. 6. It is such, that like the loudest
laughter of fools, there is sorrow at the heart, and in the end of it is
heaviness, Prov. xiv. 13. It is but at the best a superfice, an external
garb drawn over the countenance, no cordial nor solid thing. It is not
heart joy, but a picture and shadow of the gladness of the heart in the
outward countenance; and whatever it be, sorrow, grief, and heaviness
follow at its heels, by a fatal inevitable necessity. So that there is
this difference between the joys and pleasures of the world, and dreams in
the night; for the present there is more solidity, but the end is hugely
different. When men awake out of a dream, they are not troubled with it,
that their imaginary pleasure was not true. But the undivided companion of
all earthly joys and contentment is grief and vexation. I wonder if any
man would love that pleasure or contentment if he were assured to have an
equal measure of torment after it, suppose the pain of the stone, or such
like. But when this misery is eternal, O what madness and folly is it to
plunge into it! "I said of laughter, It is madness, and of mirth, What
doth it?" But the Christian's peace and joy is of another nature. Yet as
no man knoweth the "hidden manna," the "new name," and the "white stone,"
but he that hath it, (Rev. ii. 17) so no man can apprehend what these are,
till he taste them and find them. What apprehension, think ye, can a beast
form of his own nature? Or what can a man conceive of the angelical
nature? Truly this is without our sphere and that without theirs. Now
certainly the wisest and most learned men cannot form any lively notion of
the life of a Christian, till he find it. It is without his sphere and
comprehension, therefore it is called "the peace of God which passes all
understanding," (Phil. iv. 7), a "joy unspeakable and full of glory," 1
Pet. i. 8. Suppose men had never seen any other light but the stars of the
firmament, or the light of a candle, they could not conceive any thing
more glorious than the firmament in a clear night. Yet we that have seen
the sun and moon, know that these lights are but darkness unto them. Or,
to use that comparison that the Lord made once effectual to convert a
nobleman, if a man did see some men and women dancing afar off, and heard
not their music, he would judge them mad, or at least foolish, but coming
near hand, and hearing their instruments, and perceiving their order, he
changes his mind. Even so, w