The Government and Improvement of Mirth, Sermon 3

The Government and Improvement of Mirth · Sermon 3

p. 99SERMON. III. Of MIRTH, Spiritual and Holy. Being the Subſtance of a Sermon Preached on a Day of Publick and Solemn Thanksgiving, Nov. 23. 1704. And Recommended to be Read in Families or in Secret on ſuch Occaſions.

St. James V. 13.

Is any Merry? let him Sing Pſalms.

I Have ſpoken of that Natural and Civil Mirth, which is decent in a Chriſtian, and Occaſionally a Duty; and alſo of p. 100that Carnal and Vicious Merriment, which is to be condemned, abhorred and avoided; and now I paſs on to ſay in the Third & laſt place,

III. That there is a Spiritual & Religious Joy, proper to a Saint; his rich Priviledge, and his Duty to Aſpire after. A Joy which the Carnal heart knows nothing of, which the World can't give, nor can it take away. The Good Mans Priviledge & Property: Light is Sown for the Righteous, and Gladneſs for the Upright in heart: And the Good Mans Duty, which is often requir'd in the holy Scripture. Be glad in the Lord, and Rejoyce ye Righteous. Rejoyce in the Lord Alwayes. Rejoyce Evermore. Let not your hearts be Troubled.

It is a Joy on Spiritual Accounts, Spiritually Felt; and Spiritually Expreſſed: the Author, Object, Subject and Means of it are all Spiritual.

For Kind and Degree of Pleaſure it is far away Superior to all Senſitive p. 101and Worldly Joyes; even thoſe of Harveſt and of Victory, which ever were named among the loudeſt and moſt Triumphant Exultations: Iſa. 9.3. They Joy before thee according to the Joy in Harveſt, and as men rejoyce when they divide the Spoil. Yet Theſe are below any Compariſon with the Gladneſs put into the Pſalmiſts heart by the Light of Gods Countenance: Pſal. 4.6, 7. There be many that ſay, Who will ſhew us any Good? Lord, Life thou up the Light of thy Countenance upon us! Thou haſt put Gladneſs in my heart, more than in the time when their Corn & Wine increaſed.

In Diſcourſing of this pleaſant and Heavenly Enjoyment, I will, 1. Speak of its bleſſed Author. 2. The happy Subject of it. 3. The Glorious Object of it. 4. The Subordinate Cauſes and Means of it. And 5. The Proper and Natural Expreſſion of it, as directed unto in the Text: Let him Sing Pſalms.

p. 102I. The Bleſſed AUTHOR of this Holy and Spiritual Joy is GOD THE HOLY GHOST. 'Tis a Divine Delight excited in and imprinted on the Soul by the Holy Spirit. This agrees to his Style & Office, the Comforter; and hence we read of a Walking in the Comfort of the Holy Ghoſt. 'Tis He breaths and diffuſes the Joyes of Holy Souls; 'tis He Creates in us every heavenly Grace and Pleaſure: Gal. 5.22. The fruit of the Spirit is Love, Joy & Peace. Now where theſe are Shed abroad by the Holy Ghoſt, there muſt be Pleaſure without Allay, and Brightneſs without a Mote to ſhade it. Are the Conſolations of God Small? ſaid Eliphaz to Job. Can they be ſo, when He is Infinite? His Conſolations muſt be Vaſt and Ineffable as Himſelf, when it pleaſes him to vouchſafe 'em. As the Ocean they are Wide and Deep, and there are Seaſons for their Swelling Tides: the Capacious, the Exalted, the Refined Spirit of p. 103Man Sanctify'd cannot fully Conceive of, and much leſs ſpeak its own Spiritual Taſts.

This is eminently true of the SEALING from the Holy Spirit of Promiſe, & his Bearing Witneſs with our Spirits: Of which Divineſt Priviledge it were eaſy to Speak Great & Glorious Words, but all below what plain and humble Saints have felt: Eſpecially what they have ſometimes ſpoken in their Dying Extaſies has been truly Marvellous; their Words too narrow to expreſs their Senſe, their Senſe too Inward and Vaſt for the Living to apprehend, but who have alſo been Diſſolv'd in Rais'd Devotions. Unutterable thing, even to the rap't Saints themſelves, as the Words of Paradice were to the Deſcended Apoſtle! Omnipotent Delectation! that has ſo taken away the Senſe of Pain in a holy Martyr, that the very Flames have not been felt! The Raviſh't Mind, taken up with its own Fruitions, being not p. 104able to attend unto the Tortures that deſtroy'd the Body; tho' the Union ſo ſtrict and Intimate, & the Sympathy on both ſides ſo tender, yet the Soul has forgot it, being Intent on higher Objects, and ſenſible of no Union but to God the Supream Good! As Calm at the Stake, as Elijah aſcending in his Chariot of Fire: they have Smil'd out their Souls, and bleſs'd their Tortures.

Next unto this, and Subordinate unto it, is the Teſtimony of CONSCIENCE for us; of which the Apoſtle ſayes, 2 Cor. 1.12. Our Rejoycing is this, the Teſtimony of our Conſcience. Our Rejoycing, — He ſpeaks not of the vain Joyes of the Ungodly; they are Strangers to this, and Intermeddle not with it: A Joy peculiar to the Children of God, and which no Graceleſs heart can have: A Spiritual Joy, ſpoken of as the higheſt, beſt & chief Joy of Man. Our Rejoycing, — That which is Eminently Ours; compar'd to which nothing p. 105elſe is meet to be named ſo; which affords us our proper and fulleſt Satisfaction and Delight. This is from the Teſtimony of Conſcience; i. e. That is the Cauſe, Ground & Reaſon of this Joy; what Warrants it, & what Conſtrains it; being the Voice of God Himſelf, whoſe Subſtitute and Repreſentative it is, and gives its Teſtimony of Infallible Knowledge, with Invincible Integrity, and with Irreſiſtible Majeſty and Authority. So an Eye Witneſs affirms with Boldneſs: Act. 4.20. We cannot but ſpeak the things which we have ſeen & heard: And ſo a Judge abſolves with Power. Conſcience is a Soverain Comforter: † It does not Whyſper, but Proclaims a Jubilee; it does not Drop but Pours Oil into the Wounded Soul: It does not Beg and Intreat, but like a Lord bids, & it is done; as our Saviour ſaid to the Stormy Sea, Peace, be Still; and there was a great Calm: Its Sentence is Peremptory, and Forces Joy if it p. 106be for us; No man can refuſe to credit and reverence his own Conſcience; As if the Sun riſes it will be Day, ſo the Soul is Serene and bright if that applaud us. It was a ſtrange but happy Saying of Luthers to this purpoſe, Miſer fit qui poſſit, Ego non poſſum; Let him be Miſerable who can be ſo, for my part I can't: Meaning, that his Conſcience wou'd not Suffer him to think himſelf ſo.

No Outward Troubles can take this Joy from us, as indeed the World cannot give it; but 'tis the Sure Sanctuary and Impregnable Fortreſs which the Good man has to retire unto, when Providence drives him out of his Out-works: Here he has Safety and Peace, and from hence he can look down boldly and calmly, nay with pity on the Evils & Enemies which do Beſiege and Aſſault him. So Job did when Satan had ſpoil'd him of every thing but his Integrity; This he held faſt & immur'd p. 107himſelf in it, My heart ſhall not reproach me ſo long as I Live. And he cou'd bear it with leſs Patience that his Friends ſhou'd endeavour to beat him out of this his Laſt Retreat, than if they had joyned with the Ravagers of his Goods. 'Tis a Noble Tho't of Dr. South, who likens Afflictions in ſuch a caſe to Froſt, when it ſeiſes ſome Generous Wine; it may congeal the Wateriſh parts of it, but the Spirit Retreats into it ſelf, and won't freeze. So firm and free from Impreſſion is the Conſcience of a Good Man ſometimes, when Calamity arreſts his Name, Family, Body, Eſtate, &c.

To return from this ſmall Excurſion.

