February 13

Your joy. - John 16:24.

THERE is, then, a joy belonging to Christians. “Ask and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.” Your joy, says the Saviour. The intimation would have been absurd, if there was not a joy provided for them, and valued by them, to which they were entitled, and of which they were possessed. This accords not, indeed, with the opinions of the people of the world; according to them, religion prescribes a joyless course, engaged in which, we must bid adieu to everything like pleasure. According to them-if it smiles on eternity, it frowns on time; if it renders death safe, it renders life melancholy and gloomy. But where did they learn this? At the bar of reason? As all happiness depends on God, is it likely that he will allow those who love and serve him to be less happy than those who hate and oppose him? Where did they learn this? At the oar of experience? If we consult those who have made the trial of his service, they will tell us that since they have served him they have found his yoke easy, and his burden light. Where did they learn this? At the bar of Scripture? Why, this assures us that Religion’s “ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace.” What say its commands? “Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, rejoice.” What say its promises? “They shall sing in the ways of the Lord.” What say its representations? “Blessed are the people that know the joyful sound.” “In thy name shall they rejoice all the day “And what say its examples? Look to the first Christians, none of whom escaped persecution. Their religion made them sufferers, but it did not deprive them of pleasure and comfort; they “received the word in much affliction,” and “in joy of the Holy Ghost.” They “took joyfully the spoiling of their goods, knowing that they had in heaven a better and an enduring substance.”

The reason that we see and hear so little of joy among Christians now, is that everything in this cold wintry world is adapted to repel instead of drawing forth their joy; and, moreover, theirs is a joy with which strangers intermeddle not. Their joy floats not upon the surface, but dwells deep in the recesses of the heart, making holidays there. And lastly, if Christians do not rejoice, it is because they do not live as they ought; they do not live up to their privileges.