Therefore, in the second ground, as their humiliation was slight, so was their Faith, they had a little humiliation for their sins, and they took CHRIST in a more remiss manner. And as their Faith was, so was their joy, all slight. But now, when Faith is sound and good, that Joy is accordingly great; it is a great Joy, that, at the least, overcomes all other; that, take what joy you will, if a man could have an earthly Kingdom here, if a man could have as great pleasure here as mans nature is capable of, if he had never so much praise, and glory of men, (these things we naturally rejoice in) a right Christian, that hath Faith indeed, will not so rejoice in these, but that he will rejoice in CHRIST above them. If thy Joy therefore be so great, that it overcome and exceed all other, be sure that Joy is good. But yet we must have one thing more in Joy. In whom, though you have not seen, yet you joy with Joy unspeakable and glorious. That is, if it be such a Joy as is right indeed, which is a testimony of faith, that it is a sign thou believest, it is a Joy that is glorious, it is a Joy that is glorious and spiritual. Now an hypocrite may rejoice, he may rejoice in Christ, he may rejoice in the Kingdom of GOD, and the assurance he hath of it, ⟨p. 134⟩and he may rejoice in the hope that he hath that his sins are forgiven; but all this while, he rejoiceth after a carnal manner: as, you know, a man may rejoice in spiritual things after a carnal manner, as a man may rejoice in a carnal thing after a spiritual manner. Therefore the joy of Hypocrites, when it is at the best, it is but a carnal joy; there is something there that his flesh is able to rejoice in, it may be he had some fear and terror in his conscience, and after this comes a persuasion perhaps that his sins are forgiven him, and that he is in a good estate, that same fleshly fear and grief before, that worldly fear and grief will have a Joy answerable to it, a natural joy, and yet it may be great, it may be a great flash of joy, that may be as a Land-flood,1 make a great show, which because it hath no spring, is soon dried up, but it makes a great flash: and therefore in that, Heb. 6.2 they tasted of the good Word of God, and of the powers of the world to come.
Therefore, in the second ground, as their humiliation was slight, so was their Faith, they had a little humiliation for their sinnes, and they tooke CHRIST in a more remisse manner. And as their Faith was, so was their joy, all slight. But now, when Faith is sound and good, that Joy is accordingly great; it is a great Joy, that, at the least, ouercomes all other; that, take what joy you will, if a man could haue an earthly Kingdome heere, if a man could haue as great pleasure here as mans nature is capable of, if he had neuer so much praise, and glory of men, (these things wee naturally rejoyce in) a right Christian, that hath Faith indeed, will not so rejoyce in these, but that he will rejoyce in CHRIST aboue them. If thy Joy therefore be so great, that it ouercome and exceede all other, be sure that Joy is good. But yet we must haue one thing more in Joy. In whom, though you haue not seene, yet you joy with Joy vnspeakable and glorious. That is, if it be such a Joy as is right indeed, which is a testimony of faith, that it is a signe thou beleeuest, it is a Joy that is glorious, it is a Joy that is glorious and spirituall. Now an hypocrite may rejoyce, he may rejoyce in Christ, he may rejoyce in the Kingdome of GOD, and the assurance he hath of it, ⟨p. 134⟩and he may reioyce in the hope that he hath that his sins are forgiuen; but all this while, he reioyceth after a carnall manner: as, you know, a man may reioyce in spirituall things after a carnall manner, as a man may reioyce in a carnall thing after a spirituall manner. Therefore the ioy of Hypocrites, when it is at the best, it is but a carnall ioy; there is something there that his flesh is able to reioyce in, it may be he had some feare and terrour in his conscience, and after this comes a perswasion perhaps that his sinnes are forgiuen him, and that he is in a good estate, that same fleshly feare and griefe before, that worldly feare and griefe will haue a Joy answerable to it, a naturall ioy, and yet it may be great, it may be a great flash of ioy, that may be as a Land-flood,1 make a great shew, which because it hath no spring, is soone dryed vp, but it makes a great flash: and therefore in that, Heb. 6.2 they tasted of the good Word of God, and of the powers of the world to come.
- 1Simile.
- 2Heb. 6. opened.
