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The Pathway of Safety; or, Counsel to the Awakened By the Right Rev. Ashton Oxenden, D.D. (1808-1892) CHAPTER XVIII - HAPPINESS THE Christian’s life is a happy one. He has his trials, as well as other men. But then his very sorrow is lightened; nay, it even ceases to be sorrow, for it is ‘turned into joy.’ The darkest clouds that hover over him have ‘a silver lining.’ He often passes through the furnace, but there is One at hand to cheer and comfort him. ‘These words, said Jesus, ‘have I spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer I have overcome the world.’ (John 16.33) ‘Many,’ says the Psalmist, ‘are the afflictions of the righteous but the Lord delivers him out of them all.’ (Psalm34.19) The Christian’s happiness comes from God. He is the true Fountain of happiness; and there is no real happiness but that which flows from His Fountain. There may he riotous mirth, but that is not happiness; for may it not be said, that ‘even in laughter the heart is sorrowful, and the end of that mirth is heaviness?’ (Prov. 14.13) There may be short fits of joyous and excited feeling; but this does not make happiness, any more than the bright lightning which flashes across the midnight sky, and lights it up for a moment, turns night into day. Happiness, to deserve the name, must be something deep, calm, settled, and lasting; something which mere outward changes cannot shake or destroy; and such happiness comes only from God. See that yours is genuine; that it is no counterfeit coin; but that it has the stamp of heaven upon it. ‘We all know’ (says an able writer) ‘the difference there is between a cloudy and a sunny day. The real heat may be the same; nay, the cloudy day may be the warmer of the two; yet to our feeling it may be quite the contrary. Now, in a man’s spiritual condition we see much the same difference. Let God’s face shine upon the soul; and it is cheered with the brightest sunshine. But let God veil his face, and cloud it over; and it feels chilled, and is discomforted. Thus it is written, ‘Thou didst hide thy face, and I was troubled.’ Do we not see in the world many a man disquieted and ill at ease in the very midst of earthly comforts, while his neighbor who lives in some sorry hovel may look always cheerful and contented? What is this difference owing to? To what cause must we trace the gloomy spirit of the one, and the blithe-hearted contentedness of the other, whose lot in the world’s eye is so hard and wretched? The cause perhaps is simply this—the one is leading a Christian life: the other is living to the world—the one enjoys the light of God’s countenance; from the other the Lord turns away His face, and leaves him in clouds and heaviness. Oh that you may know what it is to have the light of God’s countenance lifted up upon you! Whenever that shines, it cheers and warms; it gilds and beautifies the lowest and meanest lot. Where that is wanting, happiness and peace are wanting also. For the good things of the world can no more make amends for it, than the blaze of lamps and torches can make amends for the absence of the sun.’ What a mistaken notion does the world form of religion! It stamps the godly man as an unhappy man. Satan persuades people to believe that a religious life is a melancholy life; and thus he scares them from the ways of holiness. But the world has never had the veil lifted up. The world does not understand the Christian. Sure I am, that if religion does not make us happy, the fault is in ourselves; there must be something in us to prevent it. There must be some let or hindrance on our part. Either we must be naturally gloomy; or we have got hold of some mistaken views; or there is some sin indulged in, or some evil temper allowed. In short, we are to blame, and not our Lord. In Him is all fullness; but we oftentimes stop the stream of it into our own souls by impediments which we ourselves put in the way. The gospel of Christ not only bids us to rejoice, but also provides us with a source from which the truest happiness may flow, if we will but make it ours. But mark this—a little religion will not give happiness. There are some persons who have just enough of it to make them thoughtful, but not enough to make them happy. They are dissatisfied with the world, and feel its emptiness, but they go no further. They know nothing of the joy and peace of Christ. But if you will give your whole heart to God, if you will live close to him, obeying, loving, and serving Him, then I venture to promise that you will be happy. Earthly trials will pass gently over you; and, as for earthly joys, they will be nothing to you when compared with that ‘peace which passes all understanding,’ and which will fill your heart. Is