Sixteenth letter of Mr. Hardcastle
To the members and hearers of the congregation meeting in Broadmead, Bristol.
9th month 26th day, 1675
Beloved Friends, - My meditations are still willingly employed and busied about your spiritual and eternal concerns. I am comparing two texts of scripture, I John 1: 4, These things write me unto you, that your joy may be full: I Peter 1: 8, In whom, believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory. It is possible for those that are in heaviness, through manifold temptations, to rejoice much in believing, and in hoping for the glory of God. This joy of faith, which the blessed apostle makes mention of, I shall consider in its nature and properties.
I. For the nature of the joy of faith.
1. It is such a joy, as hath no dependence at all upon external and creature-enjoyments and advantages. The affluence and confluence of worldly comforts cannot produce it. The result of all things of that nature is vanity, and that which is vanity can never be a ground of joy.
2. It is such a joy as cannot be wrought out of all our privileges and performances. The defects of our duties may, and many times do cause mourning, sorrow, and humiliation; but the completeness of them, as proceeding from ourselves, can never produce full joy.
3. A grounded apprehension of, first, our interest in the perfect satisfaction of Christ; second, the imputation of his righteousness; third, the pardon of our sins; fourth, the acceptance of our persons and prayers; fifth, his purchased and prepared glory; sixth, the immutable covenant; seventh, the promise of his Spirit; eighth, the joint witnessing of the same; ninth, his constant intercession with the Father; and tenth, our daily experiences of his power, providence, and faithfulness: - I say our faith in these ten things will give us at all times matter, and afford us occasion of unspeakable and abounding joy.
4. The more we admit of the workings of sense and reason, the more does our trouble and perplexity increase; but the more they are checked, and faith and patience put in exercise, the greater rest, peace, and tranquility abides upon our spirits. Where sense and reason can see nothing but clouds and darkness, there faith can behold a clear sunshine and great beauty.
5. This joy of faith is so far from being dashed by difficulties and hardships, that it is advanced and advantaged much by them. And that upon these grounds:-
(1) It discovers the lightness of them. They are such as only respect the outward man; troublesome to that which must not enter into the kingdom of God, afflictive to those parts that have been the occasion of much sin and temptation to us, and thereby have caused inward soul-mourning; such little things as the heathens themselves, by the improvement of the light and remaining rectitude of nature, could despise and glory under.
(2) Faith beholds the momentariness of them. They are such troubles as will be quickly over; clouds suddenly blown away. Persecution will vanish. It is said of them that wagged they heads at Christ upon the cross, that they were passing by; and those heads in a few days were quietly laid in the grave, where they could wag no more.
(3) Faith discerns a great accession and addition to our future glory, by our present sufferings; see 2 Corinthians 4: 16-18, and Hebrews 10: 32-34
II. For the properties of this joy.
1. It is an abiding joy; the grounds of it are certain and unchangeable. The wells of salvation are always full, from whence this joy is drawn out. It is our want of buckets, or of our making too much use of our own bottles, by which we are deprived many times of our comfort; and that joy that came in the morning, tarries not with us till the evening.
2. It is abounding joy.
First. It exceeds all other joy: of riches, relations, friends; the joy of harvest; the joy of the bridegroom and the bride; the joy of them that divide the spoil; the joy of corn and wine and oil, Psalm 4: 6, 7. And because it exceeds and is above all other joys, it does thereby regulate, sanctify, and sweeten all other joys; which, when they are uttermost, do but transport, weaken, and intoxicate the soul; but this joy of faith is our strength, fixation, and stabiliment.
Second. It is abounding, because it excels and swims above all worldly sorrow, and is not capable of being checked, or nonplussed, or overpowered by it. The oil of faith’s joy will still be uppermost. See Habakkuk 3: 17-19; so Job 19: 25-27. You know what made him say, Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him; he also shall be my salvation, &c. This property of joy is abundantly exemplified in the psalms of David; which pray take notice of in the reading of them. How low many times was his case, and yet how was his faith and joy lifted up.
Third. It is a purifying joy. Carnal joy is defiling, but this is cleansing. It does not exclude, but joins in partnership with the filial fear and awe of the Almighty God. It is not wanton, but serious, solid, and savoury
Fourth. It is a strengthening joy. Worldly joy debilitates, weakens, and enfeebles; but this is a great strengthener, an encourager to duty, and helps us with patience and waiting upon God in duty.
Fifth. It is a pure unmixed joy; no sorrow joined with it, nor added to it. It is free from confusion and consequential perplexities, which are the certain adjuncts and concomitants of all other joys.
Sixth. It is a growing, not a decaying and declining joy, as the joy of the creature is. The joy of faith will be full, perfect, and complete. What we now rejoice in the believing of, we shall ere long in the beholding of. The Lord increase your faith; that so your joy may be more and more; in both which I shall have cause to rejoice, and for which I do daily pray, not doubting of your continued supplications for me, that I may have the supplies of the Spirit of Jesus, which will help me forward in my work, and especially whilst I remain,
Your companion in tribulation,
Thomas Hardcastle