II. The happy SUBJECTS of this Holy and Spiritual Joy are only Holy People, in their holy Frames, and in the actual Exerciſe of Grace. It is Spiritually felt, by them that have Taſted that the Lord is gracious. Only the Renewed Mind knows it: 'tis the Good of Gods Choſen; the Gladneſs of his p. 108Nation; the Glorying of his Inheritance. 'Tis the Illuſtrious Manifeſtation of the Empire of Grace: Rom. 14.17. The Kingdom of God is Joy in the Holy Ghoſt. Never is the Soul of a Saint more carry'd forth to God, than when this Joy fills him. His Love, Reverence, Admiration, Deſire, Hope, are in their higheſt Exaltation. 'Tis the top of Devotion; the Soul whom God has Sanctify'd rais'd in Meditation, Self-Examination, Prayer and Praiſe. A Heavenly Enjoyment truly, and the temper of the Bleſſed for ever! The Perfect Spirits in Heaven have this Joy in its Fulneſs, and the Prelibations of it are their Peculiar, who are haſting thither. We read of JESUS his Rejoycing in Spirit, Luk. 10.21. And the Bleſſed Virgins Magnificat we know of, (Her Joy, like the Favour of Heaven to her, ſtrictly Singular;) Luk. 1.47, 48. And Mary ſaid, my Soul doth Magnify the Lord, and my Spirit hath rejoyced in God my Saviour. p. 109I might name another Happy Mothers holy Joy, but the Inſtance leſs Bleſſed than the Former, ſcil. the devout Mother of Samuel: What her Tranſports were let her Song tell us, at the Preſenting of her Wondrous Son; Her Prayers and Vows which had obtain'd him came to Mind, & her Soul was Exalted and over joy'd: 1 Sam. 2.1. And Hannah Prayed and ſaid, My heart rejoyceth in the Lord, mine Horn is exalted in the Lord: &c. David was eminently fitted for, and often favoured with this Heavenly Enjoyment, thro' his frequent and excelling Devotions; and his Pſalms do abound with the moſt lofty Flights of it that can be. Of this Noble Order are they to whom Heaven Vouchſafes its Viſits, and its Streams of Light: the Ungodly can have no ſuch Favour done 'em, for what Communion hath Light with Darkneſs? This Spiritual Joy might then poſſibly break into Hell too, and relieve the Miſerable p. 110there. But 'tis indeed the Childrens Bread, not a Crumb whereof is thrown to the Dogs; They like their Lord before them have Meat to eat that others know not of: Chriſt gives 'em to eat of the Hidden Manna, the peculiar portion of the New Name, which no man knoweth ſave he that receiveth it. Judas, not Iſcariot, cou'd not conceive of this till the Comforter taught him it: Joh. 14.22, 26. Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifeſt thy ſelf unto us, and not unto the world? This may be called one of thoſe Deep things of God, which no man knoweth, but the Spirit of God: — As it is written, Eye hath not ſeen, nor Ear heard, neither have enter'd into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that Love him. 1 Cor. 2.9, 10, 11, &c. I might very properly tranſcribe the reſt of that Inward and Spiritual Diſcourſe: But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit; adds the Apoſtle: For what man knoweth the things of a man, p. 111ſave the Spirit of man which is in him? Even ſo the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God: Now we have received, not the Spirit of the World, but the Spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God: Which things alſo we ſpeak, not in the words which mans wiſdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghoſt teacheth, comparing ſpiritual things with ſpiritual: But the Natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God, for they are Fooliſhneſs unto him, neither can be know them, becauſe they are ſpiritually diſcerned: But he that is ſpiritual judgeth all things, yet he himſelf is judged of no man: i. e. of no man who has no higher Principle than that of Nature to diſcern things by. The Alluſion is plain and pertinent, and needs no Comment. The happy Subjects of Spiritual Joy are only Gracious Saints, in ſome of their beſt Hours.

III. The Glorious OBJECT of this p. 112Holy Joy is GOD our Maker, and the LORD JESUS CHRIST our Saviour. GOD is the Delectable Object: Abſolutely ſo in Himſelf, poſſeſſing every Adorable Excellency; but more eſpecially is he ſo to us, conſidered Relatively as our God and Father in Chriſt, and Everlaſting Portion thro' him. The Holy Pſalmiſt calls him his Exceeding Joy, & agreeably profeſſes and promiſes**Pſa. 43.4 9.2.33.21. See Uſe, Cant ….4. Iſa. 41 16.Ps 43:4Isa 41:16, I will be Glad & Rejoyce in Thee: Our heart ſhall rejoyce in Him. We are alſo commanded to delight our ſelves in the Lord. Pſal. 37.4. And a like Direction we have, Pſal. 149.2. Let Iſrael rejoyce in him that made him, let the Children of Zion be joyful in their King. A moſt grateful Precept, and bleſſed Licence, and poſſible only to a Saint; the Holineſs & Power, Truth and Righteouſneſs of God being moſt terrible to the Wicked to think on.

p. 113The PERFECTIONS of the Deity are moſt Amiable & Pleaſant to the Contemplative Mind. The Goodneſs and Mercy of God are ſo, Zech. 9.17. How great is his Goodneſs … how great is his Beauty! Pſalm 31.7. I will be glad and rejoyce in thy Mercy. So is the Divine Power: Pſal. 21.13. Be thou Exalted, Lord, in thy own Strength, ſo will we Sing and Praiſe thy Power. There is a Divine Pleaſure in Contemplating the Holineſs of God: The Seraphims feel this, (thoſe Fires of Heavenly Zeal, and Love and Joy!) and they cry alternately, Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord of Hoſts, the whole Earth is full of his Glory: to whom the joyous Saints on Earth do Eccho back, Pſal. 99.5. Exalt ye the Lord our God, and Worſhip at his Footſtool, for he is Holy.

But eſpecially,

Theſe Divine Attributes are Beautiful in their Union and Harmony; and in the Meditation of the Infinitely Bliſsful State reſulting thence. p. 114Here is Infinite Majeſty, Dominion and Power, Everlaſtingly poſſeſs't by Eternal Goodneſs, Wiſdom, Holineſs & Truth; from whence Ineffable Bleſſedneſs muſt neceſſarily ariſe. And what ſhou'd be the Joy of every Created Mind, beſides this Glorious and Bleſſed Being? every one of whoſe Eſſential Attributes ſhine bright to our Underſtandings, and raviſh 'em in their humble Admirations and Adorations! Pſal. 96.6, 7, 11. Honour and Majeſty are before Him: Strength & Beauty are in His Sanctuary. Give unto the Lord, O ye Kindreds of the People, Give unto the Lord Glory and Strength. Let the Heavens rejoyce, and let the Earth be glad; let the Sea rore, and the fulneſs thereof; let the Field be joyful, &c. So while the Sun dazzles our weak Eyes, yet 'tis Pleaſant to behold it, and the Light is Sweet. So are the ſmall Gleams of Divine Light to the holy Mind; My Meditation of Him ſhall be ſweet, I will be glad in the Lord.

p. 115Mediately we rejoyce in God, while we do ſo in the Contemplation of his WORKS and of his BENEFITS. The Inviſible things of Him from the Creation of the World, are clearly ſeen, being Underſtood from the things that are made, even his Eternal Power and Godhead. And how we ſhou'd Joy in Him, in the Meditation of his Glories as they ſhine forth in the Works of CREATION, we may beſt learn from many of the Inſpired Pſalms ‖‖The 95, 96, 100, 104, 148, Pſalms.which celebrate the Great Creator in lofty & ſublime Expreſſions comporting with his own Immenſity and Unapprochable Light.

The like holy Joy ariſes from a Devout Apprehenſion of Gods Governing PROVIDENCE, and a religious Truſt therein ††See Pſalm 145, 146, 147.Ps 145:146Ps 145:147. Hence come Security & Confidence. Pſal. 5.11. Let all thoſe that put their Truſt in Thee rejoyce, let them ever ſhout for Joy, becauſe thou p. 116Defendeſt them. There may well be Eaſe and Quiet, Delight & Gladneſs under Gods Paternal Care: His Shadow refreſhes, & His Wing warms and cheriſhes whom it covers: Pſal. 63.7. Becauſe thou haſt been my Help, therefore in the Shadow of thy Wings I will Rejoyce.

Moreover, The BENEFITS wherewith God daily loadeth us, even our moſt Common Mercies under a Spiritual Improvement, do yield us Divine and Holy Joy. They miniſter it unto our Humble, Thankful, Devoted Souls, while we conſider 'em as coming from God, utterly undeſerved by us, and Improveable to his Glory. So the Pious Jew rejoyced Spiritually when he offer'd his Firſt-Fruits; the whole Form of which Solemnity is truly Expreſſive of the proper Spirit of a THANKSGIVING-DAY; Namely, How we ſhou'd rejoyce Spiritually in the Common and Outward Benefits of the Lord our God to us: Deut. 26. p. 11710, 11. Thou ſhalt ſet it before the Lord thy God, and worſhip before the Lord thy God: And thou ſhalt rejoyce in every good thing, which the Lord thy God hath given unto thee, and unto thy Houſe. So were they to Sacrifice the Sacrifice of Thanksgiving, and to declare his Works with Rejoycing. And ſo ought we to be doing, every one Apart for his Perſonal and Family Mercies, and with United Voice for thoſe of a Publick Nature. Holy Joy is Eſſential unto, and Inſeparable from the Spirit of true Thanksgiving: that is for Mercies received, to expreſs our Joy in 'em, in Praiſes for 'em.

