whereof, he accounteth himſelf regarded by us, Luke 10. 16. In his Miniſters, to whom he hath committed the word of reconciliation, whom his people have received as Angels of God, Gal. 4. 14, 15. unto whom what reſpect, or diſreſpect is ſhewed, Chriſt looketh on as done unto himſelf, Mat. 10. 40, 41. And here I cannot but follow the example of our Apoſtle towards theſe p. 31Philippians, Chap. 4. v. 10—14—19. & with joy and thankfulnneſs make mention of the zeal and Chriſtian care of this Honorable City, both to provide a learned and faithful Miniſtery, and having ſuch to ſpeak comfortably unto them, as Hezekiah did, and to encourage them in the ſervice of the Lord: And this your work of faith, and labour of love, is the more acceptable, in that it hath flouriſhed in theſe looſe times, wherein many unſtable and ſeduced ſouls have been miſled by the prophane impulſions of ſuch as bear evil will to the proſperity of our Sion, to load the Miniſters of Chriſt, as the Jews did their Lord before them, with execrations and reproaches. This your zeal hath been famous in all places at home, and I perſwade my ſelf in all the Churches of Chriſt abroad; and I doubt not but it will be a rejoycing and a crown unto you at the appearing of the Lord. And truly your Honor ſtandeth not ſo much in your ſpacious City, in your goodly Structures, in your great River, in your numerous ſhips▪ in your wiſe Senate, in your full Treaſures,Londinium—Copiâ negotiatorum▪ & commeatu maximè Celebre. Tacit. annal. lib. 14. in your vaſt Trade, in your ancient Name (for you have been a moſt famous Emporium upon record, for above fifteen hundred years) all theſe are but thin and empty Elogies unto that one, Ezek. 44. 35. The name of the City ſhall be Iehovah Shammah, the Lord is there. This is, this will be your honor, if you be a City of truth, the mountain of the Lord of hoſts, the holy Mountain, Zach. 8. 3. The Goſpel is the riches of a Nation, Rom. 11. 12. obedience and wiſdom the renown of a people, Deut. 4. 6. Go on therefore thus to rejoyce in p. 32Chriſt, by honoring his Ordinances, by ſtrengthening the hands, and comforting the hearts of his Miniſters in his ſervice, and the Lord will be with you, and men ſhall ſay of you, The Lord bleſs thee O habitation of juſtice, and mountain of holineſs, Ier. 31. 22

5. Rejoice we in that work whereunto by theſe he cals us; as it was his joy to do his Fathers work, ſo it is the joy of believers to do his work, 2 Cor. 1. 12. they live not, they die not unto themſelves, but unto him, Rom. 14. 7, 8.

6. In the graces he ſupplies us withall for the performance of that work: Thus we read of the joy of faith, Phil. 1. 25. not only in regard of the good things it aſſureth unto us, but of the efficacy which it hath in us, inabling us to work by love.

7. In the light of his countenance ſhining on us, which is much better then life it ſelf; Pſal. 63. 3. We may all ſay unto him, as he ſaid unto his Father, Acts 2. 28. Thou ſhalt make me full of joy with thy countenance.

8. In the hope of his glory: The ſpirit of adoption is even now a glorious thing, John 1. 2. But it doth not yet appear what we ſhall be, only this he hath aſſured us of, That we ſhall be like unto him, ſhall ſee him as he is, ſhall appear with him in glory; ſhall ſit upon his Throne, and be ever with him; 1 John 3 1, 2. Col. 3. 4. And this bleſſed hope, ſecured by the witneſs of the ſpirit (who is the ſeal and earneſt of our eternal inheritance) filleth the hearts of believers with joy unſpeakable and full of glory; while they look not on the things that are ſeen, but on the things that are not ſeen.

p. 339. In the fellowſhip of his ſufferings, which though to ſenſe they be matter of ſorrow, yet unto faith are they matter of joy. When Gods ſervants conſider, that unto theſe ſufferings they were appointed, 1 Theſ. 3. 3. That Chriſt owns them as his, Col. 1. 4. That they work for them a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, 2 Cor. 4. 17. That thereby the ſpirit of glory reſteth on them, and that God himſelf is glorified in them: 1 Pet. 4. 14. In theſe reſpects they not only rejoice, but triumph as more then conquerors in all their afflictions, Acts 5. 41 Rom. 8. 37. Iam. 1. 2.

Thus are Believers to rejoice in Chriſt: And that, 1. Greatly, again and again. Other delights may pleaſe the ſenſes, tickle the fancy; gratifie the reaſon; but there is no joy that can fill all the heart, but the joy of the Lord, Zeph. 3. 14.

