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righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, shall give me at that day; and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing. 2 Tim. iv. 6-8. What a victory is this, and what a glorious prospect of the completed triumph in the heavenly country, and full reward from the mightiest of all beings! O may we bend our strength, Christian reader, to follow him as he followed Christ!

But we must go yet farther to see the full and completed triumph. The day of the resurrection is the day of final victory. When this corruptible shall put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, death is swallowed up in victory. 2 Cor. xv. 6-8. O how inconceivably glorious the triumph of the victorious soul in that day! the last of the promises to the seven churches sets it before us in all its divine majesty and inexpressible glory. To him that overcometh, will I grant to sit with me on my throne, even as I also overcame and am set down with my Father on his throne. Rev. iii. 21. Let us but have faith in the divine promises, and here is an object incomparably worthy of all sacrifices, losses, sufferings, and labours, and that makes them all even desirable, to attain this exceeding and eternal weight of glory.

Prayer for victory.

O Lord Jesus Christ, the mighty conqueror of sin, death, the grave, and hell, give me to partake of thy glorious victories; then shall I be satisfied only when I wake up after thy likeness, wearing thine image, thy name upon my forehead, and being with thee in thy glory for ever. Never leave nor forsake me;

make me faithful unto death, and at length give me the crown of life for thy name's sake.

PASSAGES OF SCRIPTURE ON CONFLICT.

Job generally

Psalms generally; especially xlii. xliii. lxxiii. Jer. xxxi. Hos. vi. Matt. xxvi. Luke xxii. Rom. vii. 2 Cor. iv. Gal. v. Heb. xi.

BOOKS ON CONFLICT.

Sibbes' Bruised Reed.
Sibbes' Soul's Conflict.
Gurnal's Christian Armour.
Robinson's Christian Armour.
Downam's Christian Warfare.

Owen on Indwelling Sin.
Owen on Spiritual Mindedness.
Owen on Mortification of Sin.
Goodwin's Child of Light,
Goodwin's Aggravation of Sin.

CHAPTER XVI.

SPIRITUAL JOY.

1. The Preparation for this Joy.-2. The chief Source of it.-3. Its Nature.-4. Its Perfection.-5. Its Influence on this Life.-5. Its Attainment.

1. THE PREPARATIONS FOR SPIRITUAL JOY.

GOD does not commonly impart joy to his people, without having first led them through darkness and sorrow. The bondage in Egypt precedes the deliverance through Moses. The encompassing of the mountains, and the opposing waves of the sea, and the following of Pharaoh's armies, precede the triumphant passage through the Red Sea, and the entire overthrow of their oppressors. The forty years' journeying in the wilderness goes before the victories that secure the land of Canaan; the seventy years' captivity precedes the ransomed of the Lord returning to Sion with songs. The world's best things come first, and are soon ended; God's best things come last, and endure for ever.

What, then, ordinarily precedes spiritual joy?

We have seen in former chapters, the holiness of the believer and his afflictions; we have seen his convictions of sin and his spiritual warfare; and though joy mingles with all, and goes before them even as well as follows them, for the Holy Ghost distributes to every one at such times, and in such measures, as he in his infinite wisdom and love pleases; yet ordinarily times of darkness, and tears, and faith, and waiting, precede the times of joy.

Times of DARKNESS we all have in this world, There is a natural darkness in which men in an unconverted state are living, full of ignorance and full of error (John i. 5.), from which they are delivered by the grace of Christ, and out of which they are translated into the kingdom of God's dear Son. Col. i. 13. And besides this there is a season of temptation and trial, which our Saviour calls the hour of wicked men and the power of darkness. Luke xxii. 53. Thus his agony and cross precede his resurrection and ascension. A person really fearing God and obeying the voice of his servant, may be one that walketh in darkness and hath no light. The Jews, just before our Saviour came, were in this state. Of them it is said, The people which sat in darkness saw great light, and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up. Matt. iv. 16. Thus a time of great darkness of soul, as it precedes, so it leads us to value light. The shipwreck increases the joy of safety and deliverance. The escape from fire makes security doubly precious. When the jailor was in despair, the joyful sound, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, first reached his heart. Be not then discouraged by present darkness, but trust in the name of the Lord, and stay upon your

God. Remember the morning succeeds the darkest night.

Times of SORROW also are preparatory for times of joy. Thus it is foretold: They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. He that goeth forth and weepeth bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him. Our Saviour has numbered therefore the mourners among the happy: Blessed are they that mourn, for they shall be comforted. Matt. v. 4. A real conviction of our sinfulness and guilt, and a real view of our vileness and ingratitude, David compares to nothing less than broken bones (Psalm li. 1, 8), but he prays that those bones may yet rejoice. A lively sense of our danger of eternal condemnation and everlasting wrath, justly merited by our own sins, and our unutterable folly and wickedness in disregarding this danger, these things prepare our hearts to welcome with joy and gratitude the good tidings of the salvation of Christ. When we are empty of self and see all our need and spiritual wickedness, then Christ and his riches and grace are seasonable, surprising and suitable, and affect the heart with its deepest emotions of gladness and thankfulness: Ye shall be sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy. John xvi. 20.

Times of FAITH necessarily then also precede times of joy. Though the gospel be good tidings of great joy to all people, yet till the gospel be known and believed it cannot give us personal joy. We fell by unbelief into darkness and misery; we rise by faith into light and happiness. After the apostle had recited the promises of Christ's reigning over the Gentiles, and their trusting in him, he directly prays, Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in

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