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2 lines
1.6 KiB
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<p>This shows the vanity of carnal mirth, and proves what Solomon said of laughter, that <i>it is mad</i>; for, 1. There is sadness under it. Sometimes when sinners are under convictions, or some great trouble, they dissemble their grief by a forced mirth, and put a good face on it, because they will not seem to yield: they cry not when he binds them. Nay, when men really are merry, yet at the same time there is some alloy or other to their mirth, something that casts a damp upon it, which all their gaiety cannot keep from their heart. Their consciences tell them they have no reason to be merry (<a class="bibleref" title="Hos.9.1" href="/passage/?search=Hos.9.1">Hos. 9:1</a>); they cannot but see the vanity of it. Spiritual joy is seated in the soul; the joy of the hypocrite is but from the teeth outward. See <a class="bibleref" title="John.16.22,2Cor.6.10" href="/passage/?search=John.16.22,2Cor.6.10"><span class="bibleref" title="John.16.22">John 16:22</span>; <span class="bibleref" title="2Cor.6.10">2 Cor. 6:10</span></a>. 2. There is worse after it: <i>The end of that mirth is heaviness</i>. It is soon over, like the crackling of thorns under a pot; and, if the conscience be awake, all sinful and profane mirth will be reflected upon with bitterness; if not, the heaviness will be so much the greater when <i>for all these things God shall bring the</i> sinner <i>into judgment</i>. The sorrows of the saints will end in everlasting joys (<a class="bibleref" title="Ps.126.5" href="/passage/?search=Ps.126.5">Ps. 126:5</a>), but the laughter of fools will end in endless weeping and wailing.</p>
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