Page:SermonsFromTheLatins.djvu/520

 "sane men  could  have  been  led  to  the  invention  or  discussion of  such  trivialities.  The  Puritanic  Sabbath was  child's  play  compared  with  the  rigor  of  that  of the  Pharisees.  Like  the  Puritans  they  believed  that God  was  to  be  served  in  a  spirit  of  sadness  and gloom,  and  how  great  was  their  error  may  be  learned from  Christ  and  His  followers.  "  Rejoice  and  be glad,"  He  says,  "  for  your  reward  is  exceeding great," and,  "  Be  not  like  the  hypocrites,  sad."  "  Rejoice," says  St.  Paul,  "and  again  I  say  rejoice;  let your moderation  be  known  to  all  men:  the  Lord  is nigh."  Sadness  is  rather  the  lot  of  sinners,  of  whom St.  James  says:  "Be  afflicted,  and  mourn  and weep. Let your  laughter  be  turned  into  mourning,  and  your joy into  sorrow. Go to,  now,  ye  rich  men;  weep and howl  in  your  miseries."  Every  true  servant  of God,  from  that  band  of  Apostles  which  returned  from the  Ascension  to  Jerusalem  rejoicing,  down  to  the saints  of  to-day,  has  been  characterized  by  a  cheerful, joyous  disposition.  And  rightly  so,  for  our  body's capacity  for  enjoyment  is  to  that  of  our  soul  as  is  a shallow  cup  to  a  mighty  reservoir,  and  as  a  source  of happiness  God  is  to  the  world  as  is  a  limitless  ocean to  a  little  pool.  The  saints  rejoice  "  always,"  for worldly  joy  is  fitful,  and  the  only  joy  that  is  stable  is "  joy  in  the  Lord."  Theirs  is  a  double  joy,  for  they rejoice  in  the  Lord,  and  again  in  His  works;  in  God their  Creator,  and  again  in  God  their  Redeemer;  in prosperity,  and  again  in  adversity.  Theirs  is  an evenly-balanced  joy,  without  excess,  without  irreverence, their  moderation  patent  to  all  men,  for  their