Thanksgiving

25 class of selfish and malevolent emotions, and may be felt in full strength by a beast, or a demon. Joy sanctified by love is that heavenly grace which the Bible calls " Thankfulness." Secondly—How is this grace to be developed and strengthened ? It is implied in the text's very language that true thankfulness does not depend upon our outward condition—because it is enjoined in the midst of, and despite the most calamitous circumstances —" In every thing gice thanks." And here we are reminded of the nice old distinction of language (now indeed lost) between " Happiness" and " Joy". The word Happiness, from the verb " to hap" expresses our delight in what happens to us—or comes to us from without. But the word " Joy"—from a root which means to spring—denotes a delight, not produced by outward things, but by the quality and harmony of the soul's inbred emotions. In short—Happiness enters from without — Joy issues from within—the one results from condition: the other from character. In this sense the ground-form of thankfulness is not happiness but joy —the abiding grace—not the occasional emotion. The text implies moreover that unthankfulness is not merely a sorrowful mood caused by conditions, but a sinful disposition constituting character.—And a sin it surely is everywhere and always—a fearful distemper ofthe spiritual man—an insanity ofthe will— a neuralgia of the affections—rendering the arm nerve-

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