THE church's fellowship WITH CHRIST. 429
849.]
knowledge than that which has been wrought into our own ex- perience, is of any use ; at least, not for the Christian's own benefit. Hear then the Church's happy experience ; " I sat down under his shadow with great delight ; and his fruit was sweet unto my taste." The Believer has come to Christ weary and heavy-laden with a sense of his sins, and has found rest unto his soul. Like the traveller fainting beneath the intense heat of a vertical sun, he has sought the shade in Christ Jesus, who has approved himself all-sufficient, even like " the shadow of a great rock in a weary land V Of his fruits too does the Believer eat in a rich abundance. O ! how sweet is his par- doning love to the soul, when he says, " Thy sins are forgiven thee ; go in peace ! " Who can describe the blessedness of that peace which proceeds from him ; from Him who said, " My peace I give unto you ?" Truly it is " a peace that passeth all understanding. As for the joy with which these manifestations are accompanied, it is " unspeakable and glorified." How can a soul feel any thing but exquisite " delight," when thus fa- voured with " the spirit of adoption," yea, " the witness of the Spirit" also attesting its relation to Christ, " sealing it unto the day of redemption," and giving it even now " an earnest" and a foretaste " of its heavenly inheritance?" Such are the fruits of which every one shall eat, who sits under the shadow of the Lord Jesus ; and " sweet shall they be unto his taste," even " sweeter than honey or the honey-comb."]
Having no fear that either of these testimonies shall ever be set aside, we ground upon them a word
of EXHORTATION
I. Let us contemplate the excellencies of the Lord
Jesus —
[There is not any thing in the world which may not serve to illustrate his beauty : for, in fact, all created excellencies are but rays of his glory, and stars twinkling with his reflected splendour. We do not think enough of him : we can admire beauty in the creature, but have no eyes to behold it in Him who is the centre and source of all. Did we but duly reflect on him, we should pant after an union with him ; and despise every thing else in comparison of him. " All other knowledge would be to us but as dross and dung." Truly *' his name is as ointment poured forth ; and therefore do the virgins love him™." Say, Believer, Is he not " precious " to thy soul"? O that every one amongst us would be persuaded to go into this gar- den, and compare the fragrance of this " rose," and the purity of this " lily," with all that ever his eyes beheld, or his most
^ Isai. XXV. 4. and xxxii. 2, ^ Cant. i. 3. "1 Pet. ii. 7.