Rejoyce not for Joy

Rejoyce not for Joy.

Carnal hearts in their joy are set upon jolity, their spirits insult and they think of nothing that should moderate their joy, so the words import, Rejoyce not for joy; if you will rejoyce, let there not be meer joy, but some kind of mixture in it; there should be a mixture of reverence and fear in our rejoycing, we should rejoyce with trembling here in this world.

Whatever blessings we have from God, yet (I say) we should rejoyce with trembling here, remembring first our unworthiness of any good we have, there should be that put into our joy.

Secondly, Remember the afflictions of our brethren.

Thirdly, Remember the uncertain and the vanishing nature of all these things we rejoyce in.

Put these three things alwaies into the cup of our joy, else it will be too sweet and will clog the stomach.

Mix the cup of your joy with these three meditations.

First, Your unworthiness of that mercy.

Secondly, The meditation of the affliction of our brethren, of yours that have done God more service than ever you have done, or are like to do.

Thirdly, That meditation of the uncertainty of al these things that your hearts are so taken withal.

These three ingredients will make a good mixture, that we shall not surfeit with our condition.

Do not rejoyce: that is, Let there not be pure joy. But the strength of this expression lies in the other.