" glorifies the Lord Jesus Christ" in his soulx, as to make him " rejoice with joy unspeakable and glorified y." Yes, the joy that he imparts, is such as disembodied spirits may be supposed to feel, an earnest and a foretaste of heaven itself2.]
2. The most independent —
[For all other pleasures we are dependent either on outward circumstances, or on the state of our own minds. If, for instance, we are racked with pain, or bowed down with grief, or standing on the brink of the grave, no earthly thing will afford us any comfort. Not so the pleasure of which we are speaking ; that is even advanced by the want of other things, and never is enjoyed with so rich a zest, as when it has nothing to aid, but every thing to counteract it. Then it is that the excellency of communion with Christ appears in its true colours ]
3. The most ennobling —
[Earthly pleasures prevent, for the most part, the ascent
of the soul towards heaven but communion with Christ
raises the soul to heaven, and transforms it by constantly pro- gressive changes into the Divine image* ]
4. The most diffusive —
[Other pleasures we are content to enjoy alone : but this no one ever tasted, without instantly feeling in his soul a desire to impart it to those around him. " Come unto me, all ye that fear God, and I will tell you what he has done for my soul." " Draw me" says the Church, " and ive will run after theeb;" for no one that is drawn would ever willingly come alone ; he would, if possible, draw all others along with him ]
Some questions, which may possibly arise in the minds of those who desire communion with Christ, we shall now endeavour to answer —
1. How are we to attain it ?
[It is not to be sought for in the circles of gaiety or in the cares of business, but in reading the word of God and prayer. We are aware, that all persons cannot dedicate to these exercises an equal degree of their time: nor is it necessary that they should : but all may, and must, devote some portion of their time to this great pursuit. God has given us six days for worldly labour, and requires the seventh to be sanctified to him : and if that day were conscientiously consecrated to the Lord, we should not long be unacquainted with the subject before us : " the grace of our Lord Jesus
* Gal. i. 16. Johnxvi. 14. y 1 Pet. i. 8. The Greek.
* Eph. i. 13, 14. a o Cor. iii. 18. b Cant, i, 4.
1590.] BLESSEDNESS OF COMMUNION WITH CHRIST. Ui7
Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost," would soon be known to us by sweet experience. " Search the Scriptures," says our Lord ; " for they are they that testify of me." Again, " He spake a parable, to teach us that we should pray always, and not faint." These are the occupations in which we should take delight: and like the Apostles in their way to Emmaus, we should make the great mysteries of redemption a subject of our deepest research, and of our most familiar converse. Were we thus to seek after Christ, we should soon have the veil removed from our eyes ; and God would " shine into our hearts, to give us the light of the knowledge of his glory in the face of Jesus Christ."]
2. How are we to distinguish it ?
[I grant that there are enthusiasts, who pretend to such impulses, and such communications as the Scriptures do not warrant us to expect : and it is certainly desirable to be on our guard that we be not led astray by them. But we must not despise those manifestations which God does vouchsafe to his people, because there are enthusiasts who profess to have experienced more. We do not reject good coin because a spurious coin is sometimes obtruded in its stead : but we learn to distinguish between them. So in reference to the subject before us, we should " prove all things, and hold fast that which is good."