2. Alway: Rejoice ever more, 1 Theſ. 5. 16. all other joies have their periods and vacations, they flow and ebb, they bloſſom and wither: In a fit of ſickneſs, in a pang of conſcience, under a ſentence of death, they are all as the white of an egg, without any ſavor. But no condition is imaginable, wherein a conſcionable believer hath not a foundation of joy in Chriſt: This Tree of life hath fruit on it for every month, Rev. 21. 2. The comforter he ſends abides with us for ever, Iohn 14. 16. The joy he gives, none can take away, Iohn 16. 22. Though Gods people have many cauſes of ſorrow in themſelves, ſtrong corruptions, hard hearts, little ſtrength, weak graces, many temptations; yet in Chriſt they have ſtill matter of rejoicing; in the conſtancy of p. 34his love, in the abundance of his pardoning mercy, in the fulneſs of his ſpirit, in the ſufficiency of his grace, in the fidelity of his promiſe, in the validity of his purchaſe, in the vigilancy of his eye, in the readines of his help, in the perpetuity of his interceſſion; we diſparage ſo good a Lord, diſcredit his ſervice, diſquiet our ſelves, diſcourage others, grieve his ſpirit, expoſe his waies to prejudice & reproach, weaken our hands in his ſervice and our hearts in his love, when we pine and languiſh under groundleſs perplexity, and waſte that time which ſhould be ſpent in his work, about our jealouſies of his favor.

3. With trembling and holy reverence, Res ſevera eſt verum gaudium, without levity, without wantonneſs, without preſumption, without arrogance, Pſal. 2. 11. So rejoice in him, as withall to fear to offend him, to work out our own ſalvation with fear and trembling; even for this very reaſon, becauſe he is ſo gracious as to give us both, to will and to do of his own good pleaſure, Phil. 2. 12, 13.

4. With improvement of this joy: 1. Unto thankfulneſs for Chriſt, and any thing of Chriſt in our ſelves,In eundem hominem non luto Convenire Gaudium & ſilentium. Pacatus in Panegyr. having taſted that the Lord is gracious, let us ever be ſpeaking good of his name; though our meaſures are not ſo great as ſome other mens, yet we may not eſteem any thing of ſalvation ſmall, or little; it will grow unto perfection.

2. Unto more chearful ſervice, the more we triumph in his victory, the more we ſhall abound in his work, 1 Cor. 15. 57, 58. The joy of the Lord is our ſtrength, Nehem. 8. 10. Return to thy reſt, O my ſoul; there is Davids joy, I will walk before the Lord; p. 35there is the work of that joy, Pſal. 116. 8, 9. None are more fruitfull in his ſervice, then they who are moſt joifull in his favor.

3. Unto conſolation againſt any other evils, though we have not the wealth, health, gifts, imployments, honors that others have; yet if Chriſt have given us himſelf, his bloud to redeem us, his ſpirit to quicken us, his grace to renew us, his peace to comfort us; Should ſuch conſolations ſeem ſmall unto us? Iob 15. 11. What wants are there which the joy of the Lord doth not compenſate? What ſufferings are there which the joy of the Lord doth not ſwallow up? Would we exchange Chriſt if we might have all the world without him? And ſhall we be diſpleaſed if we have not all the world with him? Nay have we not in him all other things more eminently, ſweetly, purely, richly to enjoy, then in all the creatures beſides? Fidelibus totus mundus divitiarum eſt. Doth thy journey to heaven diſpleaſe thee, becauſe the way haply is deep and ſtony? admit it were a Carpit-way like Salisbury Plain, haply there thou wouldſt loiter more, haply there thou wouldſt be more aſſaulted, whereas in a deeper way thou art more careful of thy ſelf, and more ſecure againſt thine enemies.

Laſtly, unto a zealous provocation of others to come in and be partakers of the ſame joy. In times of feſtivity, men uſe to call their neighbours under their Vines and Fig-trees, Zach. 3. 10. The Lord Jeſus is the feaſt of his ſervants, 1 Cor. 5. 7, 8. unto him therefore we ſhould invite one another, as Andrew did Simon, and Philip Nathaniel, Iohn 1. 41, 45. p. 36Joy is of all affections the moſt communicative, it leaps out into the eyes, the feet, the tongue, ſtaies not in one privat boſom, but as it is able, ſheds it ſelf abroad into the boſoms of many others.Non ſe capit exundantis laetitiae magnitudo, ſed deſignata p…ctorum latebras, foris prominet. N…z. panegyr. It was not enough for David to expreſs his own joy by dancing before the Ark; but he deals amongſt all the people, cakes of bread, pieces of fleſh, flagons of wine, that the whole multitude of Iſrael might rejoice in the Ark of God as well as he, 2 Sam. 6. 14. 19. I ſhall ſhut up all with removing two obſtacles which ſeem to ſtand in the way of this joy.

1. If I muſt alway rejoice, how then, or when, ſhall I ſorrow for ſin? I anſwer, Theſe two doe ſweetly conſiſt. As the Paſſeover was a Feaſt, yet eaten with bitter hearbs, ſo Chriſt our Paſſeover may be feaſted upon with a bitter ſenſe of our own ſins. As in the Spring many a ſweet flowre falls, and yet the Sun ſhines all the while: So there may be ſweet flowres of Godly ſorrow, and the Sun of righteouſneſs ſtill ſhine on the ſoul. None do more mourn for offending Chriſt, then thoſe who do moſt rejoice in the fruition of him.

