chapterTEN: happiness

"Happy is that people whose God is the Lord." Psalm 144:15

Are you happy?

Let me warn you to remember that the salvation of your soul, and nothing less, is closely bound up with the subject. The heart cannot be right in the sight of God which knows nothing of happiness. That man or woman cannot be in a safe state of soul who feels nothing of peace within.

In this paper, Ryle seeks to clarify:

• Some things which are absolutely essential to all happiness.
• Some common mistakes about the way to be happy.
• The way to be truly happy.

I. Some things which are absolutely essential to all happiness.

Happiness is what all mankind want to obtain: the desire of it is deeply planted in the human heart.

• True happiness is not perfect freedom from sorrow and discomfort. (Not is this sinful, fallen world, at least.)
• True happiness does not consist in laughter and smiles.
• Prov. 14:13 "even in laughter the heart is sorrowful"
• Worldly merriment is not real happiness.
• To be truly happy, the highest wants of a man's nature must be met and satisfied.
• Man's principal wants are not just of body but of soul and conscience
• To be truly happy a man must have sources of gladness which are not dependent on anything of this world.
• To be truly happy a man must be able to look on every side without uncomfortable feelings.
• He must be able to look back to the past without guilty fears;
• He must be able to look around him without discontent;
• He must be able to look forward without anxious dread.
• The man who has a weak side in his condition,--a side that he does not like looking at or considering,--that man is not really happy.

II. Some common mistakes about the way to be happy.
      Principle delusions that supposedly bring happiness:

• rank and greatness alone
• riches alone
• learning and science alone
• idleness alone
• pleasure-seeking and amusement alone

III. The way to be truly happy.

• Be a real, thorough-going, true-hearted Christian; Christian in heart and life
• The true Christian is the only happy man because:
• his conscience is at peace
• he can sit down quietly and think about his soul
• he has sources of happiness entirely independent of this world
• he is in his right position
• Give a man a sensible interest in Christ and he will be happy
• in spite of poverty
• in spite of sickness
• in spite of abounding public calamities

1. Let me entreat every reader of this paper to apply to his own heart the solemn inquiry, Are you happy?
2. Let me warn all who are not true Christians of the folly of living a life which cannot make them happy.
• Isaiah 55: 2
• If you are not a true Christian, you will miss happiness in the world that now is, as well as in the world to come. Oh, believe me, the way of happiness, and the way of salvation are one and the same!...There is no folly like that of the impenitent child of the world.
3. Let me entreat all readers of this book, who are not yet happy, to seek happiness where alone it can be found.
4. Let me off a few hints to all true Christians for the increase and promotion of their happiness.
• labour every year to grow in grace
• labour every year to be more thankful
• labour every year to do more good