Matthew Poole and continuators on 1 Thessalonians 5:16

16 Rejoyce evermore. .

Here the Apostle adds more Christian duties, briefly exprest, and set close one to another, and they seem to have a mutual connexion, but not so relative to others as those before mentioned, but personal to themselves. He begins with the duty of Rejoycing, joy is an affection of the Soul springing from the hope or possession of some suitable good. And it is either natural, which is common to men with beasts, arising from that good that is suitable to their several natures. Or spiritual, which is Joy wrought by the Spirit, and exercised upon spiritual objects. And this the Apostle here means, and is called rejoycing in the Lord, Phil. 4.4. and the joy of the Holy Ghost, Rom. 14.17. arising either from what spiritual good we already possess, or hope to possess, exhibita & promissa, Bernard. which is there upon called a rejoycing in hope, Rom. 5.2. and 12.12. The Apostle speaks here of the duty indefinitely, onely requires it to be evermore, so Phil. 4.4. Though God sometimes calls to mourning, yet its no where said mourn evermore, because rejoycing ought to be in a more constant practise, and all spiritual mourning tends to it, and will end in it; and he commends it as seasonable to these Thessalonians to support them under their present sufferings. The grounds of a Christians Joy alwayes abide, and he is not only to retain it in the habit, but to mix it with all his sorrows, and sufferings, as 1 Pet. 1.6. Ye greatly rejoyce though for a season in heaviness. Whereas carnal mirth is mixt with sadness, Prov. 14.13. So that a Christian ought to rejoyce in every condition, not only in prosperity but adversity, and especially when called to suffer for Righteousness sake, as Matth. 5.12. 1 Pet. 4.13. It is not only allowed but commanded. This joy is one great part of Gods Kingdom even in this World, Rom. 14.17. much more in the World to come. And therefore the Apostle speaks of rejoycing evermore, whereas mourning is but for a time, and ends to the Saints in this Life.