: could you see what is felt within-could you nshine of heaven that rests upon that soul-could for a moment the pleasure of being at peace with would feel that all your pleasures are but the ich the swine are eating. y is the man that findeth wisdom, the man that getteth understanding. more precious than rubies: all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her. th of days is in her right hand; r left hand riches and honour. ways are ways of pleasantness, all her paths are peace. a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her: happy is every one that retaineth her." ethren, go and learn the hymn that begins: "Shall men pretend to pleasure That never knew the Lord? e complaint of Christ: "The companions hear soul in Christ has many sweet companionsnd sisters in Christ Jesus. The soul that is united e tree is united to all the branches : "We know re passed from death unto life, because we love en" "I am a companion of all them that fear rs have many things to say to one another; as to Gaius: "I had many things to write unto I will not with ink and pen write unto thee: but shall shortly see thee, and we shall speak face to o did believers in the days of Malachi : "Then feared the Lord spake often one to another: and hearkened and heard." And so do believers still. tell of their past experiences modestly, humbly, -loathing, and for the glory of Christ; as Jesus maniac: "Return to thine own house, and show t things God hath done unto thee" (Luke viii. as David speaks: "Come and hear, all ye that fear God, and I will declare what he hath done for my soul.' -Ps. lxvi. 16. They speak to one another in their distresses, as it is written: "Wherefore comfort one another with these words." Not comfort yourselves, but comfort one another. It is God's ordinance that comfort should be ministered by believer to believer—that the gentle hand of love should bring the cup of consolation. They speak to one another of Jesus: "Saw ye him whom my soul loveth?"- "Whither is thy Beloved gone, O thou fairest among women? whither is thy Beloved turned aside, that we may seek him with thee?" They exhort one another daily, while it is called to-day. Ah! this is a true mark of all true believers." The companions hearken to thy voice." How many of you may know that you are not in Christ by this, that you have never learned the pure language of Canaan. True, there are many have the outward phrase of Christians, and have much talk, who will turn out to be clouds without rainfoolish virgins, having a lamp, and wick, and flame-no drop of oil within; still, if you have not the speech of Canaan -if you have not a word for those that are journeying toward glory-I fear you belong not to that company. 2. Hear the complaint of Christ. "Cause me to hear it." Christ complains that we speak more to one another than to him. This is too often the case, especially with young believers. When the bosom is filled with joy, the believer pours it out before his companions, rather than before the Lord. In sorrow, when clouds have covered the soul, Christ is forgotten, and some companion sought out to hear your complaints. In difficulty, how often the believer runs first to some companion on earth for counsel ! Now the word of Christ is: "Cause me to hear it"-Run first to me. (1.) Because Christ is a jealous Saviour: "I, the Lord thy God, am a jealous God." When Christ took us to himself he said: "Thou shalt call me Ishi, and shalt call me no more Baali; for I will take away the names of Baalim out of her mouth." Remember how he said: "Lovest thou me more than these?" And we said to him: "What have I to do any more with idols." Now, the Lord Jesus cannot bear that we should have a nearer friend than himself. He must be our next of kin. We must lean on the Beloved. "Cause me to hear it." (2.) Because in him is the full supply of all our need. True, the companions are lovely and pleasant in their lives; but where did they get all the grace that made them so ? Was it not from Christ? Perhaps we love their gentleness and meekness—their holy wisdom, to advise us in difficult circumstances; but, ah! where did they get all that?—from Jesus. They are but cisterns-Christ is the fountain. They are but candles-Christ is the sun. They are but creatures -Christ is the Creator. We must leave them, and betake ourselves to him. "Cause me to hear it." (3.) Communion with Christ is always sanctifying. Communion with men, even with good men, often hardens and hurts the soul. Are you telling experiences ?-you are apt to be man-pleasing, to seek to appear something wonderful, very humble, or very believing you are apt to seek the praise of men more than the praise of God. Are you seeking comfort?-you are apt to lean on the creature, and to forget the only Comforter; but communion with Christ is always sanctifying. Oh! it is good for the soul to meet with Jesus. Oh! if you would go to Jesus and tell him all— if you would cause him to hear it—how much happier lives you would lead!-Let there be the utmost frankness between your soul and Christ. Cover no sin before him—pour out every joy-unbosom every grief-seek counsel in every perplexity. See here, he bids you come and tell him all: "Cause me to hear it." III. The believer's prayer. 