When the Lord of glory left his Father's bosom, and came into this world, we are sure it was for a purpose suited to his divine nature. Christ came to make men glad. It was said of him, 'The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, because the LORD hath appointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek' Isa 61:1. Ah! sure, he must be a good Saviour that was to bind up broken hearts, and to make all men glad. Therefore, when he came, he said, 'That your joy might be full' (Joh 16:24). And you see in the verse before our text, his first words to his disciples -were, 'Peace be unto you.'

"...it is my heart's desire and prayer that this very day might be such a day among us - that God would indeed open the windows of heaven, as He has done in times past, and pour down a blessing, till there be no more room to receive it. Let us observe, then, how thanksgiving brings down the Spirit of God."