Part 126 HOLINESS, the Only Way to Happiness
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Part 127 HOLINESS, the Only Way to Happiness
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[4.] Fourthly, The more a man can divinely joy and rejoice under tribulations and afflictions—the greater measure of holiness he has attained to. It is a mercy not to grumble, not to mutter, not to murmur, not to fret, not to faint, not to despond, not to despair. It is much to be silent under afflictions, and to be quiet and patient under tribulations. Oh—but to divinely joy and rejoice under afflictions, under tribulations—argues a very great height of holiness, Romans 5:3-4, "And not only so—but we glory in tribulations also, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope." That glorying and rejoicing are both the same in the New Testament, is sufficiently known; they differ only in degrees, glorying being a step above rejoicing. It is much to rejoice in tribulations—but it is more to glory in tribulations; yes, to glory in them as an old soldier glories in all those marks and scars of honor which he has met with in the service of his king and country; and yet to this height, the believing Romans were raised—which argues a very great measure of holiness in them.
And so in 2 Cor. 7:4, "I am filled with comfort, I am exceeding joyful in all our tribulation," or as the Greek runs, I do over-abound exceedingly with joy, I have a superabundance of joy in all our tribulation; and so in chap 12:9-10, "Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ might rest upon me: therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong." Paul rejoices and glories more in his heavy afflictions, and in his various tribulations, than he did in his glorious and mysterious revelations. The more he was afflicted and distressed, the more he had of the visible presence of Christ, and the more he had of the glorious assistance of Christ, and the more he had of sweet communion and fellowship with Christ, and the more he had of the choice supports and singular comforts of Christ—and therefore he takes pleasure in all the pressures which were upon him.
And so in James 1:2, "My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various afflictions." O sirs! to be divinely merry in misery, to rejoice in the cross as men rejoice in a crown, to rejoice in adversity as others rejoice in prosperity, to rejoice in a stinking prison as others rejoice in their stately palaces, to rejoice in shackles as others rejoice in liberty, to rejoice in needs as others rejoice in abundance, to rejoice in reproaches as others rejoice in their honors, etc., is very much; but to be joyful in such cases, not with a little joy—but withexceeding great joy—is more. "All joy" is a Hebraism, and it signifies great joy, full joy, exceeding joy, perfect joy. Oh! thus to rejoice, and that not only when you fall into some afflictions—but when you fall into divers afflictions, argues a very great measure of holiness.
But ah! how rare is it to find such souls in these days, who cannot only bear the cross—but also rejoice in the cross; who cannot only bear reproaches—but also wear reproaches as their crown and glory. But,
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