clearly tell us of the joy with which the souls of the just overflow, which penetrates even to the flesh, and which so inebriates man's whole being that he breaks forth into transports of holy joy? What earthly pleasure can be compared to this? What peace, what love, what delight can equal that of which Thou, O my God art the inexhaustible source? "The voice of rejoicing and of salvation," continues the prophet, "is in the tabernacles of the just."[1] Yes, only just souls know true joy, true peace, true consolation.
"Let the just feast and rejoice before God, and be delighted with gladness."[2] "They shall be inebriated with the plenty of Thy house, and Thou shalt make them drink of the torrent of Thy pleasure."[3] Could the prophet more powerfully express the strength and sweetness of these consolations? They shall be inebriated, he tells us; for as a man overcome by the fumes of wine is insensible to all outward objects, so the just, who are filled with the wine of heavenly consolations, are dead to the things of this world.
"Blessed is the people," he farther says, "that knoweth jubilation."[4] Many would perhaps have said, Blessed are they who abound in wealth, who are protected by strong walls, and who possess valiant soldiers to defend them! But David, who had all these, esteemed only that people happy who knew by experience what it was to rejoice in God with that joy of spirit
