him into his buying and selling and bartering, into the use of his influence and the management of his time. If he be an employer, it makes him conscientious in rendering their dues to all beneath him: if he be employed, it makes him conscientious in performing faithfully that work for which he receiveth wages. In this uprightness there is happiness; even where there is no spiritual religion, and when it is merely constitutional, or the child of education and habit, as we find it in some men: but when it is an evangelical as well as a moral uprightness, when it is a fruit of the spirit divested of the leaven of self-righteousness, and springing out of the love of Christ, when it is done unto God, and not unto man; there is in it a great reward, a calm and heavenly peace which passeth all understanding.

Does

Behold such a man in his enjoyments. he search the scriptures? It is not in the pride of unassisted reason, which always has been and always will be baffled by the sacred word; but it is in teachable simplicity as a little child looking up to the light of his Father's countenance, and saying, "Open thou mine eyes that I may see wondrous things out of thy law, open thou my understanding that

I

may understand the scriptures. Therefore is he wiser than the ancients, because he has respect continually to the wisdom-giving spirit

of the Lord. Does he attend public worship? It is not a mere formal observance with him, because his parents went, or because it is the custom of his neighbourhood; but it is really to hold communion with his God, to worship and fall down, and kneel before his Maker and gracious Preserver; with deep self-abasement to acknowledge his manifold transgressions; with unwavering faith to plead the great atonement for his pardon; and with lively hope earnestly to cry for the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, that in every thing he may enjoy a closer walk with God. Does he hold private communion with his fellow Christians? It is not an exercise of insincerity and flattery, like the fashionable conversation of the world; neither is it an arena for the exhibition of his conversational talents, and the secret gratification of his vanity, as "the communion of saints" is slanderously reported to be by those who cannot enter into its enjoyments: but in simplicity and godly sincerity he endeavours to receive and to communicate edification; his speech being alway with grace seasoned with salt," that he may enlarge the scriptural knowledge of his companions, or lead them to closer self-examination. Does he approach the Lord's Table? Here, in a peculiar manner, he enjoys the light of the Lord's countenance, eating by faith that flesh which

66

66

is meat indeed, and drinking that blood which is drink indeed. Here he considers the Lord's body, realizes the Lord's appointment, and is enabled to adopt with peculiar propriety the language of the Apostle Peter on the mount of transfiguration, Lord, it is good for me to be here." Does he retire to secret prayer? This is his delight, the habitual refuge of his soul. Here he meets a smile on the countenance of his friend, his best friend, in whom he is never disappointed; from whom he never receives a capricious repulse; and to whom he opens the secrets of his soul with the most unbounded confidence. Here he enjoys that private personal intercourse with the Father of Spirits, into which his dearest and most confidential earthly friend cannot enter; that calm yet eager importunity of spirit to which he is encouraged by his Lord's words, and the light of his Lord's countenance; and which he must carry on as an insulated soul, yea, as it were, the only soul who had ever fallen from God. No human tongue can adequately express the blessedness of such prayer as this. Frozen formalists may rail against it as enthusiasm: baptized infidels may despise it as the wild fancy of an over-heated imagination; but it is true, but it is real, but it is the very life of God in the soul of man; and whosoever liveth without it, is dead while he liveth.

Again, behold the Christian under the pres+ sure of temptation: when an evil heart or evil companions, or both (aiding and abetting one another) have led him into some difficulty or danger, and some sin presents itself as the readiest mode of escape: he is strongly tempted to commit the sin, but in the light of the Lord's countenance he reads "sin no more." The ridicule of his old associates who endeavour to laugh him out of his scruples, the fear of offending his friends, perhaps his near and affectionate relations, the sophistry of his deceitful heart suggesting, that by compliance he will encrease his influence and consequently his usefulness, and the insinuation of the Devil that sin cannot eventually hurt him because he is a believer; these all urge him to yield. The still small voice of the Holy Spirit remonstrates within him, pointing to the plain and lofty standard of the Bible: the cord of love which God has twined around his heart tightens, and checks the wandering footstep; and his soul becomes the scene of an eager and earnest struggle. Sometimes he is enabled to stand fast, and cheerfully encounter any consequence rather than sin against God; and then, great and gracious is his joy. Sometimes he yields, and immediately he becomes uneasy. Sin brings darkness upon his path, yet still the light of the Lord's countenance lingers around

him, and he cannot yield himself quietly to be the servant of sin. Another opportunity occurs: another temptation presses; and again he is solicited to sin. He debates and wavers, the spirit warns and gently strives with him again, but all his former seductive arguments in favour of compliance seem to have gained strength; and if left to himself he would sin again, and continue in sin, and sin his soul into everlasting ruin. But he is not left to himself, the arms of everlasting love are spread beneath him to prevent his fall; he shall be chastised for his iniquity, chastised in mercy that he may be restored. He shall walk, O Lord, in the light of thy countenance. He shall be saved from sin. Grace shall triumph. He shall bemoan himself like repenting Ephraim, acknowledging that it was after he was turned he repented; and the Lord shall say concerning him "Is Ephraim my dear Son? is he a pleasant child? for since I spake against `him, I do earnestly remember him still; therefore my bowels are troubled for him: I will surely have mercy upon him." He shall receive such a look as Peter received in the highpriest's hall: the growing hardness of his heart shall be broken: he shall weep bitterly; but returning joy in the Lord shall beam with prevailing brightness through his tears of pénitence.