Joy in the Lord opened in a sermon preached at Pauls, May 6

8. In the hope of his glory: The spirit of adoption is even now a glorious thing, John 1. 2. But it doth not yet appear what we shall be, only this he hath assured us of, That we shall be like unto him, shall see him as he is, shall appear with him in glory; shall sit upon his Throne, and be ever with him; 1 John 3 1, 2. Col. 3. 4. And this blessed hope, secured by the witness of the spirit (who is the seal and earnest of our eternal inheritance) filleth the hearts of believers with joy unspeakable and full of glory; while they look not on the things that are seen, but on the things that are not seen.

9. In the fellowship of his sufferings, which though to sense they be matter of sorrow, yet unto faith are they matter of joy. When Gods servants consider, that unto these sufferings they were appointed, 1 Thes. 3. 3. That Christ owns them as his, Col. 1. 4. That they work for them a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, 2 Cor. 4. 17. That thereby the spirit of glory resteth on them, and that God himself is glorified in them: 1 Pet. 4. 14. In these respects they not only rejoice, but triumph as more then conquerors in all their afflictions, Acts 5. 41 Rom. 8. 37. Jam. 1. 2.

9. In the fellowship of his sufferings, which though to sense they be matter of sorrow, yet unto faith are they matter of joy. When Gods servants consider, that unto these sufferings they were appointed,