2. _To exhort us_ to raise up our mindes to the exercise of this joy, for thereunto we are called, that we should alwayes rejoyce in the Lord, _Philippians 4.4._ An example hereof we have in the Eunuch, who went forward in his way with joy, after that by baptisme he was made sure of the grace of God, _Acts 8.39._ Doctrine 2. _Manifold afflictions may well stand with this joy._ _Reason_ 1. Because although afflictions may make us somewhat heavie, yet that heavinesse is not in the highest degree, that it should wholly possesse and overwhelme our mindes, but it is mitigated and overcome by spirituall joy. 2. Because the afflictions themselves are turned into matter of joy and rejoycing, _Iames 1.2._ _Romans 5.3._ _Vse._ This may serve to admonish us not so much to feare the afflictions of this world, or at any time so to lye downe them, as to cast off all our joy. Doctrine 3. _Afflictions are turned into matter of rejoycing, when there is such use made of them, as that our faith and every grace is stirred up and increased by them._ This is gathered from the seventh Verse. _Reason_ 1. Because we make great gaine by the triall of our faith, much more then can be gotten by the triall of gold, as it is in the Text. 2. Because faith by this triall becomes the stronger by reason of afflictions, and doth more firmely expect praise, honour and glory in Christ, as it is in the Text. _Vse._ This may serve _to admonish us_, to make it our primary and chiefest care not to faint in our faith and other graces, when we are in the midst of afflictions, as those that have but a temporary faith are wont to do, but to labour to profit by them. Doctrine 4. _This joy doth not depend upon the sight or visible presence of Christ._ This is gathered from the eighth Verse. _Reason_ 1. Because faith and hope is properly of those things that are not seene, _Romans 8.24._ _Hebrews 11.1._ Now this joy ariseth from faith and hope, as it is in the Text. 2. Because we rejoyce either in the actuall possession, or in the certainty of the possession of the things we love. Now Christ having not yet seene we love, as it is in the Text. _Vse._ This may serve _to exhort us_, while we live here by faith, so to walke, rejoyce, and live, as if we did behold Christ with our eyes: For blessed are all they which have not seen and yet have beleeved, _Iohn 20.29._ Doctrine 5. _This joy is unspeakable and full of glory._ _Reason._ Because both the thing it selfe wherein we rejoyce, and the operation of the Spirit in raising our mindes unto it, is more divine, then can possibly be conceived, much lesse expressed by us. _Vse_ 1. This may serve _to admonish us_ not to be too curious in the searching after and declaring of those things that are unutterable. 2. _To exhort us_ to apply our soules to the sense and exercise of this grace, because they have a divine and glorious nature.