Rejoicing in the Lord Jesus in all Cases and Conditions (eBook)

by Robert Asty

in ePub, .mobi & .pdf formats

This text has been initially updated from EEBO-TCP by Project Puritas (Logan West, with David Jonescue and Alex Sarrouf.) www.puritansearch.org. Further revision and editing done by Monergism. Copyright Monergism via universal text usage permission from the above.

Rejoice in the Lord always, and again I say, rejoice. - Phil. 4.4

Joy is the sweet motion of the Soul in a full contentment of heart, and complacency of Spirit upon some good set before it. Now here the Prophet sees all discouraging below, he turns his Eyes up to Heaven, and he sees a certainty there, he sees stability there, and therefore he rejoices in the Lord, and Joys in the God of his Salvation, I will rejoice in the Lord. Who is meant by Lord here? I will rejoice in Jehovah the God of my Salvation.

Jehovah is a Title given unto God the Father, setting forth his self-being, and self-sufficiency, and giving existence unto all Creatures, but the Title Jehovah is attributed also unto the Son, and so I understand it here in this Text, I will rejoice in Jehovah, that is in Christ Jesus, who may be called Jehovah; not only as he hath a sufficiency in himself, but as he gives existence, and being unto all the promises of the Covenant of Grace, in whom they are yea, and Amen: and on this account I take it that the Title Jehovah is often given unto Jesus Christ the second Person. I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my Salvation, that is, in my Lord my Savior, my dear Jesus, and my Redeemer, and so from the words you may observe this proposition:

Doct. That there is enough in Christ Jesus alone for the Souls full rejoicing and triumph in all cases and conditions. Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my Salvation. Let things go how they will in the world as to my outward Concerns, yet the ground of my joy, that is never taken from me. Although the Fig-tree do not blossom, although there shall be no fruit in the Vine, although the labor of the Olive shall fail, and the Fields shall yield no meat, the Flocks shall be cut off from the Fold, and there shall be no Herd in the Stall; yet my Joy that abides, the ground of my Joy that cannot be taken from me, 'tis not in the Creature, 'tis not upon Earth, but 'tis in Heaven, 'tis not in Man, 'tis in the Lord, 'tis not in the confluence of these things that are coming and going, and in an uncertain enjoyment, but it is in the Lord who never fails, says David in the 2 Sam. 23.5. Though my House be not so with God; my Family is not as I would have it to be; I cannot rectify all the disorders of my House, and settle things as I would, my house is not with God as I would have it according to my heart's desire; yet God hath made with me an everlasting Covenant of Grace, and this is all my Salvation and all my desire. The word that is translated desire here in the Hebrew signifies also delight, this is all my Salvation, and all my delight as we may read it; here is the Joy of my heart, my delight is here, God's Covenant of Grace stands sure with me, and therein will I rejoice; as if David had said, things go ill with me here below; the Sword is threatened never to depart from my House while I live, that I must be a man of trouble and of war to the end of my days; what breaches may be made upon my Kingdom; and what breeches may be made in my Family, the Lord only knows, yet the Covenant that stands sure, and that is all my delight, my heart centers here, and I will comfort myself in the Lord my God. And if we search into the Psalms, there we shall find that David does frequently under great disasters make his boast of God. Providences were frowning, and he seemed to be driven out of all, yet says he, The Lord God is my refuge, he is the Horn of my Salvation, my Sanctuary, and high Tower, and I will rejoice, and let all the righteous rejoice and be glad in him.

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Table of Contents

To the Congregational Church of Christ in the City of Norwich.

SERMON I: Habakkuk 3.18

SERMON II: Habakkuk 3.18

SERMON III: Habakkuk 3.18

SERMON IV: Habakkuk 3.18

SERMON V: Habakkuk 3.18

SERMON VI: Habakkuk 3.18

SERMON VII: Habakkuk 3.18

SERMON VIII: Habakkuk 3.18

SERMON IX: Habakkuk 3.18

SERMON X: Habakkuk 3.18

SERMON XI: Habakkuk 3.18

SERMON XII: Habakkuk 3.18

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