'joy of the Lord,' until we have felt it shining in our hearts in the
midst of the thick darkness of earthly sorrow, and bringing life into
the very death of our human delights. It may be ours on the
conditions that my text describes.

My dear friends! there are only two courses before us. Either we must
have a life with superficial, transitory, incomplete gladness, and an
aching centre of vacuity and pain, or we may have a life which, in
its outward aspects and superficial appearance, has much about it
that is sad and trying, but down in the heart of it is calm and
joyful. Which of the two do you deem best, a superficial gladness and
a rooted sorrow, or a superficial sorrow and a central joy? 'Even in
laughter the heart is sorrowful, and the end of that mirth is
heaviness.' But, on the other hand, the 'ransomed of the Lord shall
return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their
heads. They shall obtain joy and gladness; and sorrow and sighing
shall flee away.'



THE JOYS OF 'THAT DAY'

'These things have I spoken unto you in proverbs: but the time
cometh, when I shall no more speak unto you in proverbs, but I
shall show you plainly of the Father. At that day ye shall ask in
My Name: and I say not unto you, that I will pray the Father for
you: For the Father Himself loveth you, because ye have loved Me,
and have believed that I came out from God.'--JOHN xvi. 25-27.

The stream which we have been tracking for so long in these