All human joys touch but part of our nature, the divine fills and
satisfies all. In the former there is always some portion of us
unsatisfied, like the deep pits on the moon's surface into which no
light shines, and which show black on the silver face. No human joys
wait to still conscience, which sits at the banquet like the skeleton
that Egyptian feasters set at their tables. The old story told of a
magician's palace blazing with lighted windows, but there was always
one dark;--what shrouded figure sat behind it? Is there not always a
surly 'elder brother' who will not come in however the musicians may
pipe and the servants dance? Appetite may be satisfied, but what of
conscience, and reason, and the higher aspirations of the soul? The
laughter that echoes through the soul is the hollower the louder it
is, and reverberates most through empty spaces.
But when Christ's joy remains in us our joy will be full. Its flowing
tide will rush into and placidly occupy all the else oozy shallows of
our hearts, even into the narrowest crannies its penetrating waters
will pass, and everywhere will bring a flashing surface that will
reflect in our hearts the calm blue above. We need nothing else if we
have Christ and His joy within us. If we have everything else, we need
His joy within us, else ours will never be full.