Christ said to his disciples: "In the world ye shall have tribulation," and Paul said that "we are appointed thereunto;" but neither of them meant that we should seek for it, or that it would be a sin to seek true happiness and be cheerful. The tribulation that comes through any fault of our own, is not the tribulation that "worketh patience." Love, joy, peace, are fruits of the Spirit; and the "joy," is to be manifested even in the midst of infirmities. If, then, we are to rejoice in the midst of trials, how much more should we rejoice when trials are absent, or light? "Rejoice in the Lord alway;" "Rejoice evermore;" these are Christian duties. The tribulation will come soon enough without being sought; but the constant rejoicing in the Lord is the best preparation for it, and is that which, when tribulation comes, makes it appear as "our light affliction which is but for a moment."