2. But what ſhall we ſay of wounded and afflicted conſciences, lying under the buffets of Satan, under divine deſertions, ſinking under temptation, and wreſtling with the ſenſe and fear of wrath, can theſe rejoice at all, much leſs always? It is true, when God hides his face, none can behold him, in ſuch a ſhipwrack neither Sun nor Stars wil appear. But yet,

1. There is the matter and foundation of true joy, the ſeed of comfort Light is ſown for the righteous, and joy for the upright in heart, Pſa. 97. 11.

p. 372. Theſe ſorrows are many times preparations for more joy, as the ſorrow of a travailing woman, Joh. 16. 20. black roots bear beautiful flowres: The Whale that ſwallowed Jonah, carried him to the ſhore. Dark colours make way to an overlaying of gold. The more a ſtone is wounded by the hand of the engraver, the more beauty is ſuperinduced upon it. Many times where the Lord intends moſt comfort, he doth uſher it in with more ſorrow; as the Angel firſt lamed Iacob, and then bleſſed him.

3. This very eſtate is far more elegible then the pleaſures of ſin, and therefore hath more delight in it. If you ſhould ask an holy man in this caſe, you ſee how ſeverely Chriſt deals with you: Will you not rather give over ſerving him, lamenting after him, languiſhing for want of him, and reſume your wonted delights of ſin again? What other anſwer would a good ſoul give, but as Chriſt to Peter, Get thee behind me Satan, thou art an offence unto me. Though there be little reaſon that he ſhould comfort me, yet there is great reaſon that I ſhould ſerve him. The wounds of Ghriſt are better then the kiſſe of the world; it is much better being with a frowning fat…r, then with a flattering foe. The worſt eſtate of a Saint is better then the beſt of a ſinner, the bittereſt Phyſick, then ſweeteſt poyſon. As in the midſt of worldly laughter the heart is ſorrowful; ſo in the midſt of ſaddeſt Temptations, the ſoul ſtill concludes, It is good for me to draw nigh to Chriſt. Let him deny me, let him delay me, let him deſert me, let him deſtroy me, yet I will love him, and deſire him ſtill. As the blackeſt day is lighter p. 38then the brighteſt night; ſo the ſaddeſt day of a believer is more joyous then the ſweeteſt night of a wicked man.

We have thus conſidered the Lord Ieſus as a preſent, a precious, a full, a pure, a rare, a various, a victorious, a perpetual, a proper good of his people; a Prince adorned with juſtice, with ſalvation, with humility, with diſpatch, with ſucceſs and peace; We have ſhewed the folly of thoſe who fix their delights upon empty creatures; the danger of thoſe who are offended at the Perſon, the Croſs, the Grace, the Doctrine, the Sublimity, the Simplicity, the Sanctity of the ways of Chriſt. We have exhorted his ſervants to rejoyce in his Perſon, in his Mediation, in their knowledge of him, in the Ordinances and Inſtruments he hath appointed to bring unto that knowledge, in the ſervice whereunto he calls us, in the graces wherewith he ſupplies us, in the light of his countenance, in the hope of his glory, in the fellowſhip of his ſufferings; to rejoyce in him fully, to rejoyce in him alway, to rejoyce with trembling, to improve this joy unto thankfulneſs for his benefits, unto chearfulneſs in his ſervice, unto Conſolation againſt all evil, unto the provocation of one another unto the ſame joy: Now the God of hope fill us with all joy and peace in believing, that we may abound in hope, through the power of the holy Ghost; that the peace of God which paſſeth all underſtanding, may rule in our hearts; that we may rejoyce with joy unſpeakable and full of glory, receiving the end of our faith, even the ſalvation of our ſouls. p. 39And the God of peace, who brought again from the dead our Lord Ieſus, that great ſhepherd of the ſheep, through the blood of the Everlaſting Covenant, make us perfect in every good work to do his will, working in us that which is well-pleaſing in his ſight, through Ieſus Chriſt; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

FINIS.

ERRATA.

PAge 2. l. 30. r. Paradiſe, paſſim: p. 3. l. 24. r. tears. p. 5. margent, r. habet, r. foreign, p. 6. marg. r. foreign, p. 16. l. 4. r. diſpenſed, p. 18. marg. r. diſperſum, r. Cn. r. ineunte, p. 19. l. 21. r. offenſe, l. 17. r. mighty, p. 23. l. 2. r. Hypoſtaſis, l. 3. r. Valentinians, r. Marcionites, l. 10. r. Eutycheans. Small litteral faults correct.

End of the text · Edward Reynolds, Joy in the Lord Opened (1655)