1. He prays for a swift return of Christ to his own soul. It is the presence of Christ with the soul that gives true peace and true holiness. It is not circumstances, nor ministers, nor place, nor time, but Jesus present. To sit under his shadow, gives great delight. To lean upon the Beloved alone supports his faltering steps. A true believer cannot be satisfied while Christ is away: "Make haste, my Beloved." One that is not a wife may be content with other lovers; but the faithful wife longs for the return of her Lord. The ordinances are all cold and barren till he return. Ministers speak, but not to the heart. The companions cannot give rest nor ease. Oh! brethren, do you know what it is to long for himself—to cry, " Make haste, my Beloved?" 2. He prays for a swift return of Christ to the Church. It is the presence of Christ that makes a sweet time of re freshing in a Church. When he comes leaping on the mountains, skipping upon the hills, the flowers immediately appear on the earth. The Lord's people are quickened in all their graces; they begin to sing songs of deliverance; anxious souls spring up like the grass; and the whole garden of the Lord sends out spices. Ah! if the Lord Jesus were to come in here with power, I would preach and you would hear in another way than we do. I could not be so hardhearted, and you would be melted under his Word. Oh! will you not pray- "Make haste, my Beloved, and be thou like to a roe, or to a young hart upon the mountains of spices." Is not such a time desirable? 3. He prays for the second glorious coming of Christ. It is the real visible coming and presence of Jesus, the king, in his beauty, that will perfect the joy of his believing people. (1.) The love of the soul will then be satisfied. At present we are tossed with many doubts. Am I really converted? Am I in Christ? Will I persevere to the end? The soul has oftentimes a hungering after Christ, and cannot get its fill. But when we shall see him as he is, the shadows will all flee away. We shall never have another doubt for ever-we shall be ever with the Lord. (2.) Jesus shall then be fully glorified. At present he is scorned and spit upon. His enemies have the upper hand. Kings despise him, and most men lightly esteem him. But then he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and admired in all them that believe. All his saints shall then bless him. "Men shall be blessed in him. All nations shall call him blessed." Ah! my friends, can you honestly say you long for that day? Is it a blessed hope to you? Those only who can say: My Beloved," can desire his coming. "Woe unto you that desire the day of the Lord! To what end is it for you? The day of the Lord is darkness, and not light." Ah! brethren, when Jesus comes in the clouds of heaven, every eye shall see him; and most of you, I fear, will wail because of him. Ah, there he is!-the Saviour we rejected -neglected all our life-despised; there he comes to take vengeance on us that know not God, and obey not the Gospel. Those of you that can say: My Beloved" are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. Your prayer is: "Make haste, my Beloved, and be thou like to a roe, or to a young hart upon the mountains of spices." 66 SERMON XXXI. me. DRAW WATER WITH JOY. "And in that day thou shalt say, O Lord, I will praise thee: though thou wast angry with me, thine anger is turned away, and thou comfortedst Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the Lord Jehovah is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation. Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation."-ISA. xii. 1-3. THESE words do first apply to God's ancient people, the Jews; but they are no less applicable to ourselves. 1. Observe the time spoken of: "In that day"-the day spoken of in the chapter before: "It shall come to pass in that day, that the Lord shall set his hand again the second time to recover the remnant of his people, which shall be left, from Assyria, and from Egypt, and from Pathros, and from Cush, and from Elam, and from Shinar, and from Hamath, and from the islands of the sea. And he shall set up an ensign for the nations, and shall assemble the outcasts of Israel, and gather together the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth."-Verses 11, 12. It is in the day when God restores the Jews to their own land, and converts their souls. 2. Observe what they will do: "I will praise thee." They will then be a praising people. At present they are a melancholy people. There is no joy in their servicethey are like a company of dry bones; but in that day their voices will be loud in God's praise. 3. Observe the ground of it: "Though thou wast angry with me, thine anger is turned away, and thou comfortedst me. Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid for the Lord Jehovah is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation." The ground of their joy is, that God's anger is turned away from themthey have found a divine Saviour: "Behold, God is my salvation." They have found a divine Sanctifier: "The Lord Jehovah is my strength and song." Ah! this is the truest ground of joy and praise in the whole world. 4. Observe the consequences : "Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation."-Verse |