The Christian’s Privilege
The same Lord who hath bidden us “quit yourselves like men; be strong,” has also said, “Rejoice in the Lord alway.” The believer’s life has its sweets, and these are of the choicest: What is more joyful than the joy of a saint, what more happy than the happiness of a believer?
I will not condescend to make a comparison between our joy and the mirth of fools; I will go no further than a contrast. Their mirth is as the crackling of thorns, which spit fire, and make a noise and a flash, but there is no heat, and they are soon gone out, nothing come of it.
But the Christian’s delight is like a steady coal fire. You have seen the grate full of coals all burning red, and the whole mass of coal has seemed to be one great glowing ruby, and everybody who has come into the room out of the cold has delighted to warm his hands, for it gives out a steady heat. Such are our joys.
I would sooner possess the joy of Christ five minutes, than the mirth of fools for half a century.—SPURGEON.