§ 13. Nor hath joy the least share in this fruition. 'Tis that, which all the former lead to, and conclude in; even the inconceivable complacency which the blessed feel in their seeing, knowing, loving, and being beloved of God. This is the _white stone which no man knoweth, saving he that receiveth it_.[44] Surely this is the joy which a _stranger doth not intermeddle with_.[45] All Christ's ways of mercy tend to, and end in, the saint's joys. He wept, sorrowed, suffered, that they might rejoice; he sendeth the Spirit to be their Comforter; he multiplies promises; he discovers their future happiness, _that their joy may be full_.[46] He opens to them the fountain of _living waters_, that they may _thirst no more_, and that it may _spring up in them to everlasting life_.[47] _He chastens them, that he may give them rest._[48] He makes it their duty to _rejoice in him alway, and again_ commands them to _rejoice_.[49] He never brings them into so low a condition, wherein he does not leave them more cause of joy than sorrow. And hath the Lord such a care of our comfort here? O what will that joy be, where the soul being perfectly prepared for joy, and joy prepared by Christ for the soul, it shall be our work, our business, eternally to rejoice! It seems the saint's joy shall be greater than the damned's torment; for their torment is the torment of creatures, _prepared for the devil and his angels_;[50] but our joy is _the joy of our Lord_.[51] _The_ same _glory which the Father gave the Son, the Son hath given them_,[52] _to sit with him in his throne, even as he is set down with his Father in his throne_.[53] Thou, poor soul, who prayest for joy, waitest for joy, complainest for want of joy, longest for joy; thou then shalt have full joy, as much as thou canst hold, and more than ever thou thoughtest on, or thy heart desired. In the mean time walk carefully, watch constantly, and then let God measure out to thee thy times and degrees of joy. It may be he keeps them till thou hast more need. Thou hadst better lose thy comfort than thy safety. If thou shouldst die full of fears and sorrows, it will be but a moment, and they are all gone, and concluded in joy inconceivable. As _the joy of the hypocrite_, so the fears of the upright are _but for a moment. God's anger endureth but a moment; in his favor is life; weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning._[54] O blessed morning! Poor, humble drooping soul, how would it fill thee with joy now, if a voice from heaven should tell thee of the love of God, the pardon of thy sins, and assure thee of thy part in these joys? What then will thy joy be, when thy actual possession shall convince thee of thy title, and thou shalt be in heaven before thou art well aware? [Footnote 44] Revelation ii, 17. [Footnote 45] Proverbs xiv, 10. [Footnote 46] John xvi, 24. [Footnote 47] John iv, 10, 14. [Footnote 48] Psalm xciv, 2, 13. [Footnote 49] Philippians iv, 4.