Scripture and experience : and people have an easy way of setting both these aside. The words of Scripture are repre- sented as high eastern metaphors : and the experience of the primitive saints is supposed to be confined to the earlier ages of the Church. And with respect to the experience of living saints, that is derided as enthusiasm. But there is a blessed- ness in communion with God, whether man will admit it or not. To the ungodly it is an irksome task to approach God ; but to the godly it is their chief joy. The Psalmist justly says, " Blessed is the man, O Lord, whom thou choosest, and causest to approach unto thee V But how shall we describe this blessedness ? How shall we paint the lowly self-abasing thoughts which lead a man to prostrate himself in the very dust before God? How shall we express the wonder and admiration with which he is filled, when he contemplates the goodness of God towards him? How shall we declare the ardour of his feelings when he is adoring that Saviour who bought him with his blood ? We do not say, that any man feels at all times the same rapturous and exalted joys; but we do say, that the joys of those who live nigh to God are at some seasons " unspeakable and full of glory k," an earnest and foretaste of heaven itself.]
2. There is nothing so profitable —
[Not to mention the pardon and acceptance which flow from communion with God, it is certain that it will restrain from sin. The presence of a fellow-creature, yea, even of a child, will restrain men from the commission of crimes, which in secret they would perpetrate without remorse. How much more then would a consciousness of God's presence awe us, if we felt it as we ought ] ! The falls and apostasies of those who profess religion always originate from, or are preceded by, a secret departure of the heart from God.
It will also console us in trouble. David, both on this and many other occasions, found prayer the best means of com- posing his spirit when it was harassed by temptations or per- secutions m. And did any one ever apply this remedy in vain ? When we have complained to man only, we have felt the pres- sure of our burthens still, and groaned under them as much as ever : but when we have carried our complaints to God, we have almost invariably had our murmurs silenced, our agita- tions tranquillized, our spirits comforted. God has fulfilled to us his promise, " Call upon me in the time of trouble, and I will hear thee, and thou shalt glorify me n."
' Ps. lxiv. 5. & 1 Pet. i. 5. » Ps. iv. 4.
m ver. 3, 13, 17. See ako Ps. lxix. 17, 18. and cxvi. 3 — 5. » Ps. 1. 15.