The Christian's charter showing the privileges of a believerThe Christian's charter shewing the priviledges of a believer

¹Answ. I would not speak against ⟨p. 295⟩holy mourning; while we carry fire about us, we must carry water; as long as the fire of sin burns in our breasts, we must carry tears to quench it. But consider, 1. Spiritual joy and mourning may stand together; sometimes it rains and shines at once: when there is a shower in the eyes, there may be sunshine in the heart: in religion, mourning and music are not inconsistent. 2. The end why God makes us sad, is to make us rejoice; he doth not require sorrow for sorrow, but it is ordained to be sal & condimentum, as sauce to make our joy relish the better: we sow in tears, that we may reap in joy: 3. The sweetest joy is from the sourest tears: Christ made the best wine of water^*: the purest and most excellent joy is made of the waters of true repentance: the Bee gathers the best honey off the bitterest herbs: Tears ⟨p. 296⟩are the breeders of spiritual joy. When Hannah had wept, she went away, and was no more sad. Those clouds are very uncomfortable that never have any sunshine: That mourning which dies the soul all in sable, viz. that hath no place for rejoicing, I shall rather think it despair, then true remorse; The same God who hath bid us mourn, hath also bid us rejoice, Phil 4.4. 'Tis an excellent temper to be serious, yet cheerful. Jesus Christ loves the sanguine complexion: joy puts liveliness and activity into a Christian, it oils the wheels of the affections; an heavy mind makes a dull action: the joy of the Lord is your strength^*. The pensive melancholy Christian doth disparage the glory of Heaven: What will others say? Here is one that speaks of things to come, and of a Crown laid up, but sure he doth not believe it: see how sad he is! what ⟨p. 297⟩ado is here to make a child of God cheerful! shall we need bid an Heir rejoice in the Estate befallen him? let me tell you You who refuse consolation, are not fit persons to praise God: 'Tis a kind of Solecism, to praise God with a sad heart: I will sing praises, Psal 108. v. 1. 'Tis more proper to sing praises, then to weep them. Rejoice, O Christian, lift up thy crest, triumph in the hope of these [Greek or Hebrew], things to come: it is not enough that there be joy within the firmament of a Christians heart but it must shine out in his countenance.