Remember, O my soul,
It is your duty and privilege to rejoice in God;
He requires it of you for all his favors of grace.
Rejoice then in the Giver and his goodness,
Be happy in him, O my heart, and in nothing but God
for whatever a person trusts in,
from that he expects happiness.
He who is the basis of your faith
should be the substance of your joy.
From where, then, does heaviness and dejection come
when joy is planted in you,
promised to you by the Father,
granted to you by the Son,
formed in you by the Holy Spirit,
made yours by grace,
given to you as your birthright by believing?
Are you seeking to rejoice in yourself
from an evil motive of pride and self-reputation?
You have nothing of your own but sin,
nothing to move God to be gracious
or to cause his grace towards you to continue.
If you forget this you will lose your joy.
Are you grieving under the weight of indwelling sin?
Let godly sorrow work repentence,
as the true spirit which the Lord blesses,
and which creates fullest joy;
Sorrow for self opens rejoicing in God,
Self-loathing draws down divine delights.
Have you sought joys in some comfort of this world?
Look not below God for happiness;
fall not asleep in Delilah's lap.
Let God be all in all to you
and joy in the fountain that is always full.
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