The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1865-08-03
IFOr the Central Presbyterian. ]
A Neglected Privilege.

If any one will look into a good concor-
dance he will be probably be surprised to iud,
under the words "joy" and "rejoice," such
a multitude of texts referred to, both in the
Old Testament and the New, in which the
believer is exhorted to indulge in the most
delightful Of all spiritual exercises, even in
times of personal trial and public calamity
Such an investigation may Impress one who
makes it with the conviction that religious
10Y enters much more into the theory Of
Christianity than into the hearts of its pro-
fessors, and that while the Bible is filed with
incentives to JOY, there are comparatively few
exemplifcatiOus Of it il the Church. He
will observe also that JOY is not spoken of in
the Scriptures as merely possible thing, OR
as an occasional emotion, or as the privilege
of favored few, but as the natural result of
the believers faith and hOpe-gushing as
spontaneously from the heart made happy by
the reign Of grace, as water from fountain,
OF as song from bird.
There is a peculiar propriety in turning
the attention Of our readers to these facts at
a time like this, and there is practical bene-
fit to be derived from the consideration Of a
subject so much overlooked, and yet so ap-
propriate at this very juueture; for if the
heart can be set right, aud the affections pro-
perly tuned, then the life viii be harmonious
and happy too.
1t cannot be denied that we are passing
through dispensation of sore trial. The
causes of anxiety and sorrow are manifold.
They need not be enumerated. And, in the
estimation of many, this is the season when
the indulgence of sadness is the tribute due
to disappointed hopes and bereavements
freshly remembered. In circumstances ike
these, what is left to US but dependency
and gloom? What is there to rejoice in?
In reply, we answer: There may be little
IN surrounding circumstances to awaken joy;
and for that very reason the scriptural III
junction to "rejoice evermore," is all the
more appropriate now, because it calls upon
us to rejoice not in anything temporal or ex-
ternal, but to "REJoIcE IN THE LORD"
So the Apostle wrote to the Church in a
time Of greater yicissitude aud suffering than
we have known, great as our Affections may
have been. And the Primitive Church beau
tifully responded to the injunction, when it
exhibited to the world the instructive spec
tacle of prosecuted, despoiled aud bereaved
men and women "gloryiug in tribulatiOn;" )"
'perplexed, but not forsaken;" sOrrOwing,
vet al,7ays rejoicing" When all earthly
prospects grew dark, they were still "Hght
in the Lord" serving him with gladness Of
heart. When stripped Of their possessions,
confscation did not rob them of the grace
which enabled them "to take joyfully the
spelling of their goods" When their names
were cast out as evil, in reproaches for
Christ's sake, they were happy, When
friends forsook them, when exile and mar
tyrdom menaced them, when al that made
earth desirable and dear was ready to perish,
they could still "rejOice in God by whom
they received the atonement," and who had
said, q will never leave thee" And long
before the days of primitive faith and purity,
even under the shadowy dispensatiOn Of the
ancient Church, amid the wreck and ruin of
earthly expectations, the believer could say {:
% Although the fg tree shall not blossom,
neither shall fruit be in the vines; though
the labor of the olive shall fail, and the fields
shall yield no meat; though the fOeks shall
be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no
herd in the stalls, yet will 1 rejoice in the
Lord. I will joy in the God of my saliva
ton"
But, if believers, under both dispensations,
could thus charm the ear of goddess world
by songs in their pilgrimage to the better