But SPIRITUAL BLESSINGS in Heavenly Things in Chriſt our Lord, are eminently the Object and Cauſe of a Religious Joy: they are ſo where they are duly apprehended and Reſented.

CHRIST is both the Author & Object of the Believers Joy. And moſt juſtly, being the Unſpeakable Gift of God to a Miſerable World, & the p. 118Fountain of all Mercy and Saving Good to loſt Sinners. Conſider Him in his Glorious Offices, in the Illuſtrious Work of Redemption which he has undertaken and finiſhed, & in his precious and Ineſtimable Benefits, contained in the Covenant & Promiſes of the Goſpel, the Purchaſe of his Obedience and Death, and we have indeed Great Joy in him in all Reſpects! In ſuch a Prophet! We rejoyce in his Light. In ſuch a Merciful High-Prieſt! Rom. 5.11. We joy in God thro' our Lord Jeſus Chriſt, by whom we have received the Atonement. In ſuch a King & Lawgiver and Judge! He ſhall Save us. In ſuch an Advocate! verſe 2, 3. By whom alſo we have acceſs by Faith into this Grace, and rejoyce in Hope of the Glory of God. The Joy of Faith & Hope, of Prayer and Praiſe, of every Evangelical Grace and Duty, (hereafter to be Enumerated) does all Ultimately center in Chriſt the Saviour. Phil. 3.3. We are the Circumciſion, p. 119which worſhip God in the Spirit, and rejoyce in Chriſt Jeſus, & have no confidence in the fleſh.

Well did the Angel ſay to the Shepherds, I bring you good 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. Our Father Abraham rejoyced to ſee that Bleſſed Day; He ſaw it and was glad. Devout Simeon waited for this Conſolation, and at laſt had it in the Temple, where he took the Holy Child in his Arms, and bleſſed God, and ſaid, Lord, now letteſt thou thy Servant depart in peace,— for mine Eyes have ſeen thy Salvation.—

So then, Our Rejoycing may be MORE ABUNDANT IN CHRIST JESUS, to borrow the Apoſtle's Words; but that muſt needs depend upon an Aſſured Intereſt in Him, and a Title to the Bleſſings of the Covenant of Grace. And the Divineſt Joyes flow from p. 120this, Namely, from a ſenſe of Gods Eternal Love to us in Chriſt, that he has pardon'd, accepted & juſtify'd us in his Son. This is that Loving-kindneſs which is better than life. In this our Saviour bids us to rejoyce, ſcil. That our Names are written in Heaven. The Joy of Chriſt Himſelf is in his Exaltation, Ours in the Great Salvation thro' Him: Pſal. 21.5, 6. His Glory is great in thy Salvation; Honour and Majeſty thou haſt laid upon Him: Thou haſt made Him moſt Bleſſed for ever,— exceeding Glad with thy Countenance. If the Hope of Salvation will not give a ſinking, periſhing Sinner Joy, what ſhou'd? 'Tis his Hearts Deſire ſurely! the one Requeſt of his lips! all the Bleſſings of Goodneſs together! even Life for ever & ever! Rev. 2.17. I will give him a white ſtone, and in the ſtone a new Name written, which no man knoweth ſaveing he that receiveth it. It was a Cuſtom (they ſay) anciently to ſend p. 121a white Stone in token of Abſolution, and a black Stone as the ſign of Condemnation, with the Perſons Name written upon it, accordingly this New Name ſignifyes Gods Pardon & Adoption, the Inexpreſſible Sweetneſs of which Priviledge, no man knows but he that is poſſeſſed of it.

Finally, The Ground of all this muſt be the Evidences and Fruits of our SANCTIFICATION; and the ſure perception of the GRACE of God in our hearts: Which is another Invaluable Gift of God, & Benefit by Chriſt, that affords us aſſurance of Gods Love and Joy in the Holy Ghoſt. To behold in our ſelves a Conformity and Subjection of Soul unto the Redeemers Holineſs! that Likeneſs wherein we hope to Awake, and reſt ſatisfy'd for ever! which is the Seeds of Glory Sown in us, and Light therein! Heaven begun in us! the Earneſt and Foretaſt of its Perfection, p. 122and therefore neceſſarily of its Joyes. Indeed it can't be pleaſant to think of a Holy God, and to find no Image of his Holineſs on our ſelves; no love to it, no deſire of it, nothing of His Divine Nature: But on the contrary, the bare apprehenſion of theſe Excellencies in us is an Unſpeakable Pleaſure; the Holy Soul even dies away thro' the Exceſs of it, ſaying,—The Health of my Countenance, and my God!

To finiſh this Head, The GLORY OF GOD in the Salvations granted to his Church, & in the Converſion of Sinners, is a ſpecial Matter and Object of an Holy Joy. 'Tis the Honour of God and of the Lamb that occaſions the Joyes of Heaven: Witneſs in what Triumphing Words they Sing his Works of Mercy and of Judgment: Alleluia, Salvation, and Glory, and Honour, and Power unto the Lord our God!—Let us be Glad and Rejoyce, and give Honour to Him.

p. 123The Church's HOLINESS is the publick Honour of Chriſt: Therefore there's Joy among the Angels of God over one Sinner that repenteth; And when Jeſus Rejoyced in Spirit it was on this Account, (as well became the Lover and Saviour of Souls) I thank thee, O Father, Lord of Heaven and Earth, that thou haſt hid theſe things from the Wiſe and Prudent, and haſt revealed them unto Babes: Even ſo, Father, for ſo it ſeemed Good in thy ſight. The Holy Children of God have no greater Joy than to behold the Grace of God in one another; Eſpecially Holy Miniſters have none higher, than to ſee this in their People: For what is our Hope, or Joy, or Crown of Rejoycing? Are not even ye in the Preſence of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt at his Coming? for ye are our Glory & Joy.

So again, The Illuſtrious SALVATIONS of Gods Church in the Earth, and its outward Tranquility and Flouriſhing, is to the Saviours Honour; p. 124and for this Reaſon alone Jeruſalem muſt be Preferr'd above our chief Joy. It is but Piety to God and to his Intereſt, a Duty to Chriſt & to his Members: Iſa. 66.10. Rejoyce ye with Jeruſalem, and be glad with her, all ye that love her; Rejoyce for Joy with her, all ye that Mourn for her. Thus **John 3 29. Phil. 1.18. Rev. 18, 20. 2 Sam 6.16.John 3:29Phil 1:18Rev 18:202 Sam 6:16the Bridegrooms Voice fulfilled the Baptiſt's Joy; and the Apoſtle's was that Chriſt was Preached; and when Babylon falls the Commandment is, Rejoyce over her thou Heaven, &c. So when King David bro't up the Ark of God, which had ſufficiently mortify'd the Philiſtines, and triumph'd over their Idol Dagon, it was with Muſick and with Shouting, and the Kings Sacred Feet too Leapt & Danc'd with his Over-joyed heart. But this may ſuffice to ſay of the Glorious Object of Religious Joy.

p. 125IV. The MEANS and Subordinate Cauſes of it are Eminently the GRACES and DUTIES of Chriſtianity. There is a Divine Pleaſure that waits on theſe in their lively Exerciſe, and vigorous Practice. The Anointing we receive is indeed with the Oil of Gladneſs. Every Grace of the Holy Spirit is ſuch as agrees to the bleſſed Style He has aſſumed, the Comforter; they refreſh & exhilerate the Soul in whom they rule. And ſo truly does every Chriſtian Duty we devoutly perform; I delight to do thy Will, O my God! thy Law is within my heart!

1. As to the GRACES of Chriſtianity, I will Inſtance in Faith, Hope, Repentance, Reſignation, and the Love of God. Theſe are both the Object, & Means of a Religious Joy.

