I observe this the rather, to cross an illusion of Satan, whereby he usually persuades the merry Greeks of the world; That if they should once devote themselves to the Service of Jesus Christ, that then they must bid an everlasting farewell to all mirth and delight; that then all their merry days are gone; that in the kingdom of Christ, there is nothing, but sighing and groaning, and fasting and prayer. But see here the contrary: even in the kingdom of Christ, and in his House, there is marrying and giving in marriage, drinking of wine, feasting, and rejoicing even in the very face of Christ. Nay its not possible, that any person upon ⟨p. 15⟩earth, should joy as the servants of Christ do. Do but consider the joy of a condemned person, when at the place of Execution he hath received a pardon: Such is the joy of Christs servants, especially then, when Christ comes unto them. For before he uses to come, he suffers men to be as persons at the point of Execution, he brings them even to the pit of Hell, to Hell mouth, and then when he comes to them, he brings a Pardon with him. Christs servants indeed have many griefs, and qualms come over their heart; but it is then with them, as with women near their time of bringing forth; they are in travail with some joy. Clean contrary it is with wicked ones; who have ofttimes many flashings of joy: but when they are in the height of it, they are then big-bellied, and ready to travel of some sorrow: and their own woeful experience makes them expect it. For its very usual with them in the extremity of their mirth to say, I pray God I hear of no sorrow, I have bin this day so merry. And good cause they have so to fear, that cannot be merry, except the Devil play the Musician; that cannot sing, except the ditty be made in Hell. Let all our jolly Gallants and merry Companions therefore know, That the Children of God can be merry and pleasant, though they cannot cog, lie, swear, swagger, talk lasciviously, and filthily, &c. And they shall then be everlastingly merry,1 when the wicked that now seem to be made of nothing else but mirth and pleasure, shall gnash their teeth and howl in Hell for ever and ever.
I obserue this the rather, to crosse an illusion of Sathan, whereby he vsually perswades the merry Greekes of the world; That if they should once devote themselues to the Seruice of Iesus Christ, that then they must bid an euerlasting farewell to all mirth and delight; that then all their merry dayes are gone; that in the kingdome of Christ, there is nothing, but sighing and groning, and fasting and prayer. But see here the contrary: euen in the kingdome of Christ, and in his House, there is marrying and giuing in mariage, drinking of wine, feasting, and rejoycing euen in the very face of Christ. Nay its not possible, that any person vpon ⟨p. 15⟩earth, should joy as the seruants of Christ doe. Doe but consider the joy of a condemned person, when at the place of Execution he hath receiued a pardon: Such is the joy of Christs seruants, especially then, when Christ comes vnto them. For before he vses to come, he suffers men to be as persons at the point of Execution, he brings them euen to the pit of Hell, to Hell mouth, and then when he comes to them, he brings a Pardon with him. Christs seruants indeed haue many greifes, and qualmes come ouer their heart; but it is then with them, as with women neere their time of bringing forth; they are in trauaile with some joy. Cleane contrary it is with wicked ones; who haue ofttimes many flashings of joy: but when they are in the height of it, they are then big-bellied, and ready to trauell of some sorrow: and their owne wofull experience makes them expect it. For its very vsuall with them in the extremitie of their mirth to say, I pray God I heare of no sorrow, I haue bin this day so merry. And good cause they haue so to feare, that cannot be merry, except the Diuell play the Musitian; that cannot sing, except the dittie be made in Hell. Let all our jolly Gallants and merry Companions therefore know, That the Children of God can be merry and pleasant, though they cannot cog, lie, sweare, swagger, talke lasciuiously, and filthily, &c. And they shall then be euerlastingly merry,1 when the wicked that now seeme to be made of nothing else but mirth and pleasure, shall gnash their teeth and howle in Hell for euer and euer.
- 1Isaiah. 65. 13, 14, 18, 19.Esai. 65. 13, 14, 18, 19.
