Because believers have ever cause of comfort, therefore they are commanded always to rejoice, Phil. 3. Whether their sins or sufferings come into their hearts, they must not sorrow as they that have no hope; In their saddest conditions, they have the spirit of consolation. There is seed of joy sown within them, when it is buried under the clods, and appears not above ground. But there are special times when God calls for this grain to spring up; They have some red letters, some holy days in the Calendar of their lives, wherein this joy as Wine at a Wedding, is most seasonable, but among all those days it never relisheth so well, it never tasteth so pleasantly as on a Lords day, joy suits no person so much as a Saint, and it becomes ⟨p. 365⟩no season so well as a Sabbath. Joy in God on other days is like the Birds Chirping in winter, which is pleasing, but joy on a Lords day is like their warbling Tunes, and pretty notes in Spring, when all other things look with a suitable delightful aspect. This is the day which the Lord hath made (he that made all days, so especially of this day, but what follows) we will rejoice and be glad therein, Psa. 118.24. In which words we have the Churches solace or joy, and the season or day of it. Her solace was great. We will rejoice and be glad. Those expressions are not needless repetitions, but show the exuberancy or high degree of their joy. The season of it. This is the day the Lord hath made, Compare this place with Mat. 21.22.23. and Act. 4.11. and you will find that the precedent verses are a prophetical prediction of Christs Resurrection, 1and so this verse foretells the Churches joy upon that memorable and glorious day. And indeed if a feast be made for laughter, Eccles. 10.19. Then that day wherein Christ feasteth his Saints with the choicest mercies, may well command his greatest spiritual mirth, A thanksgiving day hath a double precedency of a fast day; On a Fast-day we eye Gods anger; On a Thanksgiving-day we look to God favour. In the former we specially mind our own corruptions. In the latter Gods compassions, therefore a Fast-day calls for sorrow, a Thanksgiving day for joy. But the Lords day is the highest thanksgiving day, and deserveth much more then the Jewish Purim, to be a day of feasting and gladness, and a good day.
Because beleivers have ever cause of comfort, therefore they are commanded always to rejoyce, Phil. 3. Whether their sins or sufferings come into their hearts, they must not sorrow as they that have no hope; In their saddest conditions, they have the spirit of consolation. There is seed of joy sown within them, when it is buried under the clods, and appears not above ground. But there are special times when God calls for this grain to spring up; They have some red letters, some holy days in the Calendar of their lives, wherein this joy as Wine at a Wedding, is most seasonable, but among all those days it never relisheth so well, it never tasteth so pleasantly as on a Lords day, joy sutes no person so much as a Saint, and it becomes ⟨p. 365⟩no season so well as a Sabbath. Joy in God on other days is like the Birds Chirping in winter, which is pleasing, but joy on a Lords day is like their warbling Tunes, and pretty notes in Spring, when all other things look with a sutable delightful aspect. This is the day which the Lord hath made (he that made all days, so especially of this day, but what follows) we will rejoyce and be glad therein, Psa. 118.24. In which words we have the Churches solace or joy, and the season or day of it. Her solace was great. We will rejoyce and be glad. Those expressions are not needless repetitions, but shew the exeuberancy or high degree of their joy. The season of it. This is the day the Lord hath made, Compare this place with Mat. 21.22.23. and Act. 4.11. and you will find that the precedent verses are a prophetical prediction of Christs Resurrection, 1and so this verse foretels the Churches joy upon that memorable and glorious day. And indeed if a feast be made for laughter, Eccles. 10.19. Then that day wherein Christ feasteth his Saints with the choicest mercies, may well command his greatest spiritual mirth, A thanksgiving day hath a double precedency of a fast day; On a Fast-day we eye Gods anger; On a Thanksgiving-day we look to God favour. In the former we specially mind our own corruptions. In the latter Gods compassions, therefore a Fast-day calls for sorrow, a Thanksgiving day for joy. But the Lords day is the highest thanksgiving day, and deserveth much more then the Jewish Purim, to be a day of feasting and gladness, and a good day.
- 1Sic. Arnob.