Very vaſt is the Joy of FAITH & HOPE: Even all Joy and Peace in Believing, to them that abound in Hope thro' the Power of the Holy Ghoſt, Rom. 15.13. Both theſe embrace the p. 126Promiſes afar off, look unto poſſeſſing, and already are the Subſtance of them. Bleſſed and Lively Hope! of no leſs than an Inheritance Incorruptible, and Undefiled, &c. wherein ye greatly Rejoyce, ſayes St. Peter, 1 Pet. 1.4, 8. O Happy Frame of Spirit, that wants nothing of Heaven ſave the Actual Poſſeſſion! that like the Prince who is Apparent Heir to a Crown, has all the Joyes of it before-hand in his Acknowledg'd Right.

The Produce of REPENTANCE is Holy Joy. It yields a man Internal Peace and Self-delectation. There's Comfort and Pleaſure in thoſe Tears. It Reſtores the Joy of Gods Salvation, Its Aſpirations ſhall not be in vain, Make me to hear the Voice of Joy and Gladneſs, that the Bones which thou haſt broken may Rejoyce. "The End & Conſequence of this Sorrow ſweetens it. 'Tis a high delight to feel that we do indeed Mourn for Sin. This is not to Sorrow p. 127as without Hope, for the bleſſed Mourners are promiſed Comfort, Mat. 5.4.

RESIGNATION to the Soveraign Will of God, and a Contented Thankful Acquieſcing in His Dealings, has mighty Comforts attending it. Not barely Indolence and a profound Quiet, but Satisfaction, Complacency & real Delight is in it. It almoſt makes Adverſity impoſſible, and Proſperity fixed and unalterable. It Glories in Tribulation: 'Tis then the moſt Soveraign Cordial that the Art of man can preſcribe: it makes a mans Bed for him in his Sickneſs; it keeps all his Bones, not one of them is broken; it lays him down in the arms of Soveraign Mercy & Wiſdom, and to die, is but to Sleep in Jeſus.

To name no more, The LOVE of God is Raviſhing. Pſal. 5.11. Let them that love thy Name be joyful in thee. Love is a ſweet & delectable p. 128Paſſion: but when the Object of it is the Infinitely Perfect and Amiable Being, then is the Affection it ſelf ſuperlatively pleaſing. Whom have I in Heaven but thee? & there is none upon Earth that I deſire beſides thee. The Firſt and Great Commandment is the firſt and greateſt Pleaſure of Man; Thou ſhalt love the Lord thy God with all thy Heart, and with all thy Soul, &c. And the Second is like unto it, Thou ſhalt love thy Neighbour as thy ſelf. A Love that is refin'd from all dreſs, inſpir'd from Heaven, and directed to it! it is ten thouſand Pleaſures in one, as the Beauties of its Object are. How Joyous is the Conſcience of this Love! Witneſs every Breaſt that holds this Sacred Fire! How eaſily cou'd he bid Adieu to every Senſitive Refreſhment, while this is ſenſibly burning within! This is the ſtay of his Life, the ſtrength of his heart, the life of his Soul, his Ever-living Pleaſure.

p. 1292. As to the DUTIES of the Chriſtian Life, (tho' theſe before-named Graces may bear that Name alſo) I will name two only, ſcil. CHARITY AND WORSHIP: the one a Joyous Grace in it ſelf, delighting in the Good-will it bears, and the Kindneſs it ſhows to others; the other the Exerciſe of all Grace in its various Acts of Devotion.

1. How triumphant a Joy is there in DOING GOOD to others, eſpecially to the Needy or Afflicted? Never was ſuch ſweetneſs fancy'd of Revenge, as has been felt in forgiving Injuries, in overcoming Evil with Good, in Rejoycing with them that Rejoyce, and in Weeping with them that Weep. Particularly, Bounty to the Poor, is one ſpecial Means of, and often rewarded with Spiritual Pleaſure. When Job remember'd the Pleaſures of his Proſperous Life, theſe were among the firſt of 'em, The p. 130Bleſſing of him that was ready to periſh came upon me, and I cauſed the Widows heart to Sing for Joy. His pains were eaſed in the remembrance of theſe pious Diſpoſitions & Actions. The Satisfactions of 'em brighten a mans face in the Streets, as the Joy of the Soul in the Reſurrection will help to glorifie the Body. Rom. 12.8. He that ſheweth mercy, with Chearfulneſs. The Frame and Face ſuits the Action: it delights him that does it. No Miſer ever counts over his ruſty Moneys with any Pleaſure equal or comparable to what the Liberal Soul feels in Communicating. 'Tis alſo the proper Joy of a Thanksgiving-Day, whereof BOUNTY is always one ſpecial Duty, cauſing the Poor to rejoyce together with us. The Exerciſe of our Saviours Life lay in Acts of Mercy to the Miſerable, and it agreed well to the Infinite Delight and Complacency of his Soul in God. And this is the Eternals Reſt, p. 131even His Continual & Everlaſting Communications to all his Creatures.

2. The other Inſtance & Means of Spiritual Joy is DIVINE WORSHIP, in all the Parts and Acts of it, whether Natural or Inſtituted. Theſe are the great Imployment of the Chriſtian Life, and a very pleaſant One. A Holy Heart receives the Word with Joy, Prayer is his Recreation, Praiſe his Rapture, Pſalms are his Melody, the Sabbath is his Reſt, the Sanctuary his Banqueting-houſe, the Ordinances his Feaſt: I was glad when they ſaid to me, let us go up to the Houſe of the Lord, our feet ſhall ſtand within thy Gates, O Jeruſalem! The Devout Heart calls the Sabbath a Delight, and of the Sanctuary it ſayes, How Amiable are thy Tabernacles, O Lord of Hoſts! My Soul longeth, yea even fainteth for the Courts of the Lord; My heart and my fleſh cryeth out for the living God. The Reaſon of all this is the Joyes he p. 132had taſted in Solemn Stated Worſhip: For I had gone with the Multitude, I went with them to the Houſe of God, with the Voice of Joy and Praiſe, with a Multitude that kept Holy-day. O with what Joy do Heavenly Minds lift up their hands in Gods Name, to receive of the Sweet and Saving Influences of the Holy Spirit! Thoſe heavenly Gifts & Graces, that Divine Light & Comfort, which are with him to diſpenſe, & which he does Communicate from on High in the wayes which he has Inſtituted! Draw me, we will run after thee! we will be glad and rejoyce in thee! They are indeed Strangers to this Spiritual Joy, who have never felt what I now ſpeak of in Sabbath Exerciſes. It reſults from Fellowſhip and Communion with God in Sacred Duties; Whom it Converſes with, whoſe Power and Glory it ſees, whoſe Loving-Kindneſs it taſts, and the Soul is Satisfy'd as with Marrow p. 133and Fatneſs, while it is Praiſing with Joyful Lips ||Pſalm 32.1, ….43.3, 4.46.4.63.2, 3, 5 & 4.1, 2.122.1.Ps 32:1Ps 32:43Ps 32:3Ps 32:4Ps 32:46Ps 32:63Ps 32:2Ps 32:5Ps 4:1Ps 4:2Ps 4:122.

I ſhall not enlarge here in a diſtinct account of the Joy of PRAYER, wherein indeed as every Grace has its Exerciſe, ſo at times the Joyes of 'em all are had. And in Reading and Hearing the WORD of God, I ſhall not attempt to ſay what the Pſalmiſt cou'd not expreſs, How ſweet are thy Words to my taſt! yea ſweeter than Honey to my Mouth! Pſal. 89.15, 16. Bleſſed is the people that know the Joyful Sound: they ſhall walk, O Lord, in the Light of thy Countenance: In thy Name ſhall they rejoice all the day, and in thy Righteouſneſs ſhall they be Exalted. The Law is Holy, and therefore pleaſant to them that are Sanctify'd both in the Contemplation of it, and in the the Practice. The Statutes of the Lord are right, rejoycing the heart. Thy Teſtimonies have I taken as an Heritage p. 134for ever, they are the Rejoycing of my heart.

