15. It is joy to the just to do judgment: but destruction shall be to the workers of iniquity.
It is not that the just does judgment. Conscience may dictate this, at least externally, while the bias of the heart is on the side of sin. But it is joy to the just to do it. His rest, purpose, affections — all center in it. He has as much delight in doing judgment, as “the soul of the wicked desireth evil” (Verse 10), as his own soul desired it.† It is joy, but only to the just.† To the mere professor of religion it is conviction, and fear; the service of a slave. He knows God only as a Master, and conceives of him as a task-master. He has never known him as a Father, and therefore never served him as a child. But his true service — does it not, Christian? — identifies holiness and happiness, and brings its own smile and income of joy with it, as naturally as heat accompanies fire, and beams flow from the sun. And thus “the way of the LORD is strength to the upright.” (Chapter 10:29.) Was it not so with our beloved Lord? He could say — “I delight to do thy will, O my God. My meat, that the world knows not of, is to do my Father's will, and to finish his work.”† Oh! that the servant might be in spirit like his Lord!
What, then, is the gloom and sadness charged upon religion? Truly the children of this world have never tasted the clusters of Canaan. How then can they know their sweetness? Christian! look up, and be cheerful, for the honor of your God and his gospel. Live not, as if some affliction had happened to you; but as one snatched from destruction; as a child of God, an heir of heaven. You know more than you can tell. You can tell enough to make the world inexcusable, if they turn away. But you cannot tell half, when all that you can tell is told. Yet let them see, that “the work of righteousness is peace,” and “the yoke of Christ is easy;”† nay, that the sharpest sacrifices for him are sweet; that there is more pleasure in “plucking out the right eye” for him, than in using it for sin or for Satan. And then for yourself think further, if this be the happiness amidst all the clogging hindrances of sin, what will it be, when these hindrances shall be removed, and we shall serve him without sin for ever!† If such be the wilderness, what will Canaan be!
But what know the ungodly of this reality? Sin is to them a mockery,† a sport,† even a joy.† But never can it be their solid joy. It is their weariness, never their rest.† To the workers of iniquity belong only vanity and disappointment, ending in destruction.† Hear the testimony of God — “Destruction and misery are in their ways, and the way of peace have they not known. There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked.”†
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