Joy is not gush; Joy is not jolliness. Joy is simply perfect acquiescence in God’s will, because the soul delights itself in God Himself. “I delight to do thy will,” said Jesus, though the cup was the Cross, in such agony as no man knew. It cost Him blood. Oh, take the Fatherhood of God in the blessed Son the Savior, and by the Holy Ghost; rejoice in the will of God, and nothing else. Bow down your heads and your hearts before God, and let the will, the blessed will of God, be done. PREBENDARY WEBB-PEPLOE

“Joy and deep poverty!” Truly strange blending. Fullness and emptiness! Contrasting themes. Spiritual richness and temporal leanness! None but the Spirit could wed such extremes.

“Joy and deep poverty!” Servant of Jesus, Doth it perplex that thy portion is this? Doth it offend that reward for thy faithfulness Seemeth to lie much in things thou must miss?

“Joy and deep poverty!” Pause thee, and ponder! Joy for thy spirit—the world cannot give; If therewith leanness—extreme limitation— Mayhap ’tis by e’en such need thou shalt live! J. DANSON SMITH

One of the happiest men who ever lived —Saint Francis of Assisi—was one of the poorest.

We . . . rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also.—I am filled with comfort, I am exceeding joyful in all our tribulation.—Believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory.

In a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality.—Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ; and to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ.

Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him?—God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work.

Awake, O north wind; and come, thou south; blow upon my garden, that the spices thereof may flow out.

Behold this selfsame thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly sort, what carefulness it wrought in you, yea, what clearing of yourselves, yea, what indignation, yea, what fear, yea, what vehement desire, yea, what zeal, yea, what revenge!

Fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth: proving what is acceptable unto the Lord.

The Comforter is the Holy Ghost.—The love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.

The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace.

In a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality.

All these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.