there not a happiness in feeling that you have in Heaven a reconciled Father, who watches over you, and loves you—a Savior, a Friend, full of tenderness and compassion, who ever lives to make intercession for you who knows all your wants, and has a balm for every wound? Is there not a peace in the consciousness that you are forgiven and accepted of God; and that, fare as you may here, there is before you a Home of peace, where you shall dwell for ever ‘Spiritual joy’ (says Archbishop Leighton) ‘far exceeds the report that any one can give of it. It is “joy unspeakable.” And when a man comes to know it in his own breast, he will say of it, as the Queen of Sheba said of Solomon’s wisdom, “The half was not told me.” (I Kings 10.7) Religion calls us away indeed from carnal enjoyments; but it is to give us those which are pure and lasting. It seems to say to us, “Drink no longer of the puddle; here are crystal streams from a living fountain.”’ It is not, however, always those who speak most of this joy that have most of it. The deepest waters usually run the stillest and sometimes the heart is too full to tell out all its contents. ‘The laughter of a fool,’ says Solomon, is ‘as the crackling of thorns under a pot.’ (Eccl. 7.6) There is a great blaze and noise, but it is soon over. But he who can say, ‘The righteousness of Christ is mine, the favor of God, and a bright hope of glory are, through God’s grace, my blessed portion’—he has such a light within him, as can shine in the darkest dungeon; yea, ‘even in the valley of the shadow of death itself.’ Truly it is a blessed thing to be a Christian; but still more blessed to be a rejoicing Christian. Now, this is within the reach of all of us. It is your duty and your privilege to seek for it. Try to be so, even when out ward things are against you. Fair-weather Christianity (says one) is common enough; but the Christianity that will maintain its brightness in the dark and cloudy day of adversity is too frequently wanting. And yet what will so convince the unconverted of the reality of your profession, as showing that the evenness of your temper, the peacefulness of your mind, the happiness of your home, do not merely or mainly depend on the creature; but that in the midst of abounding disappointments and difficulties there can still he joy in the Lord? Open your Bible, and there you will read the command, ‘Rejoice evermore;’ ‘Rejoice in the Lord always; and again I say, Rejoice.’ (1 Thess. 5.16; Phil. 4.4) Seek to be happy for your own sake. What a bright coloring it will give to your whole life! Seek to be happy for the sake of others. Will it not act as a charm to draw them also into the path, which you have found so sweet? Seek to be happy for your Savior’s sake. For thus you will be honoring Him and bringing glory to His cause. The religion of Christ is no gloomy thing. It gives a brightness and a reality to all our earthly ties. As Parents, it makes us anxious to further the happiness of our children. As Masters, it stirs up within us a desire to promote the comfort and well-being of those who are under our care. As Brothers and Sisters, it teaches us to give up our own wills and to endeavor to please, and assist, and comfort each other. Would you be a happy Christian? Then live much on Christ. Regard Him as your Friend—your unseen, but ever-living, ever- present Friend. Let Him be your refuge in every difficulty, your hope under every sorrow, your portion in the midst of an empty world. 1Here is the only true home for the believing heart. Nothing less will satisfy and fill it. You are weak, very weak; but here is your strength. Even the feeble ivy is strong, and able to climb high, when it clings to the sturdy tree; and so will you be, if you lay hold of Him who is able to bear you up. ‘In the Lord have I righteousness and strength.’ Live in humble, admiring, self- forgetting, fellowship with Him. Would you be a happy Christian? Then be a holy Christian. Is there a child in any family who seems to be happier than the rest? It is the one who is ever desiring to obey his parents, and delighting to please them. And so the child of God, who loves his heavenly Father, and walks in His holy ways, enjoys a happiness which the world could never give him. Holiness is the groundwork of the Christian’s happiness ‘If our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence towards God.’ (1 John 3.21) It has been well said, that happiness is a plant that grows nowhere but in holy ground. It is God’s will that happiness and holiness should go together. And what is it that makes the bliss of Heaven? Is it not that sin shall be forever banished, and we shall dwell in the presence of a holy God? Again, would you be a happy Christian? Then be a thankful Christian. Few think enough of their mercies. We are apt to take them too much as a matter of course. We ask eagerly for blessings; but when they come, we feel little or no thankfulness. We receive the gifts, but forget to render thanks to the Almighty Giver. I am disposed to think that but few, in their devotions, spend time enough in praise. It is true, God is not the richer nor the happier for our thanks. He is not a whit the more blessed for our blessing Him. No, it is we who are the gainers by it. It is we who are made happy by it. God is graciously pleased to accept our thanks; and the very offering of them contributes to our happiness. Are we not told that ‘it becomes well the just to be thankful?’ (Psalm 33.1) Only make the trial, and endeavor to live more thankfully. You will, I am sure, find that the very effort to be thankful will be good for you. ‘In everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.’ (1 Thess. 5.18) ‘Thankfulness’ (says a Christian writer) ‘is a kindly way of petitioning God. Just as vapors drawn up from the earth return to it in showers again, so praise for old mercies brings down large supplies of new.’ When St. Paul was journeying towards Rome as a prisoner, we are told that, meeting with some brethren whose sympathy and affection refreshed him, he ‘thanked God, and took courage.’ And so may it be—so should it be— always with us. We should be full of thankfulness and hope. This will cheer us on our way; it will make our course bright, and enable us to pass lightly over the trials of this weary world. Oh then for a heart to praise the Lord! Oh for a cheerful, happy, willing obedience! Oh that we may be enabled to rejoice, not only when things go smoothly with us, but also when the waves of life are ruffled! May we have the same trusting spirit as the prophet had, when he declared, ‘Although the fig-tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labor of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stall (that is, though all the streams of earthly blessing be dried up), yet I will rejoice in the Lord; I will joy in the God of my salvation.’ (Hab. 3.17,18) Truly the Christian may be happy—very happy. His happiness, however, will still be imperfect here. It is a happiness intermixed with trials. But there is a world to come— a promised world of peace for the people of God—a world, though unseen, yet real. In that world there will be no sorrowful ones— no tears to bedew the cheeks—no wrinkles along the brow. In that world dwells our Lord; and ‘in His presence is fullness of joy; at His right hand there are pleasures for evermore.’ (Psalm 16.11) Think not that our work there will be a work of idleness. No, it will be one of ceaseless activity. ‘His servants shall serve Him.’ We know not what our exact service will be in that happy world. But doubtless there is a work to be carried on in the Church above, as well as in the Church on earth. We must not suppose that a man’s activity and usefulness will be at an end when he leaves the world. If Christ has employment for His servants here, He has a higher employment for them there—a holier, happier, more satisfying labor. Some heavenly work will occupy us day and night. Is God’s service a delight to us now? Such will it be then, only in a thousand fold greater degree. Spiritual communion, praise, waiting upon God, bending our will to His, doing His pleasure; hands, heart, voices; all engaged in His service— this will he our happiness in Heaven — this will be our joyful occupation throughout eternity. Our companions too will be holy—a spotless flock—‘washed in the blood of the Lamb,’ and ‘clothed in white robes.’ And we ourselves shall then be perfectly holy also. We shall be sinless, and therefore sorrow-less; full of love, full of light, knowing all things. Here, on this sea of life, the Christian is tossed, and well-nigh shattered by many a rough storm; but in that quiet haven of rest, not a wave shall reach him. He will be safe in the presence of his Lord. Go on, then, my dear Christian friend ‘ask the way to Zion with your face thitherward.’ Let nothing turn you from the pathway of safety. A few more trials, and then shall come the recompense. A little more bearing of the cross, and then you shall wear the crown. Another hard struggle or two, and then will come the victory! Hear the words of Him who is seated at His Father’s right hand, ‘TO HIM THAT OVERCOMES WILL I GRANT TO SIT WITH ME IN MY THRONE, EVEN AS I OVERCAME, AND AM SET DOWN WITH MY FATHER IN HIS THRONE.’ (Rev. 3.21) **************************************************** The Pathway of Safety; or, Counsel to the Awakened, Ashton Oxenden ****************************************************
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