manifest tokens that they are strangers to the Divine presence ? Can it be said of such persons that God is with them of a truth ?
But where the external deportment is blameless, and where the outward form of godliness is maintained, how little is there, for the most part, of its power ! Many read the Bible, and find it only a sealed book : they attend the ordinances of reli- gion, but experience no delight in them : they pray in secret (if mere formal devotions can be called prayer) and derive no benefit to their souls. Whence is all this, but because God is absent from them ? If God were with them, his " words would be spirit and life" unto themb; their communion with him would be sweet ; their communications from him would diffuse a glory round their very countenance0; and the exer- cises of religion, though not always alike spiritual, would on the whole be accompanied with vital energy, and be followed with progressive sanctification.
Such, alas ! is the state of the generality : however they may have witnessed the wind, the earthquake, and the fire, and have felt some alarm and terror in their souls, they are yet strangers to that " still small voice " in which the Lord reveals himself to his people*1. We may say, in reference to what was spoken on a very different occasion, Lord, if thou hadst been with them, they had not been thus habitually dead and formal e.]
II. We cannot hope to find him, if we do not seek him —
[We know that, in the ordinary course of providence, nei- ther the countryman can fill his barns without much previous toil, nor the student acquire knowledge without much patient investigation. How then can it be supposed that we should attain the knowledge and enjoyment of God, without seeking after him in his appointed way ? He has indeed sometimes been found of them that sought him not, and made known to them that inquired not after himf : but this must no more be expected by us, than that the sea should open a passage for our feet, or the sun stand still to lengthen out our day. God has said he will be inquired of by usg, and that we must ask, if we would have ; and seek, if we would find h. Nor is it in a cold indifferent manner that we must seek ; we must strive as persons in earnest1, and if once we get access to God, we must detain him, as it were, by force k, and take his kingdom, as it were, by violence1. And it is for want of this holy zeal in
b John vi. 63. c Exod. xxxiv. 35. d 1 Kings xix. 11 — 13.
e John xi. 21, 32. f Rom. x. 20. s Ezek. xxxvi. 37.
h Luke xi. 9. > Luke xiii. 24. k Gen. xxxii. 26. 1 Matt. xi. 12.