ever disadvantageous, admits of cheerfulness. III. The sources of his joy are derived from the scripture. I. When David speaks of the house of his pilgrimage, he may literally design to express his exile and wanderings, when banished by the persecution of Saul, or the rebellion of Absalom.But he intends it more generally, as significant of the whole course of his life on earth. For being a partaker of divine grace, he would say this in a palace, as well as in a prison; he would say it when surrounded with all the ensigns of majesty, as well as when stripped of all his possessions. If a Christian had the dominion of Alexander, and all the treasures of the Indies-yet in all this abundance, and with all this greatness, he would feel himself poor, feel himself from home, feel himself a stranger and a sojourner-and seek a better country, that is a heavenly. At first, indeed, the world is far from appearing to us in this reduced and insignificant point of light. Its maxims and pursuits fall in with our depraved dispositions. And, unacquainted with its variety and vexation, we rush forth filled with high and eager expectations. We think to find it a paradise-but thorns and briers, sand and drought tell us, it is a wilderness. We dream that we are eating, but awake, and feel that we are hungry and looking around us, we see that there is nothing to eat. Various are the disappointments and the calamities that imbitter life: and "many are the afflictions of the righteous." But we are mistaken if we suppose that it is wholly or principally owing to these that he views himself now in a house of pilgrimage. The spirit of the world no longer reigns in him. He renounces the world, not only because it is unfriendly, but because it is unsuitable: not because he cannot carry every thing before him, but because he no longer loves it. He forsakes the world when it smiles as well as when it frowns. He is not violently torn from it, but resigns it in consequence of the discovery and apprehension of something infinitely better. The eyes of his understanding are enlightened, and he sees "what is the hope of his calling, and what is the glory of the riches of the inheritance in the saints:" and this, henceforth, becomes his prize. Having discerned by faith another world, he makes a true estimate of this-he sees that the present is not a state to fix in, but only a region to pass through: and therefore finds that he is not at home, but journeying. He is born from above, and therefore naturally aspires after his native land. Does not every thing tend to the place of its original? -His portion is above. The inheritance, incorruptible and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, is reserved in heaven for him: there his hope is laid up; there is his treasure-and what wonder if there his heart be also? There he is to gain deliverance from all his errors, perfection of holiness, a glorious body, possession of all the promises and can he be satisfied to live at a distance from all this? -His kindred dwell above-there are to be found his Father, his Elder Brother, the younger branches of the household of faith. Thither many of his once dear connexions on earth are gone, and thither all the wise and good are going; and he can now only get a glance of them upon the road, or exchange a few words as they pause for refreshment at the inn. There they shall all unite and be for ever with each other, and for ever with the Lord. Here he is in motion, then he will be at rest: he is now travelling, he shall then reach home, and "sit down with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, in the kingdom of God." II. Inferior, however, as his present situation is, compared with the future-we are reminded, in the second place, that it will admit of cheerfulness he can sing "Thy statutes have been my songs in the house of my pilgrimage. Genuine religion excites and interests the feelings. It is equally absurd and dangerous to place it in cold ceremonies, or external performances, in which the affections have no share. The same may be said of reducing it merely to an intellectual system. The principles of revelation are addressed, not only to the understanding, but to the heart. Ought I to believe that Jesus Christ died for my sins, and that two and two make four, with the same indifference and insensibility? Impossible. That Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners, is not only a faithful saying, but a saying worthy of all acceptation: it contains all that is great, and good, and suitable, and necessary-and can never be properly received; if it meet only with a frigid, speculative assent. We do not indeed plead for ignorant and unaccountable feelings, but we contend that the light of Christianity, is like that of the sun, which, while it illuminates, also enlivens and fructifies. We do not admire the zeal which burns up the brain, but we plead for the fervour that warms the heart: and we say-and saith not the scripture the same?-"It is good to be always zealBb VOL. II. ously affected in a good thing." And wherefore is every thing like warmth in religion, branded with the name of enthusiasm? Warmth is expected in the poet, in the musician, in the scholar, in the lover-and even in the tradesman it is allowed, if not commended-Why, then, is it condemned in the concerns of the soul?-A subject which infinitely above all others, demands and deserves all the energy of the mind! Would a prisoner exult at the proclamation of deliverance, and is the redeemed sinner to walk forth from his bondage, unmoved, unaffected, without gratitude or joy? No. Ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands." Shall the condemned criminal feel, I know not what emotions, when, instead of the execution of the sentence, he receives a pardon? And is the absolved transgressor to be senseless, and silent?No. "Therefore, being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ; by whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also.. And not only so, but we also joy in God, through 'our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement." Other travellers are accustomed to relieve the tediousness of their journey with a song. The Israelites, when they repaired from the extremities of the country three times a year, to Jerusalem to worship, had songs appointed for the purpose, and travelled singing as they went. And of the righteous it is said, "They shall sing in the ways of the Lord. The redeemed of the Lord shall return, and come to Zion with songs, and everlasting joy upon their heads." Religion, therefore, is productive of many pleasing feelings. And we make use of this fact two ways. First. We say that those who are habitually strangers to pleasure in divine things, have reason to suspect their condition. Persons may want the joy of confidence, and yet have the joy of hope: and they may have very little, if any of the pleasure of hope, while yet they find pleasure in religious exercises and dispositions. They may love the place where God's honour dwelleth, and be glad when it is said to them, Let us go into the house of the Lord; they may call the Sabbath a delight, and say, It is good for me to draw nigh to God. But it is awful, if you find the Sabbath a weariness, the house of God a prison, and the presence of God irksome-it is awful, if you find religious duties a task, instead of a privilege. It is one of the characters of the true circumcision-that they rejoice in Christ Jesus. Secondly. Those are mistaken who shun religion under the apprehension that it is unfriendly to their happiness, and prescribes a joyless course, engaged in which they must bid adieu to pleasure. Man needs present gratification, and religion provides for it. The Master he serves does not require him to live only in expectation; he has much in possession, though he has more in hope. Yonder the clusters grow, but hither some of them are sent. "The hill of Zion yields A thousand sacred sweets; |