CXLV expository sermons upon the whole 17th chapter of the Gospel according to St.…

¹That it's Christs special will and care, that his people should walk comfortably. As Ahasuerus did not like to see Nehemiah look sadly: so neither doth Christ will that his people should walk with dejections and discouragements, but abound in an heavenly and unspeakable joy. It's a dishonour to a Prince to have sighing subjects; Therefore in Nero's time to weep or sigh, was a capital crime, and it reflects upon a Master to have his servant walk with discontent: Thus it's a dishonour to Christ, and to his Gospel, when those that fear God walk without hope or faith, still complaining that their souls are disquieted and cast down within them. A Christians joy is so greatly aimed at, that the sum of those valedictory Sermons, and large farewell discourses Christ makes to his Disciples, was to establish them therein, John 15.11. These things have I spoken that your joy might remain, that it might be full. It's not only joy, but a constant full joy he requireth, that it might remain: The people of God are not to think it enough to have joy sometimes, though they are to bless God for any degree in the least continuance, but they are to keep this fire always upon the altar of their hearts, whatsoever may not continue with them, yet their joy must; Though we cannot find thee always thriving, always healthful, yet we should see thee always joyful; we should never find a Christian without this, let his conditions and temptations be never so sad, and then it must be a full joy; not a light flash, but such as shall fill up thy heart, that shall soak to the root of thy soul, that no ordinary thing can remove thee from it. This point is of great concernment unto the godly, who commonly think themselves Benonies, and will not be called Naomi, but Marah; that with Rachel, refuse to be comforted; that as some wicked men will not hear of the threatening, but put far from them the evil day; so they stop their ears against the promise, and put the good day of Gods grace out of their mind.

¹That it's Christs special will and care, that his people should walk comfortably. As Ahashuerus did not like to see Nehemiah look sadly: so neither doth Christ will that his people should walk with dejections and discouragements, but abound in an heavenly and unspeakable joy. It's a dishonour to a Prince to have sighing subjects; Therefore in Nero's time to weep or sigh, was a capital crime, and it reflects upon a Master to have his servant walk with discontent: Thus it's a dishonour to Christ, and to his Gospel, when those that fear God walk without hope or faith, still complaining that their souls are disquieted and cast down within them. A Christians joy is so greatly aimed at, that the summe of those valedictory Sermons, and large farewell discourses Christ makes to his Disciples, was to establish them therein,