The Duty of Joyfulness

“Let all those that put their trust in Thee rejoice; let them ever shout for joy.” — Ps. v. ii.

These words were not so much a promise as a command. I understand them to mean, “It is the duty of believers not only to be happy but to reveal their happiness “— not only to” rejoice *’ but to “slioiit for joy.” Gladness is here regarded not merely as a privilege, but as a duty. The idea is that a mournful religion is unfitted to attract. The psalmist wants God to have many votaries. He is annoyed at the fact that men deem the world to have the monopoly of joy. He calls upon believers to counteract that impression. He says: “Ye who love God, do not let the world think that your love has made you miserable. Do not hide your roses. Do not still your laughter. Do not abate your entertainments. Do not lessen the number of your friends. Let not your garments be less gay; drop not a note from your songs. The world may say you are inconsistent; but in truth you alone will be consistent. In whom is it consistent to adorn the body? Is it in those who think it is to perish in a night? No; gay attire is only justified by the beHef in resurrection. In whom is it consistent to enjoy the passing hour? Is it in those who think it will never come back? No; lost joys should ever make us sad; the half of every pleasure is the hope that it will endure. In whom is it consistent to be interested in trifles? Is it in those who ignore the infinite? No; interest in trifles should belong to him with whom trifles are part of the infinite. In whom is it consistent to bask in human love? Is it in those who hold that the heart is a bit of mechanism which is set in motion in the morning and stopped at night? No; such should forbid themselves to love; the heart is no perfect paradise to him who hears the message,” Thou shalt surely die.” And the psalmist is right. I am told that the man of God gets an entrance into a higher than earthly joy. Doubtless. But I do not see that even earthly joy is consistent with the absence of God. It seems to me that the world, like primeval Adam, has stolen God’s apples and put them in its own vineyard. The tree of life is His as well as the tree of knowledge. The rivers are His, and the gold, and the dressing of flowers, and the walk in 205 the cool of the day. It is written, ‘* Enter ye into the joy of your Lord “; but the joy of my Lord includes the joys of man.

Lord, many there be that try to show they are Thy people by showing their tears; but I say with Thy psalmist, “Let all those that put their trust in Thee rejoice.” How shall I tempt the world to bathe in Thine infinite sea, if I myself am seen standing in the shallows and shivering with the cold? Who will believe in the ocean of Thy love if the ships that sail thereon have lowered their flag in sign of mourning? If men see the inhabitants of Thy heaven arrayed in black robes, will they not justly say, “These are they that to this hour are in great tribulation “? Do not let them wear black robes, O my Father! For all that have come out from the far country, bring forth the bright garments! Clothe them in white, deck them in jewels, greet them with feasting, surround them with music and dancing; teach them that, for a converted man, it is good to make merry and be glad! Turn all eyes that wait on Thee to the rising sun; may light be sown for the righteous and joy for the upright in heart! May Thy beauty make us buoyant; may Thy grace make us gladsome; may Thy kindness make us kinsmen; may Thy sympathy make us social; may Thy forgiveness mcJke us fellows; may Thy charity make us cheerful; may Thy love make us light-hearted; may the faith in Thy truth make us free from trembling! Let all who trust in Thee unfurl their flag of rejoicing 1