This joy exorcises a man of carnal affection; and we are persuaded the efficacy of it is far greater to mortify us to the world, than the influence of afflictions. Losses and disappointments may surprise and confound us, and lead us to lament the uncertainty of every thing below; but they do not make us feel their unsatisfactory and polluted nature. Even under the pressure of their trials, and amidst all their complaints, you will often discern the disposition of the sufferers remaining unchanged. And if not, how soon after does renewed pursuit succeed deplored deceptions, and they flee to a repetition of similar experiments, till all the mad career is ended! But the experience produced by the sight of the cross, and communion with God in Christ, will never allow the world to become again the Christian's end, or portion. If by the power of delusion he be drawn astray for a moment, he will soon find that it is not with him as in months past; and he will be sure to feel the wretchedness of what he has chosen, compared with the glory of what he has left. And this feeling will serve to recal him. The apostate has no such experience as this to check and turn him. But the backslider has and see the result-"I will go," says the Church," and return to my first husband, for then it was better with me than now."

Fifthly, Let us view the Christian in his sufferings, and we shall see that the joy of the Lord is his strength. Here we might lead you back, and call to your remembrance the former times. We might

show you the glorious army of martyrs tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection. We might show you Peter and John, after being scourged, departing from the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name. We might show you the Hebrews, taking joyfully the spoiling of their goods; and men, and women, and youths, severing from their friends who hung on their necks, willing to go to prison and to death. I might show you Bradford, who, when the keeper's wife, weeping, said to him, "O Sir, I am come with heavy tidings-you are to be burnt to-morrow: and they are gone into the city to buy the chain:" taking off his hat and laying it upon the ground, and kneeling and raising his hands, he said, "Lord, I thank thee for this honour. This is what I have been waiting for, and longing for." Such scenes as these, owing to the laws of the land, we are not called to witness. With us, persecution is not national; is not legal. der our own vine and fig-tree, none daring to make us afraid. Yet there are instances of private and personal wrongs beyond the prevention of law. The carnal mind is enmity against God, and the tongue can no man tame. We have seen servants deprived of their places; and workmen of their employment; and tradesmen of their custom. We have seen wives and children enduring privations, and insults, and outrage. We have seen the follower of the Lamb, bearing his reproach, scorned by his companions, and deserted by his friends-yet acting with decision and consistency, and practically saying, "None of these things move me; neither count I my life dear, so that I but finish my course with joy." And why

We can sit un

have they not been overcome? Why have they not partially yielded? They were filled with everlasting consolation, and good hope through grace. joy of the Lord was their strength."

"The

But afflictions of any kind may supply the place of persecution, and try every religious principle. We talk of martyrs-what martyrs have endured; what some Christians have been called in private life to suffer, month after month, and year after year-a great part of the heart's bitterness perhaps known only to themselves. Yet, under bodily anguish, and family bereavements, and the cruelty of connexions, and reductions in life the most humiliating, we have witnessed them not raging against instruments, not cursing the day of their birth, not impeaching the providence of God, not charging him unkindly: but looking upward and meekly saying, "I know, O Lord, that thy judgments are right, and that thou in faithfulness hast afflicted me." Not insensible, yet more than resigned-not undervaluing the comforts of which they have been stripped, yet exulting, "Though the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls: yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation."

Finally, It is hardly needful to say, this joy of the Lord is the Christian's strength in death. For what but this can be his support then? Then lover and friend must fail him. Then the keepers of the house tremble. Then desire fails. What can nature do here? or nature's light? or nature's religion? But in the multitude of his thoughts within him-(and

what a multitude of thoughts will beset a dying man!) -God's comforts delight his soul. The world passeth away; but the kingdom of heaven is at hand. The outward man perisheth; but the inward man is renewed. He looks at his trembling limbs, and feels his fainting heart. His heart and his flesh faileth; but God is the strength of his heart and his portion for ever. He looks forward, and sees enough to dismay all mortal courage-but, says he, "my shepherd's with me there." "Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for thou art with me, thy rod and thy staff they comfort me."

And now what says our subject in a way of practical improvement?

-It says, Inquire what your joy is. Is it the joy of the Lord? For there is the joy of the sinner. And we read of the pleasures of sin these are for a season; and as they are soon over, so they leave nothing but stains and stings behind. We read of the joy of the hypocrite, and are told that it is but for a moment; because at death he must be detected, and may be laid open much sooner. There is the joy of the Pharisee, who trusts in himself that he is righteous, and despises others, and even glories before God. Some are said to rejoice in a thing of nought. Such are all worldlings: for all that cometh is vanity; and honours and riches and power are but to them, as so many toys or flowers thrown into the vehicle, that is conveying the condemned criminal to the place of execution.

Now it matters little which of these joys characterizes you, if you are a stranger to the joy of which we have been speaking. But allow me, in reference

to your choice, to remind you of the language of Solomon. "Even in laughter the heart is sorrowful, and the end of that mirth is heaviness. I said of laughter, it is mad, and of mirth, what doth it?" Yes, this is the question, What DOTH it? You have seen what the joy of the Christian can do.-But what doth yours? Does it purify your passions? Does it make you happy alone? Does it afford you any thing like satisfaction? Does it bear you up under the trials of life? Does it raise you above the dread of death and eternity? Has it any constant source? any solid foundation? Is it not the creature of ignorance? Are you not afraid to let in one ray of divine truth upon it? Would not one serious thought of God and of another world strike it dead upon the spot? I create the fruit of the lips; peace, peace to him that is far off, and to him that is near, saith the Lord; and I will heal him.

But the wicked are

like the troubled sea, when it cannot rest, whose wa

There is no peace, saith Therefore thus said the

ters cast up mire and dirt. my God, to the wicked. Lord God, Behold, my servants shall eat, but ye shall be hungry behold, my servants shall drink, but ye shall be thirsty: behold, my servants shall rejoice, but ye shall be ashamed: behold, my servants shall sing for joy of heart, but ye shall cry for sorrow of heart, and shall howl for vexation of spirit.'

-It says, See how greatly religion is libelled. You well know that it is commonly represented as at variance with every thing like pleasure; and nothing can be more injurious than such a representation, especially to the young, who are so alive to happiness. But can any thing be so unfounded and false as this