whose footsteps every true child of God must follow, found it "his meat and his drink to do the will of his heavenly Father," and "went about doing good." The excellence of Job's character was, that "the cause he had not known he searched out." He, who is indifferent to the welfare of others, may chance to have few claims of charity obtruded upon his notice; but no truly charitable spirit need ever be at a loss, in such a world as this, for occasions to do good, and we may be sure that we are unfaithful if we be ignorant of them. True charity waits not for opportunities, but goes to seek them; and when there is a will, God will always point out the way. The best study of the will of God is the practice of it, for Christ says, "if any man will do His will, he shall know of the doctrine." God loves such willing scholars, and loves to teach them; and they that walk in love will find their path to be "brighter and brighter unto the perfect day."

III.

JOY.

Joy is that lively pleasure of the soul which we feel in the possession of present good, or the certain expectation of good in the future. Thus, when a man has actually obtained what he had desired, and which yields him delight, we say he enjoys it; and when we receive news of approaching happiness, we call it joyful news.

There is a false joy, derived from a mistaken estimate of that which is really worthless, or insufficient of itself to yield us happiness. The joy which men have in the perishing and deceitful pleasures of this world, like the mirth of the drunkard, has its end in sorrow. It is

"Like to the apples on the Dead Sea's shore,

All ashes to the taste."

Solomon compares it to the burning of thorns, making much crackling, and some smoke, but no abiding heat.

The joy here spoken of is a real joy. It is a fruit of the Spirit. The renewed man has been taught to see the difference between true and counterfeit good. He loves God and holy living, because he is convinced that "godliness is great gain;" and he rejoices in the assurances of faith that godliness is his. The more godly he is, the more joy he has. Nothing interferes with his joy but sin. It flows from God, like water from the fountain, pure, though sin may embitter and discolour it. It shines like light from the Sun of Righteousness, though sin may so sully the windows of the soul through which it passes, as to dim its brightness.

Christian joy can come only from God. The renewed man knows he is a sinner, and that the "wages of sin is death;" and he hates sin, not only because of its future punishment, but because

of its present pollution, and of its offensiveness in the sight of the God he loves. God, by his blessed Spirit, through the truth, reveals to him the promise of pardon for his guilt, and deliverance from his sinfulness. He is filled with joy. He is joyful in his escape from eternal death. He is joyful in the assurance of grace to live a holy life. He is joyful in the hope of heavenly blessedness.

He is joyful in the knowledge of God. A true ear has delight in perfect harmony. A true eye has delight in perfect proportion. So does a true and holy soul delight in God. He delights to contemplate infinite power directed by infinite wisdom, infinite wisdom directed by infinite goodness, and infinite mercy directed by infinite truth. He delights in the impress of this divine perfection upon all the works of the Creator, where sin has not clouded their beauty or shattered their form. He thinks of the world as God made it, as it was when the golden light of the primeval morning

F

discovered nothing but loveliness and innocence and peace; and he partakes of the joy of Him who looked upon "every thing that he had made, and behold, it was very good."

He delights in the knowledge that the Creator is the God of providence and of grace; and that, though now sin seems to rule, there is a mighty purpose in Christ, working through all and over all, to bring forth a new and more glorious creation, a new heaven and a new earth, from which sin, and all that tempts to sin, shall be utterly cast out, that eternal righteousness may dwell in them, and God again pronounce them very good.

He delights in the display of divine perfection by the divine law. "Thy testimonies," saith David to his God, "are the rejoicing of my heart." And again, "Thy statutes have been my songs in the house of my pilgrimage." To him, who has not been enlightened to know, and converted to love the wisdom of holiness, God's commandments are grievous, because they come in the