BAPTISM is a Holy and Conſolatory Ordinance; Whether we reflect upon our own Conſecration to God, and think, O Lord, truly I am thy Servant, I am thy Servant, & the Son of thy Handmaid; Thou haſt looſed my Bonds; Or whether in the Act of Dedicating our Little Ones to God in Chriſt. Nature here aſſiſts Grace in its Exerciſe, & Grace ſublimates and exalts the pleaſing workings of Natural Affection. The earning Bowels of a gracious Parent are doubly refreſhed to behold his lov'd Off-ſpring publickly Accepted, and ſolemnly Bleſſed by God! as much and as formally as Joſeph ſaw his two Sons at the Knees of Jacob! in whoſe words alſo in Effect the Bleſſing of the Covenant is—Thy two Sons are Mine, even as Simeon and Reuben are Mine! For a Parent or Grand-Parent, in the Aged Patriarch's words, turn'd into p. 135a Prayer, and in his Spirit, to bleſs their Poſterity; God, before whom my Fathers walked, the God which fed me all my Life long unto this day; the Angel which Redeemed me from all Evil, bleſs the Lads, and let the Name of my Fathers Abraham & Iſaac be on them! I ſay again, To behold the Bleſſing of Abraham coming on Ours after us, what more ſenſible Pleaſure can a holy Parent have? To ſee your Child declared Heir of a Kingdom, i. e. a Heavenly! So when the Prophet Nathan bro't that Meſſage unto David from God, I will ſet up thy Seed after thee on thy Throne, and I will be his Father, and he ſhall be my Son; The over-joyed King went immediately to the Tent where the Ark was, and Sat before the Lord & ſaid, (what each of us may well do in all humble Admiration) —Who am I, O Lord God, and what is my Houſe that Thou haſt bro't me hither unto? And this was yet a ſmall thing in thy Sight, O Lord God! but thou haſt ſpoken alſo p. 136of thy Servants Houſe for a great while to come! And is this the manner of man, O Lord God?

Finally, The Joy of the LORDS-TABLE riſes yet higher: 'tis the Stated and Solemn Memorial of the Love of Chriſt and his Purchaſed Benefits, the happy Seaſon of raiſed Devotions and intimate Communion with Him, and of the Renewal of our Covenant Engagements to Him, which while we are doing with burning Love & Zeal, with ſtrong Faith & Deſire, with deep Repentance and Self-loathing for our Sins; We have our Pardon Sealed in his Blood, & Aſſurance of our Intereſt in the Mercies of God thro' Him. 'Tis a moſt refreſhing thing to revive often in our Minds the LOVE OF CHRIST, & the FREE GRACE of God, which (we truſt) has choſen us in Him, and inſtated us in the Dignity, and will bring us to the Glories of his Redeemed. We have Great Joy in his Love,— O p. 137how Unſpeakable! to think — I am my Beloveds, and his Deſire is towards me! He is my Saviour, I am a part of his Purchaſe, mine are the Promiſes, & the Heaven of Bleſſedneſs therein made over! Who Loved me, and gave Himſelf for me! To repreſent him to our ſelves, either on the Croſs, or on his exalted Throne, equally reaching out the ſame Arms of Mercy to Embrace returning Sinners! to realize our ſelves with Him, where He is, to behold his Glory; Beloved of him, and Crowned by him,—what can beget in a devout Soul ſuch Extaſy & Raviſhment as this? Such was the Seraphick Love and Joy of the holy Spouſe, I ſat down under his Shadow with delight, and his fruit was ſweet to my taſt; He bro't me to the Banquetting-houſe, and his Banner over me was Love.

Again, 'Tis a Joyous thing to revive on our Minds the Memory of our COVENANT-BONDS, which are ſo connected with the riches of p. 138Grace in our Lord Jeſus Chriſt, that we cannot be ſtruck with the Awe of the one, but the Joy of the other will break in upon us. Every Renewal of our holy Covenant ſhou'd ſend us home with freſh Content, O my Soul, thou haſt ſaid unto the Lord, thou art my Lord. In the ſame breath we make Profeſſion of our devotedneſs, and we humbly claim the glorious Priviledge of a Relation to the Great God: O Lord truly I am thy Servant, I am thy Servant! A Tho't that threw the holy Pſalmiſt into Raptures of Praiſe, and gave him new Ardors of Devotion: Pſal. 116.17, 18, 19. I will offer to Thee the Sacrifice of Thanksgiving, and will call upon the Name of the Lord. I will pay my Vows unto the Lord, now in the Preſence of all his People: In the Courts of the Lords Houſe, in the midſt of thee, O Jeruſalem! Praiſe ye the Lord.

There are yet behind two more Inſtances, or Acts of Religious Worſhip, the Seaſons and the Means of p. 139Holy and Spiritual Joy, Namely, PRAISE AND SINGING: Theſe my Text obliges me to take particular Notice of, teaching us, That our Joy in the Benefits and Mercies of God unto us, ought to be expreſſed in Singing Pſalms of Praiſe unto Him. Is any Merry? let him SING PSALMS. I paſs therefore to the laſt part of my Diſcourſe, which is,

V. And Laſtly, To ſpeak of the Proper and Natural EXPRESSION of Holy Joy, as directed unto in the Text: LET HIM SING PSALMS. We muſt needs underſtand it of Pſalms of Praiſe and Thanksgiving, and therefore I ſhall obſerve. 1. That our Rejoycing in God, and in his Divine Favours, ſhou'd ſhow it ſelf in Praiſes & Thanksgivings▪ 2. That the Joyful Chriſtians Praiſes may and ought particularly to be expreſſed in Singing of Pſalms. 2 Chron. 29.30. They Sang Praiſes with Gladneſs, and they bowed their heads and worſhipped.

p. 1401. Our Rejoycing in God, and in his Divine Favours, ſhou'd be ſhown in PRAISES AND THANKSGIVINGS to Him. If we diſtinguiſh between Praiſe and Thanksgiving, Praiſe is the Celebration of the Divine Perfections ſhining forth in the Word and Works of God, Thanksgiving of the Divine Beneficence and Bounties: & ſo Praiſe carries more of Admiration and Veneration, Thanksgiving more of Acknowledgment: Both are a debt from us, as Creatures, and as Obliged; and unto God, conſidered as the moſt Excellent of all Beings, & as our Benefactor.

Need I ſay that the Word of God, and the Examples of all the Saints do loudly call upon us, to abound in theſe Duties. How often have we that devout Wiſh over in one Pſalm, O that men would praiſe the Lord for his Goodneſs! &c. It ſtands as a Call to all Poſterity, in the ſeveral Generations of men: As it was from the Beginning a Law to p. 141Iſrael, Deut. 10.21. He is thy Praiſe, and He is thy God, that has done for thee theſe great things which thine Eyes have ſeen. How agreeable this is to a devout heart, let the Book of Pſalms bear witneſs, wherein we are ſo often call'd upon to ſhew forth Gods Praiſe, to make his Praiſe Glorious, to Triumph in his Praiſe, & to have our Mouth filled therewithal. A Duty ſo often repeated, & ſo fervently, that ſometimes the Pſalmiſt ſcarce gives himſelf time to take breath in his zealous Inculcating of it, as in the 135 Pſalm, Praiſe ye the Lord, praiſe the Name of the Lord, praiſe him O ye Servants of the Lord: Nay he addreſſes unto all Creatures, Angels, Men and bruit Creatures too, the Heavenly Bodies, & even things Inanimate, in their ſeveral wayes to Unite in Lauding the Creator. For himſelf he reſolves, My Praiſe ſhall be of him in the great Congregation, I will bleſs the Lord at all times, his Praiſe ſhall be continually in p. 142my mouth: O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his Name together! — And my Tongue ſhall ſpeak of thy Righteouſneſs, and of thy Praiſe all the day long.

'Tis the leaſt Teſtimony of Gratitude and Eſteem that can be expected from us, who have Souls in our Bodies, and Tongues in our Heads; who have the power of Speech, and Reaſon to regulate it; who have a Conſcience within us, and a ſenſe of Benefits. And never are our Minds and Tongues ſo well imploy'd, as when the Glories of God do take 'em up: therefore the Inhabitants of Heaven are thus buſied for ever. Praiſe is the Religion of Happy Creatures, it is the natural Homage of Infinite Goodneſs. 'Tis the beſt part of Worſhip: the beſt Affections of the Soul are in the beſt manner that can be carry'd towards the Beſt Good. This is Praiſe; which like Charity has this to give it Prehenminence, that it Never p. 143faileth; but if it imploys our life here, ſo will it our Eternity; & he that dies with theſe in his mouth, changes his place but not his Frame & Work; only in Heaven they are perfected. And what do we think it is that makes Praiſe the Work of Heaven? verily, becauſe 'tis the Place & State of compleat Eternal Happineſs & Joy. Every Glorious Spirit there is full of theſe, & out of their abundant delight in God, they pour out Praiſe unto him. God communicates unto them with a liberal hand, they drink of the very Fountain of Goodneſs to the full, they know no want & indigence, & can know no ſorrow; therefore being always brimful of Content, they unweariedly praiſe Him in whom all their ſprings are. So we, while the Joy of the Divine Benefits fills our Souls, muſt imitate the raviſht Minds above, & give Bleſſings and Praiſes to Him.

