mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness. "The garment of praise," it is called, for such joy in the heart must need be accompanied with songs of thanksgiving; even as when Paul and Silas were in prison at midnight, and with their feet in the stocks, yet was their heart so full of gladness, that they broke forth into singing; and the foundations of the prison were shaken with the sound. And so St. Paul here, after speaking of being "filled with the Spirit," proceeds to the subject of psalms and hymns, by which that fulness of heart seeks for utterance.

At a festival worldly men in sympathy with each other, and in fever and madness of heart, pour forth songs which are indeed not unto God, but often unto the prince of this world, which worketh in the children of disobedience. They are filled with his spirit. "The end of that mirth is heaviness," and there is a sting behind. which "biteth like an adder," the never-dying worm. But at that "feast of good things," to which the Gospel is so often likened, may the Spirit, as it is so beautifully expressed, "make melody in the heart to the Lord." Full of harmony, and joy, and peace, it sings to God. The darkness of the night but adds to that light within; the prison bars bind not that perfect freedom of heart which breaks forth in psalms of thanksgiving.

At the marriage supper then of the Lamb, they are filled not with wine, but with the Spirit; they are clothed with the garment of praise, making melody in the heart; and they are, as St. Paul describes, full of meekness also towards each other, as knowing into Whose presence they "When thou art bidden to a wedding," says

are come.

5 Isa. lxi. 3.

our Lord, "sit down at the lowest place. That when he that bade thee cometh, he may say unto thee, Friend, go up higher."

Joy will

Thus the

6

997

And

Is it, therefore, necessary for all Christians to have spiritual joy in Christ? It certainly is so. But this will mostly be the case in tribulations of all kinds. always be found in all bearing of the Cross. Prophet says, "Glorify ye the Lord in the fires." to this he adds, "From the uttermost part of the earth have we heard songs, even glory to the righteous. But I said, My leanness, my leanness, woe unto me!" That is, that when men shall rejoice through the world in the glad tidings of the Gospel, saying, "Let us be glad and rejoice, for the marriage of the Lamb is come," many a humble soul will say, Whence is this joy to me? I am cast down, dry, and barren of heart. To this it must be said, "Are the consolations of God small with thee? Is there any secret thing with thee?"s St. Paul says, "See that ye walk circumspectly," before, he adds, "be filled with the Spirit." Is there not some sin that holds thee back? Rest not, strive more earnestly, give not over till you have obtained from God joy and comfort, a stronger sense of pardon and peace. You are no fit guest at the marriage feast till you have obtained it. Have you not some pride of heart to be mortified? Something within you that resists the will of God? If you prayed to God more, you would feel more conscious of His presence; and if you loved Him more, you would rejoice more in His presence.

Look to God's word, and look to your own heart and life. Consider whether they agree together; are they as

6 Isa. xxiv. 16.

7 Rev. xix. 7.

8 Job XV.

11.

suitable to God's commands as they should be? Lift up the faint hands, and strengthen the feeble knees. Pray more, through the whole night of your trouble wrestle with God; let Him not depart from you without a blessing. You may depend upon it He is glad to be thus constrained by you. Your hands and your feet are now free. Let your hands be lifted up in prayer; let your feet hasten on His service. If you do not this now, when the Master of the Feast shall appear you will be bound hand and foot, and no longer able to do anything. Labour now for the light of His countenance within the heart, for if you have it not, bearing witness with your spirit that you are the child of God, you will then be shut out for ever from that light into outer darkness, where will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

It is very true we are not to depend upon sensible emotions; and there is great fear of our being deceived into a false peace, and presumptuous confidence. But most are content to go on with a sort of indifference; never knowing what the joy of heart is, which the Spirit gives; and, therefore, not troubled at the loss of it. But joy and peace should keep watch in the heart; should watch against everything that destroys them; then it will be found of how much importance many an idle word, or evil thought, or dishonest action may be, for this joy will not return till they are repented of.

SERMON LXVIII.

The Twenty-first Sunday after Trinity.

Ephes. vi. 10-19. St. John iv. 46–54.

THE WARFARE AND THE ARMOUR OF SAINTS.

My brethren, be strong in the LORD, and in the power of His might.

WITH

EPHES. vi. 10.

WITH these words commences the Epistle for to-day, and then St. Paul expands the same with earnest eloquence. Be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places, or in things of Heaven. These words are surely enough to arouse us to a sense of our danger and of our strength. The life of a Christian consists for the most part in ways so meek, loving, and peaceful, that it is difficult to consider such a state as a battle, great and terrible, compared with which the wars of this world with flesh and blood are easy and light, and their consequences of little moment. Yet so did it appear to St. Paul,

looking on it with the eyes of the Spirit, and speaking of it with an inspired tongue. Great are the powers against you, he seems to say, vast and spiritual, which you behold not, because of the darkness of this your mortal condition, full of deceits against you beyond all you can imagine; and that too for objects not earthly and of passing moment, but in high places, in things of Heaven; imminent the peril, and great the hazard. Yet as if excited by the conflict in which he himself was engaged, St. Paul proceeds to speak with all confidence and encouragement, on account of the great power of God. Wherefore, he adds, take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day,-meaning, says St. Chrysostom, by the evil day, this present life; and having done all, to stand; leave nothing undone which is in your power to do, lest you be among the fallen at last.

But when St. Paul comes to speak of the particular parts of this armour, wherewith the Christian is to be entirely covered in every part, and provided for the war; he describes him, one might almost say, as doing nothing, having nothing; his being altogether unarmed and unresisting, from his entire belief, reliance, hope, and trust in God only. And the expressions are mostly such as are taken from the Prophets when they speak of our Lord Himself, for they often describe Him as a great warrior, returning victorious from the battle, when that His victory consisted in His being brought as a Lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep, dumb before his shearers, opening not His mouth. Thus was He "mighty to save." And by our Lord's own example when He fulfilled these Prophets, may we perhaps best explain these expressions of the Apostle. Stand, therefore, having your loins girt about with truth. This was the Prophet Isaiah's expression of