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ceived that a pearl of great price was put into his hand; and, with such a treasure in possession, he could do no otherwise than rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory.

Now this is not to be considered as a solitary or rare instance of the cheering influence of true religion, but rather as the natural and almost invariable effect of it. upon every sincere believer. It is the common privilege of the righteous, to rejoice from the rising up of the sun to the going down thereof. And lest they should seem to live below the immunities of their sacred charter, they are very frequently invited and admonished by the inspired writers, to cultivate diligently this desirable frame of soul, so refreshing to man and so honourable ap to God. The passage of scripture now bebein fore us is of this description; and it was Gd intended to quicken every hearer of it in so the high and binding duty of gratitude—er a Ye shall rejoice in all that ye put your hand

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tention at this time, is that of sacred joy. d am

And lest I should utterly lose myself on a

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theme so diversified and so vast, I shall confine my remarks to a few of the more general grounds and causes of this joy; which indeed are so wonderfully abundant as to meet us wherever we turn our steps. But, to be more distinct, the matter of this holy joy is supplied

First-By the visible creation.

The Lord, saith the Psalmist, shall rejoice in his works. He who formed the heavens, the earth, and the unfathomable deep, surveys the operations of his own almighty hand with an inconceivable degree of complacency; because they tend to shadow forth his glory, and to promote the general good. Job tells us, that, on the first appearance of the material creation, the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy. They every where beheld some striking display of the almighty power and wisdom, in the form and furniture, in the order and harmony, of the new world: and while they gazed upon the grand production, that sweet appropriate song was heard among themWorthy art thou, O Lord, to receive glory, and honour, and power; for thou hast created all

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things, and for thy pleasure they are, and were created!

Now this divine exhibition is ever before our eyes. Above, beneath, and all around us, we behold the wonders God hath wrought. And they are placed within our view, in order to excite our admiration, and draw forth our praise. The inferior animals are incapable of admiring the construction and beauty of the world they inhabit: they look with a vacant eye upon all the wonders that surround them; while man alone seems to be formed for the satisfactory contemplation of all this goodly fabric, with all that it contains.

The vernal season, through which we are at present passing, is calculated to draw forth our warmest feelings of gratitude and joy. The earth is now arraying itself in all its most inviting ornaments. Our path is every where strewed with sweets; and to whatever point we turn our eyes, they are delighted with a superabundance of pleasing objects. Come with me from Lebanon, look with me from the top of Shenir and Hermon: for, lo, the winter is past; the rain is over and gone; the flowers appear on the earth; the time

of the singing of birds is come; and the voice of the turtle is heard in our land. Let us go forth into the vineyards, let us lodge in the villages; let us see whether the tender grapes appear, and whether the pomegranates bud forth. All nature now invites us abroad: the pastures are covered with flocks; the valleys stand thick with corn; the field is joyful, and all that is in it; and all the trees of the wood rejoice before the Lord. These appearances are so calculated to cheer the spirits, and tune every heart to the exercise of praise, that he must needs be unbelieving and insensible, who can look upon them without secretly adopting the language of the Psalmist-I will shew forth thy loving kindness, O Lord, in the morning, and thy truth in the night season: for thou, Lord, hast made me glad through thy works, and I will rejoice in giving praise for the operations of thy hands.

Thus the whole frame of nature yields us matter of unceasing joy and wonder.

Secondly-The divine mercies minister to us endless cause of exultation and thanksgiving. If we look back upon the days and years

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vixion is ever before ces for beneath and all around us, we beboid the wonders God bath wrought. And they are placed within our view, in crier to excite or ainian, and draw firà car praise. The inferior animals are incapable of admiring the construction and beauty of the world they inhabit: they look with a vacant eye upon all the wonders that surround them; while man alone seems to be formed for the satisfactory contemplation of all this goodly fabric, with all that it contains.

The vernal season, through which we are at present passing, is calculated to draw forth our warmest feelings of gratitude and joy. The earth is now arraying itself in all its most inviting ornaments. Our path is every where strewed with sweets; and to whatever point we turn our eyes, they are delighted with a superabundance of pleasing objects. Come with me from Lebanon, look with me from the top of Shenir and Hermon: for, lo, the winter is past; the rain is over and gone; the flowers appear on the earth; the time

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