In ſhort, the Reaſon is as plain for p. 144Praiſe as for Prayer; there ought to be a ſenſe of Benefits as well as of our Needs, nay much the rather, becauſe the leaſt ſelfiſh of the two, & looks more directly at Gods Glory. But I paſs to Praiſe more dilated.

2. The Merry Chriſtians Praiſes may and ought eſpecially to be expreſſed in SINGING OF PSALMS: of which there are very many full of rapturous Praiſes.

I will not enter on any Elaborate proof, that Singing of Pſalms is a part of Divine Worſhip, Natural & Inſtituted, Private & Publick. I doubt not but that the Reaſon of Mankind, even in this our ſunk Condition, wou'd teach & direct to this as well as unto bare Prayer or Praiſe: for the Tongues of men are hung for Singing as well as Speaking; & reaſon tells us that every noble Power in man ought to be uſed to the Creators Glory.

To be ſure it is appointed in Scripture, is recommended by the nobleſt p. 145Examples, & has ever been the Practice of the Church, under both Teſtaments ‖‖Exod. 15.1. 1 Chron 6 32. Nehem. 12.46, 47. Pſal. 96 1.98.5 Mat. 26 30. Eph. 5.18, 19 Heb. 2.12.Exod 15:11 Chr 6:32Neh 12:46Neh 12:47Ps 96:1Ps 96:98Ps 96:5Matt 26:30Eph 5:18Eph 5:19Heb 2:12. Moreover, God has greatly own'd the Ordinance: Holy Souls have taſted as much of Heaven in it, as in any part of Worſhip. It ſweetly dilates the Soul, and God often comes unto the op'ned heart. No part of Worſhip oftner melts heavenly minds into Tears, & no wonder we ſhou'd be rap't near to Heaven by it, ſince Heaven it ſelf has its Songs. Rev. 5.9. God has alſo honour'd this part of Worſhip in Miraculous manner; as, at the Dedication of the Temple, 2 Chron. 5.13, 14. and when at Midnight St. Paul & Silas Sang Praiſes in the Priſon: Act. 16.25, 26. Was it their Voices that Shook the Place, and threw open the Doors, and Looſed every ones Bands? or was it the Brightneſs of Solomons Majeſty, the Fulgor of his Robes & Crown, p. 146that filled the Houſe of the Lord with Glory? No: it was the Glory of the Lord Himſelf, and it broke in among his Worſhippers on that great Solemnity, juſt as the Trumpeters and the Singers were as one, to make one Sound to be heard in Praiſing and Thanking the Lord. 'Tis a Religious Exerciſe more eſpecially Adapted to the Spirit of Praiſe & Thanksgiving. This is the Immediate and firſt End of Singing, the proper Spring whereof is Admiration & Joy**Pſal. 81.1, 2.95.1, 2, 108 1, 2.14… 2, 3.Ps 81:1Ps 81:2Ps 81:95Ps 81:108. So 'ere the foundation of the Earth was laid, the Morning-Stars Sang together, and all the Sons of God Shouted for Joy; And as they began they hold on for ever; PRAISE is the Eternal burden of their Songs, and everlaſtingly growing JOYES inſpire 'em.

I mean not that Singing does not ſuit Occaſions of Grief, and the Spirit of Humiliation & Mourning; for there are Penitential Pſalms, & Pſalms p. 147of Prayer, & of Sorrowful Complaint; and the ſad Heart may and ſhou'd Sing theſe, which ſuits its State and Temper; bemoaning it ſelf, & ſeeking Grace and Help of God in this way, as well as in Prayer. Nor is Solomon to be underſtood to deny this when he ſayes, As Vinegar upon Nitre, ſo is he that Singeth Songs to a Heavy Heart: 'tis as the Song is, and as it is tim'd and ſung, that inſtead of ſoothing Grief will only vex and enrage it.

Nor do I mean to deny the Excellent Uſe of Reading the Inſpired Pſalms, but affirm that this alſo is wonderfully Adapted to the Spirit of Praiſe. Cou'd I ſpeak with the Tongue of Men & Angels whether in Prayer or Preaching, had I all the Eloquence of the World given me this day, and the holy Zeal & Flame of a Seraph put within me, yet cou'd I no wayes compoſe for your Edification, & the raiſing your Affections toward God, any thing to be p. 148Nam'd with thoſe Pſalms of Praiſe, which have this day been Read in your Hearing. Nor cou'd an Angel from Heaven do it, ſave ſpeaking by the Holy Ghoſt, who inſpir'd theſe holy Odes.

How ſuited is the Book of Pſalms to a day of Thanksgiving! From thence we may beſt take our Words and Expreſſions, clothing our Tho'ts in theſe excelling Strains of Devotion, to raiſe in our Selves a like heat and warmth: while we Muſe on theſe the Fire Kindles.

Yet Singing has its Peculiar Advantages for Edification, if it be not our own fault. The Apoſtle therefore ſpeaks of the Inſtruction & Admonition which this Ordinance deſigns us: Col. 3.16. Teaching & Admoniſhing one another in Pſalms, Hymns and Spiritual Songs.

One Advantage hereunto is the Deliberateneſs & Leiſure of this Mode of Praiſe or Prayer. The Mind has time allow'd it to Pauſe on the Sacred p. 149Paſſages: Every Sillable is diſtinctly utter'd, and drawn out in its proper Note, that the Mind may fix and faſten and dwell on the holy Tho't. And as the Voice leiſurely Aſcends, ſo may the Soul with it towards Heaven.

Another Advantage is, that it ſtrikes ſo ſtrongly on Senſe & Imagination, and by them has the more forcible Acceſs to our Affections. Our Spirits being Imbodyed are naturally come at by Impreſſions on our Senſes, and more particularly by the Eye and Ear. Muſical Notes may be fitted to the Matter Sung, whether it be Grave or Looſe; and they may be Addreſs't with Art & great Power to one or other Paſſion of our Souls; and accordingly they do convey into our Minds Ridiculous Idea's or Venerable, which provoke Laughter or Seriouſneſs, beſpeak Reverence or Contempt, move Love or Hatred, Joy or Sorrow: Hence it is that looſe Sonnets have ſo fatal a power to deprave men, and Satan p. 150uſes 'em as natural Means hereunto; while the Holy Spirit works alſo upon our Souls in ways adapted to our Frame and Nature, and uſes Holy Pſalms as naturally tending to leave Impreſſions of what is Holy and Good upon us.

Another Advantage of Singing unto our Edification is, the Pleaſure and Delight which generally Mankind take in it: tho' it muſt be granted that its Force is not alike on all. Muſick has its Charm, in ſuch an Ear as Davids more eſpecially, and ſo have Pſalms where there is his Devotion, It is a good thing to give Thanks unto the Lord, & to ſing Praiſe to thy Name, O moſt High! 'Tis the Eccho of our Earth to Heaven, and a ſofter kind of Rapture. It has had wonderful Effects: The ſweet Voice of a Pſalm has ejected Melancholly, as Davids Harp did the Evil Spirit from the Lord on King Saul: It has ſweet'ned a Priſon, and given new Heart to Martyrs at the p. 151Stake: It has made the Shades of Death to flee away, and clos'd up a Saints Eyes in like Brightneſs, as the Sun ſets in a fair Evening. Come help me with your Praiſes, (cry'd happy Mr. Janeway on his Deathbed) Yet all too little! Come help me all ye Mighty Angels, who are ſo well skill'd in the Heavenly Work of Praiſe! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Praiſe is now my Work, & I ſhall be engag'd in this Sweet Work for ever. Come, bring me the Bible, & turn to Davids Pſalms, & let us lift up our Voices in the Praiſes of the Moſt High: I will Sing with you as long as my Breath does laſt, & when I have none, I ſhall do it better.

Nor is this a Senſitive Pleaſure meerly. The Body ſubſerves the Soul, and is its Inſtrument in this State of their Union: yet the Rational part governs, and he that throws away his Senſes and Natural Powers, muſt his Reaſon & Religion p. 152too; nor Glorify God in his Spirit no more than in his Body. God reaches the Soul by the Ear, or elſe Faith had not come by Hearing.

Nor is it ſufficient for men to ſay, that they cou'd never have any Reliſh of the Ordinance, nor find Profit from it: 'Tis their Carnality that hinders; & it may be neither have they ever had any real ſavour of Prayer or Hearing the Word: It's too common for People to live under Goſpel-Ordinances, & not taſt the Goodneſs, nor feel the Power of 'em. And it is eno' to ſay, that thro' Grace others do reliſh this Holy Ordinance, & the more Heavenly men are, the more do they delight it it. Moreover, It is poſſible for a depraved Heart not to reliſh Heaven neither: were he taken thither he wou'd find Singing there, & if that can diſguſt him, Heaven can be no Place for him.

