St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1907-02-06

self for any satisfaction in world con
corning which there is no better word
than this, His servants shall serve him."
But our thought must go still higher
to reach the lofty pinnacle of the theme.
What is Gods supreme joy? Is it some
thing that is peculiar to himself, and
does he invite us into some other and
lower sort ofjoy which he gives to us,
and which only in that lower sense is to
be called the Coy of the Lord?'' Here
again, as in all questions concerning God
and man. the incarnation gives us our
clue. The Son of God could give up his
omnipotence, his omniscience; his onni-
presence; he could empty himself of all
the glory of circumstance and mere
power; but one thing he could not sur
render, the opportunity of good service,
of an enlarged effectiveness on earth that,
would better please the Fatherin heaven.
1t was to accomplish this that he took
upon him the form of a servant, and
came to this world in all the humility of,
man. This was THE JOY set before him."
which enabled him ito endure the cross
and despise the shame" But the heart
of Jesus is one with the heart of God;
where Jesus finds his supreme joy, God
finds his supreme joy. The JOY of the
Creator is in the service of his creatures;
he works hitherto" and delights in the
work las a strong man to run race"
Gods Joy is in the fulness of his faithful
ness and goodness; it is his glory that in
all his relations to the lives he has
brought into being, he is infinite and
perfect in grace and truth And he has
made man in his own image, capable of
Gods highest joy. He opens wide the
richest treasury of his own infinite fell
city, and speaks in the heart of each
child this divine call Enter into the Joy
of thy Lord" .a
Suppose we take the framework of the
parable of the prodigal son, and adapt
it to another use. Imagine the son eager
to emulate his fathers power and skill
and usefulness and joy. Think of him as
seeing that to do this he must serve, and
must have things by which to train
himself and with which to minister to
others. He comes to his father and says,
Father, give me the portion of goods
that fall to me- Show me how to use
them and better them. Take me into
your plans as helper and partner. Let
me live your life and grow up to your
standard" What joy such son would
have in his father! And what joy the
father would have in such SON Is it
not evident that to such he could say
with fullest meaning, "Son, thou art
ever with me, and all that l have is
thine ?" Nothing pleases our Father
better than to have man seek and win
his portion of Gods joy.
x.fl Il I
for heaven we can have its most char
acteristic joys now and here Is heaven
fellowship with Christ? But to have
that fellowship, and to find it a joy, we
must be like minded. And Christ while
on earth could say of himself, 1.-THE Son
of Man is in heaven" because heavens
motives filled his life and heavens powers
possessed his soul "He that believeth
on the Son hath eternal life. The man
who has heaven in his soul here is the
man who finds his soul in heaven when
he departs this world. Or take still
another description of heavens charac-
teristic occupation: "These are they
that follow the Lamb whithersoever He
goeth." But Christ is leading us here,
and so long as His will appoints earth
for us, earth is better for us; for our
highest JOY, than removal to heaven
would be. e..
Neither is there any need of homesick
desires for the delights of this present
time that seem to us most natural"
Precious as is natural joy, to be honored
as Gods gift wherever he bestows it. to
be kept as long as may be by wholesome
and cheerful living, we need not look at
it too longingly as it comes or stays or
goes. Ours is the highest realm of joy, a
joy one with that of the highest arch
angel of heaven, joy one with the
supreme joy of Christ and God. All
this, in unimaginable variety and prec-
iousness and wonder Of development, is
assured to the good and faithful servant
of God; for to him God is each day say
ing, in an invitation that ever stands for
growing wealth of opportunity, "Enter
thou into the JOY Of thy Lord"
STEPHEN G. BARNES.