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The things of the World must be no matter of our immoderate Joy.
JOY is the Enlargement of the Heart as delighted in the Ex∣pectation or Fruition of some sutable good, really so or so ap∣prehended, of a luxuriant Nature, and prone to Exorbitancy: for though Spiritual Joy cannot well exceed, yet that which is Worldly may, both as to time and measure. Therefore in the Flood of Prospe∣rity we must have an Eye to our Compass, that our Hearts may be kept within the right Channel.
Mediocrity does well, but the * 1.1 Excess is Vicious.
Religion destroys not our Af∣fections, but only refines them; (Christ took not away the Water of Purification, but turn'd it into Wine) it condemns not, but al∣lows and encourages our Joy, when it is not in things that are not Lawful, nor immoderate in them that are.
It is not Isaac, but the Ram that must be Sacrificed.
When sensual Joy abounds, danger is at the door; (when the Dolphins play, the Marriners fear a Storm) therefore, if we would have our dead Hearts rais'd to Life, we must cast these Minstrels out. * 1.2
Sensual Joy layes a Snare for Spiritual.
When we are rejoycing, there are some in Sorrow; we must not therefore cast out Compassion to make room for Joy, nor be so much straitned in our Bowels, * 1.3 when our Hearts are enlarg'd, as to forget them that are Sorrowful, while we are Rejoycing; but when at the Feasts of Mirth, send * 1.4 Portions to them that are in want, that (in this sense whilst they re∣joyce with us) our Joy may be full.
There is a Sympathy in Nature, and therefore should be much more one in Grace.
That was the best Wine, that * 1.5 Christ turn'd from Water into Wine, and that is the purest Joy that is distill'd from Godly Sor∣row, and therefore, in the midst of our Mirth, we must be sad at the remembrance of our Sins, that the Sun of our Joy may arise out
of the Waters of Godly sorrow for them.
The more Sorrow for Sin we let out, the more Joy we shall take in, the Pots that had the most Water, had the most Wine.
We live in a Miserable World, where Happiness and Misery, Joy and Sorrow (like Jacob and Esau) tread upon the Heels of one ano∣ther. It concerns us therefore to rejoyce, as if we rejoyced not, for * 1.6 at the best it is but a Feast of Ta∣bernacles.
It is folly to rejoyce overmuch in any thing, in which we cannot rejoyce long.
Worldly Joy when immoderate layes a Foundation for Sorrow; Benjamin prov'd a Benoni, and * 1.7 our Idol will become our Tor∣ment, it will either be broken in pieces, or continue as a Sting, re∣main
as a Curse, or be remov'd in Wrath.
Wo be, either to the Idol, or Idolater.
God must be the object of our chiefest Joy; other things may be the matter of our occasional Joy, but God only must be our substan∣tial, and exceeding Joy. There∣fore, in the midst of our Joy, we must not so far forget our selves, as to forget him the object of our chiefest Joy; (the gladness of our * 1.8 Joy;) for it is as much our Duty to Rejoyce in him, as it is to Trust in him; and if we rejoyce in any thing more than in him, we shall never be made joyful by him.
Laughter becomes not such Fools, nor is the Oyl of Joy prepar'd for their Heads.
Res severa gau∣dium. Seneca:
Mat. 9. 23, 25.
2 Cor. 6. 12.
Esth. 7. 34. 9. 22.
John 2. 10.
1 Cor. 7. 30.
Gen. 35. 18.
Psal. 43. 4.