To Conclude, It muſt be granted, that ſome do Abuſe the Ordinance; p. 153they Sing Vainly, Conceitedly, Lightly in the Solemn Worſhip of God, & 'tis an offence to ſee 'em do ſo: But is it not as true, & equally a Lamentation, that they can have wandring Minds, can Sleep, & be wanton in Prayer & Hearing alſo? And muſt we therefore reject, revile and pour contempt on all Inſtituted Worſhip? No: Gods Inſtitutions are no more to be charg'd with our Sinful Abuſes of 'em, than Affronts & Injuries are to be charg'd on Him that innocently ſuffers 'em.

I have ſaid all this of the Uſe of SINGING unto the Ends of Holineſs, not to depretiate Prayer and the other Ordinances, but to aſſert the Place due to this, & to ſhow that God owns all his Inſtitutions, and chuſes which of them he pleaſes to work by.

The USE of this Meditation on the Joyes of Religion might be eaſily enlarged on, in many Particulars. As,

1. To diſplay the free & rich Grace p. 154of God unto us Sinners, & to put us on Adoring Him, who has provided thro' Chriſt Jeſus this Holy Joy for us; allows it to us, & requires it of us.

2. To ſhow the high Felicity of Saints, for whom this Light is Sown, this bleſſed Enjoyment purchas'd.

3. To ſet a juſt Price on Grace, & raiſe our Aſpirations after the greateſt Meaſures thereof, that our Joy may be full, which it can be only by our abounding in Holineſs and Devotion.

4. To manifeſt the Wretchedneſs of the Ungodly, who are (while ſuch) debar'd this Joy for ever; it being impoſſible to 'em, and the Means of it their Torment. Yet disbelieve the Account of it they can't, having felt the torturing Gripes of an Accuſing Conſcience, which alone may ſatisfy 'em that its Approbation is exceeding Joyous. Or if they pretend to Joyes too in their Evil Courſes, what are they but Precarious, p. 155Borrowed, and at the mercy of a thouſand Accidents, proper only to the Body, Partial & Fleeting! whereas Thoſe of Religion are proper to the Soul, Sure and Full, at the mercy of no Evil or Enemy, living in Spite of a frowning World, bearing the Heart up under Affliction, growing like the Palm-tree under Burdens & heavy Preſſures, & Abiding to Death, & after it. So true are our Saviours Words, St. John 14.27. Not as the World giveth, give I unto you. But at laſt, the Wicked mans Joyes are his Guilt and Woe. Conſcience is Aſleep. or run from. A Joy without Warrant, and againſt Reaſon; an Extravagance as Criminal as Abſurd! The more of it there is, ſo much the Worſe! the more Sin and Miſery!

5. I muſt needs again lay before Good People their Duty, to Exhibit in their Lives the Joyes of Religion, thereby to make ſome Acknowledgment to the Great God of the Riches of his p. 156Mercies toward them, and to Honour the Wayes of God in the ſight of Others. Why elſe has God made a Proviſion of Joy for his Children, but that they might Serve Him with a Glad Heart, and Serene Face!

Yet Some, whom we muſt needs account Good People, ſeem not at all to apprehend it a Duty to labour after a ſettled Joy in God, & Others that have it, apprehend not their Obligation to Exhibit it.

To the Firſt I would ſay, That they act as if Unknowing in the Nature, Deſign, Tendency & proper Effects of Religion: That 'tis no Chriſtian Modeſty and Humility to put that Divine Pleaſure from us which God allows to us: That on the contrary, Nothing is more Ornamental to Chriſtianity, or does more Honour to God, than for Good People to be Walking in the Comforts of the Goſpel; Nor ſcarce any thing more Unſeemly in them, Injurious to God, and more palpably p. 157a Temptation of Satan, than ſome of their Cloudineſs and Dejections.

Again, The Miſ-behaviour of Others is very groſs, who are not Strangers to the Joyes of Religion, but yet have taken up a Melancholly Way, on a Conceit (I fear) of its Looking Religious, and being Agreeable to Seriouſneſs of Spirit. Zeal is apt to run Weak Minds into ſome Unnatural Oddities, by which Religion is hurt and wounded inſtead of being Served. Unnatural it is to ſpeak of God as Our God in the ſame ſad manner as we wou'd Lament after the Bleſſed Hope in. Is the Soul indeed delighted? I'm ſure 'tis Ill-favour'dly Expreſſed, and croſs to Nature the Interpretation muſt be; As if Frowns and Tears ſhou'd be made to ſignify Pleaſure and Content. But, why ſhou'd not Holy Joy expreſs it ſelf freely? Why ſhou'd not the Brightneſs of the Face, and the Life in the Eye, ſpeak it? and the Tone of the Voice be p. 158Natural; Then was our Mouth filled with Laughter, and our Tongue with Singing: the Lord hath done Great things for us, whereof we are Glad.—

Let me Argue a little with the Sad Spirited Saint. Is this the Look that the Servant of a Kind and Good Maſter, and a Child of God, an Expectant of Glory ſhou'd have! Why art thou, being a Kings Son, lean from day to day? Do you not look for Joy in Heaven? and why ſhou'd the State of Grace be ſo unlike to that of Glory? Why not that Life of Pleaſure now begun, which Heaven will perfect and be, the Fulneſs of? You hope to Launch 'ere-long into thoſe Rivers that flow Above for evermore, and why not wiſh to Swim in thoſe calm and ſerene Streams that run into theſe Deeps!

Is it that you only groan after more Grace? a clearer Sight of it in your ſelf? and then you ſhou'd Rejoyce! But do you not the mean while overlook the Grace you have, p. 159and forget the Thanks you owe to God for that! Be Juſt to God, to own what he has done for your Soul, and from every ſymptom of his Grace in you Conceive a holy Pleaſure.

Have you Grace? take it for your Portion, & rejoyce in it as a ſufficient One. What wou'd you have more, or what can you? With what Fleſht Sinner wou'd you change Condition! for whoſe Poſſeſſions wou'd you give your Hopes! Pity his Pride & Joy, the Abject Object whereof is a little Duſt: or if it glitter in your Eyes, to dazzle 'em, lift 'em to Heaven, & ſee how much Higher and Brighter thy Place is than his, and how much wider the Compaſs of thy Felicity! If the mean Sinner ſurvey his mouldring Stores with pleaſure in his Eyes, Can you the Graces of the SPIRIT in your ſelf with leſs? Are the Diviner Gifts ſmaller with you? The Gifts & Calling of God which are without Repentance! p. 160Whoſe Faces ſhou'd wear Smiles but Theirs whom Heaven ſo Endows and Smiles on!

Pine not after Unneceſſary Goods, when the Beſt & Chief GOOD is ſecured to thee! Will you for a Feather, when you are Heir to a Crown! or after finer Array for thy Body, when thy Soul is Adorn'd & Beautify'd with the Array of Angels! or for more Delicacies of Food, when thou haſt Bread from Heaven to eat of! Pine not after more Friends or Reſpect on Earth, when God & Angels eſteem & love thee, and thou art their Care! Nor after Children, when thou thy ſelf art a Child of God! (Hannah! why weepeſt thou? and why eateſt thou not? and why is thy heart grieved? Is not an Intereſt in the Great GOD, a happy Relation to Him, joyous Communion with Him, better to thee than ten Sons?) Finally; What anxious Tho't about any Event poſſible in this Life can haunt and fright you? p. 161He that has done the Greater things for thy Immortal Soul, and as to thy Eternal Concerns, can he deny the Leſſer Concerns of Time and of the Body? He who has given HIS OWN SON for thee and to thee, Shall he not with Him alſo freely give thee all things? But I paſs,

6. And Laſtly, To the more Particular Application of the Subject to the Preſent Solemnity.

You ſee the proper Exerciſe of the DAY, and the Spirit we muſt be in before the Lord our God. There muſt be Praiſe, which muſt proceed from Joy, which muſt be Spiritual, and therefore the Worſhip we perform muſt be from the Heart; from an Engaged Spirit, & raiſed Affections.

1. There muſt be PRAISES offer'd to God. And it may not be Improper juſt to Intimate, That we have PSALMS of Praiſe prepared for, and ſuited unto, every poſſible Reaſon p. 162of Joy, and Solemn Thanksgiving.

