John Trapp on Nehemiah 12:43

Verſ. 43. For God had made them rejoyce with great joy] By giving them both matter of joy, and hearts to do it aright. Crede mihi res ſevera eſt verum gaudium, ſaith Seneca, true joy is a ſevere buſineſſe. Quid nobis cum fabulis, cum riſu? ſaith Bernard. What have we to do with jeſting and paſtime, &c? we have meat to eate, pleaſure to take that the world wots not of; we can let out our ſouls into God the fountain of all good; and rejoyce in his Word, as one that findeth great ſpoile, wherein the pleaſure is as much as the profit, Pſal. 119.162.