The New York herald., 1878-12-02
FIFTH AVENUE BAPTIST CHURCH

FIFTH AVENUE BAPTIST CHURCH
A JOYFUL REIIGIoN-sERMoN BY REV. DR.
ARMITAGE.
The Rev. Dr. Armitage preached on "a Joyful Re-
ligion." taking his text from Philippians, iv.. 4
'.Rejoice in the Lord Away and again l say.
rejoice Probably the ctief defect in our expert
mental Christianity to-day said the Doctor. is the
want of Christian joy. Evidently God intended the
whole Christian system to promote Hfe of happi-
ness, both in this world and that which is to Gomez
but men have clothed it in gloom and sentimental
superstition You can read the true feelings OF an
army or nation by their devices in symbol
and heraldry, their ensigns and standards. As
they are brave and heroic or craven and
weak SO there will be q sort Of visible
and mechanical poetry. which expresses their metal
and emotions Of the eye On the Continent of Europe
you are greeted everywhere by Christian symbols.
Painting and sculpture are employed. with other
scenic productions OF every kind, accompanied by
poetry music and oratory, to profuse wearness
but it is all on the minor plain. There is no imagery
of joy. or next to none. The happy and entwining
emotions are seldom appealed to. The tones of the
granest organs the scale of the highest melody and
the voice Of the most sonorous song all set in
deeply pensive key. Everything is arranged as to
inspire reverence fear and awe. though some
hidden abstract mystic power commanded trembling
homage in worship. Everything impels to dread
nothing awakens courage, confidence and JOY. And
if we look at practical Christianity in our own
churches how much fuller. brighter and
more jubilant do find religion. Have
we deeper, rounder and more abounding JOY
in the Lord? Commonly real joy Is looked upon as
but little short OF positive sn while the chief aim of
Christianity is regarded as being met when men are
put under stern restraint earth and think them
selves prepared for another world The average
view of seems to be that the chief end OF
bain hOr n die and the chief of DasSnQ
through this life to get well out of it, As to the
grandeur Of forming eternal character OF perfectng
manhood on the sublimest standard here and here
after of lifting mp others into the same nobility, of
maintaining and displaying all the glorious princi-
kedeemer in their divine claims and rights-as to
these momentous vitlties they generally treated
lightly, ii they regarded ut all.
"REJOICE AND EXCEEDING GLAD.
And when men serve God. consciously or uncon-
sciously from savish fear from dread OF punishment
from superstious bondage OF any sort, they must
be unhappy Superstition makes her home with the
horrible but man with the happy. When you come to
the Christian religion Christ himself. it founder,
pressly repudiates the thought that His disciples
should be sad in His presence He was reminded that
the Pharsees aud Johns disciples tasted often. but
His disciples tasted not. He said Can the chill
dren Of the bridegroom mourn when the bridegroom
is with them?' This He followed with the promise.
MY JOY shall be in you and yonr JOY shall be full
and ratified the whole with the exhortation.
"Rejoice and be exceeding glad'-language
strong that would have been deemed extravagant
other lips had spoken it. Rejoice and be exceeding
glad for great is your reward in heaven" 1t is not
at all necessary here to attempt definition of that
simple emotion which the Lord Jesus called Joy.
1t is state Of feeling which cannot be represented
adequately in language tor the man who experiences
it cannot analyze Its clements. man who had never
felt it would get idea of its nature by all the words
which poet philosopher could command. Each
man who has felt JOY must define it to himself and
for himself. and each mans definition will differ
cordng to the intensity and duration OF his expert
Frequently those who think that men can be
happy in their religion, and afraid that they
should be. attempt TO tone down the thought which
the Word is intended TO convey to the idea OF mere
cheerfulness some kindred emotion. tanning down
the ful bold of the Redeemer in its use. from
an exciting delight and exultaton to common place
felicity
Perhaps it would be impossible for to obtain
clearer of Lords meaning in the use of the
words Joy and rejoice" than II is illustrated in
the injunctions and experience of Paul. his chief
apostle in labor and suferings. and perhaps also in
personal happiness. His epstle to the Philippians
may properly be called treatise on Christian JOY.
In part his writings does he lay such stress
upon the subject, if joy were cardinal grace in
Christian life and character The words 10y" and
rejoice" repeated again and again in this short
in their application others, while he also at
tests, Il rejoice III the Lord greatly"