We have seen that the bridge by which sorrow led to hope, is perseverance and courage; in this second analysis of the origin of hope, joy and peace are the bridge by which Faith passes over into it.  Observe the difference:  there is no direct connection between affliction and hope, but there is between joy and hope.  We have no right to say, ‘Because I suffer, I shall possess good in the future’; but we have a right to say, ’Because I rejoice’—­of course with a joy in God—­’I shall never cease to rejoice in Him.’  Such joy is the prophet of its own immortality and completion.  And, on the other hand, the joy and peace which are naturally the direct progenitors of Christian hope, are the children of faith.  So that we have here two generations, as it were, of hope’s ancestors;—­Faith produces joy and peace, and these again produce hope.

Faith leads to joy and peace.  Paul has found, and if we only put it to the proof, we shall also find, that the simple exercise of simple faith fills the soul with ‘all joy and peace.’  Gladness in all its variety and in full measure, calm repose in every kind and abundant in its still depth, will pour into my heart as water does into a vessel, on condition of my taking away the barrier and opening my heart through faith.  Trust and thou shalt be glad.  Trust, and thou shalt be calm.  In the measure of thy trust shall be the measure of thy joy and peace.

Notice, further, how indissolubly connected the present exercise of faith is with the present experience of joy and peace.  The exuberant language of this text seems a world too wide for anything that many professing Christians ever know even in the moments of highest elevation, and certainly far beyond the ordinary tenor of their lives.  But it is no wonder that these should have so little joy, when they have so little faith.  It is only while we are looking to Jesus that we can expect to have joy and peace.  There is no flashing light on the surface of the mirror, but when it is turned full to the sun.  Any interruption in the electric current is registered accurately by an interruption in the continuous line perforated on the telegraph ribbon; and so every diversion of heart and faith from Jesus Christ is recorded by the fading of the sunshine out of the heart, and the silencing of all the song-birds.  Yesterday’s faith will not bring joy to-day; you cannot live upon past experience, nor feed your souls with the memory of former exercises of Christian faith.  It must be like the manna, gathered fresh every day, else it will rot and smell foul.  A present faith, and a present faith only, produces a present joy and peace.  Is there, then, any wonder that so much of the ordinary experience of ordinary Christians should present a sadly broken line—­a bright point here and there, separated by long stretches of darkness?  The gaps in the continuity of their joy are the tell-tale indicators of the interruptions in their faith.  If the latter were continuous, the former would be unbroken.  Always believe, and you will always be glad and calm.