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There, like the nightingale, she pours

Her solitary lays,

Nor asks a witness of her song,

Nor thirsts for human praise."

Thus the Christian finds happiness in this heavenly exercise, whether in the public assembly, the family, or in retirement. The saints in all ages, more or less, have found it useful and animating; and the Scriptures abound with testimonies to their warm feelings and grateful strains. "The Lord is my strength and song, and is become my salvation. Thy statutes have been my songs in the house of my pilgrimage. I will sing of the mercies of the Lord for ever: while I live will I praise thee, O Lord. I will sing praises unto my God while I have any being." Is. xii. 2, Ps. cxix. 54, Ps. lxxxix. 1, Ps. cxlvi. 2.

The ordinance of the Lord's supper is found to be exceedingly pleasant and profitable to the Christian. Here he commemorates the dying love of his adorable Saviour. He considers himself as brought into his banqueting-house, whose banner over him is love. He sits down with pleasure to the feast. He looks to Calvary by faith, and on the cross beholds this delightful motto, "The blood of Jesus cleanseth us from all sin." He finds it good to be here. It is the place of refreshment by the way. All taken up with the Saviour, he thus meditates: "Blessed Lord! and was it for me that thy blood was shed? for me, so unworthy, so vile, so sinful!

Was it for me thou wert crowned with thorns, nailed to the tree, and pierced to the heart? Was it for me that thou didst bear such indignity, suffer such pain, and at last die such an ignominious death? Was it for my sins that thou wast deserted of the Father, insulted by men, tormented by Satan, and left by all? Was it for me that thy holy soul was so exceeding sorrowful, thy face marred, and thy character vilified? Ah! Lord, was it for me that thy sufferings were so bitter, and thine agony so great as to sweat, as it were, great drops of blood? Then let me be thine. Thou hast a just claim to my body, my soul, my powers, my time, my all. Whatever I forget, let me never forget thee. To thee, O Saviour, I desire to dedicate myself. On thy merits I depend. Thy presence I implore. O that I may be thine! May I never glory but in thy cross! There may mine eye be fixed; there may my hopes centre! There may I live, there may I die, and there may I rest for ever!"

Thus we have briefly considered the nature of Christian experience in general. Those experiences which are either of a singularly distressing or happy kind we shall have to consider in some of the fol

lowing pages. Our aim in this chapter has been to give an outline of Christian experience unattended with any remarkable circumstance, and which may be applicable to Christians at large. And now, my dear reader, in what has been said, can you trace any likeness of your own experience? Have you

any reason to believe that you are called out of darkness into God's marvellous light? Can you say, that whereas you were once blind, now you see? Do you feel the corruptions of your heart, and lament under a sense of your unworthiness? Have you been convinced of the vanity and emptiness of the world? Is sin the object of your hatred? and have you fled to Jesus as your only Saviour, and felt the Gospel to be the power of God to your salvation through the energy of the Divine Spirit? These are important questions; for except you have known something of these things by your own experience, you are yet a stranger to truth, and exposed to danger. Speculative notions, unattended with this, will be of no utility. A clear perception, a retentive memory, a fine genius, are excellent qualifications; but they will carry no man to heaven. The heart must be changed, the affections raised to God, as well as the mind informed, or there can be no true happiness. Our Lord does not say, except ye be intelligent, except ye be endowed with extraordinary talents; but except ye be converted, ye cannot enter into the kingdom of heaven. Matt. xviii. 3.

CHAPTER II.

THE

ADVANTAGES OF EXPERIENCE.

THERE are very few who are disposed to doubt the advantages of experience. The ignorant novice, the deluded fanatic, the rash adventurer, may sometimes treat it with contempt; but if we turn to the more sober part of society, we shall find it to be justly appreciated, and constantly revered. Its voice is heard, and its dictates attended to, in almost every department of life. Hence the judge, the statesman, the general, the merchant, the master, the mariner, are all respected in proportion to their experience. Their persons are courted, and their decisions received, while their sentiments become the standard of public opinion. Conjecture may be ridiculed, but who can argue against experience? Who is not willing to be led by it? Who is there but must prefer it at all times, if indeed they desire to keep in the paths of prudence and safety?

As in the common concerns of life, so in religion, it is experience that is more advantageous than bare theory. The world is a tempestuous sea; and without experience we are liable to be driven about by

every wind, and at last dashed to pieces on some dreadful rock, or swallowed up in its tremendous waves. If we ask those who have advanced far in the voyage of human life, they will tell us what they have gained by it, and the evils to which they were at first exposed for the want of it. It is true, say they, we have suffered much; but our sufferings have been profitable. "For tribulation worketh patience, and patience experience, and experience hope; and hope maketh not ashamed, because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost, which is given unto us. They inform us, that though no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous, nevertheless afterwards it yieldeth the peaceable fruits of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby." Rom. v. 5, Heb. xii. 11.

Jesus Christ himself, "the Captain of our salvation," it is said, "was made perfect through sufferings. And though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; and being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him:" and again, saith the apostle, "in that he himself hath suffered, being tempted, he is able to succor them that are tempted." Heb. v. 8, 9, Heb. ii. 18. He was one, therefore, of eminent experience; he knew all the feelings of distressed humanity; and his dignity never appeared greater, nor did his character ever shine more illustrious, than in the midst of pain, of conflict, and of blood. If he, therefore, gained by ex

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