A saint or a brute the certain necessity and excellency of holiness, &c. ...…

Finally my Brethren, Rejoice in the Lord; Phil. 4. 4. Rejoice in the Lord always, and again I say rejoice. 6. Be careful for nothing: but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanks giving, let your requests be made known unto God] And thus are the godly ordinarily described, even in their deepest sufferings and distress, Rom. 5. 1, 2. Being justified by faith we have peace with God—and rejoice in hope of the glory of God: And not only so, but we glory in tribulation—] Phil. 3. 3. It is the description of a regenerate man [to worship God in spirit: to rejoice in Christ Jesus: to have no confidence in the flesh] 1 Pet. 1. 6, 8. It is the description of believers [to Rejoice greatly in a Christ not seen, even with joy unspeakable and full of glory: though for a season if need be, they may be in heaviness through manifold temptations, 1 Pet. 4. 12, 13. 14. even in the fiery trial we must rejoice, as being partakers of the sufferings of Christ, that when his glory shall be revealed, we may be glad also with exceeding joy] when all manner of evil is spoken of us falsely, for the sake of Christ, and when we are hated of all men and reproached, we must rejoice and be exceeding glad, and leap for joy, as knowing that our reward in heaven is great, Luk. 6. 22, 23. Matth. 5. 11, 12. The Apostles were [as sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing: as having nothing, and yet possessing all things] 2 Cor. 6. 10. rejoicing in their suffering for believers, Col. 1. 24. even when they were beaten, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer for the name of Christ, Act. 5. 39, 40. The rich must Rejoice in that he is made low, as well as the brother of low degree in that he is exalted,