and sorrows--partly from outward,
partly from inward evils and afflictions,--yet, certainly, this ariseth but
from the dark apprehension, dim belief, and slight consideration of those
things that Christ spoke, and his apostles wrote unto us. We might, no
question, keep our hearts in more peace and tranquillity, in all the
commotions of the times or alterations in ourselves, if we did more
steadfastly believe the gospel and keep more constant fellowship with God.
But, however it be, there is radically a fulness of joy in every
believer's heart. That seed is sown that shall one day be ripe of fulness
of joy, it is always lying at the root, and reserved for them. O let us
lay these things to heart, which, being laid to heart, and laid up in the
heart, will fill it with this sweet fragrant perfume of peace and joy.
They are written for this end, let us hear them for this end too, that our
joy may be full. It is true, indeed, that this fulness of joy suits only
the life to come, when the vessel is both enlarged and strengthened to
contain it. Things that have strong spirits in them must have strong new
bottles such as our crazy mortal bodies are not, therefore the Lord hath
reserved the just fulness, the overflowings of this joy, for the time that
the soul shall be purified from all sin, and the body delivered from all
corruption. Because that sin lurks in many corners of the heart now,
therefore this joy cannot fill up the heart and all the vacuities of it,
for it is of so pure and heavenly a nature that it will not compound and
intermingle with sin or sinful lusts. But when nothing of that remains in
the heart then it flows in apace, and leaves no corner of the heart
unsatisfied and unsupplied. I would have you, who get some tastes of this
joy and peace by the way, not disquieted and troubled, because it abides
not to be ordinary food. If you be set down again to your ordinary spare
diet of manna in the wilderness and have not these first fruits and grapes
of Canaan sent to you, think it not strange, for the fulness which you
seek you are not capable of here, but you shall be capable of it
hereafter. You ought, with patience, to wait for that day when your joy
shall be full. As Christ is full, full measure heaped up and running
over, will he mete out unto you then, and this shall be without the fear
of any ebb or diminution of it for all eternity. Neither shall this
fulness, and constant fulness, cloy the soul, or breed a