Address —
1. Those who yet enjoy the hght of God's counte- nance—
[Happy, happy are ye, in the possession of this rich mercy : Surely such a state is a foretaste of heaven itself. But do not presume upon it. Do not say, " My mountain stands strong ; I shall never he moved ;" lest ye cause God to " hide his face from you, and ye be troubled." " Be not high-minded ; but fear." Keep upon your watch-tower : *' let your loins be girt, and your lamps trimmed ;" and watch every moment for the coming of your Lord. " Blessed is that ser- vant, whom his Lord, when he cometh, shall find so doing."]
2. Those who are under the hidings of their Re- deemer's face —
[If others are not to presume, so neither are you to de- spond. '* If your sorrow endure for a night, there is joy awaiting you in the morning." This do : imitate the Bride in the passage before us. She desired the prayers and interces- sions of the saints, and entreated them, in their seasons of communion wdth their Lord, to plead her cause: " I charge you, when you shall see him, tell him that I am sick of love." She felt no grief like the absence of her beloved ; and could find comfort in nothing but the restoration of his love. Thus let your hearts be fixed on him ; even on him only : and suffer nothing to weaken your regards to him. Never entertain hard thoughts of him. Take shame to yourselves, till ye even lothe yourselves in dust and ashes : but relax neither your love to him, nor your confidence in him. Say with yourselves, " Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him." Then will he in due season return to your souls, so that " your light shall rise in obscurity, and your darkness be as the noon-day." Only be content to " go on your way weeping, bearing the precious seed of penitence and faith ; and you shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing your sheaves with you."]