Lord1'." We should have a happy and peaceful frame of mind, whether alone or in company ; and should be expressing our joy in songs of praise. Not that we should resemble those, whose spirits, being raised with wine, entertain themselves, and each other, with vocal and carnal songs: no; we should " make melody in our hearts to the Lord," and have all our joys an emblem, an antepast, of heaven. Such expressions of earthly happiness we observe without any mixture of disappro- bation or surprise : they are the natural effusions of a happy and buoyant spirit. How much more, then, should they be put forth in spiritual exercises, to the honour of our God, whose service is perfect freedom !]
2. In their more immediate intercourse with God —
[Every thing should be viewed by them as proceeding from a God of love : not even chastisement itself should be regarded as a token of his wrath, but rather as a mark of paternal tenderness, whereby he both intimates our relation to him, and seeks to establish and confirm it. Nothing, however penal in its aspect, should be viewed in any other light. We should taste his love in every thing, and " give him thanks always for all things." And this we should do " in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ :" for, as all God's blessings come to us through him, so all our thanksgivings for them should return to God through him also. It is this which makes them acceptable to God the Father. If these were offered in our own name, they would never enter into the ears of the Lord of Hosts : but, being presented in the name of Jesus, they come up with acceptance before him, and are sure to return in blessings on our own souls'3."]
Address —
1. Those who have never yet experienced these blessings in their souls —
[By the greater part of those who call themselves Chris- tians, the whole of this subject is accounted visionary and absurd. They have no idea of one person being filled with the Spirit any more than others : and all the joyous frames arising from his presence in the soul, they deem the very essence of enthusiasm. But what, then, can be meant by all those directions which are given us, to " live in the Spirit, and walk in the Spirit," and " pray in the Spirit," and to " bring forth the fruits of the Spirit?" And why has our blessed Lord so encouraged us to pray for the gift of his Spirit1', if no such communication is to be expected by us?
p Col. hi. 16. i Heb. xiii. 15. 1 Pet. ii. 5.
r Luke xi. 11 — 13.