ül" aÚ; 42 TIM EXCELLENCIES OF . [Chap. 3. from man, it savors of both. How quick and piercing is the word in itself! Yet many times it never enters, being managed by a feeble arm. What weight and worth is there in every passage of the blessed Gospel ! Enough, one would think, to enter and pierce the dullest soul, and wholly possess its thoughts and affections; and yet how oft does it fall as water upon a stone ! The things of God which we handle, are divine; but our manner of handling is human. There is little we touch, but we leave the print of our fingers behind. If God speaks the word himself, it will be a piercing, melting word indeed. The Christian now knows by experience, that his most immediate joys are his sweetest joys; which have least of man, and ar_ most directly from the Spirit. Christians who are mu in secret prayer and contemplation, are men of greatest life and joy; because they have all more immediátely from God himself. Not that we should cast off hearing, read- ing, and conference, or neglect any ordinance of God ; but to live above them while we use them, is the way of a Christian. There is joy in these remote receivings; but the fulness of joy is in God's immediate presence. We shall then have light without a candle, and perpetual day without the sun ; for " the city has no need of the sun, neither of the moon to shine in it ; for the glory of God lightens it, and the Lamb is the light thereof; there shall be no night there, and they need no candle, neither light of the sun ; and they shall reign for ever and ever." We shall then have enlightened understandings without Scrip- ture, and be governed without a written law; for the Lord will perfect his law in our hearts, and we shall be all per- fectly taught of God.- We shall havejoy, which we drew not from the promises, nor fetched home byfaith or hope. We shall have communion without ordinances, without this fruit of the vine, when Christ shall drink it new with us in his Father's kingdom,.and refresh us with the com- forting wine of immediate enjoyment. To have necessi- ties., but no supply, is the case of them in hell. To have necessity supplied by means of the creatures, is the case of us on earth. To have necessity supplied immediately from God, is the case of the saints in heaven. To have no necessity at all, is the prerogative of God himself. 6. A further excellence of this rest is, that it will be
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