As,

Do we Praiſe the God of our HEALTH? We have Forms of Praiſe ready pen'd to our hands, to Sing unto HIM, Who killeth and maketh alive, who bringeth down to the Grave, and bringeth up. Who maketh Sore and Bindeth up: Who woundeth and his Hands make whole. Who ſtrengthens on the Bed of Languiſhing, and makes our Bed in Sickneſs. Who healeth all thy Diſeaſes, and Redeemeth thy Life from Deſtruction. See alſo, Pſalm CVII. 17, — 20.

Or do we Sing unto God in the Joyes of HARVEST? We have Pſalms adapted: Sing unto the Lord with Thanksgiving, Sing Praiſe upon the Harp unto our GOD; Who Covereth the Heaven with Clouds, who prepareth Rain for the Earth, who maketh Graſs to grow upon the Mountains: Who giveth to the Beaſt his food, and to the young Ravens which cry: Who filleth thee with the fineſt of the Wheat,—&c. p. 163See alſo Pſalms LXV. 9, —13. CXLIV. 13, 14, 15.

Do we magnify the Power and Love of our Gracious PROTECTOR? We have prepared Pſalms to be Sung aloud unto GOD OUR STRENGTH:—Praiſe the Lord O Jeruſalem! Praiſe thy God O Zion! for He hath ſtrengthned the Bars of thy Gates; He hath bleſſed thy Children within thee; He maketh Peace in thy Borders.—See alſo the CXXIV Pſalm.

The Songs of VICTORY are Innumerable, to HIM who hath Triumphed Gloriouſly; Such are the Song of Moſes at the Sea, The Lord is my Strength and Song, & he is become my Salvation: The Song of Renowned Deborah, Praiſe ye the Lord for the Avenging of Iſrael: The Song of Habbakkuk, &c. But eſpecially Davids Harp ſtrikes every Warlike Note; He the Warriour, the Saint, & the Divine Poet too! GOD is gone up with a Shout, the LORD with the Voice of a Trumpet. Sing Praiſes to p. 164God, Sing Praiſes: Sing Praiſes to our King Sing Praiſes. See Pſalms XLVI. XLVII. XLVIII.

Once more; Do we bleſs the Name of God for our Civil Liberties, and for Pious RULERS? We have again Pſalms formed to our hands: TO HIM who led his People like a Flock by the Hands of Moſes & Aaron:— Who choſe David alſo his Servant, and took him from the Sheepfolds; from following the Ews great with young; He bro't him to feed Jacob his People, and Iſrael his Inheritance: So he fed them according to the Intregrity of his heart, and guided them by the skilfulneſs of his hands. See alſo, Pſalm. LXXII.

Finally, Are we Praiſing our Gracious and Merciful God for his GOSPEL, and all Spiritual Bleſſings in CHRIST JESUS? We have prepared Pſalms herefor: To HIM that choſe the Tribe of Judah, the Mount Zion which he Loved; and built his Sanctuary like high Palaces, p. 165like the Earth which he hath Eſtabliſhed for Ever. — He ſheweth his Word unto Jacob, his Statutes and his Judgments unto Iſrael; He hath not dealt ſo with any Nation, and as for his Judgments they have not known them: Praiſe ye the LORD. See alſo, Pſalm XLVIII. 11, 12, 13, 14. LXXXIX. 1, 15, 16, &c. St. Luk. I. 68, 69, &c.

Theſe are ſome of the Sublime and Holy Pſalms, adapted unto our Solemn Feaſt Dayes. Pſal. 81.2, 4. Take a Pſalm, and bring hither the Timbrel; the pleaſant Harp with the Pſaltery: For this was a Statute for Iſrael, and a Law of the God of Jacob.

2. Theſe Praiſes muſt be Sung with Hearts full of JOY. The Call of Providence is to this, and 'tis more requiſite and decent than Garments of Praiſe or a joyful Countenance. There ſhou'd be no ſad Heart or Face in the Lords Aſſemblies: We remember his Benefits in p. 166the midſt of all our Sins and Sorrows. Our work To Day is like that of Heaven, where Prayers are chang'd into Praiſes: the very Felicity of Angels, to Rejoyce in the Divine Munificence, to Rejoyce in Praiſing God! O might we all feel this Heavenly Principle of Joy, enlarging us in this Good Work of Praiſe! But remember,

3. Our Joy muſt be SPIRITUAL, and what is properly Religious. I very much dread to ſee the day, when Thanksgivings ſhall loſe of their Solemnity in this Land. It has been our Crown and Glory that they have not been Debas'd & Proſtituted among us, as they are too commonly in Other Places, by Play and Sports, to Drinking and Bonefires, and Noiſy Lawleſs Jollity; nor yet have dwindled into more Silent and Innocent Illuminations. Certainly it is pleaſing to God, and ſeemly to Man, that we do at leaſt p. 167appear more Spiritual, Grave and Retir'd on ſuch Occaſions. So Brethren, I beſeech and humbly Charge you in the Lord, that your Joy in Him, his Operations and Favours, be Serious and Inward, and Holy.

The truth is, Spiritual Joy is as Uneaſy and Impoſſible to a carnal Heart, as other Duties of Chriſtianity. We eaſily Rejoyce in a Fleſhly manner, our Luſts provoke to it, we can Eat, Drink and be Merry: But to Rejoyce Spiritually is to ſour the Pleaſures of the Fleſh. Corn and Oyl and Wine are good things, and the Fleſh to thinks 'em ſo: But to ſet our ſelves to conſider & weigh 'em as coming from God, and our Ill-deſerving any of 'em; to Abaſe our Souls for our Sins ungratefully committed in Abuſe of his Benefits, to Rejoyce in paying the Homage and debt of Praiſes for them, and to bind our ſelves to Live Devoted to God as a meet Thank-Offering;— this has nothing of Pleaſure in it, p. 168but is a ſore Penance to the Carnal Mind ſo much as to think of! Let God take his Gifts again, ('tis ready to ſay) if we muſt Pay ſo dear for 'em, at the Expence of our Luſts!

But nevertheleſs, I muſt inſiſt on it, that our Joy be Holy: Such as true Devotion inſpires, and the Spirit of God kindles in holy Souls, by his Fellowſhip with them in holy Duties: Such as the Spirit of Praiſe requires, as the Graces of the Holy SPIRIT do cheriſh, and as Influences unto all Holineſs. If men do not feel themſelves delighted from Love to God, Admiration of his Mercy, Deſires & Serious Purpoſes (thro' Grace) of Living to his Glory, and to Serve him with the more Chearfulneſs and Diligence, under the large Experience of his Benefits, they do but play with and mock their Benefactor.

4. And Laſtly, Therefore our preſent WORSHIP muſt be from the p. 169HEART, from an Engaged Spirit, & raiſed Affections. A Joyful Noiſe alone is not Praiſe. The Tranſports of the Ear are one thing, thoſe of the Heart quite another. The Lord takes no more pleaſure meerly in the Voice, than in the Legs of a Man, but in them that Fear him. 'Tis a Play of Worſhip, whether we Sing Pſalms of Praiſe or Penitence, if no Inward Pleaſures Elate us in the one, nor Sorrows depreſs us in the other. The very Sport of the Children in the Market-place, We have piped to you & ye have not danced! We have mourned to you & ye have not lamented! The Goodly Sacrifice is the Heart it ſelf; the Subſtance this, a Lifeleſs Sound the other. Without Grace in the Heart, and in Exerciſe, we make no Melody to the Lord; as a Nightingale dead or aſleep can no more than a Crow. We may paſs for Tubes, making a Sound, but by no means are Worſhippers.

I will only offer further, Davids p. 170Example, and the Apoſtle's Precept or Benediction rather; Both teaching us that the Heart muſt be intently fixed, and devoutly raiſed in the Spiritual Duty of Praiſe.

My HEART is Fixed, O GOD, my Heart is Fixed, I will SING and give PRAISE. Awake up my Glory! Awake Pſaltery and Harp! I my ſelf will awake Early.

Let the PEACE OF GOD rule in your HEARTS, to the which alſo ye are called in one Body, and be ye THANKFUL. Let the WORD OF CHRIST dwell in you richly in all Wiſdom, Teaching and Admoniſhing one another in Pſalms and Hymns and Spiritual Songs, SINGING WITH GRACE IN YOUR HEARTS TO THE LORD. And whatſoever ye do in Word or Deed, do ALL in the Name of the LORD JESUS, GIVING THANKS TO GOD, AND THE FATHER BY HIM.

FINIS.

End of the text · Benjamin Colman, The Government and Improvement of Mirth (1707)