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Bible Encyclopedias
Mirth
Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature
or the expression of joy, gayety, merriment, is thus distinguished from its synonym, cheerfulness: Mirth is considered as an act, cheerfulness a habit of the mind. Mirth is short and transient; cheerfulness fixed and permanent. Those are often raised into the greatest transports of mirth who are subject to the greatest depressions of melancholy: on the contrary, cheerfulness, though it does not give such an exquisite gladness, prevents us from falling into any depths of sorrow. Mirth is like a flash of lightning, that breaks through a gloom of clouds, and glitters for a moment; cheerfulness keeps up a kind of daylight in the mind, and fills it with a steady and perpetual serenity.
Mirth is sinful,
1. When men rejoice in that which is evil.
2. When unreasonable.
3. When tending to commit sin.
4. When a hinderance to duty.
5. When it is blasphemous and profane.
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McClintock, John. Strong, James. Entry for 'Mirth'. Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature. https://www.studylight.org/encyclopedias/eng/tce/m/mirth.html. Harper & Brothers. New York. 1870.
